Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Elefant

The Elefant (Sd.Kfz. 184), also known initially as the Ferdinand, was a heavy tank destroyer developed and deployed by Nazi Germany during World War II as a response to the increasing threat of Soviet armored forces on the Eastern Front.^[1] It utilized the chassis of Ferdinand Porsche's unsuccessful Tiger I prototype, mounting a fixed superstructure with a single 8.8 cm PaK 43 L/71 anti-tank gun capable of penetrating heavy armor at long ranges, complemented by thick sloped frontal armor up to 200 mm thick for superior protection against enemy fire.^[2] Powered by two Maybach HL 120 TRM V-12 gasoline engines producing a combined 640 horsepower, the vehicle weighed approximately 70 tons, measured 8.14 meters in length, 3.38 meters in width, and 2.97 meters in height, and achieved a top road speed of 30 km/h with a limited operational range of about 150 km.^[3] ^[4] Development of the Elefant began in 1941 when Adolf Hitler demanded a new heavy tank destroyer to counter Soviet T-34 and KV-1 tanks, leading to the repurposing of 90 Porsche Tiger chassis that had been produced but not selected for the Tiger I production contract awarded to Henschel.^[1] The initial Ferdinand variant, completed in early 1943, lacked a machine gun, had reliability issues with its complex gasoline-electric transmission, and featured only 100 mm frontal armor, but it was rushed into production at the Nibelungenwerk factory in Austria, with 90 units built by May 1943.^[2] Following poor performance in its debut, upgrades in late 1943 included increasing frontal armor to 200 mm, adding a 7.92 mm MG 34 coaxial machine gun, improving the electrical system, and renaming it Elefant per Hitler's suggestion; however, only one major upgrade batch of around 48 vehicles received the full modifications before production ceased in mid-1944 due to resource shortages and shifting priorities toward more versatile designs like the Jagdpanzer 38.^[5] ^[2] In combat, the Ferdinand/Elefant excelled in defensive roles with its firepower destroying over 80 Soviet tanks during the Battle of Kursk in July 1943, where its long-range gun and armor allowed it to engage enemies from hull-down positions, but it suffered heavy losses from mechanical breakdowns, fuel shortages, and vulnerability to close-quarters infantry attacks and air strikes, with 39 of 90 Ferdinands lost or damaged beyond repair in that offensive alone.^[1] Surviving units were withdrawn for upgrades and redeployed to Italy in 1944, where a company of Elefants with schürzen side skirts provided effective fire support during the Anzio landings and Monte Cassino battles, claiming numerous Allied vehicles before being overwhelmed by superior numbers and mobility.^[5] A few Elefants returned to the Eastern Front in 1945, participating in the defense of Berlin, but their slow speed, high fuel consumption, and lack of a turret limited their tactical flexibility, ultimately rendering the design a specialized but flawed innovation in German armored warfare.^[2]

Background and Development

Strategic Context

The German Army encountered significant challenges on the Eastern Front following the launch of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, where the unexpected superiority of Soviet T-34 medium tanks exposed vulnerabilities in existing German armored forces. The T-34's sloped armor and 76 mm gun rendered many standard German anti-tank weapons, such as the 3.7 cm PaK 36, largely ineffective, leading to high attrition rates among Panzer III and IV units during the initial phases of the invasion.^[6] In response, by late 1941 and into 1942, the Wehrmacht shifted strategic priorities toward developing heavier tank destroyers capable of engaging Soviet armor at longer ranges and with greater penetrating power, aiming to counter the growing numerical and qualitative advantages of T-34 production.^[6] This doctrinal evolution was embodied in the Panzerjäger program, which formalized the creation of dedicated anti-tank units equipped with self-propelled guns to support infantry and panzer divisions. Early influences included lighter designs like the Marder series, introduced in 1942, which mounted captured Soviet 76 mm guns on Panzer II and 38(t) chassis to provide mobile fire support against T-34s and KV-1 heavy tanks, marking a transitional step from towed artillery to more survivable casemated vehicles.^[7] The program emphasized ambush tactics and defensive roles, reflecting the attritional nature of the Eastern Front where German forces increasingly prioritized cost-effective counters to Soviet offensives over offensive tank superiority.^[8] Adolf Hitler's personal intervention further accelerated this shift, as the stalled advances and heavy losses of Barbarossa—culminating in the failure to capture Moscow by December 1941—prompted demands for "breakthrough weapons" to restore momentum against fortified Soviet lines. In April 1941, even before Barbarossa's full impact, Hitler had ordered the Panzer Committee to prioritize heavy tanks for punching through enemy defenses, a directive intensified post-invasion to address the perceived need for vehicles that could overwhelm T-34 formations in decisive engagements.^[9] Ferdinand Porsche's design team responded swiftly with a proposal for a heavy chassis in July 1941, designated VK 45.01 (P), intended as a versatile platform for mounting powerful anti-tank guns and competing directly with Henschel's parallel Tiger I design for the Wehrmacht's new heavy tank requirement. Porsche's submission, favored initially due to his influence with Hitler, emphasized electric drive and thick armor for breakthrough operations, though it ultimately lost the Tiger contract in 1942 to Henschel's more reliable mechanical transmission; the resulting chassis, known as Tiger (P), served as the foundation for subsequent tank destroyer adaptations.^[9]

