Nashorn
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| SdKfz 164 Nashorn | |
|---|---|
| General characteristics | |
| Crew | 4-5 |
| Length | 8.44 m inc gun |
| Width | 2.95 m |
| Height | 2.65 m |
| Weight | 24 tonnes |
| Armour and armament | |
| Armour | hull: 20-30 mm superstructure: 10 mm |
| Main armament | 88 mm PaK 43/1 |
| Secondary armament | 7.92 mm MG (carried inside) |
| Mobility | |
| Power plant | Maybach 11.9 liter V-12 gasoline 300 hp (224 kW) |
| Suspension | leaf spring |
| Road speed | 42 km/h |
| Power/weight | 12.5 hp/tonne |
| Range | 235 km |
Nashorn (Ger. "rhinoceros"), initially known as Hornisse (Ger. "hornet") was a German tank destroyer of World War II. It was developed as an interim solution in 1942 and was armed with a hard-hitting 8.8 cm anti-tank gun. Though only lightly armoured and with a high profile, it stayed in service until the end of the war and proved to be a quite successful tank destroyer.
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[edit] Development
After the first German experiences with the newer Soviet tanks like the T-34 or the Kliment Voroshilov tank during Operation Barbarossa, the need for a Panzerjäger capable of destroying these heavily armoured tanks became clear.
In February of 1942, the Alkett (Altmärkische Kettenwerke GmbH) arms firm of Berlin designed a tank destroyer using their recently developed Geschützwagen III/IV which as its name indicated used components of both the Panzer III and Panzer IV tank. The 8.8 cm Panzerabwehrkanone (PaK) 43/1 L/71, a long barreled anti-tank gun, was mounted on the rear of the chassis complete with its gun shield and an open topped superstructure was built up around the gun to give the crew some protection. The gun had the same traverse and elevation as it would if it had been on its carriage: 15° to either side and from -5° to +15. To accommodate the long and heavy gun, the hull had to be lengthened and the engine moved from the rear to the centre of the chassis. Weight considerations meant that the amount of armour which could be used for the fighting compartment was limited, the crew were only protected from blast and small arms.
This model was presented for approval to Adolf Hitler in October 1942 and entered production in early 1943. It had numerous official designations, such as 8.8 cm PaK 43 (L/71) auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen III/IV (Sf) or 8.8cm PaK43 (L/71) auf Geschützwagen III/IV (Sd. Kfz. 164), though it was also known as the Panzerjäger Hornisse (in English "Hornet")
During the first half of 1943, a new model of the Hornisse was introduced into production. This model altered the driver's front armour plate, along with other petty differences. The difference between this model and its predecessor, the few early production vehicles, were small enough that they were almost impossible to distinguish from each other, unless you were looking at the gun. All the vehicles were named 'Nashorn' by Hitler's orders.
Total production of the Hornisse and Nashorn amounted to some 494 vehicles, of which most were built in 1943. As a Panzerjäger, it was soon replaced by the newer German tank destroyers, like the Jagdpanzer IV and the Jagdpanther. However, production continued, though at a slow pace, into 1945.
There are two Nashorns on display in military museums: at the United States Army Ordnance Museum and at the Kubinka Tank Museum.
[edit] Combat service
The Hornisse/Nashorn was issued to the schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilungen ("Heavy Antitank Battalions"), with which six would eventually be equipped: schwere Panzerjäger Abteilung 560, 655, 525, 93, 519 and 88. Each Abteilung/Battalion was equipped with 30 Nashorns.
Nashorn's gun was one of the most effective anti-tank guns deployed during the war. Its tungsten carbide cored sub-caliber round, Pzgr. 40/43, was capable of penetrating 190 mm of rolled steel armor at a 30° angle of impact at a distance of 1,000 meters. The gun's tremendous performance enabled Nashorn to engage enemy tanks while they still were out of range themselves.
