"Ferdinand" - the most terrible self-propelled gun? "Ferdinand" - heavy tank "Tiger" Surveillance and communications equipment
Olifant(With Afrikaans- “elephant”) - South African main battle tank, modification of the British Centurion tank.
Story
In 1976, South Africa began a modernization program British tanks"Centurion", in service with the South African Defense Forces since the late 1950s. In total, about 200 vehicles were purchased.
The Olifant Mk.1A uses a 105 mm L7A1 cannon instead of an 83 mm gun, a laser range finder, a ballistic computer, 81 mm smoke grenade launchers, an illuminated night sight for the commander, and periscope observation devices with electro-optical image intensification for the driver and gunner. The English Meteor engines were replaced with the American AVDS-1750 diesel engine, and an American automatic hydromechanical transmission was used. The capacity of the fuel tanks was increased to 1280 liters. At the end of the 1970s, 221 vehicles underwent modernization.
The next modernized version, Mk.1B, entered service in 1991. Only 50 units were converted.
The main armament remained the same - the South African version of the British 105 mm L7A1 tank gun. Unlike all other modifications of the Centurion, the Oliphant-1B gun had a heat-insulating fiberglass casing; drives for gun guidance and turret rotation are electric. The gunner had a periscope sight with a stabilized line of sight and a built-in laser rangefinder. A new ballistic computer was introduced into the fire control system. The double-leaf loader's hatch was replaced with a single-leaf one, opening forward. The aft basket for storing equipment and crew property was replaced with a special compartment of significant volume, included in the general contours of the turret. South African tank crews found an unexpected use for the new compartment, using it as a bathtub. The armor protection was greatly enhanced by installing flat mounted modules on the sides and roof of the turret. The installation of additional armor was carried out taking into account the balancing of the turret, as a result of which the latter is better balanced than on the “centurions” of all other models, and less effort is required to turn it. The chassis of the tank was covered with newly designed steel screens, the sections of which were made smaller in size than the original screens of the Centurion tank for ease of suspension maintenance. Screen sections can be hinged upward.
The chassis was completely redesigned, using an individual torsion bar suspension for road wheels that had a dynamic stroke of 290 mm and a full stroke of 435 mm. This made it possible to dramatically improve the tank's maneuverability, especially on high speeds. Hydraulic stops were installed on all suspension units, and hydraulic shock absorbers were installed on the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th units. The ergonomics of the control compartment were also improved; the driver's double-leaf hatch was replaced with a sliding monolithic hatch. Instead of two periscope devices located in the doors of the previous hatch, three wide-angle periscopes were mounted on the hull. A more powerful version of the V-12 diesel engine was placed in the engine-transmission compartment (power of a forced diesel engine - 940 hp; power of a non-boosted one - 750 hp). This engine, despite the increase in tank weight from 56 to 58 tons, made it possible to increase power density(16.2 hp/t, compared to 13.4 hp/t for Oliphant-1A). Transmission American design replaced with the South African automatic AMTRA III (four speeds forward and two reverse). The maximum speed of the tank on the highway increased to 58 km/h. The installation of a new power unit led to an increase in the length of the tank, compared to the Oliphant-1A, by 20 cm. To improve mine protection, spaced armor of the hull bottom was used; Between the armor plates there are torsion bar suspension elements.
The conversion of the Oliphant-1A tanks to the Oliphant-1B variant began in 1990.
According to data at the beginning of 2000, there were 172 Oliphant 1A/1B tanks in the first-line units of the South African armed forces, and another 120 tanks were in storage.
Olifant Mk.2 (2003) - a new turbocharger and intercooler were used for the AVDS-1790 diesel engine with a power of 1040 hp. developed by Delkon, the accuracy of the fire control system has been improved and the turret drives manufactured by Reunert have been improved. The fire control system contains a ballistic computer and a stabilized commander's observation platform with a thermal imager. Modernization work continued in 2006-2007. Not converted a large number of cars According to some reports, from 13 to 26 tanks underwent modernization.
The tank took part in military operations against neighboring countries, including foreign intervention during the Angola War. In - 26 tanks were upgraded to the Mk.2 level and entered service
"ELEPHANT". HEAVY ASSAULT WEAPON OF FERDINAND PORSCHE Kolomiets Maxim Viktorovich
"FERDINAND" DEVICE
"FERDINAND" DEVICE
One of the finished Ferdinands in the courtyard of the Nibelungenwerke factory after painting and tooling. May 1943 (YaM).
In its design and layout, the Ferdinand assault gun was different from all German tanks and self-propelled guns from the Second World War. In the front part of the hull there was a control compartment, which housed control levers and pedals, units of the pneumohydraulic braking system, track tensioning mechanisms, a junction box with switches and rheostats, an instrument panel, fuel filters, starter batteries, a radio station, driver and radio operator seats.
Branch power plant occupied the middle part of the self-propelled gun. It was separated from the control compartment by a metal partition. There were Maybach engines installed in parallel, paired with generators, a ventilation-radiator unit, fuel tanks, a compressor, two fans designed to ventilate the power plant compartment, and traction electric motors.
In the aft part there was a fighting compartment with an 88-mm Stuk 43 L7l gun installed in it (a variant of the 88-mm Pak 43 anti-tank gun, adapted for installation in an assault gun) and ammunition; four crew members were also located here - a commander, a gunner and two loaders . In addition, traction motors were located in the lower rear part of the fighting compartment. The fighting compartment was separated from the power plant compartment by a heat-resistant partition, as well as a floor with felt seals. This was done in order to prevent polluted air from entering the fighting compartment from the power plant compartment and to localize a possible fire in one or another compartment. Partitions between compartments and the general arrangement of equipment in the body of the self-propelled gun made personal communication between the driver and radio operator with the crew of the fighting compartment impossible. Communication between them was carried out through a tankophone - a flexible metal hose - and a tank intercom.
For the production of “Ferdinands”, they used the hulls of the “tigers” designed by F. Porsche, which were not accepted for service, made of 80–100 mm of armor. In this case, the side sheets with the front and rear sheets were connected into a tenon, and in the edges of the side sheets there were 20 mm grooves into which the front and rear hull sheets rested. All joints were welded externally and internally using austenitic electrodes.
