German Jagdtiger Heavy Tank Destroyer Sd.Kfz.186

Jagdtiger 305058 code X7 produced with the Henschel-type suspension. Abandoned intact in Abernetphen, near Siegen, Germany, 1945. It was from the 2/schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 512. (Colorized with Colorize.cc; colors and details may not be accurate.)

 

The Jagdtiger ("Hunting Tiger"; officially designated Panzerjäger Tiger Ausf. B is a German casemate-type heavy tank destroyer (Jagdpanzer) of World War II. It was built upon the slightly lengthened chassis of a Tiger II. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz. 186.

The 72-tonne Jagdtiger was the heaviest armored fighting vehicle (AFV) used operationally by any nation in World War II and the heaviest combat vehicle of any type to be produced during the conflict. It was armed with a 12.8 cm Pak 44 L/55 main gun which could out-range and defeat any AFV fielded by the Allied forces.

It saw brief service in small numbers from late 1944 until the end of the war on both the Western and Eastern Front. Although 150 were ordered, only around 80 were produced. Due to an excessive weight and an underpowered drivetrain system, the Jagdtiger was plagued with mobility and mechanical problems. While on some occasions the Jagdtiger managed to destroy a number of Allied tanks over long distances from good ambush positions, the effort to produce and maintain them and their mechanical breakdowns made them a costly overall failure. Three Jagdtigers survive in museums.

Development

With the success of the StuG III, Marder I, Marder II, and Marder III Panzerjäger, the military leadership of Nazi Germany decided to use the chassis of existing armored fighting vehicles as the basis for self-propelled guns (serving as assault guns and tank destroyers). German tank destroyers of World War II used fixed casemates instead of fully rotatable turrets to significantly reduce the cost, weight, and materials necessary for mounting large-caliber guns.

In early 1942, a request was made by the Army General Staff to mount a 128 mm gun on a self-propelled armored chassis. Firing tests of the 128 mm gun showed it to have a high percentage of hits; smaller caliber guns, such as the ubiquitous 88 mm and the slightly larger 105 mm, were also tested.

By early 1943, a decision was made to install a 128 mm gun on either a Panther or Tiger I chassis as a heavy assault gun. The Panther chassis was considered unsuitable after a wooden mockup of the design was constructed. On 20 October 1943, another wooden mockup was constructed on a Tiger II heavy tank chassis, and presented to Hitler in East Prussia. Two prototypes were produced: One was a version fitted with the eight-roadwheel Porsche suspension system (serial number 305001) and another version was equipped with the Henschel nine-overlapping roadwheel suspension system (serial number 305002), as used on the main-production Tiger IIs constructed by Henschel. They were completed in February 1944. It was originally designated as Jagdpanzer VI but was later renamed as the Jagdtiger and received the Sd.Kfz. 186 designation as its inventory ordnance number.

Design

The Jagdtiger was a logical extension of the creation of Jagdpanzer designs from tank designs, such as the Jagdpanzer IV or the Jagdpanther from the Panzer IV and Panther tanks respectively, with a fully armored and enclosed casemate-style fighting compartment. The Jagdtiger used a boxy superstructure, with its sides integral with the hull sides, on top of a lengthened Tiger II chassis. Unlike the Jagdpanther, the Jagdtiger's casemate design did not extend its glacis plate upwards in one piece to the full height of the casemate's "roof" – it used a separate forward plate to form its casemate structure atop the hull roof, and mount its anti-tank gun. The resulting vehicle featured very heavy armor. It had 250 mm (9.8 in) armor on the front of the casemate and 150 mm (5.9 in) on the glacis plate.

As main armament, the vehicle mounted the 128 mm (5.0 in) Panzerjägerkanone 44 gun, 55 calibers in length. A 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 34 machine gun was mounted in the glacis plate of the hull. The main gun mount had a limited traverse of only ±10 degrees; the entire vehicle had to be maneuvered in order to aim outside this narrow field of fire. The main gun was sighted with a Winkelzielfernrohr 2/1 optic while the hull machine gun was sighted with a Kugelzielfernrohr 2 optic. The main gun used two-part ammunition, which meant that the projectile and its propellant charge were loaded into the breech separately, necessitating the need for two loaders. Additional armament consisted of a 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 42 machine gun on a Fliegerdrehstütze 36 mount which could be installed on the engine deck for anti-aircraft purposes and a Nahverteidigungswaffe launcher mounted on the roof of the casemate which was used for close defense against infantry.

