1944 - German SP Howitzer 15cm Hummel "Bumble Bee" (SdKfz 165)

Armament:              1-15cmSFH18/1 L/30 howitzer
Engine:                    Maybach, HL 120TRM, V-12, gas, 300 hp
Speed:                    24 mph
Range:                    124 miles
Crew:                       6
Weight:                    25 tons

A heavy SP artillery vehicle mounting the 15cm (5.9") heavy field
howitzer in a lightly armored superstructure on the same hybrid Panzer III/IV chassis used for the Nashorn. Designed to provide armored units with artillery support. Crew protection was poor. Silhouette too high. First saw action at Kursk initially as a battery of 6 Hummels per Panzer Division. Later a second battery was added. A total of 666 were constructed by the firm Deutsche Eisenwerke. In addition, 150 gunless Hummels were produced as munitions carriers.