When converting tank hulls into Ferdinands, the rear beveled side plates were cut out from the inside - thus making them lighter by turning them into additional stiffening ribs. In their place, small 80-mm armor plates were welded, which were a continuation of the main side, to which the upper stern plate was attached to a spike. All these measures were done in order to bring the upper part of the hull to one level, which was subsequently necessary for installing the wheelhouse.
The lower edge of the side sheets also had 20 mm grooves into which the bottom sheets fit, followed by double-sided welding. The front part of the bottom (1350 mm long) was reinforced with an additional 30 mm sheet, riveted to the main one with 25 rivets arranged in 5 rows. In addition, welding was carried out along the edges without cutting the edges.
The front and front sheets of the hull, 100 mm thick, were additionally reinforced with 100 mm screens, which were connected to the main sheet with 12 (front) and 11 (front) bolts with a diameter of 38 mm with bullet-resistant heads. In addition, welding was carried out on the top and sides. To prevent the nuts from loosening during shelling, they were also welded to the inside of the main sheets. The holes for the viewing device and the machine gun mount in the frontal plate of the hull, inherited from the “Tiger” designed by F. Porsche, were welded from the inside with special armor inserts.
The roof sheets of the control and power plant compartments were placed into 20 mm grooves in the upper edge of the side and front sheets, followed by double-sided welding.
In the roof of the control compartment there were two hatches for landing the driver and radio operator. The driver's hatch had three openings for viewing devices, protected on top by an armored visor. To the right of the radio operator's hatch, an armored cylinder was welded to protect the antenna input, and a stopper was attached between the hatches to secure the gun barrel in the stowed position. The front beveled side plates of the hull had viewing slots for observation by the driver and radio operator.
In the roof above the power plant compartment there were armor plates with three blinds - a central one and two side ones. Air for cooling the engines was sucked in through the central ones and thrown out through the side louvres. In addition, the armor plates with side louvers had one hatch for pouring water into the radiators.
Heavy assault gun "Ferdinand" before its transfer to the troops. May 1943. The car is painted yellow (ASKM).
Heavy assault gun "Ferdinand".
The rear part of the roof of the power plant compartment consisted of three armor plates mounted on hinges welded to the front sheet of the cabin. Each plate had a hole, protected on top by a mushroom-shaped armor casting. These holes served to allow air to escape from the engines.
There were three rectangular ventilation holes in the rear hull plate to exhaust heated air from the fighting compartment. From above, these holes were covered with a massive casing of 40 mm armor.
On each side, in the middle part of the fender niches of the hull (in the area of the fifth road wheel), there was one hole for removing engine exhaust gases. In the middle part of the bottom of the hull there were five hatches intended for servicing the power plant (draining water from radiators, oil and fuel).
At the rear of the Ferdinand hull there was a fighting compartment in the shape of a truncated pyramid. It was assembled from armor plates with a thickness of 200 (forehead), 80 (sides and rear) and 30 mm (roof), connected into a tenon, followed by double welding. In addition, the tenon connection between the side and front sheets was reinforced with eight goujons, four on each side.
There were grooves in the lower edge of the side and aft deckhouse sheets that fit into grooves in the upper part of the hull sides. The deckhouse was secured to the hull from the inside using 8 curved gussets - three on each side and two on the stern. Each gusset was fastened with two bolts to the hull and two to the wheelhouse. In addition, on the outer side of the sides of the front deckhouse there was one strip, each of which was attached to the front deckhouse sheet and the side plate of the hull.
There were five hatches in the roof of the cabin - for installing a periscope sight, two hatches for landing the crew and two for installing periscope observation devices.
The hatch for the sight was located in the front part on the left and was closed with a lid consisting of three parts- two of them moved along guides in the plane of the ceiling, and one (the rear one) opened outward. At the right and left sides there were double hatches for crew landing - rectangular (on the right) above the vehicle commander's position and round (on the left) above the gunner's position. In the rear right and left corners of the roof there were two hatches through which the battlefield could be observed using periscope devices. In addition, in the center of the roof there was a fan, closed on the sides by a square armored box.
Longitudinal section of the Ferdinand heavy assault gun.
In the frontal sheet of the cabin there was a hole for the ball mask of the 88-mm Stuk 42 cannon. From the outside, the mask was closed with an octagonal 80 mm armor plate, secured to the main armor with 8 bolts with a diameter of 38 mm with bullet-resistant heads.
In the side sheets of the cabin there was one hatch with plugs for firing from personal weapons. In the rear deckhouse there were three more similar hatches and, in addition, in the center there was a large round hatch for dismantling the gun and electric motors, as well as for emergency escape of the self-propelled gun by the crew. In its middle there was a small hatch, which was intended for loading ammunition into the vehicle. In the upper right corner there was a special rectangular welding for installing an additional antenna input.
WEAPONS
The armament of the Ferdinand self-propelled gun consisted of an 88-mm Stuk 42 gun with a barrel length of 71 calibers, created specifically for arming the Ferdinands based on the new 88-mm Pak 43 anti-tank gun.
The swinging part of the gun was mounted in trunnions on a sector machine with a rotating screw. From the outside, the fastening mechanism is protected by an armored hemisphere, which is not a supporting part. To protect it from jamming by shell fragments, a special armor shield was attached to the gun barrel. The gun had two recoil devices located on the sides near the top of the barrel, and a vertical wedge breech with a semi-automatic copy type. The guidance mechanisms were located on the left, near the gunner's seat. The horizontal guidance speed was 1/4 degree per revolution of the handwheel, and the vertical guidance speed was 3/4 degree per revolution. The horizontal firing angle was 28 degrees, the elevation angle was +14 and the descent angle was -8 degrees. The periscope sight had ranges calibrated for an armor-piercing projectile up to 2800 m and for a high-explosive fragmentation projectile up to 5000 m.
In the wheelhouse there were permanent stowages along the sides for 38 shots and, in addition, additional stowages on the floor for up to 25 more shots. The gun's ammunition included unitary armor-piercing, sub-caliber or high-explosive fragmentation rounds.
