"Elephant" takes place between the weakly armored "Skorospelka" like "Nashorn" and the most successful fighter-tank destroyer "jagdpanther", "Panther" is created on the base of the tank. Developed on the basis of "Tiger" design "Porsche" (It was originally called "Ferdinand", on behalf of the creator - Ferdinand Porsche), ACS "Elephant" (elephant) It became one of the first armored fighting vehicles with long-barreled 88-mm anti-aircraft gun. Complete index of this tool is that: Cancer 43/2 L/71, it can be concluded, that the length of the gun barrel is 71 caliber (that is, the length of its 88-mm x 71).
Video German SAU "Elephant" («Ferdinand»)
Structurally, the building "Ferdinand" has remained the same, as the body "Tiger" Porsche, Only bolts were hung in front of a 100-mm armor plates, which increased the overall thickness of the frontal armor protection to 200 mm. "Elephant" equipped with two engines "Maibach" and has a plurality of electrical components, including electrical transmission and steering gear, Serves two electric motors. All this made self-propelled gun is very complicated and unreliable in operation. In February 1943 g. Hitler ordered the steepest way to put all the components 90 these ACS, which were given SdKfz index 184. Order of the Fuhrer failed by reducing test times by May 1943 city, just as, when the Germans were preparing for a new offensive on the Eastern Front. Many of the "Elephant" fought in the Kursk Bulge, which have demonstrated the ability to destroy any Soviet tanks. However, self-propelled guns lacked terrain on rugged terrain, and the lack of defensive armament made them vulnerable to anti-tank infantry troops, armed magnetic mines, RPGs and the like means VET. If the battle was fought at short distances, support infantry "Elephant" was absolutely necessary. At the end 1943 g. 48 ACS survivors were finalized at the factory, in particular, equipped exchange machine gun MG 34, commander's hatches and coated antimagnetic. Then "Elephanta" were transferred to Italian front, where off-road conditions and lack of spare parts delivered to the Germans a lot of trouble. Most of the crews in the end or just throwing them, or blown up before, how to throw.
The performance characteristics of the ACS "Elephant"
| The main armament | 88-mm cannon Cancer 43/2 |
| auxiliary armament | gun MG 34 |
| combat weight | 29 t |
| Road speed | 20 kmh |
| Cruising on the highway | 153 km |
| Crew | six persons |
Foto SAU "Elefant" («Ferdinand»)
