Specification Crew : 5 Engine power : 140 bhp Combat weight :11,000 kg (24,255 lb) Max speed : road , 40 km/h (24.84 mph) Length : 4.81 m (15.78 ft) Range : 220 km (136.62 miles) Width : 2.28 M (7.48 ft) Main gun : 105 mm (4.14 in) howitzer Height : 2.3 m (7.55 ft) Armour : 5 mm (0.20 in) to 30 mm (1.18 in)

The idea of having self-propelled artillery batteries which could keep pace with tank formations dated back to the 1920s,but it was not until the early 1940s that it was put into practice by the Germans Army.The withdrawal of the Panzer II from frontline tank units provided the opportunity to use it chassis for self-propelled guns.One of the first projects involved the 7.5 cm(2.96 in )Pak 40 anti-tank gun mounted behind an armored superstructure on a Panzer II hull.Intended to be a Panzerjager(tank hunter)this arrangement was known as the Marder II.After about 575 Marder Iis had been produced production switched to a similar vehicle carring a 10.5 cm(4.14 in)field howitzer.Produced from early 1943 the Wespe(wasp)was issued to Panzer division artillery batteries.The hull was lengthened and the suspension modified to absorb the extra firing recoil stresses.The armored superstructure was open-topped but provided adequate protection for the crew and there was sufficient space to carry 32 rounds.A machine gun was carried for local defence.About 675 were built before production ceased in July 1943.To support Weape batteries in the field,159 unarmed versions were produced as ammunition carriers-the slot in the front shield was plated over although the howitzer could still be mounted if required.