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This vehicle was a self-propelled howitzer equivalent of the Marder III and was known as the Grille (Cricket). It entered service in 1940 and consisted of the 15cm sIG 33 howitzer mounted on the PzKpfw 38(t) chassis. The original version used the unmodified chassis, with the engine at the rear, and was designated Ausf H. The howitzer was mounted at the front of the vehicle in a large, open-topped superstructure. The conversion was carried out by Alkett and Rheinmetall-Borsig supplied the howitzers.
Ausf M
From May 1943 the modified version of the chassis became available and this was used in the Ausf M model. It had the engine in the centre of the vehicle, allowing for a lower and more compact fighting compartment at the rear. Construction was by BMM, with Poldihutte producing the armour plate. It entered service with sIG companies in support of Panzergrenadier regiments from 1943, and a total of 370 vehicles of both types was built.
An ammunition-carrying variant of this vehicle was also produced, the Munitionspanzer GW 38(t) , without the main armament. It could carry forty rounds of ammunition and had a crew of three. One hundred and two examples were produced.
1) U.S. Army Artillery Museum, Fort Sill, USA
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here or on the image for this tank's profile page
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Unique ID: |
236
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Other Identification: |
Painted overall in a sand, green and brown camouflage scheme. “922” and German crosses painted on superstructure sides.
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Text in original Preserved German Tanks publication:
This Ausf M was captured in Italy during the war. It carries the number “972”.
Text in Preserved German Tanks Update:
This Grille was transferred from the Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground in about 2010; it had previously been on show in the Display Park. In October 2013 it was being restored at the Fort Sill logistics paint shop.
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2) U.S. Army Artillery Museum, Fort Sill, USA
Click
here or on the image for this tank's profile page
|
Unique ID: |
237
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Serial Number: |
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Registration: |
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Name: |
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Other Identification: |
Painted overall in a sand, green and brown camouflage scheme. German crosses painted on superstructure sides.
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Text in original Preserved German Tanks publication:
This Ausf M was used against, and captured by, the Third US Army during the war. It is missing the front of its superstructure, and all of its return rollers. It is also missing its main armament and may therefore have seen use as a Munitionspanzer.
Text in Preserved German Tanks Update:
This vehicle was transferred from the Patton Museum at Fort Knox in 2010; it had previously been on show in Keyes Park (source: D. Moriarty/AFVNDB). In October 2013 it was on display in Cannon Walk and appeared to have recently been refurbished and repainted.
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