D.M.L. Dragon

SERIES - Armor DRR 60054

FERDINAND w/Zimmerit Coating

sPzJdAbt 654, Eastern Front 1943

MSRP $15.95
This line features static pre-assembled, pre-painted models made of both diecast and plastic. Each item is fully detailed and historically accurate.

Dragon ARMOR 1:72 models are:
This line features static pre-assembled, pre-painted models made of both diecast and plastic. Each item is fully detailed and historically accurate.
 1. True to scale: Wheels, tracks, engines, hull accoutrements ... Dragon Armor are 100% true-to-scale -- these don't look like "model tanks", these look like TANKS!
2. Authentically detailed: Dragon Armor tanks are carefully researched for maximum authenticity in detailing ... color, camouflage, unit markings, and all the other little things which mark the difference between an authentic scale model and a "toy". Dragon Armor looks REAL!
3. Fully assembled: Each Dragon Armor tank comes fully-assembled and ready for display ... no glue, no paint, no worry about mistakes. An instant display piece or diorama centerpiece straight from the box!
4. Diecast Metal and plastic.

5. Each WITH its own protective DISPLAY CASE.

FERDINAND / ELEFANT
Official German designation: STURMGESCHUTZ mit 8.8cm PaK43/2 (Sd Kfz 184)
Other designation: Ferdinand, Elefant (after modification to remaining units at the end of 1943), Pz Jag Tiger (P)
TYPE: Heavy Assault Gun / Tank Destroyer
Manufacturer: Nibelungenwerke (St. Valentine, Austria)
In production: April and May 1943
Production: 90
Engine: two Maybach HL 120TRM V-12 water cooled 11.9 litre gasoline; 265hp@2600rpm
Speed: 30km / 18.1 ml
Range: 150km / 90.7 ml
Length: 8.14 m;
Length without gun: 6.97 m
Width: 3.38 m
Height: 2.97 m
Weight: 65 ton.
Track width: 640mm
Armament: One 8.8cm PaK43/2 L/71 gun. MG 34 7.92mm* MG 34 7.92mm
Ammunition: 50 Pzgr + Spgr.; 600 Patr SmK.
Armour (mm/angle): Front; Side; Rear; Top/Bottom.
Superstructure: 200/25 80/30 80/20 30/86
Hull: (upper) 100+100/12 80/0 80/40 30/90
(lower) 100+100/35 60/0 80/0 50-20/90
Gun mantlet: 25/0 + 100 round
*Rebuilt vehicles only.

HISTORY
Hitler was agitated for a Tiger tank turret that will be large enough to mount 8.8cm KwK L/71 (long barrel gun). It was not materialized with Tiger (P) and Tiger (H). Germans badly needed firepower on Eastern Front and in September 1942 it was decided that StuG (assault gun - SPG) with long 8.8cm gun and 200mm frontal armour should be immediately designed.

In a competition for a Tiger heavy tank the contract was awarded to Henschel but before that Krupp already manufactured 90 hulls for Tiger (P) – Porsche designed.  It was decided to use these hulls as the basis. Alket was to design and produce the Ferdinand (named for its designer Dr. Ferdinand Porsche), with Nibelungenwerke supplying the completed chassis.

In February 1943, Hitler ordered that 90 Ferdinand were to be supplied to the front by all available means, despite of lack of test run and short age of suspension parts. It resulted that Nibelungenwerke completed all units by end of May 1943, just in time for summer offensive at Kursk (Russia).

