Video: How to Kill a Ferdinand

With up to 200 mm of armour, the Ferdinand was a formidable opponent. Nevertheless, trials showed that it had its share of weaknesses. Learn how to destroy the infamous tank destroyer in my latest video:

Porsche's White Elephant

Soviet tank designers began working on a number of countermeasures to the Ferdinand tank destroyer after its debut at the Battle of Kursk. These vehicles were expected to be the next step in the evolution of German heavy AFVs, but the Ferdinand and modernized Elefant only appeared a handful of times on the Eastern Front. The only other theatre of war they were used in was Italy. What did the Western Allies discover about this rare beast?

Long guns and tall tales

Like the Panther, the Ferdinand made its debut at the Battle of Kursk. Information about the new tank destroyer was available as early as July 14th, 1943, and on the next day specialists from the NIBT proving grounds arrived to examine the vehicles. A lot of information was available, as Soviet witnesses and German POWs had a lot to say about the tactics used by these new vehicles. There was also a lot of materiel to inspect. According to German reports 39 out of 91 Ferdinands made were left on the battlefield at Kursk.

The Ferdinand in three-quarters view. This drawing was made from a photograph taken at the Battle of Kursk.

Trials SNAFU

 "Conclusions on the report on firing the M7 gun on the American M10 SPG

The GBTU Chief and GBTU SPG Directorate instruction #149068 issued on October 18th, 1943, by the GBTU proving grounds (Kubinka railway station, Western railway) conducted trials of the M7 gun installed in the American M10 SPG. According to the trials program, the following characteristics of the gun were to be recorded:

1. Size:
1. Barrel length (total)
2. Rifled section length
3. Diameter between opposing grooves and between opposing lands
4. Land width
5. Chamber size
6. Shell and casing size
2. Ballistic data:
1. Pressure
2. Muzzle velocity
3. Maximum range
4. Precision

The proving grounds did not record the most important ballistic data (muzzle velocity, maximum pressure, maximum range) and dimensions (diameter between grooves or lands, land width, chamber size), as as result of which the tactical-technical data provided in the report does not give characteristics of the gun. 

85 mm for Dummies

 Death to German occupants!

Areas of

GERMAN TANKS

vulnerable to the 85 mm gun

Directorate of the Commander of the Armoured and Mechanized Forces of the Red Army
Military publisher of the USSR NKO, Moscow, 1944

Elephant Hunters

 "Characteristics of penetrative ability of guns and mines against enemy tanks
Based on combat experience and trials

1. Experimental firing against the 88 mm "Ferdinand" self propelled gun gave the following results:

A) Armour:

• Roof: 45 mm
• Rear: 80 mm
• Sides: 80 mm
• Front vertical plate: 200 mm
• Ball mount armour: 110 mm
• Driver and radio operator visor plate: 200 mm

Kotin's Bobtail

In early 1943 the Red Army Main Armoured Vehicle Directorate (GBTU) and People's Commissariat of Tank Production (NKTP) agreed that the age of the KV-1S is coming to an end. Instead, the IS-1 (233), a further development of the KV-13, was to be produced in Chelyabinsk. This tank had the same firepower, but was more mobile and better protected. However, the experimental IS-1 was too unrefined and suffered from assembly issues. In addition, trials of the German Tiger tank showed that the Red Army was in need of a tank with an 85 mm gun. This was how the KV-85 was created, the last mass produced tank in the KV family.

Ferdinand Intel

"Captured enemy vehicles

Ferdinand SPG

Characteristics: 88 mm gun with an elongated barrel on the Tiger tank chassis, immobile armoured turret. Mass: 67-70 tons. Chassis: width 3.5 meters, length (with gun) 10 meters. Top speed: 20 kph, average speed: 10-15 kph.

Heavy Trophy from the Kursk Salient

The relatively rare German heavy Panzerjäger Tiger (P) SPG, more commonly known as the Ferdinand, left a noticeable mark in history and in Soviet tank building. The name "Ferdinand" itself became denominative: Ferdinands were spotted on all parts of the front until the end of the war. In practice, only 91 vehicles were built, and the Ferdinand was only used en masse in the summer of 1943, during Operation Citadel at the Battle of Kursk. The Germans lost more than a third of these vehicles there.

