| Based on the same suspension as the Ausf. D and
Ausf. E tank versions, the Flamm used a new turret mounting a single MG34 7.92
mm machine gun, and two remotely controlled flamethrowers mounted in small turrets
at each front corner of the vehicle. Each flamethrower could cover the front 180°
arc, while the turret traversed 360°. 1,800 7.92 mm rounds were carried and
320l litres of fuel for the flamethrowers along with four tanks of compressed
nitrogen. The nitrogen tanks were built into armored boxes along each side of
the superstructure. Armor was 30 mm to the front and 14.5 mm to the side and rear,
although the turret was increased to 20 mm to the sides and rear. Total weight
was 12 tons and dimensions were increased to a length of 4.9 m and width of 2.4
m although it was a bit shorter at 1.85 m tall. A FuG2 radio was carried. Total
weight was 12 tons. Two sub-variants existed: the Ausf. A and Ausf. B which differed
only in minor suspension components. 155 Flamm vehicles were built from January
1940 through March 1942, mostly on new chassis, but 43 using existing Ausf. D
and Ausf. E chassis. The Flamm was deployed in Russia but was not very successful
due to its limited armor, and survivors were soon withdrawn for conversion. |