Design Initiation and Prototyping

The Elefant's design originated from the VK 45.01 (P) heavy tank project initiated under Dr. Ferdinand Porsche's leadership in response to the German Army's call for advanced armored vehicles. On 26 May 1941, the Wa Prüf 6 office tasked Porsche and Henschel with developing competing 45-tonne heavy tank prototypes, emphasizing thick frontal armor up to 100 mm and an 88 mm main gun to achieve anti-tank superiority against emerging Soviet threats.^[2] The 26 May 1941 requirement specified mounting an 88 mm main gun, with the 8.8 cm KwK 36 L/56 selected as the primary armament; Krupp was awarded a contract to design the turret for integration. Porsche oversaw the chassis development at his Stuttgart works, incorporating an innovative gasoline-electric transmission system powered by two air-cooled V10 Porsche Type 101/1 engines (each producing 550 hp) coupled to generators driving electric motors. The first two unarmed prototypes were completed in April 1942 and demonstrated to Adolf Hitler at the Kummersdorf proving ground on his birthday, showcasing the hull's mobility despite its 45-tonne weight.^[2] Krupp's involvement extended to adapting components for the eventual fixed superstructure, though initial tests focused solely on the drivetrain and undercarriage without armament.^[9] Despite the design's rejection in favor of Henschel's VK 45.01 (H) in April 1942—due to reliability issues with the electric transmission revealed in trials, including generator failures and poor off-road performance—Porsche had already produced 90 complete chassis by mid-1942; these remained unused, prompting Hitler to order their repurposing as heavy tank destroyers in September 1942. Named Ferdinand after its designer, the conversion involved Krupp fabricating a casemate superstructure to mount the new 88 mm PaK 43/2 L/71 anti-tank gun, a weapon with superior penetration over the original KwK 36. The first Ferdinand prototypes were readied by early 1943, with full production commencing in March of that year at the Nibelungenwerk factory.^[2]^[9] Prototyping encountered significant challenges, including the integration of the lengthy PaK 43/2 gun into the casemate, which necessitated precise alignment to manage recoil and maintain balance on the wide-track chassis. Early unarmed trials of the VK 45.01 (P hulls highlighted reliability issues with the electric drive, such as frequent generator failures, excessive heat buildup, and vulnerability to dust ingestion during off-road maneuvers.^[2] These problems persisted into Ferdinand testing, requiring iterative adjustments to the powerpack and cooling systems before deployment readiness.^[9] From late 1942 through 1943, extensive trials at Kummersdorf evaluated the Ferdinand's weight distribution, as the 65-tonne vehicle's forward-heavy configuration strained the suspension and tracks during turns. Engineers focused on gun mounting stability, conducting live-fire tests to verify the casemate's ability to absorb the PaK 43/2's forces without structural deformation. These phases identified minor issues like uneven ground pressure but confirmed the design's overall feasibility for casemate-mounted heavy anti-tank roles.^[2] From January 1944, following combat experience at Kursk that revealed vulnerabilities, the surviving Ferdinands underwent upgrades including added armor skirts (increasing frontal armor to 200 mm) and commander's cupolas; approximately 48 vehicles received these modifications, leading to their redesignation as Elefant per Hitler's order, formalized in May 1944.^[9]