Despite the fact that the Ferdinands (as well as the Elefant) were used very sparingly, they showed themselves as effective anti-tank guns. The Red Army command treated the child of Porsche K.G. and Alkett seriously. The appearance of the Ferdinand on the front lines reflected itself in the development of Soviet tanks, tank guns, and SPGs.

Kursk Trio

"To the Deputy Chief of the GBTU, Lieutenant-General of the Technical Service, comrade Lebedev

By your instruction, I present you with a brief summary of new type of vehicles in the German army according to information from prisoners.

1. Panther tank. Mass: about 35 tons. Armament: one long 75 mm gun, two MG-42 machineguns. The tank is similar to the T-4 Russian tank. Compared to the T-4, it has stronger front armour and wider tracks.
2. Reinforced Tiger tank. Weight: up to 65 tons. Armament: one 88 mm gun, one 20 mm AA gun, installed in the rear of the tank, 4 MG-42 machineguns. An emergency hatch is present at the bottom of the tank. The walls on the front and along the sides are cemented. The armour is up to 120 mm thick. Some tanks have flamethrowers along the right side. Crew: 7 men.
3. Ferdinand SPG. A prisoner from the 654th Independent Tank Destroyer Battalion says that the battalion is composed of three companies of 14 Ferdinand type SPGs each. Tactical technical data is unknown.

Engineer Lieutenant-Colonel Andreev

July 14th, 1943"

Via Warspot.

Firing at Ferdinands

"Characteristics of armour penetration of cannons and effectiveness of mines on enemy tanks

Based on experience of combat and trials

1. Trials against an 88 mm SPG "Ferdinand" show the following results:
1. Armour of the SPG: roof: 45 mm, rear: 80 mm, side: 80 mm, front: 200 mm, gun mantlet: 110 mm, front hull: 200 mm.
2. Effectiveness of firing:
1. Anti-tank rifles: firing at the side armour from 80-100 meters with the BS-41 bullet penetrates 50 mm of armour forming a 20-22 mm deep indentation. Firing at the tracks can break track pins and the track links. The rifle can penetrate observation periscopes and jam the gun ball mount.

SU-152 in Combat

"1836th Heavy Self Propelled Artillery Regiment

The 1838th Guards Heavy Self Propelled Artillery Regiment participated in offensive and defensive combat.

In offensive combat, the regiment fought among the tanks and behind them, destroying Tiger tanks and Ferdinand SPGs in counterattacks and ambushes, as well as enemy fortifications and dugouts.

In defensive combat, the regiment fought from ambushes, by the battery, positioned in locations of likely enemy tank attacks. Ambushes and maneuvers ensured that enemy tanks and SPGs were destroyed while SU-152s remained invulnerable.

Ferdinand Intel

"Report on new types of tanks and SPGs based on POW interrogations and intelligence reports as of July 20th, 1943

1) Ferdinand SPG

1. Mass: 67 tons
2. Crew: 6
3. Hull length without gun: 7 meters
4. Height: 3 meters
5. Width: 3.5 meters
6. Track width: 0.75 meters
7. Clearance: 0.5 meters

Cheating at Statistics 21: Fudging Franz

Like the Tiger, the Ferdinand is a weapon that often has some rather incredible kill ratios attributed to it. Personally, I've seen numbers as high as 50:1, but those tend to not be accompanied by any specific references. However, one battle is frequently cited as proof of the Ferdinand's supremacy: the battle near Nikopol, where the tank destroyer's performance was allegedly quite impressive. From The Combat History of German Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 in World War II:

"The first defensive fighting at the bridgehead began on 20 November 1943. The villages of Maryevka (20 November 1943) and Katerinovka (23 November 1943) where particularly critical areas in the German defensive line. The Ferdinande had tremendous success during the engagement at Koschasovka/Miropol from 26-27 November 1943. They destroyed 54 Russian tanks: 21 by Leutnant Franz Kretschmer and his crew."

On one hand, a defensive battle is one where the Ferdinand's tough front armour and long range gun would excel. On the other hand, lack of ground taken by the German forces meant that they had no way to count the knocked out enemy tanks, making it a perfect scenario for some classic overclaim.

Porsche Suspension

"British Embassy, Moscow

British Military Mission in the USSR

Moscow, May 15th, 1944

To: Mr. Lieutenant General Lebedev

Copy: Mr. Chief of the NKO Department of External Affairs

The War Ministry asked me to provide it with brief information on the suspension of the Ferdinand self propelled gun. It is especially interested in the diameter and length of the torsion bars, their position, and the distance between the axles. A diagram with specified sizes would be very valuable, especially if accompanied by a description of the performance of the suspension.