The Hornisse/Nashorn made its debut during the Battle of Kursk, where they performed well. The ability to engage the enemy at long distances negated the disadvantages of light armour and a high profile and revealed the weapon was suited to the open, flat landscape of much of Russia. Like all German vehicles armed with Pak 43 or Kwk 43, Nashorn could punch a hole in the front plating of any Allied armored vehicle.
[edit] Nashorn in Action
The most notable Nashorn ace was platoon commander of 1st company of sPzJagAbt 519, Junior Lieutenant (later Captain) Albert Ernst. He later commanded the 1st company of sPzJagAbt 512 (equipped with Jagdtigers). On December 23rd of 1943, he destroyed some 14 Soviet tanks in a single day using only 21 rounds of ammunition. The engagement took place near Vitebsk and Albert Ernst received a nickname "Tiger of Vitebsk". In December of 1943, Ernst destroyed total of 19 enemy tanks and on January 22nd of 1944, he was awarded the Knight's Cross.
It is reported that in early March of 1945, Lieutenant Beckmann from sPzJagAbt 88 destroyed Soviet IS-2 at the range of 4600 meters near Marzdorf.
[edit] Technical data
- Manufacturer: Deutsche-Eisenwerke AG, in Teplitz-Schönau
- Crew: 4-5
- Combat weight: 24 metric tons
- Dimensions
- Length (with gun): 8.44 m
- Length (without gun): 7.26 m
- Width: 2.95 m, 3.176 m with 'Ostketten' tracks
- Height: 2.65 m
- Ground clearance: 0.4 m
- Road speed: 42 km/h
- Road range: 235 km
- Tracks: 61/400/120 kg
- Type: single pin
- Width: 400 mm
- Ground contact length: 3.80 m
- Shoes(links)/track: 104
- Ground pressure: 0.85 kg/cm²
- Suspension: leaf spring
- Shock absorbers: no
- Vertical obstacle: 0.6 m
- Trench: 2.3 m
- Fording: 0.8 m
- Engine: Maybach HL 120 TRM Ausf. A
- Type: V-12 60 deg
- Horsepower: 300 @ 3000 rpm
- Displacement: 11,867 l
- Comression ratio: 6.2-6.5:1
- Fuel: gasoline
- Fuel consumption (road): 2 l/km
- Fuel capacity: 470 l (two fuel tanks)
- Transmission: ZF (Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AG) SSG 77 Aphon
- Type: synchromesh manual
- Gears: 6/1
- Steering: Daimler-Benz/Wilson clutch/brake
- Clutch: Fichtel & Sachs La 120 HDA dry, triple disc
- Armament
- Main gun: 88 mm Pak 43/1
- Type: Anti-tank gun
- Caliber: 88 mm
- Barrel length: 71 calibers
- Breech: semiautomatic, horizontal sliding block
- Traverse: manual, +/-15°
- Elevation: manual, +20/-5°
- Rounds carried: 24-40
- one 7.92 x 57 mm MG-34 or MG-42 machine-gun carried inside the vehicle
- appr. 600 rounds
- Primary gun sight: Sfl. Z. F. 1a (Selbstfahrlafetten-Zielfernrohr)
- Magnification: 5x
- Field of view: 8°
- Indirect fire sight: Aushilfsrichtmittel 38
- Magnification: 3x
- Field of view: 10°
- Radio: FuG Spr. f
[edit] External links
| 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 | sIG 33 | Wurfrahmen 40 | |
| 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 | |
| Half-tracks | Armored cars |
| SdKfz 4 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 250 | 251 | 252 | 253 | 254 | Sdkfz 221/22/23 | Sdkfz 231/32/34/63 |
| Self propelled anti-aircraft | |
| Flakpanzer IV: Möbelwagen, Wirbelwind, Ostwind, Kugelblitz | Gepard | |
| Prototypes | |
| Maus | E- series | Panther II | Waffenträger | Neubaufahrzeug | |
| Proposed designs | |
| Panzer VII 'Löwe' | |
| German armored fighting vehicle production during World War II | |