Some sources mention that the Ferdinands were armed with MG-42 light machine guns for self-defense (some authors even write that during the battles on the Kursk Bulge, some crews fired from a machine gun through the gun barrel), however, in the documents available to the author , and also in serious Western publications about “Ferdinand” there is no mention of a machine gun. It is curious that the report on the testing of the captured Ferdinand at the NIBT training ground said the following about the weapons: “The MG-42 machine gun mentioned in some descriptions was apparently installed only in experimental versions of the vehicle, since in production copies used at the front, The mounting location for the machine gun is covered with an additional armor plate (screen) and welded from the inside with an insert.
Judging by the dimensions of the shots and the weights of the warheads, the 88-mm gun mod. is 43 years old new system, which has greater power in comparison with the 88-mm caliber systems previously available in the German army (88-mm anti-aircraft guns model 18 and model 36).”
POWER POINT
The originality of “Ferdinand” was the electrical system for transmitting rotating torque from the prime movers to the drive wheels of the engine. Thanks to this, the car did not have such components as a gearbox and main clutch, and, consequently, their control drives.
The Ferdinand power plant consisted of two 12-cylinder Maybach HL 120TRM carburetor engines with a power of 265 hp. each installed in parallel. They had a special crankcase shape with a flange for attaching the housing of the Siemens Typ aGV DC generator with a voltage of 385 V. The engine crankshaft also ends with a flange to which the generator armature shaft is attached. Thus, the generator housing and armature had rigid flange attachments to the engine. The engines had no flywheels and their role was played by the generator armatures.
For starting, each engine is equipped with a 4 hp Bosch electric starter. voltage 24 V. The starter was powered by electricity from four batteries. In case of failure of the electric starter and to start the engine in cold weather, each engine was equipped with an inertia starter, the flywheel of which was rotated by a crank from the fighting compartment. In case of failure of all these starting means, the engine could be started by towing the car at a speed of 3–5 km/h. In this case, one engine was started first, and the second was started by turning on the second generator for parallel operation.
Firing tests of "Ferdinand" at the Putlos training ground. May 1943. The vehicle is painted yellow, the hatch for loading shells is open (YAM).
Connection diagram of the armor plates of the hull and turret of the Ferdinand heavy assault gun, drawn up by Soviet specialists after testing the vehicle (ASKM).
Diagram of the Ferdinand armored hull indicating overall dimensions and armor inclination angles, carried out after testing the vehicle in the USSR (ASKM).
The generators supplied electricity to two Siemens D149aAC traction motors with a power of 230 kW. They were located in the rear of the vehicle under the floor of the fighting compartment. The electricity generated by the generators was supplied to the traction electric motors via wires through a control panel - a double controller located at the driver. Traction electric motors transmitted torque to the drive wheels of the tracks through permanently connected friction clutches and reduction gearboxes.
Each Maybach engine had an independent fuel supply, lubrication and cooling system, as well as starting and control devices.
Along the sides in the front of the Ferdinand hull there were two gas tanks with a capacity of 540 liters each. They had independent shut-off valves connected to the control department. These valves served to supply fuel to the system at the moment when the minimum allowable amount remained in the tanks.
Fuel from the tank was supplied through a pipeline to the float chambers of the carburetors by two Solex diaphragm pumps. Fuel pumps were installed on the left side of the lower half of the engine crankcase and were driven by eccentrics on the oil pump drive shaft. Each engine had two Solex 52FFJIID carburetors located on the upper half of the crankcase between the cylinder banks. Before getting from the gas tanks to the fuel pumps, the fuel entered the fuel filters through a pipeline through a tee and a shut-off valve of the system, after passing through which it entered the fuel pumps and through the pipeline into the engine carburetors.
Maybach engines were water cooled. In front of the power plant compartment there was a block of four water radiators with an axial fan on each of them. In addition to this unit, each engine had one air-cooling fan of the same type as on the radiators, which served to expel heated air from the power plant compartment to the outside. In addition, each Siemens Typ aGV generator was equipped with an additional fan with a separate ventilation duct for cooling electric motors that did not have their own fans. Air for ventilation was sucked in through central louvres located on the roof of the power plant compartment, and heated air from the radiators was exhausted through side louvers located next to the central ones. Heated air, taken by fans from the engines (contaminated with fuel combustion products), as well as air from the cooling channels of the electric motors, was discharged through holes in the rear hull sheet, covered with an armored casing.
The Berge-Ferdinand evacuation vehicle, manufactured on the chassis of the VK 4501(P) tank.
Tests of the Porsche Tiger in the presence of representatives of the Reich Ministry of Arms and Ammunition. Austria, summer 1942 (ASKM).
Porsche Tiger tank with hydraulic transmission, used as a command vehicle in the 653rd Heavy Tank Destroyer Battalion. Ternopil area, June 1944. On the stern you can see the designation of the headquarters of the 653rd battalion (IP).
The Porsche Tiger tank with a hydraulic transmission is the headquarters vehicle of the 653rd Heavy Tank Destroyer Battalion. Ternopil area, June 1944. The tank has turret number 003 (IP).
"Berge-Elephant" after repair. April 1944. The vehicle is covered with Zimmerit, spare tracks are attached to the front plate, and a shield for installing a second machine gun (MG) is visible on the wheelhouse.
Photo showing problems with evacuating faulty Ferdinands - to transport one vehicle (in photo No. 632 of the 6th company of the 654th battalion) at least four 18-ton Sd.Kfz.9 half-track tractors were required.
"Ferdinand" of the 653rd heavy tank destroyer battalion after the battle, July 1943. A radio-controlled wedge BIV (Borgvard) is visible in the foreground.
"Ferdinand" changes position. July 1943. The jack mount (J) is clearly visible on the front plate.
"Ferdinand" No. 113 from the 1st company of the 653rd battalion of heavy tank destroyers on the march. July 1943 (YaM).
Two destroyed Ferdinands from the headquarters company of the 654th heavy tank destroyer battalion. Ponyri station area, July 1943 (RGAKFD).
The Ferdinand of the 654th Heavy Tank Destroyer Battalion, blown up by a mine and burned out. Ponyri station area, July 1943 (YaM).
Red Army officer at Ferdinand No. 623 of the 6th company of the 654th heavy tank destroyer battalion. The internal explosion tore apart the welds of the deckhouse. July 1943 (ASKM).
Broken Ferdinand No. II-03 from the headquarters company of the 654th heavy tank destroyer battalion. Ponyri station area, July 1943 (RGAKFD).
