Sturer Emil

Sturer Emil

The only surviving 'Sturer Emil' in Kubinka Tank Museum
Type heavy tank destroyer
Place of origin Nazi Germany
Service history
In service 1942-1943
Used by Nazi Germany
Wars World War II
Production history
Designed 1941
Produced 1942
Number built 2
Specifications
Weight 35 tonnes (34 long tons; 39 short tons)
Length 9.7 metres (32 ft)
Width 3.16 metres (10.4 ft)
Height 2.7 metres (8.9 ft)
Crew 5

Armor 15 - 50 mm
Main
armament
Rheinmetall 128 mm PaK 40 L/61
Secondary
armament
MG 34
Engine Maybach water-cooled, V-6, HL116
300 horsepower (220 kW)
Power/weight 8.57 hp/tonne
Fuel capacity 450 litres (120 US gal)
Speed 25 kilometres per hour (16 mph)

The 12.8 cm Selbstfahrlafette auf VK30.01(H) "Sturer Emil" (German for "Stubborn Emil") was an experimental World War II German self-propelled anti-tank gun. It was based on the Henschel VK30.01 chassis and armed with a Rheinmetall 12.8 cm K L/61 gun (based on the 12.8 cm FlaK 40). This gun could traverse 7° to each side, elevate 10° and depress -15°. It carried 15 rounds for the main gun.

An artist drawing of the Sturer Emil.

The chassis was left over from Henschel's submission for the canceled VK30.01 heavy tank program, but the hull was stretched and an extra road wheel added to accommodate the large gun, which was mounted on a pedestal ahead of the engine. A large, open-topped, fighting compartment was built where the turret was intended to go in the original design.

Two vehicles (named after Max and Moritz) were built, both of which served on the Eastern Front. One vehicle was destroyed, the other captured at Stalingrad in January 1943, with 31 kill marks painted on the barrel. This captured vehicle is now displayed in the collection on the Kubinka Tank Museum.

References

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