Grille (artillery)

The Grille was a series of self-propelled artillery vehicles used by Nazi Germany during World War II. The name "Grille" translates to "cricket" in German. It was based on the chassis of the Panzer 38(t), a Czech-designed tank that Germany continued to produce and modify after occupying Czechoslovakia.

The primary armament of the Grille was a 15 cm schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33 (sIG 33) heavy infantry gun. This gun was a powerful weapon, capable of providing significant fire support to infantry units. The gun was mounted in an open-topped superstructure on the tank chassis.

Several versions of the Grille were produced, utilizing different variants of the Panzer 38(t) chassis. The initial models, designated as the 15 cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf Panzer 38(t) Ausf. H (Sd.Kfz. 138/1), used a modified Panzer 38(t) Ausf. H chassis. Later versions, known as the 15 cm sIG 33/1 (Sf) auf Panzer 38(t) Ausf. M (Sd.Kfz. 138/1), were built on the Ausf. M chassis, which had the engine relocated to the center of the vehicle, allowing for a larger fighting compartment.

The Grille provided German infantry divisions with mobile and powerful artillery support. Its relatively small size and good mobility made it well-suited for use in various terrain conditions. However, the open-topped design left the crew vulnerable to enemy fire and inclement weather. Production of the Grille continued until the end of the war, and it saw service on both the Eastern and Western Fronts.