German self-propelled gun elephant. Self-propelled artillery installation "Ferdinand
30-09-2016, 09:38
Hello tankers, welcome to the site! In the German development branch at the eighth level, there are as many as three tank destroyers, each of which has its own characteristics, but all of them are very strong in their own way. Now we will talk about one of these cars and here is a Ferdinand guide.
As usual, we will conduct a detailed analysis of the vehicle parameters, decide on the choice of equipment, perks, consumables for Ferdinand World of Tanks, and also talk about combat tactics.
TTX Ferdinand
The first thing that every owner of this unit can be proud of when going into battle is its large margin of safety, one of the best on the level. Our basic viewing range is also quite good, 370 meters, which is better than that of our brothers in the nation.
If we consider Ferdinand's booking characteristics, in general, everything is very promising. The bottom line is that we have a very well-armored cabin, into which even classmates can hardly penetrate us, but the armor plate here is located at a right angle and tanks of levels 9-10 no longer experience big problems with breaking through this element.
Regarding the hull armor, it is much worse, and if the VLD of the Ferdinand WoT tank destroyer can still ricochet, then the NLD, sides, and even more so the feed are sewn without problems even by level 7 equipment.
Another important issue will be the mobility of our unit and the first thing I would like to say is that we have really good dynamics. The only problem is that Ferdinand World of Tanks is very limited in maximum speed, so there is no need to talk about any kind of mobility, and our turtle is completely reluctant to spin on the spot.
gun
In terms of weapons, everything is very decent, one might even say good, because we have a legendary mousegun at the eighth level.
We all know that the Ferdinand gun has a great one-time damage, but the rate of fire here is very balanced, so you can boast about 2500 damage per minute, which is also quite good.
Regarding the parameters of armor penetration, the Ferdinand tank lags behind most of its classmates, but still the basic AP is enough for a comfortable game even against nines. It’s already more difficult with top-end vehicles, so take 15-25% of the gold ammo with you.
With accuracy, everything is also in order, especially if you remember that this is a mousegun. Ferdinand World of Tanks has a nice enough dispersion, reasonable aiming speed, but with a stabilization problem.
By the way, they cannot but rejoice at the vertical and horizontal aiming angles that are very comfortable for tank destroyers. Down the gun goes down by 8 degrees, and the total UGN is as much as 30 degrees, it's a pleasure to deal damage to Ferdinand WoT.
Advantages and disadvantages
Since the analysis of the general characteristics, as well as the parameters of the gun, is left behind, it's time to sum up the first results. To systematize the knowledge gained, let's highlight the main advantages and disadvantages, breaking them down into points.
Pros:
Powerful alpha strike;
Decent penetration;
Good DPM;
Good cutting armor;
Large margin of safety;
Comfortable UVN and UGN.
Minuses:
Poor mobility;
Weak armor of the hull and sides;
Shed dimensions;
Criticality of the engine when it hits the NLD.
Equipment for Ferdinand
With installation additional modules more or less familiar. For tank destroyers, it is very important to deal as much damage as possible, while doing it comfortably, so in the case of Ferdinand, we will put the following equipment:
1. - the more often we implement our excellent alpha strike, the better.
2. - this module is about comfort, because with it we will be able to aim and shoot much faster.
3. - a good option for a passive playstyle that will completely solve the vision problem.
However, there is a very good alternative to the third point - which will make us an even more dangerous enemy in terms of fire potential, but it can only be set if perks are pumped into the review or if there are competent allies.
Crew training
In terms of the choice of skills for our crew, which includes as many as 6 tankers, everything is pretty standard, but for a number of reasons, first of all, it is worth making a bias not on disguise, but on survival. Thus, we download perks on the Ferdinand tank in the following sequence:
Commander - , , , .
Gunner - , , , .
Driver mechanic - , , , .
Radio operator - , , , .
Loader - , , , .
Loader - , , , .
Equipment for Ferdinand
Another standard concerns the selection of consumables, and here we will focus more on our financial situation. If you don't have much silver, you can take , , . However, for those who have time to farm, it is better to carry premium equipment on Ferdinand, where the fire extinguisher can be replaced with .
Game tactics on Ferdinand
As it always happens, it is worth planning a strategy for playing this machine, relying on its strengths and weak sides, because this is how maximum efficiency is achieved in any battle.
For tank destroyers Ferdinand, combat tactics often come down to passive play, mainly due to the slowness of this vehicle. In this case, we must take a convenient and advantageous position in the bushes, somewhere on the second line, from where we can effectively fire at the allied light and remain in the shadows ourselves. As you understand, the powerful and fairly accurate weapon of Ferdinand World of Tanks allows you to play in this way.
However, we can position ourselves on the first line, because our armor is correct staging able to withstand multiple hits while maintaining its HP intact. To do this, the Ferdinand tank must be in battle against the eighth levels, hide the hull, protect itself from artillery and not let the enemy into its side. We play from the alpha, between shots we dance or hide, ensuring a great future for ourselves. Just make sure that the enemy does not charge gold, then our tactics will fail.
By the way, thanks to good vertical and horizontal aiming angles, the German tank destroyer Ferdinand World of Tanks is able to occupy positions that many others cannot do, you also need to be able to use this.
In the end, I would like to say that we have a really strong and formidable vehicle in our hands, which feels most comfortable in battles at the top of the list. If you have to fight against dozens, it is better to shoot from afar. And as usual, playing Ferdinand WoT, you have to understand that this is a one-way vehicle, so choose your flank carefully, keep an eye on the mini-map and watch out for art.
