German self-propelled howitzer Sd.Kfz. 138/1 Grille Ausf. M COBI 2665 - World War II 1:28

Did you know:

• The Berlin-based company Alkett designed the prototype of the self-propelled howitzer Grille on the chassis of the Czechoslovak LT vz. 38 tank as early as October 1942.
• The construction was simple. A 150 mm field howitzer, of which Germany had plenty, was mounted on a completed chassis with hull. The crew compartment was surrounded by welded armored plates.
• The German armament office assigned production to the Prague company BMM (later ČKD) in occupied Czechoslovakia. BMM was controlled by Opel at the time, which is why Opel is often listed as the manufacturer.
• The howitzer was operated by a crew of 5. Only the driver was protected from the weather in the front part of the vehicle. The rest of the crew stayed in the open superstructure.
• The crew compartment was very cramped, which in 1943 led to a change in the engine placement. This version was designated Ausf. M.
• Vehicles were usually organized into batteries of four pieces plus one ammunition carrier built on the same chassis.
• Several howitzers were converted into self-propelled anti-aircraft guns in 1944.
• The Grille howitzers, as part of German forces, played a tragic role during the Prague Uprising in May 1945.
• Waffen-SS units from outside Prague sent several Grille vehicles towards Karlín and Žižkov via Balabenka to break through the barricades and enter the center. However, the defenders' resistance was extremely fierce.
• Several vehicles managed to reach Wenceslas Square and heavily damaged historical buildings, including the Old Town Hall. Fortunately, the German army did not achieve its main objective.
• A total of 389 units were produced in all versions.
  
  

 
Technical specifications:

• dimensions: length 4.95 m, width 2.15 m, height 2.47 m
• combat weight 11,500 kg
• armor 10–15 mm
• engine: Praga AC 6-cylinder petrol engine, 118 kW
• number of gears: 5 forward, 1 reverse
• road speed 35 km/h
• off-road speed 25 km/h
• fuel tank capacity 220 liters
• operational range: 210 km on road, 130 km off-road
• main armament: sIG 33 howitzer, 150 mm
• secondary armament: MG 34 machine gun, 7.92 mm (loose)
• crew 5

From the memoirs of Prague Uprising participant V. Dvořák:

“A tank (Grille) coming from Pařížská Street shot up the town hall gate. The building began to burn. But it was hit by a panzerfaust fired by architect Robert Konopa.”

About the building set :

• the COBI building set 2065 Sd.Kfz.138/1 Grille Ausf. M is made of 720 high-quality ABS parts
• the complete set includes 1 figure
• collection World War II
• pad printed – no stickers
• faithful detailing
• made in EU