I would be most grateful if you supplied me with the aforementioned data.

M.B. Burrows

Lieutenant General, Head of the British Military Mission in the USSR."

German Equipment in Full Colour

Here is some rare footage, a full colour video of a display of captured vehicles in Moscow.



Aside from being interesting to look at, the video announcer reveals the secret to Soviets seeing Ferdinands everywhere. Showing a Dicker Max, he says "Here, we see a Ferdinand type vehicle..." then, as the camera transfers to an actual Ferdinand "...and here is the Ferdinand itself." This confirms my suspicions that there wasn't any kind of panicked identification of every SPG as a Ferdinand, rather the word "Ferdinand" being used to describe German SPGs in general.

Artillery at Kursk

Remember the ZiS-3 battery at Teploye that beat up some Tigers? That was only a small part of the battle. The overall engagement was much more grand.

Diagram 22. 3rd Anti-Tank Artillery brigade vs. enemy tanks, July 8th, 1943

The diagram shows an assembly of "up to 300 tanks and SPGs" against the anti-tank line, with an attack at 8:30, 11:30 (up to 200 tanks), 12:30 (up to 150 tanks), and 13:20 (up to 100 tanks). A German unit identified as "32nd Tank" broke through the line, but was repulsed by 2nd battery. 23rd and 16th tank units were also repulsed in the western part of the line. The 12:30 attack made some kind of complex maneuver over the positions of the 7th battery and retreated.

But enough about diagrams, let's look at some photos!

"German Tiger tank, destroyed by artillery from the 2nd Destroyer Division near Teploye"

"Fedinand SPG, destroyed on July 5th near height 257.3 by 4th battery, 642nd Gun Artillery Regiment, 5th Artillery Division, Reserve of the Supreme Command"

"German Ferdinand SPG destroyed by our artillery near Teploye."

"Inside of the Ferdinand SPG."

"Result of a direct hit by a 152 mm shell."

"Ferdinand SPG knocked out by our artillery."

"Two direct hits from 122 mm shells to the turret. Fire from 3rd battery, 642nd Gun Artillery Regiment, 5th Artillery Division, Reserve of the Supreme Command."

"Medium tank knocked out by direct hits from 76 mm shells, 7th battery, 1007th Light Artillery Regiment, 12th Artillery Division, Reserve of the Supreme Command, on July 6th, 1943, near Malaya Zorka."

"Tanks knocked out at height 257.1 by fire from 6th battery, 642nd Gun Artillery Regiment and 4th battery, 540th Light Artillery Regiment"

"A German tank after two hits by 152 mm shells to the turret. Destroyed at height 248.5 (Ponyri) on July 8th, 1943 by indirect fire from the 1st battery, 86th Heavy Howitzer Artillery Brigade."

"A German tank, destroyed on July 9th, 1943 near Ponyri station by 9th battery, 753rd Gun Artillery Regiment, 5th Artillery Division, Reserve of the Supreme Command."

"Ferdinand SPG destroyed on July 5th, 1943 near Podlesnaya by 4th battery, 753rd Gun Artillery Regiment."

"German Ferdinand SPG knocked out on July 6th, 1943, near height 255.1 by 3rd battery, 642nd Gun Artillery Regiment, 5th Artillery Division, Reserve of the Supreme Command. A 107 mm shell destroyed the track near the drive wheel."

"Ferdinand SPG knocked out on July 5th, 1943 near height 243.1 by 7th battery, 206th Howitzer Artillery Regiment, 5th Artillery Division, Reserve of the Supreme Command. A 122 mm howitzer shell destroyed the tracks."

"German medium tank and Ferdinand SPG (right) knocked out at height 257.1 (north) on July 8th, 1943 by direct fire from 6th battery, Corps Gun Artillery Regiment and 4th battery, 540th Light Artillery Regiment, 5th Artillery Division, Reserve of the Supreme Command."

"German tractor knocked out and burned up by fire from 2nd battery, 496th Howitzer Artillery Regiment, 12th Artillery Division, Reserve of the Supreme Command. July 15th, 1943."

"SPG hit by several 152 mm shells in the vicinity of 1st of May Farm"

You can see the rest of the photos from the album here.