The Jagdtiger suffered from a variety of mechanical and technical problems due to its immense weight and under-powered engine. The vehicle had frequent breakdowns; ultimately more Jagdtigers were lost to mechanical problems or lack of fuel than to enemy action.

Production

One hundred and fifty Jagdtigers were initially ordered but only between 70 and 85 were produced at the Nibelungenwerke at St. Valentin, from July 1944 to May 1945. Eleven of them, serial numbers 305001 and 305003 to 305012, were produced with the Porsche suspension (with eight road wheels per side); all the rest used the Henschel suspension with nine road wheels per side.

Important parts such as the tub, superstructure and drive wheels were supplied by the Eisenwerke Oberdonau. Details and production locations were known to the Allies through the resistance group around the later executed priest Heinrich Maier. Prisoners from the St. Valentin concentration camp were used to build the tank.

Production figures vary depending on source and other factors such as if prototypes are included and if those made after VE Day are included: approximately 48 from July 1944 to the end of December 1944; 36 from January to April 1945, serial numbers from 305001 to 305088.

Production History by Serial Number
Date	Number Produced	Serial Number
February 1944	2	305001–305002
July 1944	3	305003–305005
August 1944	3	305006–305008
September 1944	8	305009–305016
October 1944	9	305017–305025
November 1944	6	305026–305031
December 1944	20	305032–305051
January 1945	10	305052–305061
February 1945	13	305062–305074
March 1945	3	305075–305077
April 1945	7	305078–305084
May 1945	4	305085–305088

After serial number 305011 (September 1944), no Zimmerit anti-magnetic paste was factory applied.

General Information

Type: Heavy tank destroyer

Place of origin: Nazi Germany

Manufacturer: Nibelungenwerke (Steyr-Daimler-Puch)

Produced: 1944–1945

Number built: 70–88

Specifications

Mass: 71.7 tonnes (158,000 lb) (Henschel-suspension variant)

Length: 10.65 m (34 ft 11 in) including gun

Width: 3.6 m (11 ft 10 in)

Height: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)

Crew: 6 (commander, gunner, loader, assistant loader, driver, assistant driver)

Armor:      

Casemate: 250 mm (9.84 in)

Hull: 150 mm (5.91 in)

Side: 80 mm (3.15 in)

Rear: 80 mm (3.15 in)

Main armament: 1 × 12.8 cm Pak 44 L/55

Secondary armament: 1 × 7.92 mm MG 34 (some later-built versions equipped with a single MG 42 anti-aircraft machine gun-mount at the vehicle's rear)

Engine: V-12 Maybach HL230 P30 600 hp(M) (591 hp(I), 441 kW)

Power/weight: 8 hp(M) (5.7 kW) / tonne

Suspension: Torsion bar

Fuel capacity: 860 L

Operational range:

Road: 120 km (75 mi)

Off road: 80 km (50 mi)

Maximum speed: 34 km/h (21 mph)

Combat History

Only two heavy anti-tank battalions (schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung), numbered the 512th and 653rd, were equipped with Jagdtigers, with the first vehicles reaching the units in September 1944. About 20% were lost in combat, with most destroyed by their crews when abandoned because of breakdowns or lack of fuel.

The first Jagdtiger lost in combat was during the failed Operation Nordwind offensive in France in 1945. Despite its heavy armor, this Jagdtiger was lost to American infantry using a bazooka, which at the time was considered ineffective against such a massive vehicle.

Tiger I tank ace Otto Carius commanded the second of three companies of Jagdtigers in s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 512. His postwar memoir Tigers in the Mud provides a history of the 10 Jagdtigers under his command. He said the Jagdtigers were not utilized to their potential due to factors including Allied air supremacy making it difficult to maneuver and the heavy gun needing to be re-calibrated after traveling off-road even short distances. This was attributed to the eight-wheel Porsche suspension proving unfit for off-road terrain, causing excessive vibrations. The nine-wheel Henschel suspension system from the King Tiger was thought to suffer less from this problem. It is unknown which type was fitted to the Jagdtigers Carius commanded. The vehicle was slow, having the same engine as the already-underpowered Tiger I and Tiger II. The vehicles' transmissions and differentials broke down easily because the whole 72-tonne vehicle needed to rotate for the gun's traverse. The enormous 128 mm main-gun had to be locked down during the vehicle's maneuvers, otherwise its mounting-brackets would wear out too much for accurate firing afterwards. This meant a crew-member had to exit the vehicle in combat and unlock the gun from its frontally mounted gun travel-lock before firing. Carius recorded that, in combat, a 128 mm projectile went through the walls of a house and destroyed an American tank behind it.