"Ferdinands", tested by shelling on July 20–21, 1943. Numerous projectile hits and holes (ASKM) are clearly visible.
"Ferdinand" No. 723 from the 7th company of the 654th heavy tank destroyer battalion. Ponyri station area, July 1943 (RGAKFD).
"Ferdinand" of the 653rd battalion, which was blown up by a mine. July 1943. The explosion tore off the support rollers of the left front bogie (ASKM).
"Ferdinand" from the 2nd company of the 653rd battalion of heavy tank destroyers, destroyed by an internal explosion. July 1943 (CMVS).
The battlefield under the Ponyri station - two damaged Ferdinands, two Soviet T-70 tanks and three T-34 (RGAKFD) are visible on it.
Ferdinand No. 501, which was blown up by a mine, from the headquarters of the 5th company of the 654th heavy tank destroyer battalion. Ponyri station area, July 1943. This vehicle was delivered to the NIBT test site (ASKM).
Ferdinand No. 501, which was blown up by a mine, from the headquarters of the 5th company of the 654th heavy tank destroyer battalion. Ponyri station area, July 1943 (RGAKFD).
"Ferdinand" on the march. July 1943. The car is camouflaged with branches (ASKM).
"Ferdinand" of the 653rd heavy tank destroyer battalion in a position near Nikopol. October 1943 (RGAKFD).
"Ferdinand" of the 653rd heavy tank destroyer battalion near Nikopol. October 1943. Along with the designation of the 1st company during the battles near Kursk, a new battalion emblem (RGAKFD) is visible on the stern.
Two "Ferdinands" are moving towards firing positions. Bridgehead Zaporozhye, September 1943 (ASKM).
"Ferdinand" of the 653rd heavy tank destroyer battalion during breaks between battles. Bridgehead Zaporozhye, September 1943. On the upper front sheet you can see the placement of spare tracks (SP).
Not every bridge could withstand a 65-ton colossus. But thanks to this, there is a good photo in which the roof of the Ferdinand is clearly visible. Nikopol area, October 1943 (IP).
“Ferdinand” No. 121 from the 1st company of the 653rd battalion at a combat position in the Nikopol area, November 1943. There are empty fuel barrels lying next to the car.
"Ferdinand" at the crossing of the Dnieper. October 1943. The only known photo in which this vehicle has winter camouflage (CM).
The crane carries the Ferdinand to the work site. Nibelungenwerke plant, January 1944. On the rear of the vehicle you can see the tactical designation of the 2nd company of the 653rd battalion during the battles of Kursk (VSh).
"Elephant", abandoned by the crew due to a breakdown on the street of the town of Soriano. Italy, June 1944 (ASKM).
"Elephant" blown up by a mine. Italy, spring 1944 (VA).
Project of a ram tank on the VK 4501(P) chassis - Rammpanzer Tiger (P). Reconstruction based on factory drawings.
To get to the Maybach engines and generators, it was necessary to remove the armor plate from the shutters located above them. This procedure was quite labor-intensive and required the use of a crane (MC).
In addition, air was supplied to the engines from the fighting compartment, due to which it was ventilated. This air was thrown out through holes in the roof in front of the frontal sheet of the cabin, closed with armored mushroom-shaped caps.
During the tests of the Ferdinand, it was noted that the use of an electric transmission provided the vehicle with a number of valuable, from an operational point of view, characteristic features:
"1. Prime movers (Maybach) at different conditions machine movements always operate in the most optimal modes in terms of power and, therefore, efficiency;
2. The machine has the property of self-adjustment in speed to changes in external loads, that is, to the terrain and cross-country ability of the route section being overcome. In this case, the load on the prime movers can remain almost constant;
3. Controlling the car in motion is significantly simplified and lightweight compared to cars with a manual transmission.”
CHASSIS
For one side, the undercarriage of the Ferdinand consisted of three bogies with two rollers each. The original component of the chassis was the placement of bogie suspension torsion bars not inside the hull, like many other tanks (KV, T-50, Pz.III, Pz.V “Panther”, Pz.VI “Tiger”), but outside, and besides not transversely, but longitudinally. Despite the rather complex design of the suspension developed by F. Porsche, it worked very effectively. For example, designed for the VK 4501(P) tank weighing 59 tons, it easily worked on the Ferdinand, which was 6 tons heavier. In addition, the Porsche suspension design turned out to be well suited for repair and maintenance in the field, significantly exceeding both “Tiger” and “Panther” correspond to this indicator.
The design of the road wheels with internal shock absorption, which had a fairly long service life, also turned out to be successful. Perhaps the drawback of the suspension was the emission of exhaust gases from Maybach engines into the area of the fifth road wheel, which led to overheating of the latter and more frequent failure.
The rear drive wheels had removable ring gears with 19 teeth. The guide wheels also had toothed rims, which prevented the tracks from turning idle. The 640 mm wide track chain consisted of 108–110 cast steel tracks connected by pins. The latter, on the one hand, were held in the track eyes by a ring-shaped stopper inserted into the annular groove, and on the other hand, by the head of a pin.
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
The low-voltage electrical equipment system of the Ferdinand assault gun was similar to the system of the Pz.IV tank and was completely independent of the electrical equipment of the transmission. On the contrary, the electrical equipment of the transmission was dependent on the low-voltage electrical equipment system of the vehicle, since the independent excitation windings of the generators and electric motors of the power plant were powered by batteries.
The low-voltage on-board network had two voltages - 12 and 24 V. The generators and battery were 24-volt; the same voltage powered the starters and the independent excitation winding of the generators and electric motors of the power plant. The remaining consumers (lighting, radio station, fan motor) operated from a voltage of 12 V. All electrical wiring was made according to a single-wire circuit using a shielded wire in order to eliminate interference with radio reception; for this purpose, electrical filters were installed in the charging circuits of the generators.
To power consumers and charge batteries, two Bosch 24 V generators were installed in the low-voltage equipment system. They were mounted on special boxes on the bottom of the car behind the Maybach engines, from which the drive to the generators was carried out using a belt drive and an elastic coupling.
Four rechargeable batteries Varta were located in the control compartment under the radio operator's seat. They were united into two parallel groups. The batteries were recharged from 24-volt generators.
Exterior lighting included dual Bosch headlights and a taillight. Each headlight had two lamps - one with a power of 20 W, two-filament (low and high beam), and the second with a power of 3 W (parking light). The rear light has one 5 W lamp, covered with a cover with four holes.
