In the spring of 1943, the German army received 90 self-propelled artillery mounts 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz. Kpfw.38 (t) Ausf. H Grille, equipped with 150 mm guns. This technique had rather high characteristics, however, even before the start of its serial assembly, it was decided to further improve the project. As a result, self-propelled guns of the first type were soon discontinued, and instead of them, machines of the 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz. Kpfw.38 (t) Ausf. M type entered the series, which became their further development.
Recall that the project 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz. Kpfw.38 (t) Ausf. H or Grille Aufs. H was one of several attempts to use the available light tanks Pz. Kpfw.38 (t) in a new capacity. Such armored vehicles were already considered outdated and could not be fully used for their intended purpose, although they still had certain prospects as the basis for new technology. In 1942, the company Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik AG (now ČKD, Czech Republic) developed a project for a minor alteration of a light tank with the installation of a 150 mm gun. In early February of the following year, the German army initiated the mass production of such equipment.
Museum specimen 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz. Kpfw. 38 (t) Ausf. M Grille. Photo Wikimedia Commons
In parallel with the creation of a new self-propelled gun based on the existing light tank, BMM specialists were working on another version of the Pz. Kpfw.38 (t) upgrade. The new project proposed to redesign the tank and change some of its features, which made it possible to use the car as a more convenient basis for new self-propelled guns. By the end of 1942, the first project of a self-propelled artillery installation was created, in which a new chassis was used. On the basis of such a chassis, the Marder III ACS was to be built, one of the later modifications.
In February 1943, it was decided to start serial production of the already created 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz. Kpfw. 38 (t) Ausf. H. In addition, it was required to develop a new version of self-propelled guns using similar weapons, built on the basis of a different chassis. This project received the symbol 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz. Kpfw.38 (t) Ausf. M. In addition, the name Grille ("Cricket") has been preserved, which can also be used in the form of Grille Ausf. M.
The chassis of a new type, designed specifically for promising self-propelled guns, was based on the design of the existing light tank, but had some noticeable differences. First of all, the purpose of this project was to change the layout of the internal volumes, which made it possible to obtain an architecture optimal for the ACS with the aft location of the fighting compartment. Such a change required to move the engine compartment, modify the transmission and change some other chassis units.
General view of the self-propelled gun. Photo by Chamberlain P., Doyle H. "A Complete Guide to German Tanks and Self-Propelled Weapons of World War II"
The basic armored vehicle for the new self-propelled guns was supposed to receive a new layout with a front transmission and control post, a central engine compartment and aft fighting compartment. It was also proposed to change the design of the case in order to simplify assembly and somewhat improve the basic characteristics. So, instead of several sheets placed at different angles to the vertical, the frontal part of the hull had to be formed by two parts 20 mm thick: the vertical bottom and the top piled back. On the upper frontal part, at the starboard side, there was a small wheelhouse to protect the driver, which had a wall thickness of 15 mm. In the frontal and right side sheets of the cabin, viewing devices were provided.
The sides with a thickness of 15 mm were to be joined with 20-mm frontal plates. Stern protection was provided with 10 mm parts. On the roof of the hull, above its aft, it was proposed to mount an armored wheelhouse. The frontal part of the cabin was to be made in the form of two parts, mounted with an inclination inward at an angle to the axis of the machine. There were also sides heaped inward with a sloping rear end and a stern of low height. All details of the cabin were proposed to be made of 10-mm armor. A swinging sheet was placed between the two frontal plates, which served as a gun mask. When lifting the trunk, it had to go up, when lowering, it had to return to a horizontal position.
In the central part of the hull, a Praga AC carburetor engine with a power of 145 hp was to be installed. Due to some increase in power, it was supposed to compensate for the possible increase in the combat mass of the finished equipment and maintain the required mobility indicators. In connection with the movement of the engine from the stern to the center of the hull, the authors of the project had to seriously redesign the layout of the engine compartment. In particular, the possibility of using the intake grilles of the cooling system has disappeared. installed in the roof. The new project involved the use of air intakes and exhaust pipes placed in the fenders.
ACS scheme. Figure Aviarmor.net
The redesigned chassis retained the mechanical transmission based on a six-speed gearbox. The only noticeable difference between the new transmission and the basic design was the use of a shorter propeller shaft. Thanks to the transfer of the engine, there was no need to transmit torque using a long shaft running above the floor of the fighting compartment.
