- Yes
- No
I would like to suggest the Bergepanzer 38(t) armed with the 3 cm Mk 103 in Sockellafette mounting, which is essencially a Jagdpanzer 38(t) hull without the Hole, with 30mm (instead of 60mm) and a 2nd Vision slit on the right side. The 3 cm Mk 103 in Sockellafette was placed at the front and cant traverse 360° degree, 90° at most, more on that below.
This mobile chassis with relatively good armor, which is enove to withstand 37-40mm guns, however will not be immune, as He grenades will be its bane as well as the mounting is 14,5mm thick. It would be more of a low Br Jagdpanzer 38(t) and give a mobile relatively good armored and armed platform as an alternative to modern IFVs, tho with greater drawback.
It would also show the need of the german Army in WW2 to arm more and more vehicles to fill in holes that cant be filled with normal production of main tank forces with cheaper ersatz. With it filling the Reconnaissance and light assault vehicle with close infantry support, similar to the Sd.Kfz.222 or Sd.Kfz.234/1.
The History is sadly pretty much unknown, except that at least one vehicle was modified, based on a a late Bergepanzer 38(t), which has only 30mm frontal armor, a 2nd hatch with vision slit on the right side front, a simplefied divers vision port and open roof, on which the 3 cm Mk 103 in Sockellafette was mounted on. The whole reason it was build as well as similar vehicles such as the 3 cm Mk 103 in Sockellafette on the Marder III Ausf.M chassis was simply, to find more production capacity for the rolles as production of their main vehicles such as the above mentioned Sd.Kfz.222, 231, 234/1 was simply not enove.
There appears to be only 1 Picture left where it is already scavenged for parts, as probaply it was propably scrapped after the war. Judging by the metal worker in the background with a Flame Troch in the background and other disassembled parts.
More to the gun and Mount. The 3 cm Mk 103 in Sockellafette was a cheap and professional way, to mount the 3 cm Mk 103 on a ground mount. There was also the 3 cm Flak 103/38, which is a more sofisticated way, where more or less the Mk 103 was put into the Flaklafette 38. However the Sockellafette is a simple pivot mount, with shoulder stock, an L shaped plate through which you also aim. Traverse and elevation is purely with the shoulder stock, moving around the Pivoting center.
This is also the reason, why i wrote above that it does not have 360° traverse and 90° at max to each side. As the gun mount was placed to the far front right behind the front plate (it is still rather big) and for 360° the gunner would need to leave the vehicle and step on the front plate which is unreasasonable.
Overall it can be expected to have a Traverse of +/-90 and elevation of -20° to +60° depending on how far up and down the gunner can stretch, overall similar to the already in game found Sd.Kfz.251/21 (Tho that has the Model A Drilling, while the Model B Drilling which also has a shoulder stock, would fit more as a comparisson).
Aside the Sockellafette, there was also a even cheaper variant, called the Baumaffe (Treemonkey) which replaced the steel mount with a simple self made Log and reinforing branches. (Also included in the pictures.)
Overall the reason why such an aircraft gun found its way on 2 more cheaper mounts on the ground is also simple, as production for the guns was greater, than production of aircraft that carried them and the enemy airsupiority grew steadily, as such every gun to the sky was needed.
The Gun:
3 cm Mk 103 in Sockellafette +/-90° / -20° to +60°, feed from 60 round boxes.
30mm Mk 103 More info and ammo here (Click to show)
Pictures:(Click to show)
Caliber: 30mm
Ammo: 30x184mmB Rheinmetall (Electrically fired)
Fire Rate: 450 rpm (Syncronized)
Beltfed depending on mounting 75-120 rpg
Muzzle velocity: (700) 800-960 m/s
Weight: 105kg
Ammo Types: Ap-I, Aphe-T, Apihecbc-T, HVAP-T, He-T, He
Similar principal to the Mg 151/20
Ammo Types: Ap-I, Aphe-T, Apihecbc-T, HVAP-T, He-T, He
Similar principal to the Mg 151/20
AP:
Pzbrgr. (E.) o.Zerl. (Ap-I) 0,5kg 800m/s 58mm/10m
Note: Used against Trading ships and other light War Vehicles/Vessels. Contains a 9g Thermite filling.
