Also known as the Sturmtiger, the 38 cm Sturmmörser was a self-propelled, snub-barrel artillery piece employed by the Wehrmacht in World War II. Built by the German Alkett Company, it was introduced into service in mid 1943, with a total of only 25 pieces being produced. Despite its small number, the Sturmtiger saw combat action in northern Italy, in the Battle of the Bulge, and during the Polish uprising of Warsaw. It was an specialized weapon designed to provide close fire support to infantry units in urban warfare.
Technical Characteristics
The 38 cm Sturmmörser was a 380mm-caliber self-propelled assault gun. It was mounted on the chassis of the Tiger I tank; hence the name 'Sturmtiger'. The turret was replaced by a big box-shaped housing made of welded steel plates. To be precise, its barrel was not a real gun but a rocket-launcher, which was based on the naval Raketenwerfer 61 used to attack submarines. It fired 345-kg, rocket-propelled depth charge but on the land battlefield, it fired specially designed shells, which weighed 350 kg. It was also fitted with a 7.92mm MG 34/42 machine gun.
Specifications
Type: self-propelled assault mortar
Weight: 65 tons
Length: 6.28 m (20 ft 7 in)
Width: 3.57 m (11 ft, 8.6 in)
Height: 2.85 m (9 ft, 4.2 in)
Power Plant: one Maybach V-12 gasoline engine, delivering 650 HP.
Maximum Speed: 40 km/h
Below, a Sturmtiger caught by the Allied in 1945.