Insufficient training of vehicle crews and their poor morale during the last stage of the war were the biggest problems for Jagdtiger crewmen under Carius's command. At the Ruhr Pocket, two Jagdtiger commanders failed to attack an American armored column about 1.5 km (1 mile) away in broad daylight for fear of attracting an Allied air attack, even though the Jagdtigers were well-camouflaged. Both vehicles broke down while hurriedly withdrawing through fear of the supposed air attack that did not materialize and one was then subsequently destroyed by its crew. To prevent such a disaster, at Siegen, Carius himself dug in his command vehicle on high ground. An approaching American armored column avoided his ambush because nearby German civilians warned them of it. Later, one of his vehicles fell into a bomb crater at night and was disabled while another was lost to a Panzerfaust attack by friendly Volkssturm militia troops who had never seen a Jagdtiger before and mistook it for an Allied vehicle.

Near Unna, one Jagdtiger climbed a hill to attack five American tanks 600 meters away, leading to two withdrawing and the other three opening fire. The Jagdtiger took several hits but none of the American projectiles could penetrate the 250 mm (9.8 in) thick frontal armor of the vehicle's casemate. However, the inexperienced German commander lost his nerve and turned around instead of backing down, thus exposing the thinner side armor, which was penetrated and all six crew members killed. Carius wrote that the crews were not trained or experienced enough to keep their thick frontal armor facing the enemy in combat.

When unable to escape the Ruhr Pocket, Carius ordered the guns of the remaining Jagdtigers destroyed to prevent intact vehicles falling into Allied hands and then surrendered to American forces. The 10 Jagdtigers of the 2nd Company of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 512 destroyed one American tank for one Jagdtiger lost to combat, one lost to friendly fire, and eight others lost to mechanical breakdown or destruction by their own crews to prevent capture by enemy forces.

On 17 January 1945, two Jagdtigers used by the Heer's XIV Corps engaged a line of bunkers in support of assaulting infantry near Auenheim. On 18 January, they attacked four secure bunkers at a range of 1,000 meters. The armored cupola of one bunker burned out after two shots. A Sherman attacking in a counter-thrust was set afire by explosive shells. The two Jagdtigers survived the fight, having fired 46 explosive shells and 10 anti-tank shells.

In April 1945, s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 512 saw a great deal of action, especially on 9 April, where the 1st Company engaged an Allied column of Sherman tanks and trucks from hull-down positions and destroyed 11 tanks and over 30 unarmored or lightly armored targets, with some of the enemy tanks knocked out from a distance of more than 4,000 m. The unit lost one Jagdtiger in this incident, after Allied Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bombers appeared. During the next couple of days, the 1st Company destroyed a further five Sherman tanks before surrendering to US troops at Iserlohn. Meanwhile, the 2nd Company fought on with little gain. On 15 April 1945, the unit also surrendered at Schillerplatz in Iserlohn.

Survivors

Three Jagdtigers survive, in US, UK and Russian museums:

Jagdtiger (serial number 305004): The Tank Museum in England. One of the 11 Porsche–designed suspension-equipped variants, it was captured by British troops in April 1945 near the armor proving ground at Sennelager, Germany, where it was undergoing testing and trials. The third wheel-station (paired-wheel bogie) on the left side is missing. Zimmerit was applied to approximately 2 meters high on the superstructure and the German Balkenkreuz was painted in the mid-section of the vehicle's casemate's side. The earlier 18-tooth drive-sprocket version is found on this vehicle (later vehicles had 9-tooth drive sprockets).

Jagdtiger (serial number 305020): U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection, Fort Benning, Georgia. It was produced in October 1944 and was attached to the 3rd Company of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653, bearing the vehicle-number of 331. It was captured by American troops near Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Germany in March 1945. Shell damage is still visible on the gun mantlet, glacis plate and lower-nose armor. This vehicle used the later-version nine-tooth drive sprockets for use with the 'contact shoe' and 'connector link'-style continuous track it shared with the Tiger II on which it was based.

