German self-propelled gun Panzerhaubitze Hummel COBI 2663 - World War II 1:28

Did you know:

• In 1942, the German Armaments Office issued a request for vehicles capable of carrying a 150 mm howitzer. The reason was the changing dynamics of combat, the slowing advance on the Eastern Front, and the need to attack increasingly fortified enemy positions.
• The company Alkett therefore designed a “renewed” chassis by combining elements from the Panzer III and IV tanks, which was called the “Geschützwagen III/IV”.
• A light armored superstructure with an open roof was installed on the chassis. The crew was protected from bad weather by a tensioned tarp with metal eyelets. Its effectiveness, however, is questionable. Historical records report frequent crew complaints describing the covering tarp on the Eastern Front as ineffective. During heavy rain, water would run into the crew compartment, and the blast from firing often tore the tarp.
• Another real problem was the limited amount of carried ammunition. Each Hummel could carry a maximum of 18 shells. Self-propelled howitzer units were therefore always accompanied by supply vehicles.
• Despite minor imperfections, the Hummel was truly a dangerous weapon. Its sufficient speed, maneuverability, and especially the high-quality Carl Zeiss optical sight for direct and indirect fire made this vehicle a formidable opponent.
• The rifled barrel spun the projectile at 3000 rotations per minute when fired, ensuring stability and accuracy of fire.
• Approximately 100 vehicles participated in combat for the first time in the Battle of Kursk, organized into independent self-propelled heavy artillery batteries.
• Around 714 units were produced in various versions.
• Besides production by Alkett, some vehicles were manufactured at Deutsche Eisenwerke AG factories in occupied Czechoslovakian Teplice.
• In 1944, production was repeatedly interrupted due to a shortage of engines and transmissions.
• Many captured machines served at the end of the war in the ranks of the Soviet Army. The Soviets valued the quality of the howitzers highly, and all attempts by Soviet industry to imitate German technology in terms of quality and durability failed.
• In Czechoslovakia, 17 Hummel vehicles remained after the end of World War II, of which 12 were restored to operational condition. These machines were incorporated into the armament of the Czechoslovak Army's 52nd Artillery Regiment in Bruntál. 

Technical Specifications:

• Dimensions: length 7.17 m, width 2.97 m, height 2.81 m
• Combat weight: 22,000 kg
• Hull armor: front 30 mm, sides 20 mm; superstructure armor: front 10 mm, sides 15 mm
• Power unit: Maybach HL 120 TRM 11.9 L gasoline engine with 198 kW output
• Number of gears: 6 forward and 1 reverse
• Road speed: 42 km/h
• Off-road speed: 25 km/h
• Fuel tank capacity: 600 liters
• Range: 215 km on road, 130 km off-road
• Main weapon: F.H. 18/1 howitzer, 150 mm caliber
• Secondary weapon: MG 34 machine gun, 7.92 mm caliber
• Crew: 6

From the memoirs of Gefreiter Wilhelm Schneider, 1944:

“It was a foggy night, and Soviet units were approaching our positions. We were preparing for a direct engagement. The Hummel battery opened devastating fire precisely at 2:10 a.m. Hundreds of kilograms of shells flew into enemy lines, causing total chaos. The self-propelled howitzers bought us more time to regroup. Standing next to the Hummels was a great moral boost for us, but deep down we wished it would all be over.”