Internal lighting consisted of six 10 W lamps - two in the control compartment and four in the fighting compartment. In addition, two 3 W lamps were used to illuminate control panels.
MEANS OF COMMUNICATION
The Ferdinand assault gun was equipped with a FuG 5 radio station installed in the control department. It provided communication at a distance of 6.5 km when working by telephone and up to 9.5 km in telegraph mode, the antenna input is located on the roof of the control compartment on the right. In addition, the vehicles of company and battalion commanders were equipped with a more powerful FuG 8 radio, for which there was an additional antenna input in the right corner of the rear deckhouse. From the book All about pre-heaters and heaters author Naiman Vladimir
Design and characteristics Operating principles The operation of non-autonomous heaters is based on two well-known physical phenomena: heating using electrical energy and heat exchange in a liquid medium, called convection. Although both phenomena are known,
From the book Auto Mechanic Tips: Maintenance, Diagnostics, Repair author Savosin Sergey2.2. Design and operation A gasoline engine is an engine with reciprocating pistons and forced ignition, operating on a fuel-air mixture. During the combustion process, the chemical energy stored in the fuel is converted into thermal energy, and
From the book Electronic Tricks for Curious Children author Kashkarov Andrey Petrovich4.1. Design and operation To transmit torque from the engine crankshaft to the wheels of the car, you need a clutch (if the car has a manual transmission), a gearbox, a cardan drive (for a rear-wheel drive car), a final drive with a differential and axle shafts
From book General device ships author Chaynikov K.N.3.9.1. How the device works While it is dry around the sensor, at the input of the element DD1.1 high level voltage. At the output of the element (pin 3 DD1.1) low level and the alarm is turned off. At low humidity, and even more so when the sensor is exposed to moisture (drops of water) at the inlet
From the book Boat. Device and control author Ivanov L.N.§ 31. Steering device The steering device is used to change the direction of movement of the vessel, ensuring that the rudder blade is shifted to a certain angle in a given period of time. The main elements of the steering device are shown in Fig. 54. The steering wheel is the main organ that provides
From book Medium tank T-28. Stalin's three-headed monster author Kolomiets Maxim Viktorovich§ 32. Anchor device The anchor device is used to anchor the vessel, ensuring reliable anchorage of the vessel on open water and to remove it from the anchor. The main anchor device is located in the bow of the open deck and consists of the elements shown in
From the book Garage. We build with our own hands author Nikitko Ivan§ 33. Mooring device The mooring device is intended for securing the vessel when moored at piers, embankments, piers or near other ships, barges, etc. The components of the mooring device on each ship are (Fig. 60): mooring lines - cables (ropes) ,
From the book Management and Wi-Fi setup in my house author Kashkarov Andrey Petrovich§ 34. Towing device The towing device ensures the use of ships as tugs (pulling or pushing other ships) or is used to tow the ship by other ships. For this purpose, on ordinary ships, reinforced ones are installed at the ends of the upper deck.
From the book New Generation Microwave Ovens [Device, fault diagnosis, repair] author Kashkarov Andrey Petrovich§ 36. Boat gear The boat gear on a ship is used for lowering, lifting, storing and securing boats during travel. Boats (boats) are intended to rescue people in the event of an accident and loss of the ship, to communicate the ship with the shore, as well as to perform work on
From the author's book1.4. Construction of a six-oar yal The most common type of rowing and sailing boat is a six-oar yal (Fig. 1). Rice. 1. General form six-oared yawl: 1 – stem; 2 – tack hook; 3 – gap; 4 – hole for the lamp stand; 5, 37 – lattice hatches; 6 –
From the author's book1. Design of microwave ovens 1.1. The secrets of the justified popularity of modern microwave ovens All or almost all methods of cooking come down to one thing - to heat the dishes and their contents, that is, to heat the frying pan or pan and, accordingly, its contents.
30-09-2016, 09:38
Hello tankers, welcome to the site! In the German development branch, at the eighth level, there are as many as three tank destroyers, each of which has its own characteristics, but they are all very strong in their own way. Now we will talk about one of these cars and here is Ferdinand’s guide.
As usual, we will conduct a detailed analysis of the vehicle’s parameters, decide on the choice of equipment, perks, equipment for Ferdinand World of Tanks, and also talk about combat tactics.
TTX Ferdinand
The first thing that every owner of this device can be proud of when going into battle is its large margin of safety, one of the best at the level. Our basic viewing range is also quite good, 370 meters, which is better than that of our fellow nationals.
If we look at the Ferdinand's armor characteristics, overall everything is very promising. The point is that we have a very well-armored wheelhouse, into which even our classmates have difficulty getting through, but the armor plate here is located at a right angle and tanks of levels 9-10 are no longer tested big problems with the penetration of this element.
Regarding the hull armor, it is much worse, and if the VLD of the Ferdinand WoT tank destroyer can still ricochet, then the NLD, sides and especially the feed can be sewn without problems even with level 7 equipment.
Another important issue will be the mobility of our unit, and the first thing I would like to say is that we have really good dynamics. The only problem is that Ferdinand World of Tanks is very limited in maximum speed, so there is no need to talk about any mobility, and our turtle is completely reluctant to spin around.
gun
In terms of weapons, everything is very decent, one might even say good, because at the eighth level we have the legendary mousegun.
We all know that the Ferdinand gun has excellent one-time damage, but the rate of fire here is very balanced, so you can boast about 2500 units of damage per minute, which is also quite good.
Regarding the armor penetration parameters, the Ferdinand tank lags behind most of its classmates, but still the basic AP is enough for a comfortable game even against nines. It’s more difficult with top-end equipment, so carry 15-25% of gold ammunition with you.
With accuracy, everything is also in order, especially if you remember that this is a mousegun. Ferdinand World of Tanks has a fairly pleasant dispersion and reasonable aiming speed, but there are problems with stabilization.
By the way, one cannot help but rejoice at the very comfortable vertical and horizontal aiming angles for a tank destroyer. The gun goes down 8 degrees, and the total angle of attack is as much as 30 degrees, causing damage to Ferdinand WoT is a pleasure.
