ASSAULT GUN “FERDINAND”

Each caterpillar consisted of 109 trucks with a width of 640 mm.

 

In the cockpit, the axles special machine was installed 88-mm gun Cancer 43/2 (self-propelled version — StuK 43) with a barrel length of 71 caliber, developed on the basis of anti-aircraft gun Flak 41. The horizontal angle of the guidance did not exceed the sector of 28°. The elevation angle of +14°, declination -8°. The mass of 2200 kg. the guns Recess into the frontal cutting was covered by a massive cast mask pear-shaped, attached to the machine. However, the design of the mask was not too successful and did not provide full protection from a bullet of lead spray and the small fragments that penetrated into the body through gaps between the mask and the frontal sheet. Therefore, masks the most part “ferdinandov” reinforced armor plates. In gun ammunition consisted of 50 unitary shots posted on the walls of the cabin. In the aft part of the cabin there was a round hatch designed to remove the gun.

 

According to German reports, the armor-piercing projectile There is a 39/43 weight of 10.16 kg and initial speed of 1000 m/s punched at a distance of 1000 m 165-mm armor (at an angle of meeting of 90°), and piercing projectiles I’m 40/43 weight of 7.5 kg and an initial speed of 1130 m/s — 193 mm, which provided “Ferdinand” unconditional defeat of any of the then existing tanks.

 

The Assembly of the first machine began on February 16 and the last nineties Ferdinand left the factory shops may 8, 1943. In April, the first production vehicle was tested on the Kummersdorf proving ground.

 

Baptism of fire “Ferdinand” received in the course of the operation “Citadel” in the 656 th regiment of tank destroyers, which included 653 and 654 th battalions (schwere Abteilung. — sPz.Jäger Abt.). By the beginning of the battles in the first were 45 and the second 44 “Ferdinand”. Both division were under the operational control of the 41st Panzer corps, took part in heavy fighting on the Northern fase Kursk bulge near the station ponyri (654 th division) and the village of Warm (653 division).

 

Especially heavy losses suffered 654 division mainly in the minefields. On the battlefield there are 21 “Ferdinand”. Damaged and destroyed near the station ponyri German equipment was surveyed on 15 July 1943, the representatives of GAU and Netpoolone the red Army. Most of the “ferdinands” were in a mine field filled with land mines from captured large-caliber shells and bombs. More than half of the cars had damage to the suspension; the broken track, destroyed road wheels, etc. five “ferdinandov” damage undercarriage was caused by the falling shells of caliber of 76 mm and more. Two German self-propelled guns guns guns was riddled with shells and bullets of anti-tank guns. One car was destroyed by a direct hit bombs, and one more — hit 203-mm howitzer projectile in the roof of the cabin.

 

Only one destroyer of this type that were fired in different directions seven T-34 tanks and a battery of 76-mm guns, had a hole in the Board, in the center of the drive wheel. Another “Ferdinand” had no damages of the hull and running gear was set on fire by a Molotov cocktail thrown by our soldiers.

 

The only worthy opponent of German heavy self-propelled guns were Soviet SU-152. Regiment SU-152 fired on 8 July 1943, attacking the “Ferdinand” 653 th battalion, knocked out four enemy machines. All in all, July — August 1943, the Germans lost 39 “ferdinandov”. Recent trophies went to the red Army on the outskirts of Eagle — at the railway station was captured a few prepared to evacuate damaged assault guns.

 

The first battles of “Ferdinand” at Kursk became, in fact, and the latter, where the ACS used in large quantities. From a tactical point of view, their use left much to be desired. Designed for the destruction of Soviet medium and heavy tanks at long distances, they were used as advanced “armor shield”, blindly ramming engineering barriers and anti-tank defenses incurring great losses. However, the moral effect of the appearance on the Soviet-German front was largely invulnerable to German self-propelled guns was very large. There was “ferdinandiana and ferdinandovac”. Judging from the literature, it was not the red Army soldier, who was not knocked out or, at least, was not involved in a battle with the “Ferdinand”. They were crawling on our positions on all fronts since 1943 (and sometimes even earlier) until the end of the war. The number of “padded” “ferdinandov” approaching several thousands. To explain this phenomenon is the fact that most of the red army are poorly understood in all sorts of “murderah”, “bison” and “neshamah” and called any German self-propelled gun “Ferdinand”, which shows how great was his “popularity” among our soldiers. Well, except for the padded “Ferdinand” without further ADO gave the order.