SdKfz 184 Panzerjager Tiger (P) (Ferdinand / Elephant)

History

While Panzer I and Panzer II light tanks were already in circulation in the German army by the mid-1930s, it was clear that the future of warfare would involve better armored and armed vehicles. The Panzer I used a machine gun weapon in a movable turret, while the Panzer II was upgraded with a turret-mounted 20mm gun.

However, neither was capable of dealing with the threats to the British and French systems most likely to be encountered in a European war. This led to the development of the Panzer III and Panzer IV medium-range tanks, the former designed to engage enemy armor directly and the latter as infantry support vehicles.

Both were in widespread use in the years after 1939, with 5,774 and as many as 9,000 produced, respectively.

After the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 and the introduction of the T-34 medium and IS-2 heavy tanks, it became painful for the Germans to need a more powerful solution, which in turn spurred the Panzer V "Panther" medium and Tiger heavy tanks. The Panther entered service in 1943 and was used by foreigners in the postwar years.

89 Ferdinand artillery transporters completed and transported to the front, assigned to two battalions of the 654th Armoured Regiment. Reportedly claiming between 300 and 500 enemy tanks in action, the legacy of the fabled "German 88" will only grow. The car's design was not without serious constraints, however, as the novelty of its powertrain technology and rushed deliveries meant that many of the initial issues were never really resolved. This caused Ferdinand's vehicle to come to a halt almost immediately as it began to move forward.

Many were abandoned by the crew before being destroyed due to mechanical failures in direct enemy attacks. The weight and bulk of the system were also bad for the crew, as it proved slow and grounded in the mud of Eastern Europe. The sturdy construction - providing all-round protection - forces the entire tank to be positioned in the direction of fire, which puts pressure on the fuel and oil supply as well as the drive wheels. When Ferdinand suffered serial damage, it was unable to move and turned into a stationary armored bunker, with no opportunity to train its weapons, leaving the crew with no choice but to leave the vehicle. With no standard self-defense weapons and no firing ports for insiders, Ferdinand could be attacked with relative impunity by Soviet anti-tank personnel unless supported by defending infantry or support vehicles.

Soldiers could simply run to the Ferdinand and install explosives on the superstructure or track system and leave the scene to watch the explosion without being threatened by the Ferdinand's crew.

Between mechanical problems, anti-tank weapons, enemy armor threats and air strikes, the first impression of the Ferdinands is promising, but also rather tragic. They proved tactically limited during Operation Kursk, which ultimately resulted in a decisive victory in the Soviet Union's favor.

From this point on, Germany's superiority on the battlefield could be directly challenged, and losses would mount until Berlin finally fell in 1945.

Of the 89 troops stationed in Kursk, only 50 Ferdinands who were wounded in battle survived the fighting in December 1943. Due to poor performance, the survivors were sent back to Nibelungenwerk for rebuilding, and several important changes were made to the remaining 48 examples to help improve the vehicle. A major change was the installation of a trainable hull-mounted (front right) MG34 anti-infantry machine gun, operated by radio. Trainability is achieved through the tee, which provides some flexibility when attacking targets in front of the vehicle.

Added a cupola for the commander to improve situational awareness of the entire crew. The track was widened to accommodate Eastern European mud and snow methods, and the front panels were more armored for better protection.

Additional protection (especially from magnetic mines and sticky bombs) is provided by applying a "zimmerit" slurry, a coating that counteracts its adhesion. However, this modification came at a cost, as the vehicle's operating weight was increased from 65 to 70 tons, earning the revised Ferdinand the new name "Elephant", which Hitler himself officially adopted on May 1, 1944 name. [ /p]

Following the defeat of Italy in September 1943, the Germans had to send additional firepower to the Italian front. These included a modified elephant, completed and delivered to Panzerjager-Abteilung 653 in March 1944. Elephants are again showing their limits as the passages are thin and narrow, preventing them from traversing much of the Italian countryside. Furthermore, the uniqueness of their design - unlike any other vehicle in German inventory - means field repairs are nearly impossible. The effectiveness of the 88mm gun against Allied armor in any theater is unquestioned, but the vehicle has proven to be more valuable as a fixed armor bunker than as a direct-contact fighter.

Once again, the other Elifts were doomed to mechanical failure in the ensuing battle in Italy, with many of the crew abandoning their vehicles for good and falling into the hands of the advancing enemy.

Of the 91 "Ferdinands/Elephants" completed, only two are on display today - one at the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum in Fort Lee, Virginia, and the other at the Kubinka Tank Museum near Moscow.

Specification

Basic

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Performance

Performance

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Armor

Not available.

Changes