Jagdtiger (serial number 305083): Kubinka Tank Museum near Moscow. This vehicle, equipped with the standard Henschel-built running gear, was acquired by Soviet forces when a Kampfgruppe (battle-group) of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 equipped with four Jagdtigers surrendered to the Red Army in Amstetten, Austria on 5 May 1945. This Jagdtiger, not coated with Zimmerit, was acquired in mint condition with complete side skirts and the later nine-tooth drive sprockets. Twelve hooks on both sides of the superstructure were designed to carry six pairs of track-links (the spare track-links are now missing on this vehicle). All of the Jagdtiger's repair-tools are also missing, but it still retains the MG 42 anti-aircraft gun mount on the rear engine-deck (recent photographs show that this specific machine gun-mount has since been removed, leaving only its mounting-base).

Variants

Aside from the 11 early vehicles with a Porsche suspension, the only variant developed was the Sd.Kfz.185.

8.8 cm PaK 43 Jagdtiger

This variant used the 8.8 cm Pak 43 cannon instead of the 12.8 cm Pak 44 due to shortages of the latter weapon. The variant did not enter production.

Bibliography

Bishop, Chris (2002), The encyclopedia of weapons of World War II, New York: MetroBooks.

Carius, Otto (2003). Tigers in the Mud. Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books.

Chamberlain, Peter; Doyle, Hilary L (1999). Encyclopedia of German tanks of World War Two. London: Arms & Armour.

Devey, Andrew (1999). Jagdtiger : the most powerful armored fighting vehicle of World War II. Vol. 2. Operational history. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Pub.

Duske, Heiner F; Greenland, Tony; Schulz, Frank (1996), 1. Jagdtiger (SD. KFZ. 186), Nuts & Bolts.

Ledwoch, Janusz (1999). Jagdpanther, Jagdtiger (in Polish). Warszawa: Militaria.

Pirker, Peter (2012). Suberversion deutscher Herrschaft. Der britische Geheimdienst SOE und Österreich. Zeitgeschichte im Kontext. Vol. 6. Göttingen: V & R Unipress.

Schneider, Wolfgang (1990). Elefant Jagdtiger Sturmtiger : rarities of the tiger family. West Chester, Pa: Schiffer.

Spielberger, Walter (2007). Heavy Jagdpanzer. Atgeln, Pennsylvania: Schiffer.

512th Heavy Panzerjäger Battalion

The 512th Heavy Panzerjäger Battalion (German: Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 512) was an independent tank destroyer battalion of the German Wehrmacht during World War II.

Formed and organized during the winter of 1944 to 1945, it was active in February. It was one of only two battalions equipped with Jagdtiger tank destroyers, and served exclusively on the Western Front.

Formation

The battalion was formed at Döllersheim and deployment preparations were ordered on 15 February 1945. The 512th was formed from elements of the veteran 424th Heavy Panzer Battalion. The 424th, previously numbered the 501st, had been one of the first German heavy tank battalions to be formed, and had fought in Africa and on the Eastern Front.

It received its first Jagdtigers on 16 February; by 13 March, it had been brought up to a strength of 20 vehicles in two companies, with the 3rd Company made up of personnel transferred from the 511th Heavy Panzer Battalion.

The Jagdtiger was the heaviest armored fighting vehicle produced during the war, mounting a 128 mm main gun inside a 79-tonne chassis. It was only produced in very small numbers - around 80 were built - and would only be issued to two units; the 512th and the 653rd Heavy Panzerjäger Battalion.

Operations

The commander of the unit's second company was Oberleutnant (Lieutenant) Otto Carius, one of the most successful German tank commanders of the war.

On 10 March 1945, the battalion was assigned to LIII Corps and committed to the Battle of Remagen with the 653rd Heavy Panzerjäger Battalion. Illustrating the difficulties German forces faced in getting their heavy armor to the front, it took ten days to bring the first five Jagdtigers of the 512th Heavy Panzerjäger Battalion's 2nd Company to the front due to communications breakdowns and the constantly-worrying threat from Allied fighter-bombers. The 1st Company lost four Jagdtigers in rearguard combat actions, three of which were due to mechanical breakdowns rather than from enemy action.