Advantages and disadvantages
Since the analysis general characteristics, as well as the parameters of the gun, are left behind, it’s time to take stock of the first results. To systematize the knowledge gained, let's highlight the main advantages and disadvantages, breaking them down point by point.
Pros:
Powerful alphastrike;
Decent penetration;
Not a bad DPM;
Good wheelhouse armor;
Large margin of safety;
Comfortable UVN and UGN.
Minuses:
Poor mobility;
Weak armor of the hull and sides;
Barn dimensions;
Engine crashability when hit by NLD.
Equipment for Ferdinand
With installation additional modules everything is more or less familiar. For tank destroyers, it is very important to cause as much damage as possible, while doing it comfortably, so in the case of Ferdinand, we will install the following equipment:
1. - the more often we implement our excellent alpha strike, the better.
2. - this module is about comfort, because with it we can aim and shoot much faster.
3. is a good option for a passive playing style, which will completely solve the problem with visibility.
However, there is a very good alternative to the third point - which will make us an even more dangerous enemy in terms of fire potential, but it can only be installed if the perks have been pumped into the review or you have competent allies.
Crew training
In terms of choosing skills for our crew, which includes as many as 6 tankers, everything is pretty standard, but for a number of reasons, first of all it’s worth focusing not on camouflage, but on survival. Thus, we download perks for the Ferdinand tank in the following sequence:
Commander - , , , .
Gunner - , , , .
Driver mechanic - , , , .
Radio operator - , , , .
Loader - , , , .
Loader - , , , .
Equipment for Ferdinand
Another standard concerns the selection of consumables, and here we will focus more on our own financial situation. If you don’t have much silver, you can take , , . However, for those who have time to farm, it is better to carry premium equipment on Ferdinand, where the fire extinguisher can be replaced with a .
Ferdinand game tactics
As always happens, it’s worth planning your strategy for playing this machine based on its strengths and weak sides, because this is how maximum efficiency is achieved in any battle.
For the Ferdinand tank destroyer, combat tactics often come down to passive play, mainly due to the slowness of this vehicle. In this case, we must take a convenient and advantageous position in the bushes, somewhere on the second line, from where we can effectively fire at the allied light and remain in the shadows ourselves. As you understand, the powerful and fairly accurate gun of Ferdinand World of Tanks allows you to play in this way.
However, we can also position ourselves on the first line, because our armor, when positioned correctly, can withstand many hits while maintaining its safety margin intact. To do this, the Ferdinand tank must be in battle against the eighth levels, hide the hull, protect itself from artillery and not let the enemy on board. We play like the alpha, dance or hide between shots, ensuring a great future for ourselves. Just make sure that the enemy does not charge gold, then our tactics will fail.
By the way, thanks to good vertical and horizontal aiming angles, the German Ferdinand World of Tanks tank destroyer is capable of occupying positions that many others cannot do; you also need to be able to use this.
In the end, I would like to say that we have in our hands a truly strong and formidable vehicle, which feels most comfortable in battles at the top of the list. If you have to fight against dozens, it is better to shoot from afar. And as usual, playing on Ferdinand WoT, you must understand that this is a one-way machine, so choose your flank carefully, watch the mini-map and beware of the arts.
Self-propelled artillery in its design is in many ways reminiscent of a tank. With less maneuverability and armor, it has high firepower. Such installations are most effective in supporting advances by tank and infantry formations.
Self-propelled artillery units (self-propelled guns) began to be used already in the First World War. Gradually they occupied their niche in the field of combat use and were actively used in the Second World War. Given their combat qualities, self-propelled guns are practically not used outside large-scale conflicts.
Self-propelled gun "Ferdinand" (Ferdinand) - heavy anti-tank (AT) artillery unit of the Third Reich during the Second World War. It was created with a focus on destroying enemy tanks and was used primarily on the Eastern Front.
Development history
The history of the creation of the Ferdinand self-propelled gun is associated with the design of the Tiger I tank. Development was carried out by competing companies Porsche and Henschel, presenting prototypes VK 4501 (P) and (H) in 1942, respectively. Hitler proposed assembling both vehicles in parallel, but at a meeting with the Armaments Directorate it was decided to leave the Henschel option.
Ferdinand Porsche's tank model had transmission problems and a short range. At the same time, the production of engines required a large amount of non-ferrous metals, which were in short supply in Germany. However, Porsche did not wait for the results of the meetings and began assembling the first tanks.
Porsche cars were never accepted into service. In the fall of 1942, Hitler ordered the use of their chassis for heavy assault self-propelled gun with an 88 mm Pak 43 cannon and 200 mm armor. These conditions required significant changes in the layout of the machine.
Also, the new German self-propelled gun was equipped with already existing mass production Maybach engines. This required redesigning the cooling system and fuel tanks. All work was done in great haste, which subsequently caused a number of shortcomings.
By the end of December 1942, new self-propelled guns were presented for testing. As a reward, Hitler gave them the name of the designer "Ferdinand". In the spring of 1943, artillery installations began to arrive at the front.
At the end of 1943, the installations remaining after the first battles were returned to Germany for modernization. A frontal machine gun appeared in the frontal area, the guns were replaced, commander's cupola with seven periscope devices. These aspects make it easy to distinguish self-propelled gun versions from photos.
The vulnerability of the installations to mines was also taken into account - the front part of the bottom received additional armor, the tracks became wider. New model received the name “Elephant” (Elephant, from German “elephant”, sometimes written Elefant), but this name was fixed only in English-language literature, since it was the modernized version that the Allies encountered after the opening of the second front.
User manual
The application manual initially put the Ferdinand self-propelled guns at a disadvantage. Their limited range and low maneuverability limited their use in mass offensives, although they could be used in positional battles. Also, the heavy weight of the installation did not allow it to cross most bridges.
Self-propelled artillery "Ferdinand" (the simplified name "Ferd" is incorrect) was designed to destroy Soviet tanks. Significant armor provided reliable protection against their projectiles. It was supposed to use self-propelled guns as the first echelon of attack on Soviet positions due to the armor.
Combat vehicle design
The design of the Ferdinand self-propelled gun was largely redone after it was decided to turn the tank into artillery. Due to the considerable length of the gun, the turret was moved to the rear, where the main crew cabin was also located.