In 1943, the German armored vehicle factory Nibelungenwerke produced 90 chassis for combat vehicles, which the Wehrmacht refused. The Porsche design turned out to be unnecessary, and the question arose of what to do with this stock of undercarriage, on the basis of which, according to the original plan, it was supposed to build a new heavy tank. "Ferdinand" - self-propelled gun, intended for the destruction of armored vehicles, became a measure, forced in the conditions of a shortage of raw materials, to use already manufactured components and mechanisms.
The chassis itself was unique in its own way. The blocks (there were three of them on each side), including two road wheels, were attached to the armored hull by means of carts equipped with a successful depreciation system.
The power plant consisted of two Maybach carburetor engines with a total capacity of 600 hp. s., loaded on a generator that generates energy supplied to two Siemens electric motors. This solution greatly simplified the control of the machine and excluded the transmission from the transmission. It should be noted that throughout the war the German industry did not create an engine that could be equipped with a relatively high-speed heavy tank.
"Ferdinand", thus, inherited the failed masterpiece of the designer Porsche, who previously specialized in design. A peculiar approach was manifested in the fact that manufacturability was practically not taken into account, chassis was very difficult and expensive.
The power plant could provide a speed of 30-35 km / h if the tank planned by Porsche was equipped with it. "Ferdinand" with 200 mm frontal armor could not move faster than 20 km / h, and even then on solid ground. In essence, self-propelled guns are not intended for rapid throws, the main advantage of this class of armored vehicles is a powerful long-range weapon.
In order to accommodate such a gun (it weighed more than two tons), it was necessary to completely change the original layout. The 88-mm barrel turned out to be very heavy, it required support when moving, but due to its large length it could hit any tank. The Ferdinand, for all its slow sluggishness, has become a formidable weapon.
The crew had to be divided, the gunners were in the stern, and the driver and commander were in the front. The power plant was in the center of the car.
In war, often unique models of equipment are not used for their intended purpose. The Wehrmacht was forced to use self-propelled guns in close combat, in which more effective than any The Ferdinand, whose gun could penetrate 193 mm thick armor from a kilometer distance, did not have a course machine gun capable of protecting the vehicle from advancing infantry.
The machine was built in a hurry, design flaws had to be removed during the modernization process. After that, the surviving 47 self-propelled guns were sent to the manufacturing plant, where they were equipped with small arms, commander's turrets, and the armor was covered with a special layer that protects against magnetic mines.
After the improvement, the self-propelled guns received the name Elefant (that is, "elephant"), perhaps more characterizing a heavy machine with a long "trunk". In the troops (both German and Soviet), the old name took root.
With a huge number of shortcomings, this machine had the main advantage - the gun could hit almost any tank from long distances. "Ferdinand", whose photo even today surprises with its angularity, created difficulties for the German command in forcing water barriers, it was almost impossible to evacuate it from the battlefield in the event of a loss of progress.
Only two "Elephants" survived until the end of the war, they were burned in Berlin by the Soviet infantry. Two previously captured, and therefore surviving specimens took their places in the museums of Russia and the USA.
Self-propelled artillery in its design is in many ways reminiscent of a tank. Possessing less maneuverability and armor, it has a high firepower. Such installations are most effective in supporting offensive tank and infantry formations.
Self-propelled artillery mounts (ACS) began to be used already in the First World War. Gradually, they occupied their niche in the issue of combat use and were actively used in the Second World War. Taking into account their combat qualities, self-propelled guns are practically not used outside large-scale conflicts.
Self-propelled guns "Ferdinand" (Ferdinand) - heavy anti-tank (PT) artillery installation of the Third Reich during the Second World War. It was created with a focus on the destruction of enemy tanks, it was used mainly on the Eastern Front.
Development history
The history of the creation of the self-propelled guns Ferdinand is associated with the design of the Tiger I tank. The development was carried out by competing firms Porsche and Henschel, presenting in 1942 prototypes VK 4501 (P) and (H), respectively. Hitler proposed to assemble both machines in parallel, but at a meeting with the Armaments Directorate, it was decided to leave the Henschel version.
Ferdinand Porsche's tank model had problems with the transmission and a short range. At the same time, the production of engines required a large amount of non-ferrous metals, which were in short supply in Germany. However, Porsche did not wait for the results of the meetings and began assembling the first tanks.
Porsche cars were never put into service. In the autumn of 1942, Hitler ordered their chassis to be used under heavy assault self-propelled guns with 88mm Pak 43 gun and 200mm armour. These conditions required significant changes in the layout of the machine.
Also, Maybach engines that already had serial production were installed on the new German self-propelled gun. This required a redesign of the cooling system and fuel tanks. All work was done in a greater hurry, which subsequently caused a number of shortcomings.
By the end of December 1942, new self-propelled guns were presented for testing. As a reward, Hitler gave them the name of the designer "Ferdinand". In the spring of 1943, artillery mounts began to arrive at the front.
At the end of 1943, the installations left after the first battles were returned to Germany for modernization. A course machine gun appeared in the frontal part, guns were replaced, a commander's cupola with seven periscope devices. These aspects make it easy to distinguish versions of self-propelled guns from the photo.