Technical Design

Chassis and Armor

The Elefant tank destroyer's chassis was derived from ninety existing Porsche Tiger (P) hulls that had been produced but canceled for further tank development, allowing for rapid adaptation into a casemate-mounted anti-tank vehicle.^[1] These hulls featured a torsion bar suspension system paired with interleaved road wheels, consisting of 24 wheels per side arranged in eight pairs to distribute the vehicle's substantial mass effectively.^[2] The initial Ferdinand variant featured 100 mm frontal armor and no machine gun, while the upgraded Elefant added a coaxial MG 34 and increased armor to 200 mm.^[2] Measuring 6.8 meters in hull length, 3.38 meters in width, and 2.95 meters in height, the Elefant achieved a combat weight of 65 to 70 tons, reflecting its robust construction optimized for defensive engagements.^[4] The armor layout emphasized frontal protection, with a 200 mm thick plate on the superstructure sloped at 15 degrees to deflect incoming fire, complemented by 80 mm thick side and rear plating.^[2] The roof and floor armor ranged from 25 to 30 mm in thickness, while additional bolted armor plates provided layered defense against penetrating rounds.^[2] Despite its formidable protection, the Elefant exhibited key vulnerabilities, including an exposed engine deck susceptible to top-attack threats and severely limited traverse due to the fixed casemate superstructure, which restricted the main armament's field of fire to 30 degrees total (15 degrees left and right).^[1]

Engine and Mobility

The Elefant tank destroyer utilized a unique gas-electric hybrid powertrain, consisting of two Maybach HL 120 TRM V-12 gasoline engines, each delivering approximately 320 horsepower for a combined output of 640 hp. These engines powered generators that supplied electricity to drive motors connected to the tracks, forming the Porsche-designed electric transmission system.^[2]^[1] This propulsion setup enabled a maximum road speed of 30 km/h and an off-road speed of 10-15 km/h, while the operational range was limited to 150 km on roads and 90 km cross-country due to the vehicle's 65-ton combat weight. The ground pressure measured 1.23 kg/cm², which, combined with the heavy chassis weight, often caused the Elefant to bog down in mud or soft terrain, restricting its tactical flexibility.^[10]^[2] The electric transmission's intricate design, inherited from the Porsche Tiger prototypes, proved highly unreliable in field conditions, resulting in frequent mechanical failures, overheating, and excessive maintenance demands that sidelined many vehicles. Fuel efficiency was poor, with consumption rates of approximately 700-900 liters per 100 km on roads and up to 1,100 liters per 100 km off-road, straining logistics in prolonged operations.^[2]^[11]^[1] The six-man crew—comprising the commander, driver, gunner, two loaders, and radio operator—was housed in a cramped layout, with the front compartment for the driver and radio operator separated from the rear fighting compartment by the engine installation, which impeded internal movement and access to components during operations.^[2]

Armament and Optics

The primary armament of the Elefant tank destroyer was the 88 mm PaK 43/2 L/71 anti-tank gun, mounted in a fixed casemate superstructure. This long-barreled, high-velocity weapon fired armor-piercing rounds at a muzzle velocity of 1,000 m/s and had an effective range of 2,000 m against armored targets. The vehicle typically carried 50 rounds of main gun ammunition in internal racks.^[11]^[2] The PaK 43/2 demonstrated strong penetration performance, capable of defeating up to 165 mm of homogeneous armor at 1,000 m from a 90° impact angle using standard ammunition. The initial Ferdinand variant lacked any secondary armament, leaving it without machine guns for close defense, though later Elefant upgrades added a 7.92 mm MG 34.^[12]^[2] Optics for targeting included the Sfl. Zielfernrohr 1a telescopic sight, which provided 2.5× magnification and a 25° field of view for the gunner. Due to the casemate design, the main gun had limited traverse of 30° total (15° to each side of centerline) and elevation from -8° to +15°.^[2]^[13] Available ammunition types encompassed the PzGr.39/43 armor-piercing composite rigid (APCBC) round for kinetic energy impacts and the Gr.39 HL/B high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) round for shaped-charge effects independent of velocity. The gun was manually loaded by a crew of two, yielding a practical rate of fire of 1-2 rounds per minute in combat conditions.^[2]^[14]