They finally engaged the attacking American armor around Herborn to prevent American armor from fully exploiting the capture of the Remagen bridgehead. Among the German casualties was Leutnant Sepp Tarlach's machine belonging to the second platoon of the 1st Company, which was abandoned in Obernetphen and subsequently captured. On 9 April, the US 750th Tank Battalion claimed another near Offensen which was later photographed after being pushed off a road to clear the path ahead. A catastrophic internal explosion ripped the vehicle's roof off. The battalion then fought its last battle near Paderborn against the 3rd Armored Division in mid-April 1945 before finally capitulating to US forces. At least one vehicle of the battalion was lost to combat action by the US 3rd Armored Division on 1 April.

In May 1945, the short-lived fighting unit surrendered to the US 99th Infantry Division in Iserlohn. The German surrender was filmed and photographed, in which the Jagdtigers and other military vehicles as well as their crews were shown forming up in the town square for Allied inspection prior to being disarmed and passing into captivity.

Sources

Zaloga, Steven (2015). Armored Champion: The Top Tanks of World War II. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books.

Wilbeck, Christopher (2004). Sledgehammers: Strengths and Flaws of Tiger Tank Battalions in World War II. The Aberjona Press, U.S.A.

Forty, George (2008). Tiger Tank Battalions in World War II. Zenith Press.

653rd Heavy Panzerjäger Battalion

The 653rd Heavy Panzerjäger Battalion (German: Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 653) was a tank destroyer unit of the German Wehrmacht active during World War II. It was equipped with Ferdinand and later Jagdtiger tank destroyers. Elements of the battalion served on the Eastern, Western, and Italian fronts between 1943 and 1945.

Eastern Front

The battalion was formed on 1 April 1943, by the re-designation of the 197th Sturmgeschütz Battalion.  The latter was an assault gun battalion which had been formed in 1940, later seeing service during the Invasion of Yugoslavia and on the Eastern Front. 

The 653rd was initially equipped with Ferdinand panzerjäger, which mounted a powerful 88 mm gun. The first vehicles arrived in May. The battalion was 1,000 men strong. The crews trained for several weeks on the vehicles at the Nibelungenwerke factory in Austria. Crews even assisted with the final assembly. According to documents at the German Federal Archives, a fully equipped battalion was assigned 45 Ferdinands but only 40 were delivered before its first operation. General Heinz Guderian visited the battalion and observed field exercises. By 4 July 1943 the unit had 45 Ferdinands (out of a total of 90 produced) and small contingent of other vehicles. Major Heinrich Steinwachs was given command of the battalion, which included nine staff officers and a maintenance unit plus three companies of combat personnel. 

It was assigned to the XXXXI Panzer Corps, and fought at the Battle of Kursk in July 1943 and the subsequent Soviet counterattack. From the 5 to 27 July German archives recorded the 653rd claimed 320 tanks and self-propelled guns and a large number of anti-tank guns and motor vehicles for 24 killed in action, 126 wounded and 13 vehicles destroyed. 

A situation report sent by the commanding officer to the headquarters of the 2nd Panzer Army on 24 July reported the status of the unit. It had 45 Ferdinand with 25 operational and 41 Sturmpanzer with 18 of those combat ready. Steinwachs reported that the operational vehicles were "on their last legs" and recommended their withdrawal and the unit to be disbanded and dispersed to maintenance units. He suggested forming some small groups 5 to 8 kilometers behind the front to act as a local mobile reserve, to be reinforced via the maintenance company when necessary. 

In August, it fought and around Nikopol during the Battle of the Dnieper as the 1st battalion of the 656th Regiment. On 25 November 1943 the 653rd battalion claimed its 600th tank destroyed; 44 that day. A Leutnant Kreschmer was credited with 21. 

Italian Theater

After heavy losses in Ukraine, the battalion was withdrawn to Vienna to refit. Starting on 2 January 1944 until April, the tank destroyers received upgrades—the most externally visible ones being 1) the addition of Zimmerit anti-magnetic paste, 2) an upgraded commander's cupola, 3) re-designed armored engine grates and 4) an MG34 station to the right front of the hull. The 1st Company was issued the first 11 completed vehicles and was sent south to Italy where it fought at the Battle of Anzio in February 1944. The 2nd and 3rd companies were equipped with 30 new vehicles in April and sent to the Eastern Front, where they were attached to the XXIV Panzer Corps.

