STURMPANZER IV BRUMMBAR SDKFZ 166 LATE VERSION IN 1/15 SCALE. The Sturmpanzer IV Brummbar (growling bear) weighed 28 tons and had 100mm of front armor and was armed with a 15cm heavy infantry gun on a Panzer IV chassis. The design owed its origins to the request of Hitler for a self-propelled 15cm SIG 33 Howitzer on the Panzer IV chassis in which Hitler stressed the need for a thin-walled shell with high-explosive shrapnel effect in the field, with the barrel to be shortened, as the gun could be used exclusively as a sort of mine launcher. For this gun, a shell with an effect like that of a mine was to be developed at once, the shot range was not to be more than four kilometers. At the same time, Hitler chose the name “Sturmpanzer Brummbar”, since the designation of armored vehicles constantly led to confusion, Hitler requested a list with clear concepts for the naming of all Panzerkampfwagen(tanks) Panzerjager(tank destroyers) Sturmgeschutz(assault guns) and Selbstfahrlafetten(self-propelled guns) which won his approval. It is of interest to note, however, that what had started out as a rather esoteric artillery dream of fanciful vehicles, had turned into a highly sophisticated and ruthlessly standardized type of vehicle. In Hitler’s mind, he saw this vehicle as a lumbering behemoth with strength and force enough to crush anything in its way. Hitler was personally responsible for instigating the idea. The Sturmpanzer IV Brummbar (growling bear) was a spectacular and formidable massive-looking vehicle, lean, streamlined, and fully rationalized, with quick readiness to fire, including direct aiming, very difficult to knock-out and living up to its name. The one featured here is the more improved Sturmpanzer IV Brummbar late version featuring a re-designed fighting compartment layout with a commanders cupola and a ball-mounted MG 34 in the hull front for close self-defense.
