Wespe

Wespe

Germany

SPG

Tier III

Battle Tiers
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Totals
Cost	48,000
Hit Points	170170 HP
Weight Limit	10.99/11.811.45/13.2 t
Crew
Commander (Radio Operator) Driver Gunner Loader Loader
Mobility
Engine Power	130160 hp
Speed Limit	40 km/h
Traverse	2224 deg/s
Power/Wt Ratio	11.8313.97 hp/t
Pivot	YesYes
Armor
Hull Armor	30/15/15 mm
Armament
Damage	307.5-512.5307.5-512.5 HP
Penetration	40-6640-66 mm
Rate of Fire	3.82100% crew: 3.99 rpm + BiA : 4.08 rpm + Food: 4.26 rpm 4.51100% crew: 4.7 rpm + BiA : 4.81 rpm + Food: 5.02 rpm r/m
Accuracy	0.54100% crew: 0.52 m + BiA : 0.51 m + Food: 0.48 m 0.49100% crew: 0.47 m + BiA : 0.46 m + Food: 0.44 m m
Aim time	5.1100% crew: 4.89 s + BiA : 4.78 s + Food: 4.58 s 5.1100% crew: 4.89 s + BiA : 4.78 s + Food: 4.58 s s
Gun Traverse Speed	22100% crew: 22.94 deg/s + BiA : 23.46 deg/s + Food: 24.5 deg/s 22100% crew: 22.94 deg/s + BiA : 23.46 deg/s + Food: 24.5 deg/s deg/s
Gun Arc	-10°/+10°
Elevation Arc	-4°/+42°-4°/+42°
Ammo Capacity	3838 rounds
General
Chance of Fire	2020 %
View Range	400100% crew: 400 m + BiA : 408.57 m + Food: 425.71 m 400100% crew: 400 m + BiA : 408.57 m + Food: 425.71 m m
Signal Range	310100% crew: 323.29 m + BiA : 330.59 m + Food: 345.21 m 455100% crew: 474.5 m + BiA : 485.23 m + Food: 506.68 m m
Parent
Child	12,300 XP
Research

Values are Stock - click for TopValues are Top - click for Stock

The Wespe is a German tier 3 self-propelled gun.

First saw combat in the Battle of Kursk (Operation Citadel) and went on to fight on all fronts. Manufactured from February 1943 through July 1944, with a total production of 675 self-propelled guns and 159 ammunition carriers.

It is an excellent SPG for its tier. It is somewhat accurate and has a good gun with a fast rate of fire for an SPG. It can use armor piercing shells on its second gun, which makes it impossible to counter-arty, although whether or not people will be trying to counter-battery a tier 3 tank is questionable; very few players have the skill and patience to do this at such a low tier. Its traverse speed is slow and the engine has low horsepower, so it requires good positioning at the beginning of the round; it takes time to change position. Later SPGs are significantly faster.

The Wespe leads to the Grille.

Modules

Tier Name Ammo Damage Penetration Shell Price Rate of Fire Accuracy Aim Time Elevation XP Cost Price Weight 04IV 10,5 cm leFH 16 L/22 38 410/350 HP 53/150 mm 64 /7 3.82100% crew: 3.99 rpm + BiA : 4.08 rpm + Food: 4.26 rpm r/m 0.54100% crew: 0.52 m + BiA : 0.51 m + Food: 0.48 m m 5.1100% crew: 4.89 s + BiA : 4.78 s + Food: 4.58 s s -4°/+42° --- 27,75027,750 2,000 2,000 kg 05V 10,5 cm leFH 18 L/28 38 410/350/350 HP 53/150/64 mm 64 /7 /60 4.51100% crew: 4.7 rpm + BiA : 4.81 rpm + Food: 5.02 rpm r/m 0.49100% crew: 0.47 m + BiA : 0.46 m + Food: 0.44 m m 5.1100% crew: 4.89 s + BiA : 4.78 s + Food: 4.58 s s -4°/+42° 2,500 40,11040,110 2,300 2,300 kg

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Tier Name Power Fire Chance Type XP Cost Price Weight 02II Maybach HL 57 TR 0130 130 hp 020 20 % Gasoline --- 1,1201,120 0540 540 kg 03III Maybach HL 62 TR 0140 140 hp 020 20 % Gasoline 145 4,2204,220 0550 550 kg 03III Maybach HL 62 TRM 0160 160 hp 020 20 % Gasoline 180 5,0005,000 0550 550 kg

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Tier Name Load Limit Traverse Speed XP Cost Price Weight 02II Wespe-Ketten Ausf. A 11.811.8 t 02222 d/s ------ 000000600600 2,500 2,500 kg 03III Wespe-Ketten Ausf. B 13.213.2 t 02424 d/s 345345 1,8601,860 2,500 2,500 kg

