[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department Technical
Manual, TM-E 30-451: Handbook on German Military Forces published in
March 1945. — Figures and illustrations are not reproduced, see
source details. — As with
all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No
attempt has been made to update or correct the text. — Any views or opinions
expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]
CHAPTER VII. WEAPONS
Section V. SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY
4. Tank Destroyers
a. RHINOCEROS (Nashorn), FORMERLY HORNET (Hornisse), 8.8 cm Pak 43/1 ON
THE Gw. III/IV. (1) General. This is one of the versions of
the 8.8 cm Pak 43, the latest 88-mm antitank gun, mounted on the
hybrid chassis of the Pz. Kpfw. III and IV. The vehicle's silhouette is
very high and the armor protection given to the crew by the thin-skinned superstructure
is very poor. The gun, however, is able to engage tanks at very long ranges.
(2) Specifications.
| General |
| Nomenclature |
. . . . . |
Nashorn. |
| Type of carriage |
. . . . . |
Gw. III/IV, Sd. Kfz. 164. |
| Length over-all: |
| Including gun |
. . . . . |
27 feet 8 1/4 inches. |
| Excluding gun |
. . . . . |
20 feet 4 1/8 inches. |
| Width over-all |
. . . . . |
9 feet 8 1/8 inches. |
| Height over-all |
. . . . . |
9 feet 7 3/4 inches. |
| Weight |
. . . . . |
27 tons. |
| Crew |
. . . . . |
5 men. |
|
|
|
| Gun |
| Type |
. . . . . |
8.8 cm Pak 43/1 (L/71). |
| Muzzle velocity |
. . . . . |
APCBC 3,280 feet per second. |
| Elevation |
. . . . . |
-5° to +20°. |
| Traverse |
. . . . . |
15° each way. |
| Muzzle brake |
. . . . . |
Yes. |
| Buffer |
. . . . . |
Hydraulic. |
| Recuperator |
. . . . . |
Hydropneumatic. |
| Ammunition: |
| Types fired |
. . . . . |
APCBC |
HE |
HC |
AP 40 |
|
| Muzzle velocity (feet per second) |
. . . . . |
3,280 | 2,400 | 1,968 |
3,705 | |
| Projectile weight (pounds) |
. . . . . |
22.4 | 20.7 | 16.8 |
16 | |
| Rounds carried |
. . . . . |
Total of 48 rounds. |
|
|
|
| Carriage |
| Suspension: |
| Number of bogie |
. . . . . |
8. |
| Type of bogies |
. . . . . |
Small rubber tired. |
| Number of return rollers |
. . . . . |
4. |
| Track, length |
. . . . . |
11 feet 6 inches. |
| Track, width |
. . . . . |
7 feet 11 inches. |
| Width of link |
. . . . . |
1 foot 3 inches. |
| Hull armor: |
| Front |
. . . . . |
30 mm at 12°. |
| Sides |
. . . . . |
20 mm vertical. |
| Rear |
. . . . . |
22 mm. |
| Top |
. . . . . |
17 mm. |
| Belly |
. . . . . |
17 mm. |
| Fighting compartment armor: |
| Front |
. . . . . |
10 mm at 30°. |
| Sides |
. . . . . |
10 mm at 16°. |
|
|
|
| Power |
| Engine: |
| Type |
. . . . . |
HL 120 TRM. |
| Cylinders |
. . . . . |
V-12. |
| Fuel |
. . . . . |
Gasoline. |
| Location |
. . . . . |
Center. |
| Horsepower |
. . . . . |
295 at 3,000 rpm. |
| Transmission |
. . . . . |
Maybach synchromesh; 6 forward, 1 reverse. |
| Drive |
. . . . . |
Front sprocket. |
|
|
|
| Performance |
| Trench crossing |
. . . . . |
9 feet. |
| Fording |
. . . . . |
2 feet 7 1/2 inches. |
| Radius of action |
. . . . . |
160 miles. |
| Step |
. . . . . |
2 feet 6 inches. |
| Gradient |
. . . . . |
30°. |
| Maximum speed |
. . . . . |
25 miles per hour. |
|
|
|
| Remarks |
| Penetration of homogeneous armor at 30°, APCBC projectile: |
| 500 yards |
. . . . . |
184 mm. |
| 1,000 yards |
. . . . . |
169 mm. |
b. ELEPHANT (Elefant), FORMERLY FERDINAND, 8.8 cm Stu. K. 43 OR Pak 43/2 ON
THE Panzer Jägger Tiger P. (1) General. This is another version of the latest
model, long 88-mm antitank gun. The gun is mounted on the Tiger P chassis, a
discarded early version of the Tiger, incorporating twin gasoline generating units with
direct electric drive. Although protected by heavy armor, this vehicle has been
relatively unsuccessful because it is ponderous and difficult to maneuver.
