enrique262:15 cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf B German self-propelled assault gun, also k
enrique262:15 cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf B German self-propelled assault gun, also known by the far simpler name Sturmpanzer I Bison, basically a Panzer I light tank hull mated with a 15 cm sIG 33 heavy infantry gun. Where, curiously, rather than adapt the gun to the hull of the tank, the germans simply decided to mount it atop it, wheels and all, building an armored superstructure around it. This made the dismount of the gun during combat, a need that arose constantly due to the mechanical problems such overweight layout gave to the little tank, possible, but given the other drawbacks this configuration gave, among them no space for ammunition, an exposed loader, top-heavy design that made the vehicle very unstable, and a high silhouette that made it a prime target for anti-tank gunners, this design philosophy was quickly abandoned in favor of a better gun-hull integration, as seen in the subsequent Sturmpanzer II, which used the same gun but was based on the bigger Panzer II chassis. -- source link