FERDINAND AND ELEFANT TANK DESTROYER © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com FERDINAND AND ELEFANT TANK DESTROYER © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com FERDINAND AND ELEFANT TANK DESTROYER Thomas Anderson © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com CONTENTS Introduction 6 chapter 1 New Weapons 14 chapter 2 Birth of a Regiment 88 chapter 3 Kursk – 102 PzJgRgt 656 on the Attack chapter 4 From Kursk 128 to Nikopol chapter 5 Reconditioning 162 in the Reich chapter 6 Combat in Italy 172 chapter 7 Back in Russia 196 chapter 8 Decline 232 Index 252 © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com Introduction At the beginning of World War II, Germany introduced new military tactics which allowed them to conquered large parts of Europe within a relatively short time. The Panzerwaffe was at the forefront this success. However, the equipment was no better than that of the Allies: it was how these weapons were deployed that defined the revolutionary Blitzkreig tactics. It took three long years for the Allies to adopt these tactics. By 1943, British and US forces had developed methods to defend against this type of attack. Most importantly, they had developed aircraft and the weapons to gain absolute air superiority over the battlefield. Left: On the Eastern Front matters were different. The Soviets had activated A sPanzerjäger Ferdinand the enormous manufacturing potential of their country. As a consequence, being inspected by Adolf their armaments industry was able to produce war material in ever Hitler and Reichsminister increasing numbers. Together with an abundant supply of fighting men Speer accompanied by senior military personnel; (and women) they managed to halt the German offensive. Ferdinand Porsche is Due to this situation Germany initiated the manufacture of high- visible in the background. quality and technically superior weapons. On the battlefield, new and (bpk Images) better weapons, heavy and super-heavy tanks would decide the war. Among them was the Ferdinand, later called Elefant (Elephant). This Overleaf: heavy tank destroyer emerged from the work which finally led to the As Minister of Armaments, Reichsminister Albert famous PzKpfw VI Tiger tank. The development of this sophisticated Speer took a personal support weapon was expedited under the orders of Adolf Hitler. interest in tank Also there were the assault tanks, or Sturmpanzer. Often referred development and took any to as Brummbär (grizzly bear, grouch, so far this nickname has not opportunity drive a new been verified), these vehicles with 15cm guns were intended to design. Here, Speer is at the controls of a prototype destroy hardened targets with one or two rounds. Even these heavy chassis accompanied by weapons would be outperformed by a new development based on its designer Ferdinand the Tiger tank – the Sturmmörser mounting the 38cm Raketenwerfer Porsche (right). rocket launcher. (bpk Images) © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com 8 FERDINAND AND ELEFANT © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com Introduction 9 © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com 10 FERDINAND AND ELEFANT Reichsmarschall Hermann Pioneer weapons were always an effective means to support an advance Göring inspects a PzKpfw by infantry troops. For this the Germans invented remote-controlled tanks, VI Tiger (P) in the company the ‘original drones’. These explosive-charge carriers were to be used to of Ferdinand Porsche (centre). (bpk Images) blow up minefields, anti-tank obstacles and enemy positions without endangering German troops. The book deals with these three weapon systems: weapons, which were intended to help Germany’s armoured forces to win the war. Where and how were they used in combat? Were they efficient? Were there any countermeasures? And were they worth the effort? The author has exclusively used archival information. Documents and files found in the Bundesarchiv/Militärarchiv, Freiburg (Germany) and the National Archives (NARA) in Washington, DC (USA) were evaluated. Interestingly, in the context of this book both archives are basically identical. However, the author believes that archive information only allows an objective view of incidents which took place some 70 years ago. © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com