The vulnerability of the installations to mines was also taken into account - the front of the bottom received additional armor, the tracks became wider. New model received the name "Elephant" (Elephant, with German "elephant", sometimes they write Elefant), but this name was fixed only in English-language literature, since it was with the modernized version that the Allies faced after the opening of the second front.
User manual
The application manual initially put the Ferdinand self-propelled guns at a disadvantage. The limited power reserve and low maneuverability limited their use in a mass offensive, although they could be used in positional battles. Also, the heavy weight of the installation did not allow her to cross most bridges.
Self-propelled artillery "Ferdinand" (the simplified name "Ferd" is incorrect) was designed to destroy Soviet tanks. Considerable armor provided reliable protection against their projectiles. It was supposed to use self-propelled guns at the expense of armor as the first echelon of the offensive against Soviet positions.
Combat vehicle design
The design of the self-propelled guns "Ferdinand" was largely redone after they decided to make artillery out of the tank. Due to the considerable length of the gun, the turret was moved to the rear, where the cabin of the main crew was located.
The power plant with engines, generators, cooling and fuel tanks was moved to the middle part, it was separated from the control compartment by heat-resistant partitions. Given the location of the branches, there was no direct communication between the control and the felling.
Despite the absence of a machine gun, there were loopholes in the wheelhouse for firing personal weapons. They are represented by small hatches with plugs, three in the stern and one on each side. The stern also had a door through which the crew could leave the installation. On the roof of the cabin, there were additionally two hatches for the crew, small hatches for installing a periscope and a fan.
Means of observation and communication
Observation of the terrain was carried out with the help of periscope devices provided in the control room and in the wheelhouse. Viewing slots for the driver and radio operator were also in the front beveled side sheets.
The self-propelled guns were equipped with a FuG 5 radio station, mounted in the control department. Her telephone worked within a radius of 6.5 km, telegraph - 9.5 km. More powerful FuG 8s with an additional antenna were installed on commanders' vehicles.
armored corps
Self-propelled guns "Ferdinand" were sheathed with rolled hardened armor. The frontal protection had a thickness of 200 mm, the upper part of the hull, sides and stern - 80 mm, the lower part of the side - 60 mm. The bottom had 20 mm armor, but the front part (1.35 m) was additionally reinforced with a 30 mm sheet. All fastenings were provided with bolts with bulletproof heads.
Crew
The crew of the artillery installation consisted of 6 people. The driver and radio operator were located in the control department. The main crew, including the commander, is in the wheelhouse. With the advent of the course machine gun, the radio operator also played the role of a gunner.
Armament
The armament of the self-propelled guns "Ferdinand" was originally designed to counter tanks and other armored vehicles. The gun hit almost any machine. Only the IS-2 and M26 "Pershing" at a certain distance from the desired heading angle could withstand a projectile hit.
88 mm gun StuK 43
The key armament of the self-propelled artillery mount is the 88 mm Pak 43/2 rifled gun with a barrel length of 71 calibers. Its obsolete designation is StuK 43. Version 43/2 is a tank version of the Pak 43.
The mass of the gun is 2.2 tons, in the stowed position it was mounted on a special installation. It had two recoil devices and a vertical wedge gate that worked on semi-automatic. Guidance mechanisms were placed on the left at the gunner's position. For this, a periscope device SFlZF1a / Rblf 36 with a fivefold increase was used.
The ballistics of the gun made it possible to penetrate 132 mm of armor at a distance of 2 km at a meeting angle of 60 degrees. From 100 meters under the same conditions, 202 mm of armor penetrated. The ammunition load consisted of 50 shells - armor-piercing tracer Pzgr.39-1, sub-caliber Pzgr.40/43 and high-explosive fragmentation Sprgr 43. The modified "Elefant" ammunition increased to 55 shells.
1 × 7.92 mm machine gun
The original version of the self-propelled guns "Ferdinand" did not have a machine gun. In a modified version of January-March 1944, the 7.92 mm MG-34 ball mount appeared. It was located on the right in the frontal part. Ammunition - 600 rounds.
Technical specifications
The technical characteristics of the Ferdinand artillery mount made it in demand for anti-tank combat. In the process of modernization, a number of parameters were changed, however, the main performance characteristics were preserved until the last battle of the ACS data in Berlin.
Dimensions and weight
According to Wikipedia, the dimensions of the German self-propelled gun "Ferdinand" have the following indicators:
- hull length - 8.14 m;
- width - 3.38 m;
- height - 2.97 m;
- ground clearance - 0.485 m.
The combat weight of the tank is 65 tons. This indicator largely limited the movement of installations across bridges and on soft soil.
Engine and transmission
Power point self-propelled artillery"Ferdinand" is made with the transmission of torque from the engine to the drive wheels by means of electricity. This made it possible to get rid of the gearbox and the main clutch.
The self-propelled guns had two V-shaped twelve-cylinder Maybach HL 120 TRM carburetor engines, which worked on water cooling. The power of each was 265 hp. With. at 2600 rpm.
Two Siemens-Schuckert D149aAC traction motors with a power of 230 kW each were located in the aft part of the hull and set the wheels in motion through a reduction gear. Such a transmission increased the weight of the car, but ensured ease of control.
Chassis
The chassis of the self-propelled gun borrowed many elements from the Leopard tanks. Suspension is blocked, combined type, in which torsion bars are combined with a rubber cushion. The torsion bars themselves are located longitudinally outside the body on bogies.
