8.8cm PaK43/1 (L/71) auf Geschützwagen III und IV (Sf) (Sd Kfz 164)
Designed in 1942 to provide a self-propelled mount for the 8.8cm PaK43/1 anti-tank gun. Utilising the same basic hull as the Hummel (self-propelled 15cm howitzer), which integrated common Panzer III and IV components, the Hornisse first went into production in February 1943.
Armed with the 8.8cm PaK43/1 L/71 gun it could penetrate:
- 132mm (153mm with Pzgr40/43) at 2000 metres
- 165mm (193mm with Pzgr40/43) at 1000 metres
- 185mm (217mm with Pzgr40/43) at 500 metres
- 203mm (237mm with Pzgr40/43) at 100 metres
It had 30mm of hull front armour, but only 10mm on its superstructure. It had a crew of four and an additional machine gun for local and anti-aircraft defence.The first 100 were to be completed ready for the summer offensive on the eastern front.
They served with the 655th schwere Panzerjägerabteilung during the Kursk offensive.A further five abteilungs were formed and saw service in the east, west and Italian fronts including the 88th and 93rd schwere Panzerjägerabteilungs.The Hornisse proved to be a formidable weapon when used as intended, knocking out enemy tank formations at long range from concealment.
The Hornisse comes with 3 crew.