Production and Variants

Manufacturing Process

The Elefant tank destroyer was produced exclusively at the Nibelungenwerk factory in St. Valentin, Austria, repurposing 90 unused chassis from the 1942 VK 45.01(P) Tiger tank order that had been canceled in favor of the Henschel design.^[2] Assembly began in February 1943 and was accelerated to complete all 90 vehicles by May 1943, enabling their deployment ahead of the Battle of Kursk in July.^[1] This compressed timeline resulted in rushed finishing, with several units delivered unpainted and lacking zimmerit coating to protect against magnetic mines.^[2] Resource constraints during wartime exacerbated production challenges, leading to simplified welding techniques and other expedients to conserve materials.^[9] The haste compromised quality control, manifesting in frequent mechanical faults such as transmission failures and suspension breakdowns, which rendered only 48 vehicles fully operational by the time of initial fielding.^[2]

Modifications and Upgrades

Following the heavy losses and mechanical issues experienced at the Battle of Kursk in July 1943, approximately 48 surviving Ferdinand tank destroyers were recalled to the Nibelungenwerk factory in St. Valentin, Austria, for extensive refurbishment between January and April 1944. These upgrades addressed key vulnerabilities in close defense and mobility, transforming the vehicles into the redesignated Elefant. Among the primary changes was the addition of a ball-mounted 7.92 mm MG 34 machine gun in the glacis plate to provide suppressive fire against infantry, a critical improvement given the original design's lack of secondary armament. Additionally, a commander's cupola sourced from the StuG III was installed, incorporating binocular-style optics that enhanced situational awareness. Track modifications were also implemented, increasing width from the original 60 cm to 64 cm to reduce ground pressure and enhance cross-country performance.^[2]^[1]^[15] These changes prioritized defensive survivability and operational dependability over radical redesign.^[2] A derivative variant was the Sturmpanzer VI Sturmelefant (Sd.Kfz. 184/f), which mounted a 38 cm RW 61 mortar in a modified superstructure for urban assault and bunker-busting roles. Eighteen units were produced between April and August 1944 at Alkett, using additional Porsche chassis, and saw limited combat in Italy, Warsaw, and the Ardennes. Approximately 48 vehicles were upgraded to Elefant standard, with initial redeployments—such as 11 to 14 units to the Italian front in early 1944—receiving the full modifications. By early 1945, around 20 vehicles remained operational across various units, though many succumbed to cumulative mechanical wear and combat attrition.^[2]^[16]

Operational History

Deployment at Kursk

The Ferdinand tank destroyers of the 653rd and 654th Heavy Tank Destroyer Battalions made their combat debut during Operation Citadel, the German offensive launched on July 5, 1943, as part of the Battle of Kursk on the Eastern Front. The 653rd Battalion was organized into three companies, each equipped with 14 vehicles for a total of 45 Ferdinands, supplemented by command variants, and was attached to the 216th Infantry Division in the southern sector of the Kursk salient. The 654th Battalion similarly fielded approximately 44 Ferdinands in the same sector.^[17]^[18] These heavy vehicles were positioned in ambush roles along the advance routes, intended to exploit their thick frontal armor and long-range 88 mm PaK 43 gun to engage Soviet armor from concealed, hull-down positions while supporting infantry breakthroughs through dense minefields and defensive lines.^[19] The 653rd Battalion's first confirmed tank kill occurred on July 7, 1943, as the Ferdinands began to penetrate deeper into Soviet defenses following initial delays from mechanical issues and mine damage. Over the course of the offensive from July 5 to 17, the 653rd claimed the destruction of 320 Soviet tanks and assault guns, while the 654th claimed 182, achieving an impressive claimed kill ratio of approximately 10:1 overall against enemy armor. However, only 13 Ferdinands from the 653rd and 26 from the 654th were lost to direct combat, primarily from Soviet artillery and close infantry assaults, while many vehicles—around half the total force—were immobilized by mechanical breakdowns, including track failures due to the vehicle's excessive weight on unprepared terrain and minefields.^[19]^[19]^[2] Tactically, the Ferdinands' lack of secondary armament, such as machine guns, exposed a critical vulnerability, allowing Soviet infantry to approach unprotected flanks and disable immobilized vehicles with explosives and anti-tank weapons during the chaotic advances. As the offensive ground to a halt amid mounting Soviet counterattacks, fuel shortages severely hampered operations, stranding isolated Ferdinands and command units far from supply lines in the expansive terrain. These incidents highlighted the vehicle's limitations in sustained mobile warfare, despite its early successes in static ambush engagements.^[19]^[1]