(2) Specifications.
| General |
| Nomenclature |
. . . . . |
Elefant. |
| Type of carriage |
. . . . . |
Pz. Jäg. Tiger P, Sd. Kfz. 184. |
| Length over-all: |
| Including gun |
. . . . . |
26 feet 10 inches. |
| Excluding gun |
. . . . . |
23 feet 4 inches. |
| Width over-all |
. . . . . |
11 feet 3 inches. |
| Height over-all |
. . . . . |
9 feet 10 inches. |
| Weight |
. . . . . |
73 short tons. |
| Crew |
. . . . . |
6 men. |
|
|
|
| Gun |
| Type |
. . . . . |
8.8 cm Stu. K. 43 (L/71) or Pak 43/2. |
| Muzzle velocity |
. . . . . |
APCBC 3,280 feet per second. |
| Elevation |
. . . . . |
-6° to +25°. |
| Traverse |
. . . . . |
12° each way. |
| Muzzle brake |
. . . . . |
Fitted. |
| Buffer |
. . . . . |
Hydraulic. |
| Recuperator |
. . . . . |
Hydropneumatic. |
| Ammunition: |
| Types fired |
. . . . . |
APCBC |
HE |
HC |
AP 40 |
|
| Rounds carried |
. . . . . |
20 |
70 |
| | |
| Muzzle velocity (feet per second) |
. . . . . |
3,280 | 2,400 | 1,968 |
3,705 | |
| Projectile weight (pounds) |
. . . . . |
22.4 | 20.7 | 16.8 |
16 | |
|
|
|
| Carriage |
| Suspension: |
| Number of bogie wheels |
. . . . . |
6, in pairs. |
| Type of bogie wheels |
. . . . . |
Large. |
| Number of return rollers |
. . . . . |
None. |
| Hull armor: |
| Front |
. . . . . |
200 mm at 32°. |
| Sides |
. . . . . |
80 mm vertical. |
| Rear |
. . . . . |
80 mm vertical. |
| Top |
. . . . . |
30 mm horizontal. |
| Belly |
. . . . . |
20 mm horizontal. |
| Fighting compartment armor: |
| Front |
. . . . . |
170 mm at 30°. |
| Sides |
. . . . . |
90 mm at 30°. |
|
|
|
| Power |
| Engines: |
| Type |
. . . . . |
Two Maybach HL 120 TRMs. |
| Location |
. . . . . |
Center. |
| Horsepower |
. . . . . |
590. |
| Transmission |
. . . . . |
Electric drive. |
| Drive |
. . . . . |
Rear sprocket. |
|
|
|
| Performance |
| Fording |
. . . . . |
2 feet 4 inches. |
| Radius of action |
. . . . . |
62 miles. |
| Gradient |
. . . . . |
30°. |
| Maximum speed |
. . . . . |
12.5 miles per hour. |
|
|
|
| Remarks |
| Penetration of homogeneous armor at 30°, APCBC projectile: |
| 500 yards |
. . . . . |
184 mm. |
| 1,000 yards |
. . . . . |
169 mm. |
c. Jagdpanther, 8.8 cm Pak 43/3 OR 43/4 (L/71) ON THE PANTHER
CHASSIS. (1) General. This tank destroyer is intended for engaging
armored targets at long ranges from stationary positions. A single, heavy, sloping
plate protects the front of both hull and superstructure. The gun is mounted
centrally in this plate, giving the vehicle the appearance of an assault
gun, with the gun rather high.
