The Sturmpanzer was a development of the Panzer IV tank designed to provide a vehicle offering direct infantry fire support, especially in urban areas. It used a Panzer IV chassis with the upper hull and turret replaced by a new casemate-style armored superstructure housing a new gun, the 15-centimetre (5.9 in) Sturmhaubitze (StuH) 43 L/12 developed by Skoda. It fired the same shells as the 15 cm sIG 33 heavy infantry gun. Thirty-eight rounds, with separate propellant cartridges, could be carried. It used the Sfl.Zf. 1a sight. The combined weight of the shell and cartridge (38 kilograms (84 lb) for an HE shell and 8 kilograms (18 lb) for a propellant cartridge) made the work of the loader arduous, especially if the gun was elevated to a high angle.

A MG 34 machine gun was carried that could be fastened to the open gunner's hatch, much like the arrangement on the Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. G. Early vehicles carried an MP 40 sub-machine gun inside, which could be fired through firing ports in the side of the superstructure.

The driver's station projected forward from the casemate's sloped frontal armor plate and used the Tiger I's Fahrersehklappe 80 driver's sight. The fighting compartment was, albeit poorly ventilated by natural convection, exiting out the rear of the superstructure through two armored covers. Side skirts were fitted on all vehicles.

Early vehicles were too heavy for the chassis, which led to frequent breakdowns of the suspension and transmission. Efforts were made to ameliorate this from the second series onwards, with some success.

In October 1943, it was decided that the StuH 43 gun needed to be redesigned to reduce its weight. A new version, some 800 kilograms (1,800 lb) lighter than the StuH 43, was built as the StuH 43/1. Some of the weight was saved by reducing the armor on the gun mount itself. This gun was used from the third production series onwards. Zimmerit coating was applied to all vehicles until September 1944.

Pictured here is a 1:43 scale replica of a German Sd. Kfz. 166 Sturmpanzer IV Brummbar assault gun that was attached to Sturmpanzerabteilung 217, then deployed to France during August 1944. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Length: 5-1/2-inches
Width: 3-inches

Release Date: August 2022

Historical Account: "Grizzly Bears" - Sturmpanzer-Abteilung 217 was formed in France during June 1944 from personnel drawn from Panzer-Kompanie 40 and Panzer-Ersatz-Abteilung 18, and equipped with the Sturmpanzer IV ("Brummbar") assault gun. It fought against the Allied landings in Normandy but, due to heavy damage to the French railroads, the vehicles were forced to disembark 170km from the front. This led to many of the vehicles breaking down and not being fully operational when they reached the end of their road march. The unit later took part in the Ardennes offensive, advancing to St. Vith, and ended the war in the Ruhr pocket.