Subsequent Combat Roles

Following the Battle of Kursk, the surviving Ferdinand vehicles of both battalions were withdrawn to Germany in late 1943 for modifications, including the addition of machine guns and anti-magnetic paste, transforming them into Elefants.^[2] In February 1944, the reformed 653rd Battalion, equipped with approximately 11 Elefants, was redeployed to Italy to bolster defenses against the Allied landing at the Anzio beachhead.^[5] The unit's heavy, low-slung design proved ill-suited to the region's hilly and narrow terrain, restricting mobility and limiting direct engagements with Allied forces to sporadic defensive actions.^[1] By mid-1944, the 653rd Battalion suffered further attrition in Italy, with several Elefants destroyed by Allied air attacks and infantry flanking maneuvers near Rome in June, highlighting the vehicle's vulnerability without a turret for all-around defense.^[20] The remnants of the battalion were then transferred back to the Eastern Front later that year, where the Elefants assumed primarily static roles in defensive lines amid the Soviet advance. Operational numbers dwindled rapidly, with rarely more than 20 vehicles serviceable at any time due to mechanical breakdowns and supply shortages, leading to the effective disbandment of dedicated Elefant units by late 1944.^[21] In early 1945, the few remaining Elefants were committed to the final phases of the war on the Eastern Front, supporting the defense of Berlin and positioned in urban barricades where their long-range guns could be employed from fixed positions.^[1] Crew accounts emphasized the Elefant's exposure to low-level air strikes and side attacks, as its fixed superstructure and poor visibility made evasion difficult in fluid combat. The last documented Elefant action occurred in April 1945 near Vienna, after which most surviving vehicles were abandoned or captured.^[3] Overall, of the 90 Ferdinand/Elefant vehicles produced, most (approximately 55-60) were lost to destruction, abandonment, or capture by war's end, underscoring their marginal role in late-war operations.^[22]

Evaluation and Preservation

Tactical Assessment

The Elefant tank destroyer demonstrated exceptional long-range firepower through its 8.8 cm PaK 43/2 L/71 gun, which could penetrate the frontal armor of Soviet IS-2 heavy tanks at distances up to 1,500 meters against the turret and 500 meters against the glacis, significantly outranging most contemporary Allied and Soviet anti-tank weapons.^[1] This capability allowed it to engage enemy armor from standoff positions, contributing to high kill ratios in defensive roles, with reported kill ratios averaging around 10:1 across operations, including after the Battle of Kursk.^[1] Its thick frontal armor, up to 200 mm sloped, provided superior protection against return fire, making it highly effective when hull-down in prepared positions.^[2] Despite these strengths, the Elefant suffered from severe mobility limitations due to its 70-ton weight and underpowered powertrain consisting of two Maybach HL 120 TRM engines producing a combined 600 horsepower, coupled to a Porsche gasoline-electric transmission, achieving a top speed of 30 km/h on roads and struggling in rough terrain.^[2] Mechanical reliability was a critical flaw, with the complex interleaved road wheels and electrical transmission prone to frequent breakdowns; during operations at Kursk, approximately half of the deployed units were lost to non-combat causes like engine failures and track damage, reflecting a high breakdown rate exacerbated by inadequate spares.^[22] The casemate design offered no all-around defense, leaving it vulnerable to infantry close assaults without secondary armament until later modifications added machine guns, while its logistical demands strained maintenance resources due to specialized Porsche components.^[2] In comparative terms, the Elefant's 88 mm gun provided superior armor penetration against heavy targets compared to the Soviet SU-152's 152 mm ML-20 howitzer, which excelled in high-explosive effects but lagged in anti-tank precision at long ranges.^[23] However, the SU-152's lighter weight and dual-purpose ammunition made it more versatile for assault roles, whereas the Elefant was strictly a defensive tank hunter. This design influenced subsequent German heavy tank destroyers like the Jagdtiger, which adopted similar casemate principles but on a more reliable chassis.^[2] Historically, the Elefant was deemed an over-engineered "white elephant" for its disproportionate cost and complexity relative to battlefield impact, with production limited to 91 units before being halted in favor of more practical designs amid Germany's resource shortages.^[21]^[2]