The power plant with engines, generators, cooling and fuel tanks is moved to the middle part; it is separated from the control compartment by heat-resistant partitions. Given the location of the departments, there was no direct communication between the control and the control room.
Despite the absence of a machine gun, there were loopholes in the wheelhouse for firing from personal weapons. They are represented by small hatches with plugs, three in the stern and one on each side. There was also a door in the stern through which the crew could leave the installation. On the roof of the cabin there were additionally two hatches for the crew, small hatches for installing a periscope and a fan.
Surveillance and communications equipment
Surveillance of the area was carried out using periscope devices provided in the control compartment and in the wheelhouse. There were also inspection slots for the driver and radio operator in the front beveled side panels.
The self-propelled guns were equipped with a FuG 5 radio station mounted in the control department. Her telephone worked within a radius of 6.5 km, her telegraph - 9.5 km. The commanders' vehicles were equipped with more powerful FuG 8s with an additional antenna.
Armored Corps
Self-propelled guns "Ferdinand" were lined with rolled hardened armor. The frontal protection had a thickness of 200 mm, top part hull, sides and stern - 80 mm, lower part of the side - 60 mm. The bottom had 20 mm armor, but the front part (1.35 m) was additionally reinforced with a 30 mm sheet. All fastenings were provided with bolts with bulletproof heads.
Crew
The crew of the artillery installation consisted of 6 people. The driver and radio operator were located in the control department. The main crew, including the commander, is in the control room. With the advent of the machine gun, the radio operator also served as a gunner.
Armament
The armament of the Ferdinand self-propelled gun was initially designed to counter tanks and other armored vehicles. The weapon hit almost any vehicle. Only the IS-2 and M26 Pershing at a certain distance from the required heading angle could withstand a projectile hit.
88 mm StuK 43 gun
The key armament of the self-propelled artillery unit is an 88-mm Pak 43/2 rifled gun with a barrel length of 71 calibers. Its outdated designation is StuK 43. Version 43/2 is a tank variant of the Pak 43.
The weight of the gun is 2.2 tons; in the stowed position it was mounted on a special installation. It had two recoil devices and a vertical wedge bolt that operated semi-automatically. The guidance mechanisms were located on the left at the gunner's position. For this purpose, a periscope device SFlZF1a/Rblf 36 with a fivefold magnification was used.
The ballistics of the gun allowed it to penetrate 132 mm of armor at a meeting angle of 60 degrees at a distance of 2 km. From 100 meters under the same conditions, 202 mm of armor was penetrated. The ammunition consisted of 50 shells - armor-piercing tracer Pzgr.39-1, sub-caliber Pzgr.40/43 and high-explosive fragmentation Sprgr 43. The modified "Elephant" ammunition was increased to 55 shells.
1x7.92 mm machine gun
The original version of the Ferdinand self-propelled gun did not have a machine gun. In the modified version of January-March 1944, the MG-34 ball mount of 7.92 mm caliber appeared. It was located on the right side of the frontal part. Ammunition - 600 rounds.
Technical specifications
The technical characteristics of the Ferdinand artillery mount made it popular for anti-tank combat. During the modernization process, a number of parameters were changed, however, the main performance characteristics were preserved until the last battle of these self-propelled guns in Berlin.
Dimensions and weight
According to Wikipedia, the dimensions of the German self-propelled gun “Ferdinand” have the following indicators:
- body length - 8.14 m;
- width - 3.38 m;
- height - 2.97 m;
- ground clearance - 0.485 m.
The combat weight of the tank is 65 tons. This figure significantly limited the movement of installations across bridges and on soft soil.
Engine and transmission
Power point self-propelled artillery“Ferdinand” is designed to transmit torque from the engine to the drive wheels via electricity. This made it possible to get rid of the gearbox and main clutch.
The self-propelled gun had two V-shaped twelve-cylinder carburetor Maybach HL 120 TRM engines, running on water cooling. The power of each was 265 hp. With. at 2600 rpm.
Two Siemens-Schuckert D149aAC traction engines with a power of 230 kW each were located in the rear of the hull and drove the wheels through a reduction gearbox. This transmission increased the weight of the car, but ensured ease of control.
Chassis
The chassis of the self-propelled gun borrowed many elements from the Leopard tanks. The suspension is a locked, combined type, in which torsion bars are combined with a rubber cushion. The torsion bars themselves are located outside the body longitudinally on bogies.
On each side there were three bogies with two road wheels each. The design was quite complex, but showed its reliability and maintainability. The rollers themselves also had a good durability. The rear drive wheels had removable ring gears with 19 teeth. The front ones are equipped with active gearing and pneumatic-hydraulic brakes.
On the highway, the self-propelled gun developed a speed of 35 km/h, on rough terrain - 5-15 km/h, depending on the surface and softness of the soil. Cruising range on highways and rough terrain was 150 and 90 km, respectively. Overcoming obstacles - a slope of 22 degrees, a wall of 0.78 m, a ditch 2.64 m wide, a ford a meter deep.
Fuel consumption
A separate fuel supply was provided for each of the two engines. Accordingly, the installation had two fuel tank 540 liters each. The control compartment had shut-off valves that opened the fuel supply in cases where there was a minimum amount of fuel left in the tanks.
Accurate information on fuel consumption is not available. However, taking into account the low power reserve and weight, the car consumed a large amount of fuel - about 720-1155 liters per 100 km. The indicator depends on the type of surface - on the highway the consumption decreased, on rough terrain it increased.
Controls
The control department was located in the front of the car and was occupied by the driver and radio operator. There were also levers and pedals for controlling the machine, devices for pneumatic-hydraulic braking and track tension, a switching box with switches and rheostats, an instrument panel, fuel filters, batteries for the starter, and a radio station.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Ferdinand self-propelled artillery mount received mixed reviews from contemporaries and historians. The car turned out to be largely an improvisation, created on the fly and in a hurry. However, even despite this, it had many innovative solutions.
The advantages of the project include an electric transmission and suspension with longitudinal torsion bars. The technologies showed good efficiency, but turned out to be too complex and expensive for mass use, especially in war conditions. They also pay attention to the significant fuel consumption.
In combat conditions, the self-propelled gun clearly demonstrated its advantages. The powerful weapon penetrated almost any tank at most distances. The frontal armor could not be penetrated by anything; the vehicle received some damage only from the sides and from mines.