On each side there were three carts with two road wheels in each. The design was quite complicated, but showed its reliability and maintainability. The rollers themselves also had a good durability resource. The rear drive wheels had removable gear rims of 19 teeth. The front ones are equipped with active engagement and pneumohydraulic brakes.
On the highway, the self-propelled guns developed a speed of 35 km / h, on rough terrain - 5-15 km / h, depending on the surface and softness of the soil. The cruising range on the highway and rough terrain was 150 and 90 km, respectively. Overcoming obstacles - a slope of 22 degrees, a wall of 0.78 m, a ditch 2.64 m wide, a ford a meter deep.
Fuel consumption
A separate fuel supply was provided for each of the two engines. Accordingly, the installation had two fuel tanks of 540 liters each. The control compartment had shut-off valves that opened the fuel supply in cases where the minimum amount of fuel remained in the tanks.
Accurate information on fuel consumption is not available. However, given the low power reserve and weight, the car consumed a large number of fuel - about 720-1155 liters per 100 km. The indicator depends on the type of surface - the consumption decreased on the highway, increased on rough terrain.
Governing bodies
The department of management was located in front of the car and was engaged in a driver and radio operator. It also housed levers and pedals to control the machine, pneumohydraulic braking and track tensioning devices, a junction box with switches and rheostats, an instrument panel, fuel filters, starter batteries, and a radio station.
Advantages and disadvantages
Self-propelled artillery installation "Ferdinand" received a mixed assessment of contemporaries and historians. The car in many ways turned out to be an improvisation, created on the go and in a hurry. However, even despite this, there were many innovative solutions in it.
Of the advantages of the project, electric transmission and suspension with longitudinal torsion bars are distinguished. Technologies have shown good efficiency, but turned out to be too complex and expensive for mass application especially in times of war. Also pay attention to the significant fuel consumption.
In combat conditions, the self-propelled gun clearly demonstrated its advantages. The powerful gun pierced almost any tank at most distances. The frontal armor was not penetrated by anything, the vehicle received some damage only from the sides and from mines.
Such a reservation made it possible to put self-propelled guns in the first echelon of attack to overcome the defense Soviet troops. However, this method quickly proved to be ineffective - the infantry and tank artillery cover was shot back, after which the installations were blown up in close combat, using fabric to block the view and Molotov cocktails. Such methods did not always end in success, however, in any case, they showed the vulnerability of artillery in close combat.
As a result, the self-propelled guns "Ferdinand" proved to be quite good, but never received mass production and use. There is an opinion that if it were not for the started production of Porsche tanks, such installations would never have appeared due to their technical complexity.
Application in World War II
The first use of self-propelled guns "Ferdinand" is associated with the Battle of Kursk. Artillery installations were included in the anti-tank battalions 653 and 654. They were assigned the role of a ram to overcome the defense. The first combat use was on July 8-9, 1943 in the area of the Ponyri station.
During the fighting and the subsequent retreat to Orel, more than three dozen self-propelled guns were lost. Those who remained in mid-August were transferred to Zhytomyr and Dnepropetrovsk, where they stopped for repairs. Later, they took part in the battles near Nikopol and Dnepropetrovsk.
In winter, the Ferdinands were returned for modernization. The resulting modifications of the Elephant self-propelled guns were transferred to Italy and participated in the battles near Nettuno, Anzio and Rome. The remains were again transferred, first to Austria, then to Poland.
In July 1944, the self-propelled guns were based in the Ternopil region, where, due to the large-scale Soviet offensive, they were drawn into heavy fighting. Many vehicles were blown up by their own crews due to the impossibility of evacuation from the battlefield.
The remaining twelve installations were transferred on August 3 near Krakow. They were later evacuated to Germany and kept in reserve. Recent fights The Ferdinands were held in Wünsdorf, Zossen and Berlin.
If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.
Self-propelled guns Ferdinand occupies a place between weakly armored "precocious" like "Nashorn" and the most successful anti-tank self-propelled guns "Jagdpanther", created on the basis of the Panther tank. Developed on the basis of the "Tiger" designed by "Porsche" (originally called "Ferdinand", named after the creator - Ferdinand Porsche), self-propelled guns "Elephant" (elephant) became one of the first armored combat vehicles with a long-barreled 88-mm anti-aircraft gun. The full index of this gun is as follows: RaK 43/2 L / 71, it allows us to conclude that the length of the gun barrel is 71 calibers (that is, its length is 88 mm x 71).
Structurally, the Ferdinand hull remained the same as the Porsche Tiger hull, only 100-mm armor plates were bolted in front, which increased the total thickness of the frontal armor protection to 200 mm. The Ferdinand was equipped with two Maybach engines and had many electrical components, including an electric transmission and a turning mechanism served by two electric motors. All this made the self-propelled gun very difficult and unreliable in operation. In February 1943, Hitler ordered that 90 of these self-propelled guns, which were assigned the index SdKfz 184, be put into active units as soon as possible. front.
Many of the Ferdinands fought on the Kursk Bulge, where they demonstrated the ability to destroy any Soviet tanks. However, self-propelled guns lacked cross-country ability on rough terrain, and the lack of protective weapons made them vulnerable to anti-tank infantry units armed with magnetic mines, RPGs and similar anti-tank weapons. If the battle was fought at short distances, the support of the Ferdinand infantry was simply necessary. At the end of 1943, 48 surviving self-propelled guns were modified at the factory, in particular, they were equipped with MG 34 course machine guns, commander's hatches and anti-magnetic coating. Then the "Elephants" were transferred to the Italian front, where, in off-road conditions and lack of spare parts, they caused the Germans a lot of trouble. For the most part, crews ended up either just dropping them or blowing them up before dropping them.