(2) Specifications.
| General |
| Nomenclature |
. . . . . |
Jagdpanther. |
| Type of carriage |
. . . . . |
Pz. Jäg. Panther, Sd. Kfz. 173. |
| Length over-all: |
| Including gun |
. . . . . |
32 feet 4 inches. |
| Excluding gun |
. . . . . |
22 feet 9 inches. |
| Width over-all |
. . . . . |
10 feet 9 inches. |
| Height over-all |
. . . . . |
8 feet 3 inches. |
| Weight |
. . . . . |
51.25 short tons. |
| Crew |
. . . . . |
5 men. |
|
|
|
| Gun |
| Type |
. . . . . |
8.8 cm Pak 43/3 or 43/4 (L/71). |
| Muzzle velocity |
. . . . . |
APCBC 3,280 feet per second. |
| Elevation |
. . . . . |
-8° to +14° |
| Traverse |
. . . . . |
13° each way. |
| Muzzle brake |
. . . . . |
Yes. |
| Buffer |
. . . . . |
Hydraulic. |
| Recuperator |
. . . . . |
Hydropneumatic. |
| Ammunition: |
| Types fired |
. . . . . |
APCBC |
HE |
HC |
AP 40 |
|
| Rounds carried |
. . . . . |
28 |
29 |
| | |
| Muzzle velocity (feet per second) |
. . . . . |
3,280 | 2,460 | 1,968 |
3,705 | |
| Projectile weight (pounds) |
. . . . . |
22.4 | 20.7 | 16.8 |
16 | |
|
|
|
| Carriage |
| Suspension: |
| Number of bogies |
. . . . . |
8. |
| Type of bogies |
. . . . . |
Double. |
| Number of return rollers |
. . . . . |
1. |
| Track, length |
. . . . . |
13 feet 5 1/2 inches. |
| Track, width |
. . . . . |
8 feet 7 1/2 inches. |
| Width of link |
. . . . . |
2 feet 2 inches. |
| Hull armor: |
| Front |
. . . . . |
80 mm at 55°. |
| Sides |
. . . . . |
30 mm vertical. |
| Rear |
. . . . . |
40 mm at 30°. |
| Fighting compartment armor: |
| Front |
. . . . . |
80 mm at 55°. |
| Sides |
. . . . . |
45 mm at 30°. |
|
|
|
| Power |
| Engine: |
| Type | . . . . . |
Maybach HL 230 P30. |
| Cylinders | . . . . . |
V-12. |
| Fuel | . . . . . |
Gasoline. |
| Location | . . . . . |
Rear. |
| Horsepower | . . . . . |
690 at 3,000 rpm. |
| Transmission | . . . . . |
Synchromesh; 7 forward, 1 reverse. |
| Drive | . . . . . |
Front sprocket. |
|
|
|
| Performance |
| Trench crossing | . . . . . |
8 feet. |
| Fording | . . . . . |
5 feet 1 inch. |
| Radius of action | . . . . . |
87 miles. |
| Step | . . . . . |
3 feet. |
| Gradient | . . . . . |
30°. |
|
|
|
| Armament |
| Type |
. . . . . |
One M. G. 34, ball mount. |
| Location |
. . . . . |
Glacis plate. |
|
|
|
| Remarks |
| Penetration of homogeneous armor at 30°, APCBC projectile: |
| 500 yards |
. . . . . |
184 mm. |
| 1,000 yards |
. . . . . |
169 mm. |
d. Jagdtiger, 12.8 cm Pak 44 (L/55) ON
THE Pz. Jäg. Tiger MODEL B. (1) General. The
12.8 cm Pak 44 (L/55) is the largest caliber antitank gun the Germans have produced
so far. It is only found in a self-propelled version, mounted on
the Pz. Jäg Tiger Model B, which is an adaptation of the
King Tiger chassis. The superstructure in which the gun is mounted, is very
heavily armored. The Jagdtiger supersedes the 12.8 cm K. 40 mounted
on a hybrid chassis, which was employed in Russia and will probably not be
encountered in the future.
