KUR010 Ferdinand #501 (1 Viewer)

[tmanthegreat]

So based on Hilary Doyle’s research as relayed by Hunter Rose and Mastercom10 above, basically 1 Ferdinand was lost for every 12-13 Soviet tank destroyed in just the Battle of Kursk alone - not counting all the other battles and theaters in which the Ferdinand/Elefant saw service between August 1943-May 1945.

That is a very impressive figure, and the reason why many sources argue that the Ferdinand/Elefant was actually one of the most successful tank destroyers of the war in terms of kills per number of vehicles lost. A fact all the more amazing when accounting for the limited production numbers and various mechanical/design issues of the vehicle.

 

[wayne556517]

For the history of the Ferdinand, it always gets a bad wrap for poor performance at Kursk. But the reality was a little different. Hilary Louis Dole gave an excellent synopsis.

Basically, he said the Ferdinand’s effectiveness came down to the tactics of which unit employed it . The s.Pz.Jg.Abt 653 was previously an experienced Stug unit, and used the same tactics of using good concealment and firing positions, attacking from ambush as much as possible. Consequently, they were very effective.

On the other hand, he 654th was previously a Panzerjaeger unit, and the Ferdinand was their first experience with armor. The 654th felt the new Ferdinand was impervious, and drove it around the battlefield as such, treating it like an unstoppable tank and generally using poor tactics. They suffered much higher losses and were less effective as a result.

Yeah, have always thought if this was used as you described, it would have done some damage.

 

[Hunter Rose]

So based on Hilary Doyle’s research as relayed by Hunter Rose and Mastercom10 above, basically 1 Ferdinand was lost for every 12-13 Soviet tank destroyed in just the Battle of Kursk alone - not counting all the other battles and theaters in which the Ferdinand/Elefant saw service between August 1943-May 1945.

That is a very impressive figure, and the reason why many sources argue that the Ferdinand/Elefant was actually one of the most successful tank destroyers of the war in terms of kills per number of vehicles lost. A fact all the more amazing when accounting for the limited production numbers and various mechanical/design issues of the vehicle.

From Kursk to November 1943, s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 claimed 320 tanks killed from for the loss of 13 Ferdinands, or a 24/1 kill ratio.

653rd was very successful, better than most Tiger units.