Soviet soldiers inspect the lined during Battle of Kursk German heavy self-propelled artillery mount of the Ferdinand tank destroyer class. The photo is also interesting with a rare for 1943 steel helmet SSH-36 on a soldier on the left.
Modifications
In late 1943 - early 1944, all the remaining Ferdinands (47 units) by that time were repaired and modernized at the Nibelungenwerke plant. The work carried out included the installation of a machine gun in a ball mount in the front plate of the self-propelled guns, the replacement of gun barrels, turning the shield on the gun barrel “back to front” for better attachment to the barrel, mounting an observation turret with seven fixed periscopes on the roof of the wheelhouse, changing the poles on the lighting generator and improving sealing exhaust pipes, strengthening the bottom in the front of the hull with a 30-mm armor plate to protect against mines, mounting wider tracks, increasing the ammunition load by 5 rounds, installing mounts for tools and caterpillar tracks on the hull. The hull and cabin of the self-propelled guns were covered with zimmerite.
Often, self-propelled guns that have undergone modernization are called "Elephant". In fact, the order to rename the self-propelled guns was issued on February 27, 1944, after the modernization was completed. However, the new name did not take root well until the end of the war, self-propelled guns both in the troops and in official documents were more often called "Ferdinands" than "Elephants". At the same time, in the English-language literature, the name "Elephant" is more often used, which is associated with the fact that vehicles under this name took part in the battles with the Anglo-American troops in Italy.
Project evaluation
In general, the self-propelled guns "Ferdinand" is a very ambiguous object in terms of evaluation, which is largely a consequence of its design, which determined the subsequent fate of the machine. The self-propelled gun was an improvisation created in a big hurry, in fact, an experimental vehicle on a chassis not accepted for service. heavy tank. Therefore, to evaluate the ACS, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the design in more detail. Tiger tank(P), from which "Ferdinand" inherited many of its advantages and disadvantages.
On this tank, a large number of new technical solutions were applied that were not previously tested in German and world tank building. The most significant of these include electric transmission and suspension using longitudinal torsion bars. Both of these solutions showed good performance, but turned out to be overly complex and expensive to manufacture and not mature enough for long-term operation. Although there were subjective factors in choosing the Henschel prototype, there were also objective reasons for the rejection of F. Porsche's designs. Before the war, this designer was actively involved in the development of complex racing car designs, which were single prototypes not intended for large-scale production. He managed to achieve both reliability and efficiency of his designs, but through the use of a very highly skilled workforce, quality materials and individual work with every piece of equipment released. The designer tried to transfer the same approach to tank building, where it was not applicable in the mass production of military equipment.
Although the controllability and survivability of the entire engine-transmission unit received a very good assessment from the German military who operated it, the price for this was high technological costs for its production and an increase in the weight and size characteristics of the entire Tiger (P) tank as a whole. In particular, some sources mention the great need of the Third Reich for copper, and its abundant use in electrical engineering Tiger (P) was regarded as an excess. In addition, a tank with such a scheme had too much fuel consumption. Therefore, the series promising projects tanks F. Porsche was rejected precisely because of the use of electric transmission in them.
The suspension with longitudinal torsion bars was much easier to maintain and repair compared to the "checkerboard" torsion bar suspension of the Tiger I tank. On the other hand, it was very difficult to manufacture and less reliable in operation. All options for its subsequent development were steadily rejected by the leadership of the German tank building in favor of a more traditional and technologically advanced "chessboard" scheme, albeit much less convenient to repair and maintain.
Tank destroyer "Ferdinand" Sd.Kfz.184 (8.8 cm PaK 43/2 Sfl L / 71 Panzerjäger Tiger (P) of the 653rd battalion of heavy tank destroyers (Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 653) of the Wehrmacht moves through locality before the beginning offensive operation"Citadel"
Therefore, from a production point of view, the German army leadership and the Ministry of Arms and Ammunition actually delivered a verdict on the uselessness of the Tiger (P) to the Wehrmacht. However, a significant stock of practically finished chassis of this vehicle made it possible to experiment on the creation of the world's first heavily armored tank destroyer. The number of self-propelled guns manufactured was strictly limited by the number of available chassis, which predetermined the small-scale production of the Ferdinands, regardless of the advantages and disadvantages of its design.
The combat use of the Ferdinands left an ambivalent impression. The most powerful 88-mm cannon was ideal for destroying enemy armored vehicles at any combat distance, and the crews of German self-propelled guns really scored very large numbers of destroyed and wrecked Soviet tanks. Powerful armor made the Ferdinand practically invulnerable to shells of almost all Soviet guns when fired head-on, the side and stern were not penetrated by 45-mm armor-piercing shells, and 76-mm shells (and only modifications B, BSP) pierced it only from extremely short distances (less than 200 m), strictly normal. Therefore, instructions for Soviet tankmen and gunners ordered to hit the Ferdinand undercarriage, the gun barrel, armor plate joints and viewing devices. More effective sub-caliber shells were available in very small quantities.