By August, the 2nd and 3rd were reduced to twelve vehicles between them; these were withdrawn to refit in Kraków, where they were combined into the 2nd Company. It remained on the Eastern Front, as part of 17th Army, and was redesignated the 614th Heavy Panzerjäger Company. It would see out the rest of the war fighting the Soviet Army, with two Elefants surviving until the Battle of Berlin in May 1945.

Western Front

The 3rd Company, meanwhile, returned west to rejoin the 1st Company, which had withdrawn to Vienna with only four operational Elefants. In September, both companies were issued with newly-fielded Jagdtiger heavy tank destroyers. The Jagdtiger was the heaviest armored fighting vehicle produced during the war, mounting a 12.8 cm Pak 44 main gun on a 72-tonne chassis. However, it was severely underpowered, having been equipped with an engine (Maybach HL230) originally designed for the 57-tonne Tiger I and which had already been found significantly inadequate even for that vehicle. It was only produced in very small numbers - around 80 were ever built - and the few manufactured would only be issued to two units, the 653rd and the 512th Heavy Panzerjäger Battalion.

Once re-equipped, the battalion was again split up, with the 1st Company assigned to the 15th Army on the northern flank of the German Ardennes Offensive and the 3rd assigned to the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen to the south, where it would fight in Operation Nordwind in January. By February, the two companies had reunited at Landau in the Palatinate, and by the end of the month, they were reinforced to a strength of 41 Jagdtigers. In April, it fell back to Austria, from where it was to receive new vehicles from the Nibelungenwerke Factory, and finally reached its conclusion in the war under the command of Army Group Ostmark near Linz.

References

Münch, Karlheinz (2005). The Combat History of German Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 in World War II. Stackpole Books.

"schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 653". Lexikon der Wehrmacht.

 

Jagdtiger X7 305058. This is the B&W version of the colorized photo used at the beginning of this article.

 

A wooden mockup of the Jagdtiger presented to Adolf Hitler on 20 Oct 1943 at the troop training center at Ayrs, East Prussia, seen here behind the Italian medium tank Carro Armato P 26/40 with the periscopes missing.

 

Another view of the Italian P.26/40 and the full-size wooden mockup of the 12.8cm Panzerjäger> Behind it is a Tiger II with Henschel turret and on top of the hill is a wooden mockup of the Jagdpanther.

 

Wooden mockup of the 12.8cm Panzerjäger. The presence of the aiming spot lamp still on the roof indicates this photo was taken probably no later than 28 Sep 1943.

 

Jagdtiger Fgst.Nr. 305001, early vehicle with a Porsche suspension, 1944.

 

Prototype Jagdtiger with Porsche suspension at the Niebelungenwerke plant, Autumn 1943.

 

Jagdtiger Fgst.Nr. 305001, minus its armament and gun mantlet.

 

Jagdtiger 305001 in camouflage scheme.

 

Jagdtiger 305003 with Porsche suspension,  Nibelungenwerke, 1944.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 305003.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 305003.

 

Another view of  Jagdtiger 305003.

 

Another view of  Jagdtiger 305003.

 

Jagdtiger 305008 with Porsche suspension of 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 during derailment at Fallingsbostel. 

 

Jagdtiger on the assembly line.

 

Jagdtiger on the assembly line.

 

Drilling out the holes for the suspension and the boring mills in Workshop V at the Nibelungenwerke plant.  

 

View of Jagdtiger assembly line at the Nibelungenwerke at St. Valentin.

 

Jagdtiger assembly line in the Nibelungenwerke at St. Valentin, January 1945.

 

Two civilian workers pause while cleaning up the debris from an Allied air raid on the factory on 16 Oct 1944. A bomb hit damaged the near Jagdtiger; two additional Jagdtigers can be seen at left.

 

Another view of the bomb damaged chassis.

 

The roof of the Jagdtiger’s fighting compartment, looking towards the rear of the vehicle.

 

The Jagdtiger’s engine deck.

 

Overall view of the driver’s station in the same Jagdtiger.

 

The gearbox/steering box removed from the same Jagdtiger.

 

The MG 34 ball mount in the radio operator’s position.

