During the Second World War, combat vehicles of the subclass of self-propelled howitzers, unlike other highly mobile artillery units, had relatively short-barreled guns as their main armament, using relatively small propellant charges when firing. First of all, howitzers were created for shooting with large elevation angles, being intended for firing from closed positions.
The large caliber of howitzer systems makes them a convenient tool for fighting versus enemy fortifications (especially non-concreted) with high-explosive ammunition. During the Second World War (and in our days too), many self-propelled howitzers were created on the basis of tanks, which made it possible, if necessary, to use them directly on the battlefield for direct fire. In this case, the line between actual «self-propelled howitzers» and the «assault guns» was blurred, because many of them were also armed with short artillery guns — howitzers or guns-howitzers.
The proposed photo review contains 17 short-barreled self-propelled artillery systems used by the warring parties during the Second World War.
If the background of the photos interferes with reading the reference information for the photos, you can hover the mouse cursor over the text — this will darken the signature background.
SU-5-2, USSR. In serial production since 1936, 31 vehicles have been built. Armament – 122-mm howitzer, ammunition supply of 4 shells. Weight 10.5 tons, 90 hp engine, 5 crew members
Sturmpanzer I (Bison), Germany. In operation since 1940, 38 units were built. Armament – 150-mm howitzer (carried ammunition supply of 3 shells). Weight 8.5 tons, 100 hp engine, 3 crew members
Semovente da 75/18, Italy. In operation since 1941, 222 units were built. Armament – 75-mm howitzer (ammunition supply of 44 shells), 6.6-mm machine gun. Weight 13.1 tons, 125/145hp engine, 3 crew members
G.Pz. Mk. VI (e), Germany. Self-propelled guns on the chassis of captured light British tanks Mk VI. In 1941, 6 such vehicles with 105-mm howitzers were built. Weight 35 tons, 570 hp engine, 4 crew members.
Sturmpanzer II (Bison II), Germany. In operation since 1942, 12 units were built. Armament — 150-mm howitzer (ammunition supply of 10 shells), 7.92-mm machine gun. Weight 12 tons, 155 hp engine, 4 crew members
Howitzer Motor Carriage M8, USA. In serial production since 1942, 1778 such machines were built. Armament – 75-mm howitzer (46 shells in ammunition), 12.7-mm machine gun (400 rounds). Weight 16.3 tons, 220 hp engine, 4 crew members
StuH 42, Germany. In production since 1942, about 1300 such vehicles were built. Armament – 105 mm howitzer (36 shells of ammunition), 7.92 mm machine gun. Weight 23.9 tons, 300hp engine, 4 crew members
M7 Priest, USA. In serial production since 1942, 4443 such machines were built. Armament – 105-mm howitzer (69 shells of ammunition), 12.7-mm machine gun (300 rounds). Weight 23 tons, 340/400hp engine, 5-7 crew members
Bishop, United Kingdom. In operation since 1942, 149 units were built. Armament – 87.6 mm howitzer (32 shells of ammunition), 7.7 mm machine gun. Weight 17.5 tons, 131hp engine, 4 crew members
SU-122, in operation since 1943, 638 units were built. Armament – 122-mm howitzer (40 shells of ammunition). Weight 30 tons, 500hp engine, 5 crew members
BT-42, Finland. In operation since 1943, 18 such vehicles were built by redesigning of captured Soviet BT-7 tanks. Armament – 114-mm howitzer (ammunition — 22 shells). Weight 15 tons, 400hp engine, 3 crew members
Wespe (''Wasp''), Germany. In production since 1943, 683 units were built. Armament — 105-mm howitzer (32 shells of ammunition), 7.92-mm machine gun (600 rounds). Weight 11.5 tons, 140hp engine, 5 crew members
Sexton, Canada In production since 1943, about 2 thousand units were built. Armament – 87.6 mm howitzer (105 shells of ammunition), two 7.7 mm machine guns (1500 rounds). Weight 25 tons, 400hp engine, 6 crew members
Sturmpanzer 38(t) Grille («Cricket»), Germany. In operation since 1943, 91 units were built in the «Ausf» variant. H (in the photo) and 282 Ausf. M (with the rear location of the crew compartment). Armament – 150 mm howitzer (15 shells), 7.92 mm machine gun. Weight 11.5 tons, 147 hp engine, 4 crew members
Hummel («Bumblebee»), Germany. In operation since 1943, 724 units were built. Armament – 150 mm howitzer (ammunition — 18 shells). Weight 24.4 tons, 300 hp engine, 6 crew members
Ho-Ro, Japan. In operation since 1944, about 12 units were built. Armament – 150 mm howitzer, 12 shells of ammunition carried. Weight 16.3 tons, 170 hp engine, 6 crew members
During the Second World War, combat vehicles of the subclass of self-propelled howitzers, unlike other highly mobile artillery units, had relatively short-barreled guns as their main armament, using relatively small propellant charges when firing. First of all, howitzers were created for shooting with large elevation angles, being intended for firing from closed positions.