The effectiveness of the 57-mm ZIS-2 anti-tank guns on the side armor was somewhat better (normally, the side armor of the self-propelled guns penetrated the shells of these guns from about 1000 m). Artillery of the corps and army level could effectively hit the Ferdinands - heavy, low-mobile, expensive and slow-firing 122-mm guns A-19 and 152-mm howitzers-guns ML-20, as well as expensive and vulnerable due to the large size in height 85- mm anti-aircraft guns. In 1943, the only Soviet armored vehicle capable of effectively fighting the Ferdinand was the SU-152 self-propelled gun, which was much inferior German self-propelled gun in terms of armor, accuracy and effective firing range of an armor-piercing projectile (although good results were also achieved when firing at the Ferdinand with high-explosive fragmentation - the armor did not break through, but the undercarriage, gun, internal components and assemblies were damaged, the crew was injured). Also quite effective against the side armor of the Ferdinand was the 122-mm cumulative projectile BP-460A self-propelled guns SU-122, but the range and accuracy of this projectile was very low.
Ferdinand tank destroyers Sd.Kfz.184 (8.8 cm PaK 43/2 Sfl L/71 Panzerjäger Tiger (P) of the headquarters company of the 654th battalion of heavy tank destroyers (Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 654) of the Wehrmacht, lined 15-16 July 1943 near the Ponyri station.On the left is the staff vehicle No. II-03.It was burned with bottles of kerosene mixture after a shell hit the undercarriage.In the frame is an officer of the Red Army.
The fight against the Ferdinands became less difficult in 1944, with the entry into service with the Red Army of the IS-2, T-34-85 tanks, self-propelled guns ISU-122 and SU-85, which are very effective when firing at the Ferdinand in the side and stern on the most common combat distances. The task of defeating "Ferdinand" in the forehead was never completely solved. The issue of penetrating a 200-mm frontal armor plate is still controversial: there is evidence that 100-mm guns BS-3 and self-propelled guns SU-100 coped with this, but Soviet reports from 1944-1945 indicate their lower armor-piercing ability compared to 122 mm guns A-19 or D-25. For the latter, the firing tables indicate the thickness of the pierced armor of about 150 mm at a distance of 500 m, but the armor penetration graph of those years claims that the Ferdinand forehead was pierced at a distance of 450 m. Ferdinand" and IS-2 or ISU-122 is many times more favorable for the German self-propelled guns. Knowing this, Soviet tankers and self-propelled gunners almost always fired at heavily armored targets at long distances with high-explosive 122-mm grenades. Kinetic energy The 25-kg projectile and its explosive action could, with a good probability, put the Ferdinand out of action without breaking through the frontal armor.
Front-line correspondent Konstantin Mikhailovich Simonov (1915-1979) sits on the barrel of a gun of a captured German self-propelled gun "Ferdinand", shot down on the northern face of the Kursk salient. Presumably, a vehicle with tail number "232", a photo of the same self-propelled gun from behind. A German gas mask tank is inserted into the muzzle brake of the gun.
The anti-tank and tank artillery of Great Britain and the United States was also ineffective against the Ferdinand's frontal armor, only sub-caliber shells with a detachable pallet for the 17-pounder (76.2 mm) appeared in the middle of 1944 anti-tank gun(which was also installed on Sherman Firefly tanks, Achilles and Archer self-propelled guns) could solve this problem. On board, the German self-propelled guns were confidently hit by armor-piercing shells of English and American 57-mm and 75-mm guns from a distance of about 500 m, 76-mm and 90-mm guns - from a distance of about 2000 m. Italy in 1943-1944 confirmed their very high efficiency when used for their intended purpose - as a tank destroyer.
On the other hand, the high security of "Ferdinand" to a certain extent played a negative role in his fate. Instead of a long-range tank destroyer, due to the massive and accurate fire of the Soviet artillery, the German command near Kursk used the Ferdinands as the tip of the ram of the Soviet defense in depth, which was a clear mistake. For this role, the German self-propelled guns were badly suited - the lack of a machine gun, low power for a large mass of the vehicle and high pressure on the ground. It is known that a significant number of Ferdinands were immobilized by explosions in Soviet minefields and artillery fire on the undercarriage, most of these vehicles were destroyed by their own crews due to the impossibility of quick evacuation due to the excessive mass of self-propelled guns. The Soviet infantry and anti-tank artillery, knowing the impenetrability of the Ferdinand and its weakness in close combat, let the German self-propelled guns closer, trying to deprive them of the support of the German infantry and tanks, and then try to knock them out by firing at the side, on the undercarriage, the gun, as recommended instructions for combating enemy heavy tanks and self-propelled guns.
Burning German self-propelled guns "Ferdinand" from the 656th regiment on the Orlovsky face of the Kursk Bulge. The photo was taken through the hatch of the driver of the Pz.Kpfw control tank. III tanks-robots B-4.
Immobilized self-propelled guns became easy prey for infantry, armed means melee anti-tank combat, for example, Molotov cocktails. This tactic was fraught with heavy losses, but sometimes it led to success, especially if the German self-propelled guns lost the ability to turn. In particular, one "Ferdinand" that fell into a sandy pit could not get out on its own and was captured by the Soviet infantry, and its crew was captured. The weakness of "Ferdinand" in close combat was noted by the German side and served as one of the reasons for the modernization in "Elephant".
The large mass of the Ferdinand made it difficult to pass through many bridges, although it was not prohibitively large, especially compared to the heavy Tiger II tank and the Jagdtigr self-propelled guns. The large dimensions and low mobility of the Ferdinand are not in the best way affected the survivability of the machine in the conditions of air dominance of the Allied aviation.