The undercarriage of the updated chassis has undergone minimal changes. Its basis remained four large diameter road wheels on each side, interlocked in pairs and equipped with leaf springs. In the front of the hull were placed the drive wheels, in the stern - guides. It was decided to reduce the number of supporting rollers. The only pair of such parts had to fit between the second and third road wheels, because of which the upper branch of the caterpillar could sag and contact the latter.
The main feature of the new chassis was the transfer of the fighting compartment to the stern, which gave some advantages over the existing models. So, it became possible to provide an acceptable alignment of the machine with the installation of the heaviest units near the geometric center of the structure. In addition, there was a significant gain in dimensions: the floor of the fighting compartment turned out to be the bottom of the hull, which made it possible to reduce the overall dimensions of the vehicle. This led to a reduction in the weight of the structure, as well as to a decrease in visibility on the battlefield and a decrease in the likelihood of defeat.
One of the serial cars. Photo Worldwarphotos.info
ACS 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz. Kpfw.38 (t) Ausf. M was supposed to become a modernized version of the previous model and, as a result, receive similar weapons. The "main caliber" of the self-propelled gun was supposed to be the 15 cm sIG 33 gun. The 150 mm heavy infantry weapon was equipped with an 11 caliber barrel and was intended to destroy a variety of enemy targets and objects. Initially, the sIG 33 system was produced in a towed version, but later several projects of self-propelled guns with similar weapons appeared. The installation of the gun on the chassis made it possible to maintain high firepower, as well as to provide acceptable mobility on the battlefield.
The gun received a rifled barrel, horizontal sliding breech and hydropneumatic recoil devices. The ammunition included several types of separate loading ammunition, designed to solve different problems. The initial velocity of the shells depended on their types and reached 240 m / s, the maximum firing range was 4.7 km. An experienced calculation could do up to three rounds per minute.
ACS 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz. Kpfw.38 (t) Ausf. M, like its predecessors, was to receive an installation for mounting a gun, based on some units of the basic towed carriage. The manual guidance mechanisms and the Rblf36 sight were retained. The installation of the gun in the armored wheelhouse made it possible to aim it within a horizontal sector 10 ° wide (5 ° to the right and left of the neutral position). The permissible vertical guidance angles were to some extent limited by the design of the movable mask and could vary from 0 ° to + 73 °.
The fighting compartment of the museum self-propelled gun. Photo Svsm.org
Inside the fighting compartment were placed several stowages for 18 shells and casings for them. This was enough for firing for some time, after which the self-propelled gun needed to be replenished with ammunition.
The additional armament of the Grille Ausf. M ACS consisted of one 7, 92 mm MG 34 machine gun. The machine gun was proposed to be transported in the packing and removed from it if necessary for self-defense. The project did not provide for any standard mounts that allow you to constantly keep the machine gun at the ready.
The composition of the self-propelled gun crew during the modernization has not changed. Like the previous vehicle, the 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz. Kpfw.38 (t) Ausf. M self-propelled guns were to be operated by four people: a driver-mechanic, gunner-commander, loader and radio operator-loader. The driver was placed in the front of the hull and protected by a frontal sheet, as well as a small superstructure. To monitor the road, the driver had two viewing devices in his wheelhouse.
Three other crew members were accommodated in the fighting compartment. To the left of the gun was the workplace of the commander who controlled the gun. To the right of the gun and behind the commander there were to be two loaders, one of whom was also responsible for operating the FuG 16 radio station.
A self-propelled gun with its own name Feuerteufel ("Fiery Devil") at a firing position. Photo Wikimedia Commons
Due to some lengthening of the rear of the hull, the dimensions of the self-propelled gun slightly increased in comparison with the previous equipment based on the Pz. Kpfw.38 (t). Length reached 4.95 m, width - 2.15 m, height - 2.45 m. Combat weight was 12 tons. The use of a more powerful engine made it possible to compensate for some weight gain and maintain mobility approximately at the level of the previous vehicle. Like the Grille Ausf. H, the new Grille Ausf. M could reach speeds of up to 35 km / h and cover up to 180-190 km at one refueling.
Soon after the completion of the development of the project, a prototype of a promising ACS was built, followed by an order for the production of serial equipment. The first 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz. Kpfw. 38 (t) Ausf. M vehicles were assembled in April 1943. Having mastered the construction of this technique, the BMM plant stopped further assembly of machines of the previous model. The task of the enterprise, according to the first order, was the construction of 200 self-propelled guns based on new chassis.