The large caliber of howitzer systems makes them a convenient tool for fighting versus enemy fortifications (especially non-concreted) with high-explosive ammunition. During the Second World War (and in our days too), many self-propelled howitzers were created on the basis of tanks, which made it possible, if necessary, to use them directly on the battlefield for direct fire. In this case, the line between actual «self-propelled howitzers» and the «assault guns» was blurred, because many of them were also armed with short artillery guns — howitzers or guns-howitzers.
The proposed photo review contains 17 short-barreled self-propelled artillery systems used by the warring parties during the Second World War.
If the background of the photos interferes with reading the reference information for the photos, you can hover the mouse cursor over the text — this will darken the signature background.
SU-5-2, USSR. In serial production since 1936, 31 vehicles have been built. Armament – 122-mm howitzer, ammunition supply of 4 shells. Weight 10.5 tons, 90 hp engine, 5 crew members
Sturmpanzer I (Bison), Germany. In operation since 1940, 38 units were built. Armament – 150-mm howitzer (carried ammunition supply of 3 shells). Weight 8.5 tons, 100 hp engine, 3 crew members
Semovente da 75/18, Italy. In operation since 1941, 222 units were built. Armament – 75-mm howitzer (ammunition supply of 44 shells), 6.6-mm machine gun. Weight 13.1 tons, 125/145hp engine, 3 crew members
G.Pz. Mk. VI (e), Germany. Self-propelled guns on the chassis of captured light British tanks Mk VI. In 1941, 6 such vehicles with 105-mm howitzers were built. Weight 35 tons, 570 hp engine, 4 crew members.
Sturmpanzer II (Bison II), Germany. In operation since 1942, 12 units were built. Armament — 150-mm howitzer (ammunition supply of 10 shells), 7.92-mm machine gun. Weight 12 tons, 155 hp engine, 4 crew members
Howitzer Motor Carriage M8, USA. In serial production since 1942, 1778 such machines were built. Armament – 75-mm howitzer (46 shells in ammunition), 12.7-mm machine gun (400 rounds). Weight 16.3 tons, 220 hp engine, 4 crew members
StuH 42, Germany. In production since 1942, about 1300 such vehicles were built. Armament – 105 mm howitzer (36 shells of ammunition), 7.92 mm machine gun. Weight 23.9 tons, 300hp engine, 4 crew members
M7 Priest, USA. In serial production since 1942, 4443 such machines were built. Armament – 105-mm howitzer (69 shells of ammunition), 12.7-mm machine gun (300 rounds). Weight 23 tons, 340/400hp engine, 5-7 crew members
Bishop, United Kingdom. In operation since 1942, 149 units were built. Armament – 87.6 mm howitzer (32 shells of ammunition), 7.7 mm machine gun. Weight 17.5 tons, 131hp engine, 4 crew members
SU-122, in operation since 1943, 638 units were built. Armament – 122-mm howitzer (40 shells of ammunition). Weight 30 tons, 500hp engine, 5 crew members
BT-42, Finland. In operation since 1943, 18 such vehicles were built by redesigning of captured Soviet BT-7 tanks. Armament – 114-mm howitzer (ammunition — 22 shells). Weight 15 tons, 400hp engine, 3 crew members
Wespe (''Wasp''), Germany. In production since 1943, 683 units were built. Armament — 105-mm howitzer (32 shells of ammunition), 7.92-mm machine gun (600 rounds). Weight 11.5 tons, 140hp engine, 5 crew members
Sexton, Canada In production since 1943, about 2 thousand units were built. Armament – 87.6 mm howitzer (105 shells of ammunition), two 7.7 mm machine guns (1500 rounds). Weight 25 tons, 400hp engine, 6 crew members
Sturmpanzer 38(t) Grille («Cricket»), Germany. In operation since 1943, 91 units were built in the «Ausf» variant. H (in the photo) and 282 Ausf. M (with the rear location of the crew compartment). Armament – 150 mm howitzer (15 shells), 7.92 mm machine gun. Weight 11.5 tons, 147 hp engine, 4 crew members
Hummel («Bumblebee»), Germany. In operation since 1943, 724 units were built. Armament – 150 mm howitzer (ammunition — 18 shells). Weight 24.4 tons, 300 hp engine, 6 crew members
Ho-Ro, Japan. In operation since 1944, about 12 units were built. Armament – 150 mm howitzer, 12 shells of ammunition carried. Weight 16.3 tons, 170 hp engine, 6 crew members