Blown up on a mine "Ferdinand" No. 501, from the 654th division. The car in the list examined by the GABTU commission is listed under the number "9". It was this machine that was repaired and sent to the NIBT training ground. It is currently on display at the Museum of Armored Vehicles in Kubinka. Kursk Bulge, near the village of Goreloe.
Heavy assault gun "Ferdinand", tail number "731", chassis number 150090 from the 654th division, blown up by a mine in the defense zone of the 70th army. Later this car was sent to the exhibition captured equipment to Moscow. Kursk Bulge.
In general, despite some shortcomings, the Ferdinands proved to be very good, and if used correctly, these self-propelled guns were an extremely dangerous opponent for any tank or self-propelled guns of those times. The heirs of the Ferdinand were armed with an equally powerful weapon, but lighter and weaker armored, the Jagdpanther and Jagdtiger, the most powerful and heaviest tank destroyer of World War II.
There were no direct analogues of Ferdinand in other countries. In terms of concept and armament, Soviet tank destroyers SU-85 and SU-100 are closest to it, but they are twice as light and much weaker armored. Another analogue is the Soviet heavy self-propelled gun ISU-122, with powerful weapons, it was much inferior to the German self-propelled gun in terms of frontal armor. British and American anti-tank self-propelled guns had an open cabin or turret, and were also very lightly armored.
Heavy assault gun "Ferdinand", tail number "723" from the 654th division (battalion), shot down in the area of the state farm "May 1". The caterpillar was destroyed by shell hits and the gun was jammed. The vehicle was part of Major Kal's strike group as part of the 505th heavy tank battalion of the 654th division.
Tactical and technical characteristics of self-propelled guns Elephant
Layout scheme: control compartment and transmission front, engine in the middle, combat rear
- Developer: Ferdinand Porsche
- Manufacturer: Porsche
- Years of development: 1942-1943
- Years of production: 1943
- Years of operation: 1943-1945
- Number of issued, pcs.: 91
Weight ACS Elephant
Combat weight, t: 65.0
Crew: 6 people
Overall dimensions of ACS Elephant
Case length, mm: 8140
- Width, mm: 3380
- Height, mm: 2970
- Clearance, mm: 485
Booking ACS Elephant
Armor type: rolled and forged surface hardened
- Forehead of the hull (top), mm / city: 200 (100 + 100) / 12 °
- Forehead of the hull (bottom), mm / city: 200 / 35 °
- Hull board (top), mm/deg.: 80 / 0°
- Hull board (bottom), mm/deg.: 60 / 0°
- Hull feed (top), mm / city: 80 / 40 °
- Hull feed (bottom), mm / city: 80 / 0 °
- Bottom, mm: 20-50
- Hull roof, mm: 30
- Forehead felling, mm/deg.: 200 / 25°
- Gun mask, mm / city: 125
- Cutting board, mm/deg.: 80 / 30°
- Cutting feed, mm/deg.: 80 / 30°
- Cabin roof, mm / city: 30 / 85 °
Armament self-propelled guns Elephant
Gun caliber and make: 88mm Pak 43
- Type of gun: rifled
- Barrel length, calibers: 71
- Gun ammunition: 50-55
- Angles HV, degrees: −8…+14°
- GN angles, degrees: 28°
- sights: periscope Sfl ZF 1a
Machine guns: 1 × 7.92 MG-34
Engine ACS Elephant
Engine type: two V-shaped 12-cylinder carburetor
- Engine power, l. s.: 2×265
Speed ACS Elephant
Highway speed, km/h: 35 (on tests in the USSR)
- Cross-country speed, km / h: 10-15 for soft plowing 5-10
Range on the highway, km: 150
- Power reserve over rough terrain, km: 90
Specific power, l. s./t: 8.2
- suspension type: torsion bar
- Specific ground pressure, kg/cm²: 1.2
Climbability, degrees: 22°
- overcome wall, m: 0.78
- Crossable ditch, m: 2.64
- Crossable ford, m: 1.0
Photo self-propelled guns Ferdinand (Elephant)
Heavy assault gun "Ferdinand", destroyed by a direct hit of an aerial bomb from a Soviet Pe-2 dive bomber. Tactical number unknown. The area of the Ponyri station and the May 1 state farm.
The German heavy assault gun "Ferdinand" of the 653rd battalion (division), captured in good condition along with the crew by the soldiers of the Soviet 129th Oryol Rifle Division. The left front corner of the self-propelled guns had to be hit by an HE shell (“chrysanthemum” is clearly visible in the photo). Therefore, there is no fender and wing. But the self-propelled guns themselves were in perfect working order, the guns and instruments were in perfect order the radio was on. Even the “kinizhechka” magic according to Fedya was available.
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German tank building during World War II was one of the best in the world. Bold engineering ideas were embodied at the country's largest factories - Nibelungenwerke, Alkett, Krupp, Rheinmetall, Oberdonau, etc. Models of technology have improved, adapting to the conduct of hostilities, which history has not yet known. The quantitative and qualitative use of armored vehicles could decide the outcome of the battle. Tanks are the iron fist of the warring powers. It is not easy to resist them, but it is possible. Thus, mobile anti-tank artillery with a running gear similar to tanks, but with a more powerful gun, enters the arena of hostilities. One of the most famous German tank destroyers that participated in WWII was the Ferdinand. 
