Jagdtiger
|
|
Jagdtiger_1.jpg
Jagdtiger_2.jpg
The Jagdtiger (SdKfz 186) (Ger. "Hunting tiger") was a German World War Two tank destroyer based on the chassis of the Tiger II ("King Tiger") tank.
| Contents |
Design
It featured very heavy armor and a powerful 128 mm L/55 PaK44 gun capable of defeating any tank fielded in WW2, even at long ranges although due to shortages a number were equipped with the 88 mm PaK 43/3 instead. It had 250mm armor on the front glacis, which made it practically invulnerable to any frontal fire. However, the Jagdtiger had no turret, and the main gun had a limited traverse of only 10 degrees. As a result, the entire vehicle had to turn to aim at enemy tanks. It suffered from the same maladies as the King Tiger: an underpowered engine, frequent breakdowns, and poor maneuverability. These problems, along with the lack of a turret, made it extremely vulnerable to infantry with anti-tank weapons. When properly supported, the Jagdtiger had the potential to be a formidable opponent, especially at longer ranges. However, Jagtigers were deployed in limited numbers due to the small production, further reduced by equipment shortages, low reliability, and gasoline shortages.
Production
150 Jadgtigers were ordered. About eighty were produced in total. Production figures vary depending on source and other factors such as if prototypes are included and if ones made after VE day are included. Totals range from about 77 to 85 produced from July 1944 to April of 1945. Approximately 48 from July 1944 to the end of December 1944; 36 from 1/45 to 4/45. Fgst. numbers from 305001 to 305088 (such as examples from May 45, and pre-production prototypes, and whether incomplete chassis's count). Some sources say no more vehicles were completed after February. Towards the end some were lacking important equipment and could not be used operationally, or could not be deployed to units.
Production history
- February 1944 - 2 - Fgst. #305001-305002
- July 1944 - 3 - #305003-305005
- August 1944 - 3 - #305006-305008
- September 1944 - 8 - #305009-305016;
- after Fgst. 305011 no Zimmerit anti magnetic paste was factory applied.
- October 1944 - 9 - #305017-305025
- November 1944 - 6 - #305026-305031
- December 1944 - 20 - #305032-305051
- January 1945 - 10 - #305052-305061
- February 1945 - 13 - #305062-305074
- March 1945 - 3 - #305075-305077
- April 1945 - 7 - #305078-305084
- May 1945 - 4 - #305085-305088
Surviving Jagdtigers include Fgst numbers 305004 in the Bovington Tank Museum, UK; 305020 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, USA and 305083 in the Kubinka tank museum, Russia.
External links
- Battletanks.com (http://www.battletanks.com/jadtiger.htm)
- Panzerworld (http://www.panzerworld.net/jagdtiger.html)
| German armored fighting vehicles of World War II | |
|---|---|
| Tanks | |
| Panzer I | Panzer II | Panzer III | Panzer IV | Panther | Tiger I, II | Panzer 35(t) | Panzer 38(t) | |
| Self-propelled artillery | |
| Wespe | Hummel | Grille | Panzerwerfer | |
| Assault guns | |
| StuG III | StuG IV | StuH 42 | Brummbär | Sturmtiger | |
| Tank destroyers | |
| Panzerjäger I | Marder I , II , III | Hetzer | Jagdpanzer IV | Jagdpanther | Nashorn | Jagdtiger | Elefant | |
| Armored half-tracks | Armored cars |
| SdKfz 4 | 250 | 251 | 252 | 253 | Sdkfz 221/22/23 | Sdkfz 231/32/34/63 |
| Self propelled anti-aircraft | |
| Flakpanzer IV: Möbelwagen, Wirbelwind, Ostwind, Kugelblitz | Gepard | |
| Prototypes | |
| Maus | P-1000 Ratte | E- series | Panther II | Waffentrager | Neubaufahrzeug | |
| Proposed designs | |
| P-1500 'Monster' | Panzer VII 'Löwe' | Panzer IX | |
| German armored fighting vehicle production during World War II | |