terça-feira, 30 de novembro de 2010

German SPG's Part I - The "Wespe"

My German self-propelled artillery vehicles - the Wespe (Wasp ou Vespa em português) also known as Leichte Feldhaubitze 18 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II ("Light field howitzer 18 on Panzer II chassis") was developed and used during the Second World War.
It was based on the Panzer II tank and was specially allocated to the armored artillery battalions (Panzerartillerie Abteilungen) of the Panzer and Panzergrenadier divisions ( they received two armoured artillery batteries of six Wespe each). About 682 had been produced, with an additional 158 built as ammunition carriers before the end of the war.
The gun - 10.5 cm leFH 18M, had a maximum range of 12,325 m (13,479 yds) and could also fire an 15.71 kilograms (34.6 lb) AP shell. In the latter stages of WW2, it was common to  engaged Wespes in direct anti-tank fire, using armour piercing shells or anti-concrete hollow-charge projectiles, the first  (Pz.Gr. 39) penetrated 106mm and the latter (Gr. 39 Hl/C) penetrated 128 mm, both against vertical armour plate at ranges of 0-100 meters.
 
 
 

I use them as artillery support with the rules Ambush Blitz. The models are in 1/144 Scale, from Wargames South, the crews are adapted from Minifigs 12mm Gunners.
I made a small adjustment to two of the Wespes, one I’ve lowered the back door, which actually could be lowered to increase the rate of fire, since several projectiles were placed on top of it and the other I’ve pulled out the gun to become a weaponless ammunition carrier.

Regards
JMM

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