The engineering genius Ferdinand Porsche was known as Hitler's favorite for his Volkswagen. The Fuhrer wanted Dr. Porsche to direct the vector of his ideas and knowledge into military industry. The famous inventor did not make us wait long. Porsche designed a new tank chassis. New tanks "Leopard", VK3001 (P), Tiger (P) were tested on its chassis. Tests have shown the benefits of an innovative chassis model. Thus, in September 1942. Porsche was instructed to develop a tank destroyer with an 88 mm cannon based on the chassis, designed for the Tiger heavy tank. The assault gun must be well protected, the gun must be in a fixed wheelhouse - these were the orders of the Fuhrer. The redesigned Tiger(P) tanks became the prototypes of the Ferdinand. The body of the Tiger Porsche underwent minimal changes, mainly in the aft part, where a conning tower was installed with an 88-mm gun and a machine gun in the front sheet (later the machine gun was removed due to an excess of mass, which became a significant drawback in close combat with enemy infantry) . The front of the hull was reinforced with additional armor plates 100 and 30 mm thick. As a result, the project was approved, and an order was received for the construction of 90 such machines.
February 6, 1943 At a meeting of the commanders-in-chief, a report was heard on the manufacture of an "assault gun on the Porsche-Tiger chassis." By order of Hitler new car received the official designation "8.8-mm Pak 43/2 Sfl L / 71 Panzerjager Tiger (P) Ferdinand". Thus, the Fuhrer recognized the achievements of Ferdinand Porsche, giving the self-propelled gun his name. 
So, what was the innovation of the chassis designed by Porsche. In relation to one side, the Ferdinand's undercarriage consisted of three carts with two rollers in each. The original undercarriage unit was the placement of bogie suspension torsion bars not inside the hull, like many other tanks, but outside, and besides, not transversely, but longitudinally. Despite quite complex structure suspension, designed by F. Porsche, it worked very efficiently. In addition, it turned out to be well adapted for repair and maintenance in the field, which was an important advantage during the fighting. Another original component of the Ferdinand design was the electrical system for transmitting torque from the prime movers to the drive wheels of the engine. Due to this, the car did not have such components as the gearbox and the main clutch, and, consequently, their control drives, which simplified the repair and operation of the power plant, and also reduced the weight of the self-propelled gun. 
Dividing 90 vehicles into two battalions, the command sent one to Russia, and the second to France, later transferring it also to the Soviet-German front. In the battles "Ferdinand" showed himself as powerful fighter tanks. The gun worked effectively at long distances, while Soviet heavy artillery inflicted non-critical damage on the self-propelled gun. For guns field artillery and tanks, only the sides of the Ferdinand were vulnerable. Most the Germans lost new cars in the minefields, which they did not have time to clear mines or did not map their own. In the battles near Kursk, 19 self-propelled guns were lost. Wherein combat mission was carried out, and the "Ferdinands" destroyed more than 100 tanks, anti-tank guns and other Soviet military equipment. 
The Soviet command, having encountered a new type of equipment for the first time, did not attach great importance to it, as it was carried away by another formidable rival - the Tiger. However, several abandoned and burned-out self-propelled guns fell into the hands of Soviet technicians and engineers and were investigated. Several vehicles were shot from different guns to test the penetration of the armor of the new German assault guns. 
The soldiers learned about new self-propelled gun"Ferdinand", they began to call other equipment with a stern location of the tower or cabin. There were many rumors and legends about a powerful German self-propelled gun. Therefore, after the war in the USSR, they were pretty surprised that only 90 real Ferdinands were produced. A manual for the destruction of the "Ferdinands" was also massively released.
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Failures near Kursk forced the tank destroyers to be sent for repair and re-arrangement. The strategy for bringing these vehicles into battle was also revised. To protect the self-propelled guns from entering the flank and rear and during close combat, accompanying Pz.IV tanks were assigned to them. The order on joint combat operations of self-propelled guns and infantry was also abolished, since due to the active shelling of the Ferdinands, the accompanying infantry suffered heavy losses. The newly launched vehicles on the battlefield coped better and faster with combat missions, incurring minimal losses. During the fighting on the Zaporozhye bridgehead, only 4 vehicles were lost. And after the participation of the "Ferdinands" in the battles in Western Ukraine, it was decided to send the surviving vehicles to the rear for repairs and upgrades. Vehicles with new tracks, a rigged undercarriage, which suffered most often, with a machine gun in the frontal armor plate (used by a radio operator) and other minor changes, entered the battle already on the Italian front, but the updated self-propelled gun carried a different name - "Elephant" ...
Summary. The powerful German tank destroyer deserved so many legends and tales for a reason. During the war for Soviet soldiers the word "ferdinand" became an epithet. The heaviest colossus weighing 65 tons (after the Ferdinand battalion crossed one of the bridges across the Seine, the bridge sank 2 cm.) Was well armored and equipped with a powerful gun. The frontal armor held back the shots of most Soviet field guns and tanks, but the lightly armored sides and stern were vulnerable. Also weak points were the grill in the front of the case, under which was located power point, and the roof. The Achilles' heel, as it turned out, was the chassis, especially its front part. Its withdrawal from the system almost always ended in defeat. The clumsy "Ferdinand", remaining motionless, could fire only in a limited sector due to the static cutting. In this case, the crew blew up the self-propelled gun, if the enemy had not done so before.
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