AFV Modeller - Issue 25 - 3 - Sturer Emil

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Sturer Emil

by Thomas Anderson Emil from the rear. The combat crew of four stand on the vehicle being admired by nosy infantry men. (Photo courtesy Y. Kadari)

Well before WW II the German ordnance

shelved the existing hulls could be used as

this box. During maintenance work the gun

bureau decided on the development of

base vehicles but again, by 1941 only two

had to fully depressed so that the engine

heavy SP guns (10 cm and 12.8 cm

SP guns were produced under the

could be removed. It is likely that the rear

calibre) which would be able to destroy

designation Pz.Sfl V, the nickname ‘Sturer

plate of this box could be opened for

enemy fortifications. A war against France

Emil’ was adopted later.

smaller work, and possibly the roof plate of the box could be removed as well.

was planned so these SP guns would be

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introduced in small numbers to bust the

Of a conventional design, the hulls were

bunkers of the Maginot-line. This schedule

lengthened to accept an additional set of

The driver was placed in an armoured bay

had to be dropped but work on the two SP

roadwheels. The final drive remained in the

in the front of the hull and to his right were

gun development was continued. The

front, the engine was located in the rear of

the fuel tanks.

lighter weapon, the s. 10 cm Kanone was

the vehicle in the middle of the fighting

mounted on a modified Pzkw IV chassis

compartment. The cooling system was

The running gear consisted of large

and two vehicles were produced by the

situated behind it under the fighting

sprockets fitted at the front and 7 sets of

end of 1940.

compartment´s floor. The cooling air

interleaving roadwheels at each side with

supply was provided through two

the idler wheels fitted at the rear. Uniquely

For the proposed SP gun mounting of the

armoured bays mounted behind the

for a German vehicle, these were rubber

ultra-heavy 12.8 cm Kanone 40 the hulls of

angled back of the superstructure. The

rimmed. The track was assisted by three

the VK 3001 prototypes were used. These

combustion air was taken from inside the

return rollers.

vehicles were developed in the late 1930’s

vehicle and the engine was covered by a

as heavy tanks, in principle scaled-up

box made from sheet metal. Ventilation

Pzkw IV´s. Once plans for the VK were

slots were added to the front and rear of

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The superstructure was fitted onto the hull at the rear. It consisted of single armour plates welded at different angles. Being slightly wider than the hull, it was open topped with a small roof over the forward section. This forward section also carried thicker side armour than the rear sections. The slightly angled roof had two openings, the left curved one was intended for the Richtaufsatz/gunner´s periscope. The right aperture allowed for mounting a rotating stereoscopic sight used by the commander. A further scissor´s periscope was mounted further towards the back. Compared to later SP guns the amour protection was rather good, with 50 mm to the front and 20 mm to the sides Immediately behind the frontal armour plate of the superstructure a massive gun

This vehicle was photographed quite often, although this was prohibited. Here a group of soldiers sit on the prominent barrel of the 12,8 cm gun. Not that at this time the Pz.Sfl. V was provided with standard headlamps. (Photo courtesy Heinrich)

mount was fitted onto the hull sides. Here the 12.8 cm K 40 was mounted and to the left of the gun the sat the gunner. His seat was fixed onto the left part of the massive gun mount. The gunner used a standard gun sight. Below the gun mount a number of stowage bins were fixed, these contained the periscope and other equipment during travelling.

To the right of the gun the commander was placed in an identical arrangement to the gunner´s . The commander used a stereoscopic periscope fitted to the roof plate. The Emil was delivered without a radio system, this was added later. The floor of the fighting compartment in the

The Pz.Sfl. V at the Artillerie Lehr Regiment, Jüterbog, in early 1941. A large tarpaulin covers the fighting compartment. The vehicle shows a plain dark grey colour. (Photo courtesy S. Clark)

rear was covered with wooden slats.

In front of the superstructure two box-like bays were fitted. The left one was made from armour plate and covered the driver’s position. On the front of this cabin a visor (Fahrersichtblende 50) was mounted. The driver could enter his compartment through a hatch in the bay´s roof. There was also an escape hatch fitted in front of the second return roller, a left over from the Pz.Sfl. V´s ancestor, the VK 3001. This escape hatch was fitted to both sides of the hull, even though the right one was blocked by the fuel tanks.