Surviving Vehicles

Only two complete examples of the Panzerjäger Tiger (P), known as Ferdinand or Elefant, are known to survive today. The first is a Ferdinand variant captured by Soviet forces during the Battle of Kursk in July 1943 and now displayed at the Central Museum of Armoured and Heavy Engineering Equipment in Kubinka, Russia. This vehicle remains in largely unrestored condition, retaining visible battle damage including penetrations to its casemate and tracks, serving as a relic of the Eastern Front engagements.^[24] The second surviving example is an Elefant captured by U.S. forces near Anzio, Italy, in 1944, which underwent restoration to display condition between 2007 and 2008 at the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum. This effort, documented in the television series Tank Overhaul, involved repairing extensive rust and structural damage through welding, part fabrication, and repainting, though it did not incorporate components from other vehicles. As of July 2025, it is housed in the U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection at Fort Moore, Georgia; it was temporarily loaned to The Tank Museum in Bovington, UK, from 2017 to 2019 for exhibition before returning to the United States.^[25]^[26]^[27] No Elefants have been restored to operational status due to their mechanical complexity, rarity, and the challenges of sourcing authentic Porsche chassis components. While partial remains and scrap components from wrecked vehicles occasionally surface in private collections in Germany and Eastern Europe, no additional intact hulls or significant wrecks have been verified in public records. Potential undiscovered battlefield relics from the Kursk salient persist in historical speculation, but ongoing archaeological efforts in the region have not yielded confirmed Elefant parts as of 2025.^[2]