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Tier Name Range XP Cost Price Weight 03III FuG 5 310100% crew: 323.29 m + BiA : 330.59 m + Food: 345.21 m 310100% crew: 323.29 m + BiA : 330.59 m + Food: 345.21 m m 0--- --- 000000630630 0050 50 kg 07VII FuG Spr. 1 455100% crew: 474.5 m + BiA : 485.23 m + Food: 506.68 m 455100% crew: 474.5 m + BiA : 485.23 m + Food: 506.68 m m 3,600 3,600 21,60021,600 0150 150 kg

Compatible Equipment

        

Compatible Consumables

         

Gallery

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  Wespe front left view

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  Wespe front right view

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  Wespe rear left view

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  Wespe rear right view

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  Wespe front right view

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  Wespe back left view

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  Wespe back right view

Player Opinion

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Able to fire AP shells
• Great view range
• Excellent range on both guns
• Able to one shot some lower tier scouts in TD mode, which happens a lot at low tiers

Cons:

• Small gun arc as compared to the M37, but still quite good compared to the other tier 3 German SPG, the Sturmpanzer II
• Somewhat slow speed and sluggish traverse
• Poor accuracy on stock gun

Performance

Far superior to the Sturmpanzer II, the Wespe is the German tier 3 artillery of choice. Although similar to the M37 and the Lorraine39 L AM (the damage and penetration are identical), the Wespe distinguishes itself with the ability to fire AP rounds. This isn't a distinctive advantage, but it varies things up a bit. Be aware, however, that the AP rounds and the HE rounds have roughly the same penetration and damage - and unfortunately, AP rounds can bounce and ricochet, whereas HE rounds can't, making the AP rounds fairly useless. Additionally, one can use HEAT rounds for the same purpose as AP rounds while also having triple the penetration.

Early Research

• The engines and FuG Spr. 1 radio carry over from the PzKpfw II, so install the Maybach HL 62 TRM engine and the radio immediately.
• Research the suspension first for improved traverse speed.
• Now research the second gun.
• Go from there.

Suggested Equipment

   

Historical Info

Wespe SPG.jpg

In the early 1942, the Panzerkampfwagen II (Sd.Kfz.121) light tank was withdrawn from frontline Panzer units and relocated to second line duties after being in service since 1936. That step provided the opportunity to use its reliable chassis and components for conversions such as the Marder II tank destroyer and Wespe. Alkett designed the Wespe in mid 1942, and its practical design was chosen over other designs based upon the Panzerkampfwagen III or Panzerkampfwagen IV’s chassis. Wespe (Wasp) was a light self-propelled gun armed with a 105mm light field-howitzer and based on the unmodified and modified Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf F chassis. Wespe received the designation Sd.Kfz.124, but was also known as the 10.5cm le FH18/2 Fahrgestell auf Geschützwagen PzKpfw II and as the Leichte Feldhaubitze 18/2 auf Fahrgestell PzKpfw II (Sf).

The main idea behind the design of Wespe was to provide all mobile formations with proper and indirect artillery support. Wespes were to operate behind the frontlines and were not to engage enemy vehicles, however, they carried armor-piercing ammunition in case of an encounter. Like artillery, the Wespe operated in batteries and received orders and directions from forward observers by radio or field telephone: reducing the risk of being exposed to direct enemy fire. The Wespe was based on the regular Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf F light tank chassis and on modified Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf F chassis'. Both versions used many standard components of the Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf F light tank. Ausf F was the last variant of Panzerkampfwagen II to enter full-scale production. Ausf F was produced by FAMO of Breslau (Wroclaw) and some 1400 chassis were manufactured, while 524 were completed as tanks from 1941 to 1943. This model featured increased armor protection and other modifications based on battle experience.

The early version of the Wespe was based on a regular tank chassis with engine moved forward (to a more central location) and the suspension reinforced in order to absorb the stress from firing-recoil. The later version was based on a modified chassis with a slightly lengthened (by 220mm) hull, engine and radiators moved forward (to more central location), and the suspension reinforced to absorb the stress from firing-recoil. The longer hull resulted in an increase in the space between the last road-wheel and idler. Modified chassis' were known as Geschützwagen II - Gun Vehicle / Gun Carriage IIs. The configuration of the driver compartment was changed during production, creating two variants as well.

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Historical Gallery

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  Wespe

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  Wespe

Sources and External Links

External Links

• http://www.achtungpanzer.com/wespe.htm

German Tanks

Self-Propelled Guns