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Heuschrecke 10
Prototype of a self-propelled howitzer / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Heuschrecke 10 (English: Grasshopper 10) was a German prototype self-propelled gun and Waffenträger (English: "Weapon carrier") developed by Krupp-Gruson between 1943 and 1944. The official designation of the vehicle was 105 mm leichte Feldhaubitze 18/1 L/28 auf Waffenträger Geschützwagen IVb (Pz. Sfl. IVb) and was to be built in Magdeburg, Germany. The Heuschrecke featured a removable turret which could be deployed as a pillbox or towed behind the vehicle as an artillery piece.
Heuschrecke 10 | |
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![]() A Heuschrecke 10 on display. | |
Type | Prototype self-propelled howitzer[1] |
Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
Specifications | |
Mass | 23 tonnes |
Length | 6 m (20 ft) |
Width | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
Height | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
Crew | 5 men (commander, gunner, 2 loaders and a driver) |
Armor | see below |
Main armament | 105 mm leFH 18/1 L/28 |
Engine | Maybach HL90 12-cylinder 200 hp (149 kW) |
Power/weight | 15.6 hp/tonne |
Suspension | leaf spring |
Operational range | On road : 300 kilometers (190 mi) |
Maximum speed | 45 km/h (27.96 mph) |
Krupp produced only three prototypes from 1942–1943. The Heuschrecke initially made use of a shortened Panzerkampfwagen IV (Panzer IV) chassis, but it was later switched to the Geschützwagen IV chassis, developed for the Hummel self-propelled gun. Mass production of the Heuschrecke 10 was scheduled to start in February 1945, but never occurred.