Porsche unusual for the time Tiger (P) design used two air-cooled engines attached to electric generators, which supplied power to a huge rear-mounted Siemens electric motor, attached directly to each rear drive sprocket. It was very advance design for a time.  Hulls were modified; additional 100mm (almost 4”) plates were bolted to the front and an addition to the rear to support the superstructure and vent cooling air for the electric motors. Twin radiators and fan assemblies were mounted directly behind the front driver's and radio operator's compartment (above the electric generators) with the two Maybach water-cooled engines (used in most Pz III and IV vehicles and replaced originally proposed, exotic and undeveloped for the time, air-cooled engines) directly behind the generators. Generators and engines were moved to the middle in order to open rear for a new fighting compartment. Large round electric motors at the lower rear of the hull were the new design, a dramatic genius solution for the poorly conceived original VK4501 plan. But, it was still a collection of mechanical problems; the vehicle's first combat action provided that.
Long 8.8cm gun was housed in the superstructure in a limited traverse mount. Originally no secondary armament was mounted, that was proven to be a big mistake.
The conversion work was begun after Hitler's approval orders of February 1943, a time when the Wehrmacht was realizing the real danger of the Russian giant they had awoken with their Eastern invasion. The emergency requirement for the fire power of the PaK 43/2 on the Eastern Front was the driving force behind the energy and money spent in converting Porsche's tank design into a SPG.
In late 1943 after heavy combat use during the Battle of Kursk and heavy defensive fights during autumn forty-eight Ferdinand were returned from the front for much-needed overhaul and preplanned modifications. A hull machine gun was installed, superstructure was changed to provide the commander with a cupola and a gun mantlet protective shield was installed on a gun barrel. Though on many units a gun mantlet shield was installed in early summer when both units were stationed in Russia; but insufficient quantity of shields was supplied at that time. All updated units received new designation – “Elefant”.

COMBAT SERVICE
All Ferdinands were issued to Panzejagerabtellungen 653 and 654 in April / May 1943. These units fought at Kursk. Lack of secondary armament – a self-defense weapon lead to a substantial loses to a close-in infantry attacks during limited German offensive. Trying to protect themselves from an infantry crew firing MG 34 through main gun barrel. However, as soon as they were pool back behind an infantry line they proved to be a very effective weapon and helped to plug numerous holes in German defense for the rest of the summer and autumn. In such use its accurate very powerful gun (effective range up to 10km, firing certain kind of ammunition was able to kill almost any Allies tanks at a distance up to 3.5km / 2 miles) and very thick armour made them virtually invulnerable a great defense weapon an excellent tank killers.
In late 1943 units were pulled from the front for overhaul, a forty-eight were modified as described above. Both units were transferred to Italy 1943/1944 were they sustain additional losses, many were destroyed by its crew on retreat due to mechanical problems. One Elefant was captured and delivered to USA for testing, now is one of only two units that still exist.
After Italy both 653 and 654 units were reequipped with Jagdpanther and remaining Elefant were transferred to a different unit; handful of survived Elefants were used in the Battle of Berlin

The one-sided adjustment on firepower and armoring had its deficiency - the mobility. Speed was very slow and on soft ground it could barely move. Heavy weight overstressed transmission and suspension parts that required constant intensive maintenance. They were probably the mechanically most unreliable tanks of the armed forces
It is Interesting enough that many specialists agree the design by itself was very advance and promising. Most mechanical problems exercised by Ferdinand / Elephant were due to an overstress created by overweight from additional frontal armour, heavier gun and larger superstructure needed to housed it compare to the specifications it was originally designed. Original Tiger (P) design was rejected in large part as a result of the prototype broke down during the final / competition tests between two projects. Later was proved the malfunction was due to a low quality suspension part, which was supplied by an independed contractor and did not fit to design specification. With similar combat characteristics Tiger (P) should be significantly less expensive (some estimated 40-50%) and according to some sources required less than a have time to built a unit. Furthermore, they say that design allowed to complete most maintenance in close to a field conditions and did not required to recall a unit from a front in order to complete some regular maintenance procedures. The upgraded, further developed design was proposed for King Tiger, but lost to Henschel design again, this time the biggest concern by official was a lack of cooper that is necessary in order to make electric motors. Another version why Porsche’s Tiger tank designs lost both time is that though favorite by Hitler Dr. Porsche was hated by many nazi party officials, which did not want to see any more of his personal success.

In conclusion it is probably safe to say that it was very effective tank destroyer / defense weapon. German propaganda successfully placed its fearful name in work. It created a fear on both Eastern and Western Fronts. But overall it was a bitter disappointment.

Zimmerit paste coating was used as an effective protection against magnetic mines installed by the allies anti tank infantry teams.  Developed by Zimmerit Company was in use 1943 until late 1944 when usage was abandoned due to false reports that it catch fire from direct hits.  It also improved camouflage of a vehicle due to its uneven surface and reduced light reflection.