At the beginning 1942 g. chassis PzKpfw III / IV considered by experts from the control logistical as quite suitable basis for the creation of ACS from 105 mm guns. but, when it became clear, These tools can be no loss of quality of the final product installed on the chassis PzKpfw II, production lines for the production of PzKpfw II was transferred to the manufacturing leFH 18/2 on chassis Panzer II, better known under the name "Vespa" (wasp).
In February 1943 g. We received an order for production workers 1000 Units of this type of product, It is considered as a temporary measure before the advent of more powerful self-propelled guns. However, later cut to order 835 units. In an armored "Vespa" capacity housed boeukladki 32 gun shot, but 159 machines were produced as specialized transporters bringing up ammunition, capable of carrying 90 corresponding caliber projectiles. Compared with the PzKpfw II «Vespa" I became a bit longer, powerplant moved forward, and in the way now it was not four, and three support rollers. The driver sat in a closed compartment, located in the front of the case, while the rest of the crew were placed in open fighting compartment protected by thin armor plates, fleeing from bullets and shrapnel, but unable to protect people from the shells. The absence of a roof made the gun servants vulnerable to mortar shells and hand grenades, however, there was a gun for self-defense in the crew available, which were completed with all the "Vespa".
The main armament was intended for direct fire, but, because it had a maximum elevation angle 42 degrees, It is often used to conduct hinged fire from remote positions. The idea of creating belts of ammunition proved to be very productive, because it allows you to shoot guns with the barrels lined ACS and put them on the conveyor bespushechny field, thus creating a new self-propelled. Like many other examples of German armored vehicles, "Vespa" managed to take part in the Battle of Kursk in the summer 1943 city, and then continuously used on the Eastern Front. Because of their agility, speed and reliability, "Vespa", unlike most self-propelled heavier, It was popular and involved in all the European fronts, including Italian.
The performance characteristics of a howitzer "Vespa" (wasp)
| The main armament | odna 105 mm howitzer leFH18 / 2 |
| auxiliary armament | one 7.92-mm machine gun MG 34 |
| combat weight | 11 t |
| Length | 4,81 m |
| Width | 2,28 m |
| Height | 2,30 m |
| Road speed | 40 kmh |
| Cruising on the highway | 220 km |
| Crew | five people |
Foto SAU "Vespa" (wasp)
