15 cm Grille SPG series

[Milocat 4,857]

 

Grille K (foreground) and two Grille H (background)

 

The Sd.Kfz.138/1 15 cm Schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) series of vehicles (referred to as the Grille, or cricket, for short), was a series of direct-fire capable self-propelled artillery vehicles built for the German military in WWII.  They were build on the chassis of Czech Panzer 38(t) tanks, designed to use up surplus chassis and 15cm guns and provide mobile howitzer support to infantry and armored columns.  The vehicles were constructed in two main varieties starting in early 1943; the early versions were built on Panzer 38(t) Ausf. H chassis with a rear-mounted engine and a mid-mounted fighting compartment, while the later versions used the Panzer 38(t) Ausf. M chassis, with a front-mounted engine and a rear-mounted fighting compartment; this later model was referred to as the Grille Ausf. K.  In addition to the main gun, the vehicles mounted an MG34 7.92mm machine gun for defense against infantry.  As a tank, it had a moderately-armored body but only a lightly armored superstructure, and the open-topped fighting compartment made the vehicles vulnerable to strafing.  389 Grilles of the two variants were built, along with 102 vehicles of an ammunition carrier variant, replacing the howitzer with additional 150mm ammunition storage; these vehicles could at least theoretically be easily modified into combat-ready Grilles by installing a howitzer.  

Grilles were produced from February 1943 to October 1944 and saw extensive service on both the eastern and western fronts.  One Grille of the Ausf. K model survives at the U.S. Army Ordinance Museum in Aberdeen, Maryland.  

 

I think that the Grilles would be excellent derp-gun additions to the German ground forces line!  They would be in a similar league to the existing Sturmpanzer II Bison.  

 

Specifications (Grille Ausf. K where not otherwise stated):  

Length:  4.61m

Width:  2.16m

Height:  2.4m

Weight:  11.5 tons

Engine:  Praga EPA/2 6-cylinder gasoline engine, 147 hp

Speed:  35 kmh (22 mph)

Crew:  5 (Driver, Gunner, Commander, Loader, Loader/Radio Operator)

Armor (Ausf. K):  50mm hull front, 25mm on superstructure front, 15mm gun shield, 15mm on hull sides and rear, 8mm floor, open top

Armament:  One 150mm sIG 33 howitzer (15 rounds), one 7.92mm MG34 machine gun (600 rounds)

Number Built:  210 (Grille Ausf. H), 179 (Grille Ausf. K), 102 (unarmed ammunition carrier variant)

 

Images:  

Grille Ausf. H:  

Spoiler

Grille Ausf. K:  

Spoiler

 

Sources:  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grille_(artillery) 

https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/germany/artillery/grille/ 

http://world-war-2.wikia.com/wiki/SdKfz_138/1_Grille 

http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/sIG-33_auf_SdKfz38(t)-Ausf-H-M_Grille.php

Edited May 1, 2019 by Milocat

[Radom 4,245]

Open for discussion

[Milocat 4,857]

30 minutes ago, Radom said:

Open for discussion

 

Thank you!  

[DarthGergely 464]

Huge cannons! +1 

[kamikazi21358 998]

As long as they don’t operate like WoT SPGs, these would be fun.

 

Where would they possibly go?  Open topped TD line?

[Milocat 4,857]

6 minutes ago, kamikazi21358 said:

As long as they don’t operate like WoT SPGs, these would be fun.

 

Where would they possibly go?  Open topped TD line?

 

I think they could be tabbed under the Sturmpanzer II, since they're basically the same gun on a 38(t) chassis instead of a Panzer II chassis.  

 

They provide better crew protection against other tanks' machine guns but are bigger targets so I think it's about even.  

[onemax9000 1,243]

+1 more derp guns i can already see that people would use them at top tier.

[armando30 493]

I wonder where it could fit, I mean, it is the same howitzer used on the Sturmpanzer II and many others

[Deathbringer007 118]

I'll take it so I can start cooking enemy tanks.

[Wolf_89 2,525]

Yes pls. As long as it has direct line of fire.

[Zombificus 793]

I was hoping we’d see these tanks sooner rather than later when Sturmpanzer II got added, but sadly so far they’ve remained absent from War Thunder. 

 

These are essentially derpgun Marders, with slightly less speed but noticeably better armour than the Sturmpanzer (25 mph w/ 30mm vs 22 mph w/ 50mm) which should enable them to be a little more survivable. Both the H and K have taller superstructures than StuPa II, which will make them a little less vulnerable to MG fire, and since the K has a central engine, it should see slightly improved survivability just from the engine stopping shots that would otherwise have gone all the way through. 

 

Like the Marders, I also think both variants, however similar, should be added. The H’s forward superstructure should help it be more aggressive and will probably give it better gun depression than the K, which on the other hand should be the more survivable of the two. I’d expect them to be relatively low in BR, maybe 2.3 for H and 2.3-2.7 for K, since they aren’t worlds different from the 2.0 StuPa II; at the same time, they should be able to handle nearly anything in an uptier with their huge guns, so long as they’re careful to keep out of the heavier fire. 

 

The Grilles should have been in the game years back and I hope they make it in soon. 

Edited July 12, 2019 by Zombificus

[Wulfbane 126]

These would be fun additions right after the Sturmpanzer at about the same BR. Folder them up in the research tree so not strictly necessary to have both researched, but I think they would be great additions for derp guns.

[Yontzee 1,675]

Classic artillery piece. Would be great to see especially if Artillery can be implemented properly. Hope to see +1

[SnakeMantis007@psn 30]

I love these little things… Seeing them come into the game would be fantastic !

 

+1

[modern_primat 182]

it was cute tank in WoT, and would be cute in WT too!!

 

yes... gib grille, both, folder them.. but  priority is grille k..

 

also bison should be in game too..

Edited September 20, 2021 by modern_primat

[Matt_82 1,096]

Bring on the derp.

Edited October 11, 2021 by Matt_82

[CokeSpray 7,274]

Suggestion passed to the developers for consideration.