To the right of the hull a second similar bay was fitted. This was a dummy construction made from sheet metal, which could be folded to the front. This bay was probably Another view to the SP gun. Note that the letter „L“ was painted on the hull´s front plate, probably for Lehrregiment (instructional regiment). (Photo collection Anderson)

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This is definetely the other Pz.Sfl. V, photographed at the same time in

The vast plains of Russia were an ideal playground for Emil. The 12,8 cm was able

Jüterbog. This vehicle lacks the left headlamp, but has brackets welded to the

to destroy any enemy armour over far distances. (Photo courtesy F. von Aufseß)

frontal armour plates. Their purpose is unknowm. (Photo collection Anderson)

This photo shows the absence of the dummy bay. A number of extra running

This is possibly the other vehicle following. Note that the dummy bay on right

wheels are visible on the glacis plate, a hint that these caused problems? Note the

hand side has been removed. A radio set was added, as evident by the

15 kill rings painted to the massive barrel. (Photo courtesy F. von Aufseß)

antenna. (Photo courtesy K. Münch)

used to store the personal kit of the crew.

around the gun barrel and the gun had a

them to be most important. He expected

This bay also covered the fuel tank filler

three piece recuperator.

the introduction of heavy American and

point and during action in Russia this dummy bay was removed from one

English tanks later in the war. Thus it was The ammunition

vehicle.

not only as mobile artillery, but also as tank The ammunition for the 12.8 cm K 40 was

destroyers. Mass production should start in

a two-piece type. The cartridges and the

1942. In early 1941 both pre-production

grenades were transported separately.

vehicles were transferred for evaluations to

This gun was derived from the 12.8 cm

Inside the vehicle, 18 ready rounds were

the Pz.Jg.Abt. 521, a special purpose

Flak 40, which had to be heavily modified.

stored, the brass cartridges in horizontal

battalion. 521 was mainly outfitted with PzJg

The barrel was largely unchanged, but was

boxes, the grenades in vertical fittings.

1, one heavy company received the two

The 12.8 cm Kanone 40

s.10 cm Kanone auf Sfl IV a known as Dicker

fitted with a new cradle. This was of tubular construction, similar to the type

Sturer Emil in action

Max, the other heavy company the two Pz.Sfl V 12,8 cm SP guns. With the start of

later used for the Ferdinand and

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decided that the vehicles should be used

Jagdpanther tank hunters. This cradle can

Although these SP guns were not ready for

Operation Barbarossa the unit was sent to

be described as a coat-like housing

action in France, Hitler himself considered

the central section of the eastern front.

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Unlike it´s smaller brother which was used rather seldom (and without great success), the Sturer Emil saw extensive action during offensive operations. While Max, because of the 10 cm gun´s slow muzzle velocity, had to be used in an artillery manner, the 12.8 cm K 40 was a high performance gun with flat trajectory. It´s armour penetration results were incredible. Eyewitnesses reported that T-34 tanks were simply perforated, the shell passing right through the tank on the opposite side and causing more damage there. Accuracy was good, but did not match the results of the famous 8.8 cm Flak 36. The gun was able to engage targets up to 3,500 m. Russia´s vast steppes were a formidable battleground for the Emil.

Unfortunately the SP gun suffered from poor mobility. Emil reached a maximum speed of 15 km/h over rough terrain, and the driver´s were told to drive extremely carefully in order not to cause damage to the gun mount. The crew´s situation was not very satisfactory with a running engine beside them, reloading took place under extreme conditions. The very large and heavy rounds and the separate cartridges had to be handled over the hot engine cover and as a result burns were seen quite often. As a result of these shortcomings, like the Dicker Max SP gun,

Emil has engine problems. A large wooden jib had to be erected to seize the engine of this Pz.Sfl. V. No easy job, since the massive breech block is cumbersomely. (Photo courtesy A. Takigushi)

the ambitious production plans for the Sturer Emil were dropped in favour of more economic solutions.

The Pz.Sfl. V, now called sturer Emil, at the front. Although slovenly covered with foliage, a number of alterations are visible. The headlamps were substituted by armoured lamps. Only Emil´s smaller brother, „Dicker Max“, received these lamps, too. (Photo courtesy Y. Kadari)

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After the war the SP gun was displayed under the open sky in Kubinka. (Photo courtesy S. Netrebenko)

The sole remaining example is now preserved at in Kubinka in fairly complete condition.

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Above Details of the drivers compartment - the purpose of the holes in the roof is unclear Below The fighting compartment and gun mantlet, note the weld details on the edge of the mantlet.

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Above close ups of the fighting compartment and the welded joints on the rear of the vehicle Below The towing bracket and track tensioner and 2 views of the top of the massive gun.

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Above The front of the fighting compartment showing the welded pegs to carry spare tracks Centre The hull front showing the very basic towing bracket and the remains of the spare track mount. Right Recessed screw heads on the glacis plate. The rectangular plate may have been connected to the fitting of the dummy drivers compartment?

Above Although much of the interior fittings have been removed this allows a clear view of either side of the gun mount. The gunners controls and sight mount remain, note that the torsion bars are visible on the hull floor.

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Above The running gear and standard Panzer III escape hatch although fitted upside down. Below A good view down the side of the gun mounting showing the ribs supporting the fighting compartment walls.

Above details of the 2 part 12.8cm ammunition and its containers

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