The Wespe gave German panzer divisions a compact 105 mm self-propelled howitzer on a modified Panzer II chassis, trading armor for mobility and rapid production.
Self-Propelled Artillery · Self-propelled howitzerWespe · Sd.Kfz. 124 · 10.5 cm leFH 18/2 auf Geschützwagen IIPrimary image verified
Wespe. Primary reference image for this archive profile. Source date: 2005-08-07.baku13; CC BY-SA 3.0Image source
Rolearmored-division field artillery
Main weapon / system10.5 cm leFH 18/2 howitzer
Platform / layoutlengthened Panzer II-derived chassis with open rear fighting compartment
MediaPrimary image integrated
Development and design
German designers lengthened and rearranged the obsolete Panzer II chassis to carry the standard light field howitzer in an open-topped rear compartment. The result was simpler and more purpose-built than many earlier field conversions. 1, 2
Operational use
Wespen served in self-propelled artillery battalions from 1943, supporting armored formations on the Eastern and Western Fronts. Ammunition carrier variants supplemented the limited onboard load. 1, 2
Role and significance
The Wespe showed how an obsolete tank chassis could become a highly useful artillery platform when the design was optimized around indirect fire rather than treated as an improvised gun carrier. 1, 2
Sources and further reading
Representative source set used for this profile. Primary image source and reuse terms are listed with the image.
