Germany
15cm sIG Gw 38(t) front engine ausf M
Ordnance classification - SdKfz 138/1

Tweet The 15cm sIG Gw 38(t) front engine ausf M was designed in 1942, manufactured by Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik AG based on the existing fully tracked Czech LT Vz 38 and was in use from 1943 to 1945. General Details Specifications Operational Date(s) 1943 - 1945 Ordnance classification SdKfz 138/1 Quantity Produced 102 Weight 10.5 tonne Crew 4 M.G's small 1 M.G's large(>10mm) n/a Length 4.69 mtr Width 2.15 mtr Height 2.46 mtr Engine Details/Performance Max Road Speed 22 mph Max Cross Country Speed 10 mph Range Road 0 miles Range Cross Country unknown Fuel Type Petrol Fuel Capacity unknown Horse Power 125 hp Power/Weight 11 hp/tonne General Information The 15cm sIG Gw 38(t) front engine ausf M was designed in 1942, manufactured by Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik AG based on the existing fully tracked Czech LT Vz 38 and was in use from 1943 to 1945. The vehicle was powered by Praga 'AC' petrol powerplant producing 125 HP which could drive the vehicle on roads at up to 22 mph with a range of about 0 miles before refuelling. Its cross country performance was adequate providing a max speed of about 10 mph and a range of about 0 miles. It was armed with 1 light machine gun. Its main armament consisted of a 15cm sIG 33 L/11 which could penetrate 81 mm of flat plate at 400 metres Armour Details Turret Front 6mm @ 28° (7mm) Side 10mm @ 16° (10mm) Rear 10mm @ 17° (10mm) Top n/a Superstructure Front 10mm @ 30° (12mm) Side 10mm @ 15° (10mm) Rear 10mm @ 0° (10mm) Top 8mm @ 90° (8mm) Hull Front 20mm @ 15° (21mm) Side 15mm @ 0° (15mm) Rear 10mm @ 41° (13mm) Top 10mm @ 90° (10mm) Armour (x)mm @ (y)° (Effective mm @ 0°) Effective Armour - Maximum 21 mm - Minimum 10 mm Weapon Details 15cm sIG 33 L/11 15cm schwere Infanteriegeschutz 33 L/11 (translates as Heavy Artillery) History Standard German army heavy infantry gun originally issued in 1927 was still being produced at the end or the war. This gun was also mounted on a number of motorised chassis such as the 15cm s.I.G 33 Gw II(A,B,C,F). Manufacturer Rheinmetal Manufactured 1927 - 1945 Calibre 150mm Length L/11 Rate of Fire 3rpm   Ammunition Details Name/Id Calibre Weight MVelocity Explosive Content 15cm I Gr 33 (HE High Explosive) 150mm 38Kg 240M/Sec 8.300Kg explosive Maximum Range 4700 Mtr Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.42 0.84 1.71 3.52 5.44 7.46 9.62 11.91 Direct Fire Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.42 0.84 1.71 3.52 5.44 7.46 9.62 11.91 Hit Probability(%) 98 98 77 22 6 2 1 0 Blast/Fragmentation Effects Burst radius Infantry in open 99% kill 6 mtr Burst radius Infantry in open 66% kill 12 mtr Burst radius Infantry in open 33% kill 30 mtr  Armour Penetration inc roof at 2 mtr 24 mm An explosion within 6 mtr of infantry in the open will cause 99% casualties - lethal. An explosion within 12 mtr of infantry in the open will cause > 66% casualties and could damage some AFV's. An explosion within 30 mtr of infantry in the open will cause 33% casualties. The blast effect of this shell exploding within 2 mtr of an armoured vehicle will penetrate 24 mm of the tank armour including the roof. 15cm I Gr 39 Hl/A (HEAT High Explosive Anti-Tank) 150mm 25Kg 240M/Sec Quoted Penetration 160mm @ 500mtr/0° Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.42 0.84 1.71 3.52 Penetration(mm@30°) 160 160 160 160 Penetration(mm@0°) 160 160 160 160 Hit Probability(%) 98 98 77 22

Hit probability is based on a static 2 x 2.4 metre panel at 0 degrees(vertical) at the range specified.

The data that has been used to create these records has come from Wikipedia, The Lone Sentry, The Bundes Archive and numerous books and websites that have provided the detailed information that has not been available anywhere else. The information we use to calculate the penetration tables, flight times and the hit probability comes from the Gun Calibre, the Shell Mass(Kg) and the muzzle velocity, plus range reductions to allow for gravity and wind resistance. This calculation originally came from a pre-war Krupp calculation which has been modified, and seems to fit the actual test results.

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