References

[1]
The Elefant Tank Destroyer - Warfare History Network
The heavy tank destroyer had a maximum speed of only 19 mph and a cross-country range of just 55 miles. It took the Germans a relatively short time to build the ...
[2]
Panzerjäger Tiger (P) 8.8 cm PaK 43/2 L/71 'Ferdinand/Elefant' (Sd ...
May 8, 2021 · According to T. Anderson (Ferdinand and Elefant tank destroyer), production was planned as 15 vehicles in February, 35 in March, and the final ...
[3]
History of the Elefant tank destroyer – SdkfZ 184 – Battle of Normandy
At the beginning of the Second World War in Europe, the German Army learned first of the tank battles it had fought in France and Poland.
[4]
Panzerjäger Tiger (P) 'Elefant' Tank Destroyer | World War II Database
Machinery, Two Maybach HL 120 TRM V-12 petrol engines rated at 300bhp each or 640bhp combined ; Suspension, longitudinal torsion-bar ; Armament, 1x8.8cm PaK 43/2 ...
[5]
World War II German Elefant Tank Destroyers - Firearms News
Jul 12, 2019 · The World War II German “Ferdinand” (seen here) proved to be an extremely effective tank destroyer, it was improved to become the “Elefant”.
[6]
[PDF] Germany's Response to the Eastern Front Antitank Crisis, 1941 to ...
Jun 17, 2004 · Chapter 4 explores the material options open to the Heereswaffenamt in design of the new tank destroyer; describes the finalized design, test ...
[7]
WWII Ordnance: The Marauding Marder - Warfare History Network
The Marder IIs were issued to Panzerjäger Abteilung (tank destroyer battalions) integral to elite infantry and panzer divisions, as well as other units, and ...
[8]
WW2 - Weapons - Marder tank destroyer
The Marder series of tank destroyers played a crucial role in World War II. They showed the value of mobile anti-tank guns and shaped future armored vehicle ...
[9]
Ferdinand Porsche's 'Elefant' Tank Destroyer Could Have Excelled
By May 1941, however, a design order had been issued to Henschel for the heavy tank designated VK4501 (H) and another to Porsche, VK4501 (P). Any German ...<|separator|>
[10]
Panzerjäger Tiger (P) "Elefant" - Panzerworld
Jan 30, 2025 · Ground clearance, 0.500 m. Ground contact, Without sinking, 4.115 m. When sinking 200 mm, 4.700 m. Ground pressure, Without sinking, 1.23 kg/cm2.
[11]
Ferdinand tank destroyer - WW2 Weapons
Specifications for tank destroyer Elefant (SdKfz 184) ; Cross-country speed. 10.5 mph (17 km/hr) ; Fuel consumption per 100 km. 700 liters on road; 1,000 liters ...<|separator|>
[12]
8,8 cm Pak 43 (L/71) - Panzerworld
Aug 25, 2023 · Contents. Production; Technical Information; Performance. Armor Penetration; Accuracy. Notes; Sources. Production. Production Statistics.
[13]
German Armor Optics - Panzerworld
Jan 2, 2023 · Optical specifications ... The Zielfernrohr 3 × 8° was a general anti-tank gun sight and could be used with multiple aiming devices.Missing: Elefant destroyer
[14]
Elefant - War Thunder Wiki
Oct 21, 2024 · Even though the Elefant is a heavy tank destroyer, it can rapidly drive backwards ... Good forward and reverse speed; Defensive MG, great ...
[15]
Panzerjäger Tiger (P) Ferdinand - Tank-AFV
The Panzerjäger Tiger (P) Ferdinand was a heavy tank hunter, converted from a Porsche design, weighing 65 tons with 200mm front armor and an 88mm gun.
[16]
Elefants in Italy 1944 - Mike's Research
Jul 28, 2019 · The Elefant (German for “Elephant”) Sd.Kfz.184 was a 70 ton panzerjäger (tank hunter) used by the Germans during WWII.
[17]
Panzerjäger Tiger (P) Organization - Research Blog
Apr 14, 2019 · The Ferdinand's were organized into independent heavy tank destroyer battalions. New K.St.N. were created specifically for the Ferdinand and ...
[18]
[PDF] German Forces, Battle of Kursk, July 1943
653rd Panzerjäger Battalion (45 Ferdinand Tanks). 654th Panzerjäger Battalion ... 216th Infantry Division. 1/,2/,3/348th Infantry Regiment. 1/,2/,3/396th ...
[19]
Ferdinand and Elefant Tank Destroyer - Osprey Publishing
Apr 20, 2015 · This is the story of the largest and statistically most successful tank destroyer of World War II. The Ferdinand was a true behemoth, and ...
[20]
How the Allies failed the operation to defeat the German Army Group ...
Jun 20, 2024 · ... 653rd heavy tank destroyer battalion, shot down by American fighter-bombers on June 5, 1944 north of Rome on the Aurelius Road. Results. Thus ...
[21]
Porsche's White Elephant - Tank Archives
Feb 1, 2023 · The Ferdinand tank destroyer after its debut at the Battle of Kursk. These vehicles were expected to be the next step in the evolution of German heavy AFVs.
[22]
Ferdinand Losses - Tank Archives
Dec 25, 2013 · Ferdinands weren't only deployed at Kursk. Some were deployed, and lost, in Italy. That's a total of 54-57 Ferdinands accounted for, out of 91 built.
[23]
SU/ISU-152 vs the German Big Cats - Tank Archives
Mar 12, 2013 · The 152 mm tank destroyers were nicknamed "Zveroboy" (beast-killer) by the Soviets and "Dosenöffner" (can opener) by the Germans. Let's see how ...
[24]
Surviving Ferdinand 88mm German WW2 Tank Destroyer in ...
This is the only preserved Ferdinand 88mm German WW2 Tank Destroyer left in the World. It can be found at the Russian Kubinka Tank Museum just outside ...
[25]
Tank Profile - Preserved Tanks .Com
UNIQUE ID 84: ELEFANT TANK DESTROYER (Model: Remanufactured Vehicles) U.S. Army Ordnance Museum, Aberdeen Proving Ground, USA (Location: Display Park) ; Location ...
[26]
Ordnance museum move; The restorers | Article - Army.mil
Oct 7, 2009 · Since 1999, EDSI workers have restored more than 160 Ordnance tanks and guns, many of which were crumbling and had to be rebuilt from the inside ...Missing: 2020s | Show results with:2020s