After penetrating 6mm of Ship construction steel, over a path of 2m it ejects the Thermite (Elektron) filling, multiple penetrations create a permament fire source.
(Reduced Charge to reduce gun wear later to 725m/s.)
Pzsprgr. L`Spur. o.Zerl. (Aphe-T) 0,5kg 800m/s 14g Pent (23,8g) 58mm/10m
Note: Primary against Iron/Steel protected or armored Ground targets.
5mm Fuze Sensitivity and 0,75m (+/-0,25m) Fuze Delay.
2 Versions existed with different Bottum Fuzes (BdZ. 1583 and BdZ. 1584) with 500g or 530g weight (resulting also in a 25m/s velocity difference)
(Reduced Charge to reduce gun wear later to 700m/s and 725m/s.)
Was later replaced by the Pzbrsprgr. L’Spur as it was ligher (reducing wear), offered increased penetration and double effect of HE and Incendary instead of only He.)
(Like the ammo of the Mg 151/20 this is build like the Pzbrgr but with Pent filling and a Bottomfuze instead of Thermite filling.)
Pzbrsprgr. L`Spur. o.Zerl. (ApI-T / ApheIcbc-T) 0,455kg 800m/s 5,2g Pent (8,84g) 58mm/10m
Note: Against Iron/Steel protected and Armored ground targets. Against Locomotives and heavily armored Planes. Was to replace the Pzsprgr. L’Spur.
Apcbc round. 5mm Fuze sensitivity and 0,75m +/- 0,25m Fuze Delay.
H-Pzgr. L`Spur. o.Zerl. (HVAP-T) 0,356kg 960m/s 16mm 231g core 81mm/10m
Note: Only against Heavily armored Tanks. The Al-Mg-Cu Alloy Carrier has an incendary effect upon melting on impact.
He:
Sprgr. L`Spur. o.Zerl. (He-T) 0,44kg 800m/s 27g Pent (45,9g)
Note: Against Air and Ground Targets. Fully replaced by the M-Geschoss L’Spur o.Zerl.
Minengeschoss:
M-Gesch. Ausf.C L`Spur. o.Zerl. (Hei-T (m)) 0,33kg 900m/s 70g HTA 5g Pent (92,5g)
Note: Against Air and Ground Targets. Fully replaced the Sprgr. L’Spur.
(Existed both with full 900m/s charge and reduced wear charge of 860m/s.)
(I couldnt find the normal one, so instead the Üb. versions, along with the full drawing.)
M-Gesch. Ausf.A o.Zerl. (Hei (m)) 0,33kg 900m/s 85g HTA (102g)
Note: Against Air and Ground Targets. Fully replaced the Sprgr. L’Spur.
(Existed both with full 900m/s charge and reduced wear charge of 860m/s.)
Brgr. o.L'Spur o.Zerl (I) 0,33kg 900m/s 140g Incendary mix & 0,6g Pent (1,02g)
Mountings:
Fixed, Motorkanone, Pods
The Vehicle:
Based on the late version Bergepanzer 38(t) 181 produced (some with guns such as 15 cm, 7,5 cm and 2 cm Flak.
| Armour | Front (Slope angle) | Sides | Rear | Roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 30 mm (40-60°), 30 mm (60°) Front glacis | |||
| 20 mm (40°) Transmission housing | ||||
| 20 mm (15°) Bottom | 8 mm (68°) Top | |||
| 20 mm (14°) Bottom | 8 mm (90°) | |||
| Superstructure | 14,5 mm (+2x 14,5 mm layers (at small positions) | 8mm |
Weight: 12,5 ton (?)
Engine: 160 Ps/2800 rpm
Speed: 42 km/h / 7 km/h
Crew: 3-4 (?)
Source:
Handbuch der Flugzeugbordwaffenmunition 1936-1945
L.Dv.4000/10
Taschenbuch der Panzer
Waffen und Geheimwaffen des deutschen Heeres
Bergepanzerwagen Bergepanzer 38 to Bergepanther-, Panzer tracts no.16 Thomas L.Jentz, Hillary L.Doyle -
