Hummel Self-Propelled Howitzer

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In 1942 plans were made to equip each German Panzer Division with two batteries of light howitzers and one of heavy howitzers, and each Panzer Corps was to have a further two heavy batteries. The light batteries were to be equipped with Wespe self-propelled howitzers, and a new vehicle mounting the 15cm sFH 18/1 (schwere Feldhaubitze, heavy field howitzer) was required for the heavy batteries. The GW III/IV chassis with a centrally mounted engine was used for the new vehicle, as for the Nashorn. The prototype that appeared in late 1942 was based completely on PzKpfw IV Ausf F components and had a muzzle brake fitted to the howitzer. Production vehicles had PzKpfw III Ausf J final drive components, engines and transmissions, as used on late production Nashorn tank destroyers, and were not fitted with muzzle brakes. Deutsche Eisenwerke produced 666 examples of this vehicle, known as Hummel (Bumble Bee), at its Mulheim factory in the Ruhr. A further 150 vehicles were built without a gun and with the gun aperture plated over. These were used as Munitionsträger Hummel ammunition carriers for the Hummel batteries and could be converted in the field to normal vehicles if required. Hummels were issued to front line units from the autumn of 1943 and were standard equipment until the end of the war. The name ‘Hummel’ was dropped from the vehicle according to Hitler’s order of 27 February 1944, but it was not given a new name as had happened to the Nashorn. Early production vehicles had a raised compartment for the driver whilst the radio operator had a hatch in the glacis plate. From mid-1944 a new compartment was introduced which extended to the full width of the glacis and housed the driver and radio operator. The Nashorn stopped production at about this time so it did not receive this modification. Some early production Hummels were fitted with PzKpfw IV Ausf E eight-spoke idler wheels. Very late production vehicles were fitted with steel return rollers and armoured shields over the engine louvers on the superstructure sides. Model Id: 195 Manufacture: Deutsche Eisenwerke AG, Duisburg, Regierungsbezirk Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (Sole manufacturer) 1) Museé Des Blindés, Saumur, France Number of Photos: 5 Click here or on the image for this tank's profile page Unique ID: 185 Serial Number: Registration: Name: Other Identification: This is a late-production model of the Hummel. It has a shell hole in the left side of the front superstructure and it carries the number “313”. [Preserved Tanks in France: Number 165].

2) BWB Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung, Koblenz, Germany Number of Photos: 2 Click here or on the image for this tank's profile page Unique ID: 186 Serial Number: Registration: Name: Other Identification: This Hummel was acquired, in a very poor rusted condition, from the waste ground storage area at the Saumur Armour Museum, France, during 1984/5. It was missing substantial parts of its suspension.

3) Panzermuseum, Munster, Germany Number of Photos: 1 Click here or on the image for this tank's profile page Unique ID: 187 Serial Number: Registration: Name: Other Identification: Text in original Preserved German Tanks publication: This Hummel saw service on the western front. It was captured by American troops in 1944 or 1945 and transported to the USA. In June 1976 it was donated to Kampftruppenschule 2 in Munster by the Patton Museum in Kentucky, USA, and returned to Germany. It was restored in 1981 and 1982 in Panzer Werkstatt 2 Hall 104, and it carries a plaque crediting the work to “Weber Worzischek, Fischer Lippert-Sonnenberg, Noroschat Cölton”. It is in running order and carries the name “Anton” on the gun. It has the early style driver’s compartment and idlers but has all-steel return rollers. Text in Preserved German Tanks Update: This Hummel was one of two Hummels that originally came to Fort Knox via Aberdeen Proving Ground; they were part of the original Patton Collection pieces that arrived in 1946 (source: D. Moriarty).

4) U.S. Army Ordnance Museum, Aberdeen Proving Ground, USA Number of Photos: 4 Click here or on the image for this tank's profile page Unique ID: 188 Serial Number: Registration: Name: Other Identification: This is a very late production vehicle with the full width driver’s compartment, steel return rollers and armour plates over the engine grills. It was captured in France soon after D-Day and shipped to the USA shortly after the end of the war.

5) U.S. Army Artillery Museum, Fort Sill, USA Number of Photos: 12 Click here or on the image for this tank's profile page Unique ID: 189 Serial Number: 3206 (source: D. Moriarty) Registration: Name: Other Identification: Text in original Preserved German Tanks publication: This late-production Hummel was used against, and captured by, the Third US Army during World War II. Its gun barrel is damaged near the muzzle. Text in Preserved German Tanks Update: This Hummel was one of two Hummels that came to Fort Knox via Aberdeen Proving Ground; they were part of the original Patton Collection pieces that arrived in 1946 (source: D. Moriarty). The other Hummel is now in the Panzermuseum at Munster, Germany. This example went to Fort Benning in March 2010, and then to Fort Sill early in 2012 (source: P.-O. Buan/AFVNDB).

6) The Tank Museum - Reserve Collection, Bovington, Britain Number of Photos: 0 Click here or on the image for this tank's profile page Unique ID: 2064 Serial Number: Registration: Name: Other Identification: Text in Preserved German Tanks Update: New entry. Put on the museum books in 1951. Marked ‘GONE’ in museum record.