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Sturmtiger
German "Sturmtiger"
Sturmpanzer VI
During World War II, Germany produced a number of specialized armored vehicles, including Sturmpanzers-assault tanks. They were used as infantry support vehicles in urban areas, against buildings and heavily fortified defenses. The first in this series was the Sturminfanteriegeschutz 33 based on the Panzerkampfwagen III tank and armed with a 150mm sIG heavy infantry gun. 24 were produced in 1942 and they saw service on the Eastern Front, especially at Stalingrad. The Sturminfanteriegeschutz 33 was followed by the Sturmpanzer IV Brummbar, which was based on the Panzerkampfwagen IV tank and armed with a 150mm StuH assault howitzer. 306 units were produced from 1943 to 1945 and they were used on all fronts. The heaviest and the most powerful of all Sturmpanzers was the Sturmpanzer VI, also called Sturmtiger.
The first prototype was produced by Alkett in October 1943 . After extensive testing, mass production was approved in april 1944. Retired or battle-damaged Tigers's chassis were used in the construction of the new Sturmpanzer. The Sturmtiger shared the same hull, suspension and engine (the 700hp 12 cylinder Maybach) with a regular Tiger but its superstructure was more heavily armored (150mm frontal plate). The Sturmtiger gun was developed by Rheinmetall-Borsig in Dusseldorf from an anti-submarine depth charge launcher created for the Kriegsmarine. The main armament of the Sturmtiger was a short-barreled 38cm Raketenwerfer 61 L/5.4, breech-loading rocket launcher/mortar. The RW 61 fired short-range (4,600 to 6,000 meters) high-explosive rocket-propelled projectiles. To give some precision to the shot, the launcher was fitted with a PaK Zielfernrohr 3 x 8 telescopic sight. Each projectile mesured 1.5m long and weighed 350 kg . The Sturmtiger used two types of ammunition : high-explosive Raketen Sprenggranate 4581 and shaped-charge Raketen Hohladungsgranate 4582 for use against fortifications (one round could penetrate up 2.5m of reinforced concrete).
The Sturmtiger needed a single shot to demolish any building or other target, but it could carry only 14 rocket projectiles inside the superstructure. Twelve projectiles were stored in two stowage racks, one more in the launcher and another on the loading tray. Against infantry attacks, the Sturmtiger had a 7.92mm MG34 machine gun, mounted in a ball mount in the front superstructure. Six hundred rounds of 7.92mm ammunition were stored. Also, the side superstructure plates had pistol ports for local defense. At the rear of the superstructure's roof , a 90mm breech-loading grenade launcher was incorporated for close-in defense.
Only 18 Sturmtigers were produced during september-december 1944. They equipped three Panzer Sturmmorser Kompanien :1000, 1001 and 1002 and served mainly on the Western Front. Seven Sturmtigers of PzStuMrKp 1001 took part in the Ardennes's offensive . A report from january 1945 stated that a single round from a Sturmtiger destroyed three M4-A3 Sherman tanks, located in a nearby village. In their limited use, Sturmtigers proved to be excellent defensive weapons but were slow and mechanically unreliable, and most were abandoned or destroyed by their crews after mechanical breakdown or because of fuel shortage. By Pz_Tobruk
Crew: 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver and radio-operator)
Weight: 65.0 tons
Dimensions: 6.28 x 3.70 x 2.85
Armor (max): 80 - 150 mm
Range: 120 km
Speed (max): 37.5 km/hr
Main gun: 380mm L/ 5.4
No. Produced: 18