PTRD vs Ferdinand

"To the chief of the operations department of the 25th Corps HQ

Anti-tank rifles are ineffective against new German SPGs and heavy tanks. For example, during the battles of December 14th-15th, 1943, AT rifle units were engaged to fight counterattacking Ferdinand SPGs. The Ferdinand's armour could not be damaged with AT rifle fire, and only several direct hits to the tracks forced the SPGs to depart from the trenches and maneuver with the goal of not showing their flank, even though no instances of serious damage to the tracks by AT rifle fire was observed.

Until the battles of December 14th-15th, AT rifle crews were not used in battle for their intended purpose. AT rifle fire was used against dug in enemies, to destroy his machineguns, and for suppression of direct fire guns.

Until new AT measures arrive that are capable of dealing with new SPGs and heavy tanks, keep AT platoons and companies at the regimental level. Due to the relatively low weight of the AT rifles, they can quickly be moved to threatened sections of the front to be used against enemy light and medium tanks, dugouts, and be used in AT defenses.

Operations Department Chief, Major Alekseev."

Via altyn73.

World of Tanks History Section: a 122 mm Argument

The use of IS-2 tanks is one of the most interesting topics in the history of the Great Patriotic War, but it is still not explored very thoroughly.

The IS-2 was the most numerous heavy tank of WWII, and a revolution in both Soviet and worldwide tank building. A real "universal soldier", capable of completing a wide range of objectives, proving itself both in the open field and in the city, lasting for half a century in various armies.

On October 31st, this tank will turn 72 years old.

A hero's portrait

In the spring of 1942, GABTU launched a program to develop a 30 ton heavy tank. Chelyabinsk engineers were tasked with this job. The vehicle was named KV-13, but the index IS-1 almost immediately came into use. Despite the designation, this design had very little to do with the KV-1.

During trials in the fall of 1942, the KV-13 showed an excellent speed of 56 kph, but also revealed many design defects. The process of correction began, as a result of which the mass was increased to 38 tons and the crew grew to 4. By the spring of next year, the IS-1 (Iosif Stalin) index was officially attached to the tank.

The IS-1 was designed to carry a 85 mm gun, but few tanks were produced with one. At the same time as the IS-1 entered development, engineers led by artillery designer F.F. Petrov explored another topic, which proved pivotal in the tank's fate. Their task was a 122 mm tank gun. A design was ready in the summer of 1943, a prototype was completed by the fall, and then gunnery and mobility trials were held. The first 35 IS-2 tanks with a 122 mm left assembly lines in December of 1943. In total, 3385 of these tanks were built during the war, with some design changes.

The majority of IS-2 tanks were sent to Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiments. In total, 25 units in the Red Army used these tanks.

Against Tigers of all breeds

The purpose of the new Soviet tank had much in common with that of the German Tiger. IS-2 regiments often served as reinforcements of other tank units. Despite some opinions, IS-2s fought Tigers fairly often, usually with a very poor result for the latter. While there was no direct order preventing German tankers from engaging the IS-2, documents starting from the second half of 1944 and until the end of the war frequently mentioned that the enemy strived to avoid contact with Soviet heavy tanks.

The Lvov-Sandomierz operation is characteristic of the use of the IS-2 in battle. From July 16th to July 19th, the 29th regiment destroyed 23 Tigers and Panthers, at the cost of three burned up tanks and eight more that were recovered, five of which were repaired. During the course of the entire operation, the 29th regiment destroyed 38 German tanks and SPGs, losing 4 IS-2 tanks permanently and needing major repairs for 5.

The 71st Guards Heavy Tank Regiment also worked well in that operation. Things started out poorly: the regiment was ambushed, three tanks were lost and three more knocked out, the regimental commander was fatally wounded. In return, the Guardsmen destroyed a Tiger, a Ferdinand, and knocked out two Panthers. After the battle, 18 nonpenetrating hits from 75 mm shells were counted on the armour of one of the tanks.

The regiment encountered another ambush at Mageruv, but this time it was the Germans who had bad luck. The regiment bypassed the ambush without losing a single tank, and Guards Lieutenant B. Slunyaev's single remaining tank destroyed a Ferdinand, two AT guns, and as many APCs. Then the regiment crossed the San river and reached the pre-war borders of the Soviet Union.

