Tank destroyer V

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Jagdpanzer V Jagdpanther
Jagdpanzer V in the Munster tank museum

Jagdpanzer V in the Munster tank museum
General properties
crew 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator)
length 9.87 m (with cannon)
width 3.42 m
height 2.72 m
Dimensions 45.5 t
Armor and armament
Armor 17-80 mm
Main armament 8.8 cm PaK 43/3 L / 71
Secondary armament 1 × 7.92mm MG 34
agility
drive Maybach HL 230 P 30
700 hp
Top speed 46 km / h (road), 24 km / h (terrain)
Power / weight
Range 210 km (road), 140 km (terrain)
Another view with person for size comparison (late version)
Front plate shows bullet marks (this late version of the Jagdpanther is exhibited in the Munster tank museum )
Jagdpanther (early version) captured in Hechtel in the Imperial War Museum , London
Jagdpanther on a training ground in France

The Jagdpanzer V Jagdpanther (Sd.Kfz. 173) was a tank destroyer used by the German Wehrmacht during World War II .

Development and production

Towards the end of 1942, the German Army Armed Forces Office realized that the previous approach to the development of assault guns or tank destroyers, to mount the corresponding armor-piercing weapons on existing, but in some cases already outdated chassis, could not be continued. The best anti-tank gun available at the time, the 8.8 cm PaK 43/3 L / 71, was too big and too heavy for the chassis of Panzerkampfwagen III and IV ; It was therefore decided to use the chassis of the V Panther armored vehicle, which had just been developed at the time, for the construction of a new tank destroyer. Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen Hannover (MNH) was commissioned with the development work. The prototype of the Jagdpanther was demonstrated on October 20, 1943. The use of the Panther undercarriage and the possible installation position resulted in a cannon fire height of only 196 cm. Series production of the tank destroyer began in January 1944 at MIAG in Braunschweig . Towards the end of 1944, additional series production started at MNH in Hanover . By March 1945, both companies had produced a total of 382 Jagdpanthers (chassis no .: 300001–300382).

Changes were continually incorporated during production, so that the vehicles are divided into early and late versions (from October 1944). The most important changes were a heavy outer cast collar for the main weapon, side skirts and significantly larger idlers as well as an 8.8 cm PaK 43/3 L / 71 with a split barrel and a new reverse brake. In addition, a flame destroyer exhaust and a combat area heater with exhaust air system were installed. The second driver's viewing opening and the luggage box were omitted. Some vehicles were delivered as command vehicles, these were also equipped with a star antenna and the side skirts.

Armor

Tub

  • 60 mm bow / inclination 35 °
  • 80 mm driver front / 35 °
  • 40 mm tub sides / 90 °
  • 40 mm stern / 60 °
  • 15–20 + 13 mm bottom / 0 °

construction

  • 80 mm front / 35 °
  • 50 mm side / 60 °
  • 40 mm stern / 60 °
  • 17 mm ceiling / 5 °

ammunition

57 shells could be carried in the Jagdpanzer V.

PaK 43 39/43 tank shell Panzerranate 40/43 (hard core) HE grenade 43
Weight 10.2 kg 7.3 kg 9.4 kg
Muzzle velocity 1000 m / s 1130 m / s 750 m / s
Penetration at a 30 ° angle of incidence
from a distance of 100 m 203 mm
from a distance of 500 m 182 mm 226 mm
from a distance of 1000 m 167 mm 192 mm
from a distance of 2000 m 139 mm 136 mm
Penetration at an angle of incidence of 60 °
from a distance of 0 m 198 mm 265 mm
from a distance of 500 m 182 mm 226 mm
from a distance of 1000 m 167 mm 192 mm
from a distance of 1500 m 153 mm 162 mm
from a distance of 2000 m 139 mm 136 mm
from a distance of 2500 m 127 mm 114 mm
Penetration at 90 ° angle of incidence
from a distance of 0 m 225 mm 311 mm
from a distance of 500 m 207 mm 274 mm
from a distance of 1000 m 190 mm 241 mm
from a distance of 1500 m 174 mm 211 mm
from a distance of 2000 m 159 mm 184 mm
from a distance of 2500 m 145 mm 159 mm

commitment

Jagdpanther in France, June 1944

The Jagdpanther, classified by the Allies as a "Heavy Tank Killer", was considered the most successful tank destroyer in World War II, but never appeared on the battlefield in sufficient numbers to be decisive for the war. As part of the German Ardennes offensive in December 1944, Jagdpanther put a large number of Allied tanks out of action.

The Jagdpanther was sold to the heavy tank destroyer detachments 559 and 654 in June 1944, and to the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 519, in October at the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 560 and in November / December 1944 in the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 655 introduced. In addition, the I./PzLRgt 130 (32), the "Kampfgruppe Nico" (7) and the armored division Clausewitz (2) had Jagdpanther. However, the units were not equipped with it as planned, but procured the device “unscheduled”.

The Jagdpanther was designed to be used as a center of gravity weapon for offensive purposes. The vehicles should only be used in larger numbers (14 vehicles) for attack, as mobile anti-tank defense immediately behind advancing infantry, to protect them from tank attacks. Smaller units (four vehicles) were only allowed to be used against fortified positions. After a successful attack, the Jagdpanther should be withdrawn immediately for maintenance and repair. Use as a static anti-tank weapon or even artillery for defensive purposes was not intended and was only permitted in emergencies.

Preserved copies

One example of the Jagdpanzer V can be seen in the tank museum in Munster , another example from the Battle of Hechtel in the Imperial War Museum in London . The interior of this tank can be seen through a cut-open side wall. There is also a copy in the Auto- und Technikmuseum Sinsheim , in the Musée des Blindés in Saumur, France, in the Tank Museum Thun and in the Russian Tank Museum Kubinka . The Jagdpanther of the Defense Technical Study Collection in Koblenz is in running order and can be seen there in action on special occasions. There is also a 20-minute video showing the Jagdpanther during comparison drives with the Bundeswehr tank destroyer 4–5 (KaJaPa) , including in the field.

See also

literature

Web links

Commons : Jagdpanzer V  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ According to the bulletin of the tank troops of the General Inspector of the tank troops of November 17, 1944 renamed from "s. Pz. Jg. V " in " Jagdpanther " .
  2. ↑ www.panzer-modell.de Accessed on January 16, 2014.