 

Commander’s hatch on the front-right corner of the Jagdtiger with a fixed periscope and also a secondary hatch for the stereoscopic rangefinder.

 

Another view of the Jagdtiger’s roof looking towards the front of the vehicle.

 

Jagdtiger’s left-hand idler.

 

Close in view of the driver’s controls of the Jagdtiger in the previous photo.

 

The Jagdtiger’s 12.8-cm Panzerjägerkanone 44 (L/55), originally known as the Pak 44 but later changed to the Pak 80.

 

Another view of the Jagdtiger’s interior through the rear fighting compartment doors, showing the main gun and some of the ammo stowage racks.

 

A view of the Jagdtiger’s interior after the roof was unbolted and removed.

 

Another view of the inside of the Jagdtiger providing details of the main gun.

 

Stowage of ammunition inside the casemate of the Jagdtiger.   

 

Interior view of the commander’s scissor periscope on a Jagdtiger.

 

View of the breech block of the main gun of a Jagdtiger.

 

Another view of the breech block of the main gun of a Jagdtiger.

 

View of part of the firewall at the rear of a Jagdtiger.

 

Ammo stowage at the left rear of a Jagdtiger.

 

Air defense MG 42 on the rear deck of the captured Jagdtiger, Obernephen, Germany, 1945.

 

Interior of a Jagdtiger showing the machine gunner’s position, minus the weapon.

 

Left side of the Jagdtiger interior. Note the stowed MG 42 with separate bipod mount for deployment when the crew is deployed outside the vehicle. Also the stowage at left for the ammunition for the main gun.

 

A view of the left rear of a Jagdtiger’s gun mount.

 

Jagdtiger’s cartridge case stowage.

 

The Maybach engine that powered the Jagdtiger.

 

Another view of the Jagdtiger’s Maybach engine.

 

The first Jagdtiger produced with the Porsche suspension, seen here about ten months after production, now upgraded with later production features like six spare track hangers per side, reinforced travel lock, two handles per crew hatch, vertically striped camouflage scheme, etc.

 

Jagdtigers with the Porsche suspension being prepared for rail transport at Fallingbostel in 1944.

 

Jagdtiger 3050?? with crew member. (“Hans, move a bit to your left so I can get the vehicle number in the shot…”)

 

Heavily camouflaged Jagdtiger of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 being transported by rail to assembly areas in the Palatinate region in Germany.

 

Jagdtiger with extra riders surrendering to American forces. Note the GI guard riding on the engine deck. Also note the M4 medium tank in the background which appears to have wooden blanks attached to its hull sides for extra protection.

 

Jagdtiger code X5 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 512.

 

Jagdtiger 305058 code X7 produced with the Henschel-type suspension. Abandoned intact in Abernetphen, near Siegen, Germany, 1945. It was from the 2/schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 512.  

 

Another view of Jagdtiger X7 305058. 

 

Another view of Jagdtiger X7 305058.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger X7 305058.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger X7 305058.

 

Jagdtiger 102 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 102 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Civilians investigating Jagdtiger 102 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 102 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 with children playing on it. 

 

Jagdtiger 131 (131 = 1st company, 3rd platoon, 1st vehicle) from s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 (653rd Heavy Anti-Tank Battalion) in Schwetzingen, 30 March 1945.  

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 131 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 in Schwetzingen, 1945.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 131 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 in Schwetzingen, 1945.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 131 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 in Schwetzingen, 1945.

 

Jagdtiger 211 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 with the fighting compartment roof removed and laying against the vehicle in Illertissen, 1945.

 

Jagdtiger 224 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 at Iggelheim, 1945.

 

Jagdtiger 233 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Jagdtiger 234 of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Jagdtiger 234 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 with troops from the U.S. 36th Infantry Division in Soultz, France, 18 March 1945.  

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 234 of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 234 of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 234 of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 234 of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653. What appears to be the fronts of two American M20 armored cars are just barely visible behind the nearest building.

 

Another view of  Jagdtiger 234 of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Jagdtiger 301 with zimmerit of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Jagdtiger 314 track repair in Hurtgenwald in late 1944.

 

Jagdtiger 314 Fgst.Nr. 305012 from s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653, commander Feldwebel Erich Bonike. Note another Jagdtiger in the background.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 314 Fgst.Nr. 305012 from s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 314 Fgst.Nr. 305012 from s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Jagdtiger 321 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 512 in St. Anrdesberg area. 

