dirkpitt289
Master Sergeant
User Name: Dirkpitt289
Name: Dirk Pitt
Category: Beginner
Kit: Dragon
Scale:1/72
Accessories: To be determined
Well after looking at the other people starting up I decided I would give it a go. I haven't build a tank since I was a kid so this should be interesting.
My entry will be the Sd.Kfz184 Ferdinand as seen below.
Characteristics of the "Ferdinand," a German self-propelled gun
General
Weight 70-72 tons
Length 22 feet, 11 3/4 in
Height 9 feet, 10 in
Width 11 feet, 5 3/4 in
Track width 2 feet, 5 1/2 in
Clearance 1 foot, 7 1/2 in
Armor
Hull
Front 7.87 in
Sides (vertical) 6.29 in
Rear 4.33 in
Belly 1.57 in
Fighting Compartment
Front (vertical) 7.87 in
Sides (sloping) 3.74 in
Rear (sloping) 3.34 in
Roof 1.57 in
Mantlet plate 4.33 in
Armament
One 88-mm super-long gun fitted with muzzle brake.
One MG 42.
Ammunition carried
70-90 rounds for gun
2,000 rounds for MG.
Suspension
Six independently sprung bogies, diameter 2 feet, 7 1/2 inches; evenly spaced and not overlapping.
Performance
Maximum speed 12 1/2 mph
Cruising speed 6-9 mph
Maximum gradient 30°
Drive
Two Maybach motors, HL-120 TRM 300 hp each.
Crew
Total, six: commanding officer of ordnance--lieutenant (tank or artillery), gunner, mechanic-driver, radio operator, two loaders.
Brief History
What do the German Tiger tank and Ferdinand tank destroyer have in common?
Both vehicles had their origins in a competition to become Germany's premier heavy battle tank of WWII. Two designs were submitted for Hitler's consideration in April 1942, one by Henschel and one by Porsche. The Henschel design won the competition and soon gained infamy as the Tiger I tank. The Porsche design, on the other hand, was produced in limited numbers and modified into a tank destroyer (named the "Ferdinand" in honor of its creator, Ferdinand Porsche) that by most accounts was a bitter disappointment.
Ferdinands first saw action in Russia during the Battle of Kursk in July 1943. Although the Ferdinand was a successful tank destroyer when engaging targets at long range, its complete lack of defensive armament made it extremely vulnerable to close-in infantry attacks. According to Squadron's "Tiger in Action", Ferdinand crews sometimes resorted to firing an MG 42 machine gun down the barrel of the main gun to counter infantry attacks!
Following the German defeat at Kursk, surviving Ferdinands were returned to Germany and retrofitted with a commander's cupola and a bow mounted MG 34 machine gun for protection. These vehicles were redesignated as "Elefants" for service in Italy during 1944. Once again, however, the Sd.Kfz. 184 Ferdinand/Elefant was not up to the task and suffered heavy losses.
I will post more photos later when I get home
Name: Dirk Pitt
Category: Beginner
Kit: Dragon
Scale:1/72
Accessories: To be determined
Well after looking at the other people starting up I decided I would give it a go. I haven't build a tank since I was a kid so this should be interesting.
My entry will be the Sd.Kfz184 Ferdinand as seen below.
Characteristics of the "Ferdinand," a German self-propelled gun
General
Weight 70-72 tons
Length 22 feet, 11 3/4 in
Height 9 feet, 10 in
Width 11 feet, 5 3/4 in
Track width 2 feet, 5 1/2 in
Clearance 1 foot, 7 1/2 in
Armor
Hull
Front 7.87 in
Sides (vertical) 6.29 in
Rear 4.33 in
Belly 1.57 in
Fighting Compartment
Front (vertical) 7.87 in
Sides (sloping) 3.74 in
Rear (sloping) 3.34 in
Roof 1.57 in
Mantlet plate 4.33 in
Armament
One 88-mm super-long gun fitted with muzzle brake.
One MG 42.
Ammunition carried
70-90 rounds for gun
2,000 rounds for MG.
Suspension
Six independently sprung bogies, diameter 2 feet, 7 1/2 inches; evenly spaced and not overlapping.
Performance
Maximum speed 12 1/2 mph
Cruising speed 6-9 mph
Maximum gradient 30°
Drive
Two Maybach motors, HL-120 TRM 300 hp each.
Crew
Total, six: commanding officer of ordnance--lieutenant (tank or artillery), gunner, mechanic-driver, radio operator, two loaders.
Brief History
What do the German Tiger tank and Ferdinand tank destroyer have in common?
Both vehicles had their origins in a competition to become Germany's premier heavy battle tank of WWII. Two designs were submitted for Hitler's consideration in April 1942, one by Henschel and one by Porsche. The Henschel design won the competition and soon gained infamy as the Tiger I tank. The Porsche design, on the other hand, was produced in limited numbers and modified into a tank destroyer (named the "Ferdinand" in honor of its creator, Ferdinand Porsche) that by most accounts was a bitter disappointment.
Ferdinands first saw action in Russia during the Battle of Kursk in July 1943. Although the Ferdinand was a successful tank destroyer when engaging targets at long range, its complete lack of defensive armament made it extremely vulnerable to close-in infantry attacks. According to Squadron's "Tiger in Action", Ferdinand crews sometimes resorted to firing an MG 42 machine gun down the barrel of the main gun to counter infantry attacks!
Following the German defeat at Kursk, surviving Ferdinands were returned to Germany and retrofitted with a commander's cupola and a bow mounted MG 34 machine gun for protection. These vehicles were redesignated as "Elefants" for service in Italy during 1944. Once again, however, the Sd.Kfz. 184 Ferdinand/Elefant was not up to the task and suffered heavy losses.
I will post more photos later when I get home
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