krupp/ardelt waffenträger 105mm lefh-18

The box title 'Krupp/Ardelt Waffentrager 105mm leFH-18' is the plastic model-makers' slightly garbled version of the Krupp/Ardelt leichter Waffenträger für 10,5cm leFH 18/40/4 (some sources say leFH 18/40/5 piece).

That 'light' distinguishes this vehicle from the 1943 Heuschrecke IVb - or 10.5cm leFH 18/6 auf Waffenträger Geschützwagen III/IV - which was rejected as been overly heavy for the calibre employed. The Krupp/Ardelt leichter Waffenträger carried the same L/28 10.5cm piece as the Heuschrecke IVb - with an elevation of -8° to +45° and, IIRC, 360° traverse. As on the Heuschrecke IVb, the turret could be dismounted onto a low frame - hence the involvement of crane-maker, Ardelt-Werke GmbH.

However, the howitzer was just one of four main weapons anticipated for the leichter Waffenträger. Using interchangeable turrets (at least so far as concern the production line), the Krupp/Ardelt leichter Waffenträger was designed to accommodate either a mortar (12cm Granatwerfer 42 aka PM 38), howitzer (10,5cm leFH 18), or 7,5cm anti-tank gun (PaK 40 L/46 or PaK 44 L/70).

The leichter Waffenträger was based on a reorganzied and extended PzKpfw 38 (t) hull powered by a 140 hp Steyr 12-cylinder engine. AFAIK, only the leichter Waffenträger SP howitzer prototype was completed. It was successfully tested in April 1945 but the 'breakdown' prevented production. An anti-tank Waffenträger was also built by Krupp/Ardelt but this was a slightly larger vehicle armed with 8,8cm PaK 43 L/71 gun.
 
Here is what I found in my files: two photos showing a vehicle that probably was the leichter Waffenträger with the 10.5cm howitzer. In the first photo a British soldier may be seen, so the photo must have been taken after the vehicle had been captured by the British.

Piotr
 

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-- http://aviarmor.net/tww2/tanks/germany/waffentrager105mm_krupp.htm

Interesting! According to the link above, these images are identified as the Krupp-Egen Waffenträger 10.5cm (or Mittlere Einheitswaffenträger). From the description, ing. Egen intended a vehicle series with either 4 roadwheels per side or 6 roadwheels per side - the later powered by an air-cooled Tatra 220 (presumably the Typ 103 V-12 diesel as per the Pz.Kpfw.38 nA and Jagdpanzer 38D). [1]

Based on that, it sounds like the Krupp/Ardelt leichter Waffenträger für 10,5cm leFH 18/40/5 was actually part of a larger family. Going by that article, the 10,5 cm howitzer version of the leichter Waffenträger was also designated as Gerät 578 GW 638/21. Unrealized variants were:

Gerät 577 GW 638/20 armed with 15cm sIG 33/2 howitzer; 30 rds; traverse -30°/+30°; elevation -5°/+45°,

Gerät 579 GW 638/22 armed with 12.8cm K81/3 (Sf) field gun; 30 rds; traverse -30°/+30°; elevation -5°/+45°,

Gerät 580 GW 638/23 armed with 15cm sFH 18/6, 20 rds; traverse -30°/+30°; elevation -0°/+45°

The author also mentions another, undesignated option which would mount the 8.8cm PaK 43 L/71 with Rblf 32/36 sight.
- 40 rds; traverse -30°/+30°; elevation -8°/+40°.

That undesignated PaK is curious. How would that be different than the built Krupp/Ardelt Waffenträger 8.8 cm PaK 43/3 L/71? There are recreation drawings out there that illustrate a PaK variant with 6 road wheels per side. But that same series of drawings shows a 6-roadwheeled mount for the 10,5cm howitzer. That alone makes me question its accuracy (since ing. Egen planned both 4- and 6-roadwheeled variants, why would the longer hull be wasted on a smaller howitzer?).

Based on the terms used, I'm wondering if the 'medium' in Mittlere Einheitswaffenträger was meant to distinguish between the 6-roadwheeled variants versus leichter Waffenträger for the 4-roadwheeled variants. All pure speculation, of course. Anyway, questions to be answered ...

The Aviarmor article also provides specifications for the Gerät 578 GW 638/21 Waffenträger, summarized in a slightly modified form below:

Mittlere Einheitswaffenträger (Gerät 578) 1945 model

Crew : x 4
Combat Weight : 13,000 kg
Dimensions : L 6,750 mm; W 3,160 mm; Ground Clearance 2,250 mm
Armament : 1 x 10.5cm leFH 18/40/5 howitzer; L/28; 40 x ready rounds
Aiming Devices : Rblf36 telescopic sight
Hull Protection : Upper glacis 15 mm; sides 10 mm; rear 8 mm; roof 8 mm; belly 10 mm
Turret Protection : Front 20 mm; sides 10 mm; rear 10 mm; gun shield 15 mm
Engine : 1 x Praga AC/2 liquid-cooled 6-cylinder gasoline; 150 hp @ 2500 rpm
Transmission : 5-speed gearbox (5 speeds forward and 1 reverse) and multi-disc main dry friction clutch Running gear (per side): Front drive sprocket; 4 x road wheels; 1 x support roller, rear idler wheel
Performance : Top speed (road) 35 km/h on the highway
Communication : FuG16 radio set

________________________________________

[1] -- https://warspot.net/343-how-the-wehrmacht-s-diesel-stalled
 
hmm and what should I change in model, which artwork I've sent, to make accurate 1/35 miniature of Waffenträger 105mm leFh 18 ?
 

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