(2) Specifications.
| General |
| Nomenclature |
. . . . . |
Jagdtiger. |
| Type of carriage | . . . . . |
Pz. Jäg. Tiger Model B, Sd. Kfz. 186. |
| Length over-all: |
| Including gun | . . . . . |
32 feet 2 inches. |
| Excluding gun | . . . . . |
23 feet 10 inches. |
| Width over-all | . . . . . |
11 feet 9 1/2 inches. |
| Height over-all | . . . . . |
9 feet 3 inches. |
| Weight | . . . . . |
77.2 short tons. |
| Crew | . . . . . |
6 men. |
|
|
|
| Gun |
| Type | . . . . . |
12.8 cm Pak 44 (L/55). |
| Muzzle velocity | . . . . . |
APCBC 3,020 feet per second. |
| Muzzle brake | . . . . . |
Yes. |
| Ammunition: |
| Types fired |
. . . . . |
APC |
APCBC |
HE |
| |
| Muzzle velocity (feet per second) |
. . . . . |
2,890 |
3,020 |
2,886 |
| |
| Projectile weight (pounds) |
. . . . . |
58.1 |
62.5 |
57 |
| |
| Rounds carried |
. . . . . |
Total of 40 rounds. |
|
|
|
| Carriage |
| Torsion Bar Suspension: |
| Number of bogie wheels | . . . . . |
9. |
| Type of bogie wheel | . . . . . |
Twin. |
| Number of return rollers | . . . . . |
None. |
| Track, length | . . . . . |
13 feet 4 inches. |
| Track, width | . . . . . |
9 feet 2 inches. |
| Width of link | . . . . . |
2 feet 8 1/2 inches. |
| Hull armor: |
| Front | . . . . . |
150 mm at 50°. |
| Sides | . . . . . |
80 mm vertical. |
| Rear | . . . . . |
80 mm at 30°. |
| Fighting compartment armor: |
| Front | . . . . . |
250 mm at 15°. |
| Sides | . . . . . |
80 mm at 25°. |
| Rear | . . . . . |
80 mm at 10°. |
|
|
|
| Power |
| Engine: |
| Type | . . . . . |
Maybach HL 230 P30. |
| Cylinders | . . . . . |
V-12. |
| Fuel | . . . . . |
Gasoline. |
| Location | . . . . . |
Rear. |
| Horsepower | . . . . . |
595 at 2,600 rpm. |
| Transmission | . . . . . |
Preselector, hydraulic operation; 8 forward, 4 reverse. |
| Drive | . . . . . |
Front sprocket. |
|
|
|
| Performance |
| Fording | . . . . . |
5 feet 9 inches. |
| Radius of action | . . . . . |
106 miles. |
| Gradient | . . . . . |
35°. |
| Maximum speed | . . . . . |
26 miles per hour. |
|
|
|
| Armament |
| Mounted | . . . . . |
One M.G. 34. |
| Carried | . . . . . |
One M.G. 42. |
|
|
|
| Remarks |
| Penetration of homogeneous armor at 30°: |
| | |
APC |
APCBC |
| | |
| 500 yards | . . . . . |
172 mm |
212 mm. | | | |
| 1,000 yards | . . . . . |
148 mm |
200 mm. | | | |
|
|
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