TM-E 30-451 Handbook on German Military Forces   LoneSentry.com

[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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