Already in Poland, the regiment encountered King Tigers, the latest German heavy tank. Many know the battle where Lieutenant Oskin destroyed three of these tanks, but Oskin was supported by fire from everyone around him. The IS-2 tanks fought with King Tigers one on one. Near Ogledow, IS-2 tanks from the 71st regiment won the battle with a score of 6:0.

Red Army Draught Horse

Aside from breakthrough regiments, some IS-2 tanks were sent to Guards tank brigades. Unlike regiments, these units were heterogeneous. For instance, the 57th Guards Tank Brigade received 10 IS-2 tanks in addition to its T-34s.

The tactics in battle were similar to the use of breakthrough regiments. IS-2 tanks followed T-34-85s, clearing the way for its medium comrades, destroying enemy tanks and SPGs from long distances.

Over nine days, the 57th Guards Tank Brigade destroyed 19 tanks and 12 SPGs, losing four IS-2s irreparably. A heavy tank commanded by Junior Lieutenant Neelov dealt with three German tanks, two SPGs, seven guns, and about a hundred soldiers in the span of one battle. 16 hits were counted on its armour after battle, none penetrated.

In the city, IS-2s fought in assault groups. Their powerful cannon was a great way to destroy German fortifications and emplacements in houses.

Regardless of the part of the front or terrain, IS-2 tanks were always in the hottest spot on the battlefield. Sadly, there is not a single book focused on their use in battle. Starting from the spring of 1944, it's hard to find even one large engagement that did not hear the blast of 122 mm guns.

Original article available here.

Tiger Hunger

After a rather sizeable showing of German heavy tanks at Kursk, the Red Army expected rapid re-armament of the Wehrmacht to use these new vehicles in large numbers, but reality is rather disappointing.

"To the HQ Chief of the Bryansk Front
#01092, September 27th, 1943

I report that:

1. There were no Tiger or Panther tanks among captured enemy tanks, nor were there Ferdinand SPGs.
2. Out of 20 captured tanks and 3 SPGs, none are combat capable, a part have burned up, others need repairs.

HQ Chief, 11th Army, Major-General Korneev

11th Army HQ Operations Department Chief, Lieutenant-Colonel Lototskiy"

CAMD RF 202-5-1308

Ogledow Combat Diary

"Report on combat action of the 71st Independent Guards Heavy Tank Regiment from July 14th to August 31st, 1944

...

Enemy losses from July 14th to August 31st, 1944:

• Burned:
• Tiger tanks: 4
• King Tiger tanks: 4
• Panther tanks: 3
• Ferdinand SPGs: 1
• 128 mm SPGs: 1
• APCs: 3
• Knocked out:
• Tiger: 1
• King Tiger: 2
• Panther: 3

Guns of various caliber: 23

Machinegun nests: 22

Enemy soldiers and officers: 600

Regiment losses:

IS-122 tanks burned: 3

IS-122 tanks knocked out: 7. Of those 3 were repaired at the regiment and 4 sent to a repair base.

Dead:

Officers: 3, including regiment commander Guards Lieutenant-Colonel Yudin

Sergeants and soldiers: 10

Wounded:

Officers: 8

Sergeants and soldiers: 36

Experience showed that the tanks could travel 70-100 km per day, with an average speed on the highway of 20-25 kph, or 10-15 kph on dirt roads. The fuel lasts for 125-150 km. On average, tanks travelled 110 km and worked for 250-270 engine-hours, compared to the warranty period of 150 engine-hours.

Practical off-road speed on the battlefield is 8-12 kph. Practical rate of fire is 2-3 RPM. One ammunition load is enough for one day of battle.

Conditions of firing and observation from inside the tank are satisfactory.

Practical firing from the tank revealed that the 9T-17 periscope is inconvenient for firing and observation, as it does not have 360 view and cannot be used to fire due to difficulty of fire correction and shifting targets.

Current cast armour can be penetrated by an 88 mm shell from 800-1000 meters, as the quality is low (bubbles, insufficient density). 

Conclusions:

1. The armament of the IS-122 is the most powerful on any currently produced tank. The 122 mm shell has significant penetrating capability, which makes these tanks the best method of fighting enemy heavy tanks.
2. A drawback is the amount of smoke that reveals the tank when firing.
3. Experience on the foothold across the Vistula shows that enemy tanks avoid areas where IS-122 tanks are defending, and as a result are forced to divert their attack and seek regions not protected by heavy tanks."

CAMD RF 3405-1-88