This reservation made it possible to place self-propelled guns in the first echelon of attack to overcome the defense Soviet troops. However, this method quickly showed its ineffectiveness - the infantry and tank artillery cover was fired back, after which the installations were blown up in close combat, using cloth to block the view and Molotov cocktails. Such methods did not always end in success, but in any case they showed the vulnerability of artillery in close combat.
As a result, the Ferdinand self-propelled gun proved itself quite well, but never received mass production and applications. There is an opinion that if it were not for the production of Porsche tanks that had begun, such installations would never have appeared due to their technical complexity.
Use in World War II
The first use of the Ferdinand self-propelled gun is associated with the Battle of Kursk. Artillery installations were included in the anti-tank battalions 653 and 654. They were assigned the role of a ram to overcome the defense. The first combat use was on July 8-9, 1943 in the area of Ponyri station.
During the fighting and subsequent retreat to Orel, over three dozen self-propelled guns were lost. Those who remained were transferred to Zhitomir and Dnepropetrovsk in mid-August, where they began repairs. Later they took part in the battles of Nikopol and Dnepropetrovsk.
In winter, the Ferdinands were returned for modernization. The resulting modifications of the Elefant self-propelled guns were transferred to Italy and took part in the battles of Nettuno, Anzio and Rome. The remnants were again transferred, first to Austria, then to Poland.
In July 1944, self-propelled guns were based in the Ternopil region, where, due to a large-scale Soviet offensive, they were drawn into heavy fighting. Many vehicles were blown up by their own crews due to the impossibility of evacuation from the battlefield.
The remaining twelve installations were transferred to Krakow on August 3. They were later evacuated to Germany and were in reserve. Last fights"Ferdinand" was held in Wünsdorf, Zossen and Berlin.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them
Ferdinand is a heavy self-propelled gun developed by Nazi Germany in 1942.
Tiger from Porsche
In 1941, Porsche provided Hitler with a drawing of his new Tiger tank, and the vehicle was immediately put into development. It was supposed to be a heavy tank weighing 45 tons with a turret and two engines. The tank was built by the Austrian plant Nibelungenwerk, and already in April 1942 it passed its first tests at the Kummersdorf training ground. The tests were led by Hitler personally.
During these tests, the Tiger competed with the Henschel VK 45.01 (H) tank, and the latter proved itself better than Tiger, despite the fact that high hopes were initially placed on the Porsche car.
Breakdowns of the Tiger during test runs led to the project being canceled in favor of a more promising competitor. However, the Germans were so confident that the Tiger would go into mass production that while the tests were underway, the plant had already produced a hundred tracked chassis for it. Since the project was cancelled, this became a problem. The Tiger's tracked chassis did not fit any of the German tanks being designed. Then Porsche was tasked with developing a new tank for these tracks in order to put them into use.
Converting a Tiger into a self-propelled gun
Porsche submitted a design for a new self-propelled gun on September 22, 1942. It was a tough PT ( anti-tank gun), equipped with an 88-mm L/71 gun, which at that time was also at the development stage. New self-propelled gun it was planned to release it to replace the obsolete Marder II and III, which were actively used on the Eastern Front. The firing range of the new AT was estimated to be 4500-5000 meters. For that time these were very impressive figures.
The new tank was designed based on the Tiger, only it had to be larger size. It was a long and wide tank tank with the armor of a heavy tank. The 100 tracked chassis provided to Porsche for development could only be enough for 91 PT, because the tank gained weight. When the project was completed, Hitler approved it, and development of a prototype began on November 30, 1942. The first tests of the new PT began on March 19, 1943.
He was impressed with the result and ordered production to be accelerated. Already in May, the first series of tanks was released, and the tank received its new nickname Ferdinand in honor of its developer Ferdinand Porsche.
Ferdinand's design
Ferdinand was longer and heavier than Tiger. If the Tiger was supposed to weigh 45 tons, then Ferdinand has already grown to 65. This increase is due to the reinforced armor of the PT hull. The engines were completely redesigned, ventilation and cooling were increased, but there were still two of them. The body was made of metal plates welded at a slight angle. The Tiger's original armor (100 mm at the front and 60 mm at the rear and sides) was increased to 200 mm at the front by welding on additional sheets of metal.
Thanks to this decision, Ferdinand received the thickest armor of all existing tanks of that time. The engine was moved to the front of the tank, which provided additional safety for the crew. Ferdinand's all-round armor was as follows: 200 mm at the front, 80 mm at the rear and sides, 30 mm at the roof and bottom.
The driver was located in front of the hull on the left side, directly under the hatch. To the right of the driver sat the radio operator, followed by the commander and loader. 4 periscopes were installed in the roof of the tank - for the driver, loader, gunner and commander. In the rear part of the body there were holes intended for firing from MG 34 or MP 40 machine guns.
Ferdinand was powered by two Maybach HL 120 TRM engines (245 hp at 2600 rpm), which drove two Siemens Schuckert K58-8 generators (230 kW/1300 rpm). The tank had rear-wheel drive. Ferdinand's maximum speed was 30 km/h, but over rough terrain did not exceed 10 km/h. The tank's gas tank capacity was 950 liters, and the fuel consumption coefficient was about 8 l/s.
Ferdinand's main weapon was the 88 mm PaK4/2L/71 cannon, version AA, with a longer barrel, reduced recoil and an adjusted bolt mechanism. There was no onboard machine gun; instead, there were holes in the hull for manual firing in case the crew found themselves in close combat.
Ferdinand in battle
The entire batch of 89 vehicles was sent to the Eastern Front between May and June 1943. There they underwent combat training before the operation on the Kursk Bulge. In battles, Ferdinand proved his superiority and power. The platoon was tasked with destroying Soviet T-34 tanks from a distance of 5 km. They coped with this task excellently, however, moving deeper into the front line, the Ferdinands soon discovered their main shortcomings: a poor viewing angle and the lack of a machine gun.
Soviet infantrymen quickly recognized Ferdinand's shortcomings and easily destroyed these tanks by simply hiding and waiting for the self-propelled gun to drive a little forward. Then the tank was bombarded with grenades and Molotov cocktails. Ferdinand was a formidable weapon in battle against tanks, but proved incredibly vulnerable to infantry, as a result of which a tank platoon was defeated on the Kursk Bulge.