Sturmgeschutz mit 8.8cm PaK43/2 (Sd Kfz 184)

History: During the development of the Tiger(P) and Tiger(H), Hitler had agitated for a turret design which would be large enough to mount the 8.8cm KwK L/71. This had not materialized and on 22 September 1942 it was decided that a StuG with 200mm frontal armour and the long 8.8cm gun should be immediately designed, with the Tiger( P) as the basis, and part of the Tiger( P) production diverted for the vehicle. Alkett was to design and produce the Ferdinand, with Nibelungenwerke supplying the completed chassis. Despite the shortage of suspension parts and lack of test runs, on 6 February 1943 Hitler ordered that 90 Ferdinands were to be supplied for the front as quickly as possible by all available means. This resulted in the order for Nibelungenwerke to complete the Sturmgeschutz Ferdinand instead of Alkett. All 90 were completed by the end of May 1943, in time for use in the summer offensive at Kursk.

Specific features: The hull of the Ferdinand was that of the Tiger(P), but with 100mm plates bolted to the front, and an addition to the rear to support the superstructure and vent cooling air for the electric motors. The superstructure housed the long 8.8cm gun in a limited traverse mount. No secondary armament was mounted until late 1943, when those returned from the front were modified to carry a hull machine-gun. The superstructure was also changed at this time to provide the commander with a cupola. Forty-eight Ferdinands were so modified.

Combat service: Ferdinands were issued to Panzerjagerabteilungen 653 and 654 in April and May 1943. These units fought at Kursk during the limited offensive and helped plug holes in the line for the rest of the summer and autumn. The units were pulled out late in 1943 to overhaul the vehicles, after which, the 653rd Panzerjagerabteilung was re-equipped and a separate company was attached to the 614th Panzerjagerabteilung.

Type	Heavy tank destroyer
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Production history
Designer	Ferdinand Porsche
Designed	1942–1943
Manufacturer	Porsche GmbH
Produced	March–May 1943 (modification into Elefant October–November 1943)
Number built	91
Specifications
Weight	65 tonnes (143,000 lb)
Length	8.14 m (26 ft 8 in) with gun
Width	3.38 m (11 ft 1 in)
Height	2.97 m (9 ft 9 in)
Crew	6 (driver, radio-operator, commander, gunner, two loaders)
Armor	200 mm (7.87 in) maximum
Main armament	8.8 cm Pak 43/2 L/71, also known as StuK 43/1
Secondary armament	7.92 mm MG 34 machine gun (Elefant only)
Engine	2 × Maybach HL 120 petrol 600 PS (592 hp, 442 kW)
Power/weight	9.23 PS/tonne
Suspension	longitudinal torsion-bar
Operational range	150 km (93 mi) road 90 km (56 mi) cross-country
Speed	30 kilometres per hour (19 mph)