| German: Grille Ausf. K | |
| Origin: | Nazi Germany |
| Is Vehicle: | yes |
| Service: | 1943–1945 |
| Production Date: | 1943 - 1944 |
| Number: | 389 |
| Variants: | ammunition carrier |
| Weight: | 11.5 tonnes |
| Crew: | 5 |
| Armour: | 10 mm - 15 mm |
| Primary Armament: | 1 × 15 cm sIG 33 15 rounds |
| Secondary Armament: | 1 × 7.92 mm MG 34 600 rounds |
| Engine: | 1 x Praga AC, 6-cylinder petrol engine |
| Suspension: | Leaf spring |
The 15 cm sIG 33 (Sf) German: auf Panzerkampfwagen 38(t), also known as German: Grille (German: "cricket") was a series of self-propelled artillery vehicles used by Nazi Germany during World War II. The German: Grille series was based on the Czech Panzer 38(t) tank chassis and used a 15 cm sIG 33 infantry gun.
The original order for 200 units of the German: Grille, was to be based on the new 38(t) Ausf. M chassis that BMM (Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik) was developing, however, delays caused production to start on the 38(t) Ausf. H chassis.
The first variant of the German: Grille was based on the Panzer 38(t) Ausf. H chassis,[1] which had its engine in the rear. Instead of a turret, the vehicle had a low-slung superstructure and fighting compartment. The German: [[sIG 33|schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33]] (heavy infantry gun) was mounted in the front of this armored compartment. Being built on a tank chassis, its hull armour was at the front and its superstructure armour was at the front.
A total of 200 (including one prototype) were produced in the BMM (erstwhile ČKD Praga) factory in Prague from February to June 1943, and 10 more units were built in November 1943. The official designation was German: 15 cm Schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) Ausf. H (Sd.Kfz. 138/1).[2]
The second German: Grille variant was very similar to the Marder III Ausf M, using the same modified Panzer 38(t) chassis which was specifically re-designed for self-propelled mounts. The engine was relocated to the center of the vehicle behind an extended sloped glacis plate, both permitting the gun to be mounted at the rear and better protecting the crew. The fighting compartment at the rear of the vehicle was somewhat smaller and higher than in the previous version. Because there was no engine in the rear, the fighting compartment could be lowered down to the bottom floor level where the engine used to be, which decreased crew exposure and visibility. The main gun was also the German: schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33.
From December 1943 to September 1944, a total of 162 vehicles were produced. Further 17 vehicles were built in 1945 for an overall production of 179.[2] The official designation was 15 cm German: Schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33/1 auf German: Selbstfahrlafette 38(t) (Sf) German: Ausf. M (Sd.Kfz. 138/1)
As the German: Grille had limited ammunition storage, a dedicated variant of the German: Grille Ausf. K was built as German: Munitionspanzer 38(t) (Sf) Ausf. K (Sd.Kfz. 138/1). It carried ammunition racks instead of the main gun, but could be converted back to normal configuration in the field by mounting the gun onto it. Production totaled 102 vehicles.[2]
Both versions were intended to take service in the German: schwere Infanteriegeschütz Companies within the German: [[Panzergrenadier#World War II usage|Panzergrenadier]] regiments, inside Panzer and German: [[Panzergrenadier]] Divisions, in their heavy infantry gun units. Each detachment had six available.