"We must do everything we can to promote anti-tank defense, and work just as hard to guarantee successful counter-attacks through the instrument of powerful tank forces of our own."
- Major-General Heinz Guderian, "Achtung Panzer!"

On August 5th, 1943, a self-propelled vehicle was proposed by senior Army officials based on the Tiger I chassis but mounting a 38cm mortar. Alkett was placed in charge of the design. The Company managed to complete a prototype by October 20th, which was run through a series of field tests for approval. Brandenburger Eisenwerke produced the superstructures and Alkett converted the Tiger I and completed the Sturmmorser at their Berlin-Spandau plant. The large mortar was an unusual design because it fired rocket-assisted ammunition and had vents in the gun tube wall to exhaust the propellant gasses forward. By December 1944, Alkett managed to convert 18 Tiger Is into Sturmmorsers.

Compared to the Tiger tank, the Sturmtiger was much shorter overall, only 6.28 m (20 ft 7 in) compared to the Tiger's 8.45 m (27 ft 9 in), due largely to the fact that it did not have the long main gun of the latter which protruded far in front of the hull. It also was slightly lower than the Tiger at 2.85 m (9 ft 4 in) compared to 3 m (9 ft 10 in).

Pictured here is a 1:32 scale replica of a German early production Sturmtiger assault gun when it was presented to the German Chancellor at the Ehrenfriedhof Arys Proving Grounds, East Prussia, on October 20th, 1943. Comes with a bonus Maybach HL 210 TRM P45 V-12 water-cooled engine. Note: This is part of the new Forces of Valor "Inside Out" series produced by Waltersons. First in the series! #FOV802001A

Dimensions:
Width: 4-1/2-inches
Length: 7-1/2-inches

Features:
- Diecast metal and plastic construction
- Comes with two figures: Adolf Hitler and Minister of Armaments, Albert Speer
- Vinyl tracks roll along a working suspension
- Elevating gun
- Hatches open and the accessories can be removed
- Removable rear panel of the crew compartment
- Removable mud guards
- Fully detailed interior crew compartment
- Comes with 14 rounds of 38cm ammunition with one round capable of being placed within the gun barrel
- Sliding breech and rifled gun barrel
- Comes with bonus Maybach HL 210 TRM P45 V-12 water-cooled engine
- Comes with over-sized display base

FOV 802001A German Sturmmorserwagen "Sturmtiger" 德國突擊炮 海軍用深水炸彈發射器 突擊虎

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Historical Account: "Rockets Red Glare" - The idea for a heavy infantry support vehicle capable of demolishing heavily defended buildings or fortified areas with a single shot came out of the experiences of the heavy urban fighting in the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942. At the time, the Wehrmacht had only the Sturm-Infanteriegeschutz 33B available for destroying buildings, a Sturmgeschutz III variant armed with a 15 cm sIG 33 heavy infantry gun. Twelve of them were lost in the fighting at Stalingrad. Its successor, the Sturmpanzer IV, also known by Allies as Brummbar, was in production from early 1943. This was essentially an improved version of the earlier design, mounting the same gun on the Panzer IV chassis with greatly improved armour protection.

While greatly improved compared to the earlier models, by this time infantry anti-tank weapons were improving dramatically, and the Wehrmacht still saw a need for a similar, but more heavily armoured and armed vehicle. Therefore, a decision was made to create a new vehicle based on the Tiger tank and arm it with a 210 mm howitzer. However, this weapon turned out not to be available at the time and was therefore replaced by a 380 mm rocket launcher, which was adapted from a Kriegsmarine depth charge launcher.

In September 1943, plans were made for Krupp to fabricate new Tiger I armored hulls for the Sturmtiger. The Tiger I hulls were to be sent to Henschel for chassis assembly and then to Alkett where the superstructures would be mounted. The first prototype was ready and presented to Adolf Hitler in October 1943. Delivery of the first hulls would occur in December 1943, with the first three Sturmtiger completed by Alkett by February 20th, 1944.

Due to delays, Hitler did not request production of the weapon until April 19th, 1944; twelve superstructures and weapons would be prepared and mounted on rebuilt Tiger I chassis. The first three production series Sturmtiger were completed by Alkett in August 1944. Plans to complete an additional seven from September 15th to 21st, 1944 were presented to Hitler in a conference on August 18th-20th, 1944. Ten Sturmtiger were produced in September, along with an additional five in December 1944.

Hitler had laid great importance on the special employment of the Sturmtiger and believed it would be necessary to produce at least 300 rounds of ammunition per month. Or so he adamantly believed.

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