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"Shturmtigr" (it. Sturmtiger), the full official name of 38 cm RW61 auf Sturm (panzer) Morser Tiger
1 Shturmtigr Museum, st.Kubinka





"Shturmtigr" - one of the most obscure and original samples of German armored vehicles of World War 2 period. It is not surprising that in his description of the military-historical literature very often have inaccuracies and errors. For example, in July of this year in Moscow bookstores went on sale encyclopedia "Tanks of World War II," in which one can read that self-propelled "Shturmtigr" "was armed with muzzle-loading 380-mm mortars, firing projectiles weighing 345 kg." In other words, [next] In this specification, "Shturmtigr" similar to a grand self-propelled mortar. But more often it is presented to the reading public simply as a self-propelled mortar *.

* Mortar - large caliber artillery gun with a short barrel to conduct mounted shooting. It meant primarily for the destruction of particularly strong fortifications. Shooting was conducted at angles of elevation of the barrel of 50-75 degrees.

2 Shturmtigr during testing Kummersdofskom landfill, 1944 Inscription Geheim - Secret



So, what is a "Shturmtigr" What is the history of its creation and combat application?

August 5, 1943 before the "Henschel" ("Henschel") has been tasked to create a powerful self-propelled based heavy tank Pz. YI E ("Tiger 1") to destroy fortifications and firing clusters of enemy troops. October 20th, 1943 the prototype "Shturmtigr" on the ground in ARIS (Orzysz) has been shown to Adolf Hitler, who was pleased with what he saw and ordered the fine-tuning of the machine and its subsequent production. Production (or rather - alteration of the serial "Tigers") began in August 1944, the company "Alkett" ("Alkett"). Until March 1945 managed to collect 18 "Shturmtigr", of which 13 were transferred to the army.

For the first time, "Shturmtigr" (prototype) participated in combat operations in August 1944 - the suppression of the Warsaw Uprising. August 12 "Shturmtigr" 75-ton steam crane, specially brought from Radom, was unloaded from the train station platform in Pruszkow. The next day he got his move to the Polish capital. To use an instance of Warsaw fire, felling which was made of a simple steel. This first episode of the combat biography "Shturmtigr" was filmed by German kinohronikerami and survives today. The scale of destruction caused by this monstrous machine of destruction, made a strong impression on the audience in the cinema of the Third Reich, strengthening their faith in victory. From the series "Shturtigrov" were formed two companies (1000 and 1001-I) used in combat until the end of the war, mostly on the Western Front.
Little is known about their organization, most likely they consisted of two combat platoons of the shield, armed with tanks T-1U, as well as technical support and service intelligence.

1000 th company was formed in September 1944, September 21 has received four "Shturmtigr." In December 1944, a company focused on the Western Front, where the fighting was only one "Shturmtigr" and three others did not reach their destinations because of technical problems.

In November 1944, the 1001 th company fought in the Eiffel mountains, and in January 1945 - in the area of ​​Düren, Euskirchen-Bonn. Machines have proved effective as a means of destroying long-gun emplacements. Aimed Shot "Shturmtigr" completely destroyed a large bunker on the Siegfried Line, the Allies occupied. Another rocket explosion among a large group of allied tanks completely destroyed three "Sherman" and five injured. The Anglo-Americans have suppressed the position "Shturmtigr" using long-range artillery and aircraft. In March 1945, a large ferry three "Shturmtigr" were ferried across the Rhine, and later destroyed them in the Ruhr basin.

3 Shturmtigr. Captured pieces 3A 1st Belorus.fronta. r.Elba 1945 g.Zy is the one who drew off Kubinka



Features of the prototype:
Year (s) of production - 1944;
Year (s) of operation - 1944 1945;
The number of issued, NY - 18.

Dimensions:
Length, mm 6280;
Width, mm 3570;
Height mm 2850;
Ground clearance, mm 470.

Armament:
The caliber and brand of gun 380 mm StuM RM 61 L / 5;
Type of gun jet bombomёt;
Barrel length, caliber 5, 4;
Gun ammunition 14;
July 1 machine gun, 92 mm MG-34;
Other weapons 100mm antipersonnel grenade.

Mobility:
Engine Type V-shaped 12-cylinder liquid-cooled carburetor;
Motor Power, hp 650;
The speed on the highway, km / h 38;
Speed ​​over rough terrain, km / h 16;
Cruising on the highway, 100 km;
Cruising cross country, 60 km;
Specific power, hp / t 10, 6;
Suspension type - individual torsion;
Track Width, mm 725;
Ground pressure, kg / cm2, 1, 18;
Gradeability, hail. 35;
To overcome the wall, m 0, 8;
Width surmounted ditch, m 2, 3;
Fording, m 1, 2.

4 Laying of ammunition inside Shturmtigr


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Sources:
1. Pereyaslavets I., M. Kolomiets, "Shturmtigr" 1998
2. Halyavsky G., "Encyclopedia of tanks", 1999

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