The last batch of new self-propelled guns was completed in June of the same year. According to some reports, after the production of 90 vehicles, it was decided to use the chassis, which had undergone additional modernization, as a result of which the equipment of the first batches had some minor differences from subsequent vehicles. In view of the situation at the front, the new self-propelled guns were transferred to the customer as quickly as possible and, without any serious delays, were distributed among the various divisions of the army.
ACS 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz. Kpfw. 38 (t) Ausf. M in Italy, 1944. Photo by Worldwarphotos.info
In October 1943, the German command decided to place a new order for the supply of the Grille Ausf. M. It was planned to build a significant number of new equipment, but the situation at the front and numerous industrial problems did not allow the full implementation of all plans. The assembly of self-propelled guns continued until September 1944, after which they decided to curtail it. One of the main reasons for stopping the construction of such machines was a sharp reduction in the production of the required chassis. Because of this, in particular, the last 10 "Crickets" were assembled on the chassis of the Flakpanzer 38 (t) anti-aircraft self-propelled gun.
From October 1943 to September 1944, BMM managed to produce only 82 self-propelled guns of a new type. Thus, during the entire production period of the German army, 282 vehicles of the 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz. Kpfw.38 (t) Ausf. M type were delivered, including several pieces of equipment on non-standard chassis.
By the beginning of 1944, a project was developed for a special vehicle designed to transport ammunition in order to ensure the combat operation of Grille self-propelled guns of both modifications. The Munitionspanzer 38 (t) machine was maximally unified with a self-propelled artillery mount and could carry up to 40 150 mm rounds of various types. The construction of the ammunition carriers began in January 44th and lasted until May. No more than 120 of these machines were built.
ACS Grille Ausf. M in the Aberdeen Museum, approximately 70-80 years. Photo Warandtactics.com
The start of production of the 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz. Kpfw.38 (t) Ausf. M self-propelled guns had no effect on the structure of military units armed with heavy infantry guns on self-propelled chassis. With the help of new supplies, the existing companies of heavy infantry guns were reinforced, which were already armed with vehicles of several previous types. The structure of the units also remained unchanged, although new platoons could appear in their composition. From the beginning of 1944, artillery units began to receive ammunition carriers, unified with the latest self-propelled guns.
According to reports, the Grille Ausf. M self-propelled guns were transferred to several dozen companies in more than 30 divisions. The large number and wide distribution allowed such equipment to take part in battles on different sectors of the fronts in Europe. For the first time, vehicles of a new type took part in the battles on the Eastern Front, and after the Allied landings in Normandy, some of the units armed with Crickets were engaged in battles on the territory of Western Europe.
Despite the difficult situation on all fronts, the German army managed to retain a significant number of self-propelled guns 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz. Kpfw. 38 (t) Ausf. M almost until the very end of hostilities. According to reports, in February 1945, 173 self-propelled guns remained in service. In addition, some sources mention that one of the enterprises in Germany in the spring of 1945 was supposed to repair several combat vehicles and return them to the troops.
The current state of the museum sample. Photo Wikimedia Commons
After the end of the war in Europe, active operation of the 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz. Kpfw.38 (t) Ausf. M self-propelled guns stopped. Some of this equipment was withdrawn by the winning countries for study at their proving grounds. Others were eventually disposed of as unnecessary. Only one copy of the "Cricket" of the "M" modification has survived to this day. After the war, this machine was exported to the United States and studied at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. In the future, the self-propelled gun was made an exhibit of the museum at the test site.
The 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz. Kpfw.38 (t) Ausf. M Grille project was the last German attempt to mount a powerful 150 mm gun on a self-propelled chassis. As the production volumes of such equipment show, this attempt was the most successful. After several modernizations of existing equipment, German specialists managed to develop a machine that most fully met the customer's requirements. At the same time, however, some of the shortcomings characteristic of previous similar techniques, such as low mobility and insufficient protection, were retained. However, this did not prevent self-propelled guns from being actively used until the end of the war and incur minor losses. However, Grille Ausf. M machines appeared relatively late, when the situation on the fronts began to seriously change. More than four hundred self-propelled guns "Cricket" of two models could no longer have a serious impact on the course of the war.
