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SU-150 - The Red Bumblebee
Captured self-propelled guns “Hummel” 366th GSAP, 4th Guards Tank Army, 3rd Ukrainian Front. 1945 g.
Introduction
The Soviet Union captured several German self-propelled guns during World War II, including the Hummel (meaning “bumblebee” in German). Built on a Panzer IV chassis and armed with a 150mm howitzer, the Hummel was a powerful artillery piece used by the Germans. When captured by the Soviets, it provided valuable insights into German engineering, influencing Soviet self-propelled artillery designs. The Soviet forces studied the Hummel’s mechanics and weaponry, using the knowledge to enhance their own military capabilities during the war. The SU-150 (Hummel) was used in the battles at Balaton along with other captured German vehicles.
Before we get into this vehicles history, I would like to make clear to all my German Gigachads that if this vehicle is added, it should come only after or with the German Hummel, preferably the former.
History
The Hummel was a German self-propelled gun used during World War II, built on the Panzer IV chassis and armed with a 150mm howitzer. Developed in 1942, it was meant to give the German army more mobile artillery support. With its powerful gun, the Hummel could hit enemy positions from far away while staying on the move. About 700 units were made, and it saw action mainly on the Eastern Front. Though effective, its large size and slow speed made it vulnerable. After the war, the Soviets captured a few and used them to learn from the German design.
Soviet SU-150 History
During World War II, as the Soviet Union advanced through German-held territories, they captured several German Hummel self-propelled guns, which were based on the reliable Panzer IV chassis and armed with a 150mm StuH 43 L/12 howitzer, a powerful artillery piece capable of delivering devastating long-range fire, making the Hummel an essential mobile artillery unit for the German army, primarily used for indirect fire support, and while the Hummel’s design allowed it to effectively provide artillery fire support for infantry and tank divisions, its weight of around 24 tons and relatively slow top speed of 40 km/h made it vulnerable to enemy fire, especially from aircraft and anti-tank guns, leading the Soviets to capture and study several units, taking particular interest in the vehicle’s firepower and mobility, and upon their examination, Soviet engineers evaluated its construction, noting the use of a Panzer IV hull and the Maybach HL 120 TRM engine, which provided 265 horsepower, allowing the Hummel to move with enough speed to keep up with other armored units, while also appreciating the modular design that made the chassis adaptable for various military roles; the Soviets used these insights to inform their own artillery development, improving their own self-propelled gun designs with lessons learned from the captured Hummel and other German vehicles.
Specifications
General Information
- Origin: Germany
- USSR Captured: 10-12
- Crew: 6
Dimensions
- Length: 7.1 meters
- Width: 3 meters
- Height: 2.4 meters
- Weight: Roughly 24 tons
Armament: Equipped with a 150mm StuH 43 L/12 howitzer (capable of delivering powerful high-explosive rounds for indirect fire support.)
Mobility:
- Engine: Powered by a Maybach HL 120 TRM engine, providing 265 horsepower.
- Maximum Speed: Approximately 40 km/h (25 mph)