Hummel

Also known as 150L30 on Gun Carrier III/IV, sFH 18/1 L/30 on Gun Carrier III/IV

1943 German self-propelled howitzer

Key facts

Type: Self-propelled artillery
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1943–1945
Wars: World War II
Mass: 24 tonnes (52,910 lb)
Length: 7.17 m (23 ft 6 in)
Width: 2.97 m (9 ft 9 in)
Height: 2.81 m (9 ft 3 in)
Crew: 6 - Driver and 5 gun crew
Armor: 10–30 mm (.39 - 1.18 in)
Main armament: Hummel :, 1 × 15 cm sFH 18/1 L/30 , 18 rounds Hummel-Wespe :, 1 × 10.5 cm leFH 18/40 L/28 , 18+ rounds
Secondary armament: 1 × 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 , 600 rounds

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Article

Hummel (German: "bumblebee") was a German self-propelled gun used by the Wehrmacht during World War II. Based on the Geschützwagen III/IV chassis and armed with the 15 cm sFH 18/1 L/30 howitzer, it saw action from early 1943 until the end of the war. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz. 165.

The full name was Panzerfeldhaubitze 18M auf Geschützwagen III/IV (Sf) Hummel, Sd.Kfz. 165. On February 27, 1944, Hitler ordered the name Hummel to be dropped as it was deemed inappropriate for a fighting vehicle.