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 321 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Jagdtiger 323 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

American GIs pose with Jagdtiger 323 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653. Note the German directional sign stuck in the gun barrel support.

 

Local children playing on Jagdtiger 323 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 323 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 showing the damage to the gun mantlet.

 

Two knocked out Jagdtigers; the one in the background is 331. Jagdtiger 331 was part of a detachment of three Jagdtigers (331, 323, 234) on Landauer Street in Neustadt, Germany on 23 Mar 1945. The crew of 331, running out of ammo drained all the fluid out of the recuperating cylinders and fired a final round, effectively knocking the gun out of battery. In the foreground is Jagdtiger 323.

 

Jagdtiger 331 305020 of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 and armored jeep, Neustadt, March 1945. The lead jeep has the placard of a one-star general above the right side of the front bumper, while the second jeep, also armored, has the placard of a two-star general in the same position.  While the armored panels replacing the front windshield, along with armored doors on the side, are  very similar on both jeeps, the second jeep has extended front fenders. Both have wire cutters attached to the front bumper.

 

The two generals in the armored jeeps have dismounted and are examining Jagdtiger 323, with Jagdtiger 321 visible in the background.  

 

Even thought Jagdtiger 321 isn’t in this photo, this is placed here to continue the series with the generals and their staffs. They are viewing Jagdtiger 323 whose right front track is visible in the lower right corner.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 331 of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 being used as a signpost following capture; note the boards hanging from the vehicle’s left front upper hull side. Note the damage to the gun mantlet, identical to the other photos of this vehicle. 

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 331 of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 331 of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 with an American M5 high speed tractor moving along the road.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 331 of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 331 of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653. 

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 331 of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 on the trailer of an American M25 Dragon Wagon tank transporter. As of 2024 it resides in a temperature-controlled storage area awaiting restoration at the U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection in Ft. Moore, Georgia. 

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 331 of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653. Note the ambush camouflage scheme.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 331 of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 331 of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653. Looks like there has been some airbrushing of the camouflage scheme on the side but the vehicle has the same damage to the gun mantlet as other photos of 331.

 

Jagdtiger 331 on a rail car after its arrival in the in the U.S. Note the wood block holding the gun up.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 331 on a rail car in the U.S.

 

Jagdtiger 331 on display outside at Aberdeen Proving Grounds during the 1950s with a bogus paint scheme. Painting the vehicles that were outside was done to help preserve them and no serious attempt was made to determine and apply an accurate scheme.

 

Jagdtiger 331 in storage at the U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection in Ft. Moore, Georgia.  

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 331 in storage at the U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection in Ft. Moore, Georgia. 

 

A hit from a 75mm gun on the Jagdtiger's lower front panel, visible in the previous photo almost in the center just below the glacis plate. 

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 331 in storage at the U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection in Ft. Moore, Georgia. 

 

Hits from a 76mm (left) and a 75mm (right) gun on Jagdtiger 331's glacis plate. These are at the lower left side of the glacis plate in the previous photo.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 331 in storage at the U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection in Ft. Moore, Georgia. 

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 331 in storage at the U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection in Ft. Moore, Georgia. Providing a close up of the damage to the gun mantlet from a 76mm shell.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 331 in storage at the U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection in Ft. Moore, Georgia. 

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 331 in storage at the U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection in Ft. Moore, Georgia showing damage from shellfire to the front upper left side. 

 

Jagdtiger 332, commanded by Feldwebel Heinz Telgmann of 3.Kompanie, s.Pz.Jg.Abt.653 strafed and immobilized by rocket-firing P-47 Thunderbolts of the Eighth Air Force near Morsbronn-les-Bains. The crew abandoned and blew up the tank and then returned to Rohrbach, Germany. March 1945. 

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 332 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 332 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 332 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 332 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 332 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653. 

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 332 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653. 

 

A destroyed German Jagdtiger tank of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 near Rimling, Lorraine (France), 28 February 1945. Original Caption: A Jagdtiger tank, a type previously reported on the Russian front, is examined by Captain Jack H. Rothschild, Kansas City, Missouri in the Rimling area, France. The tank was knocked out by a shell from an M36 tank destroyer from the 776th Tank Destroyer Battalion, 44th Infantry Division, 28 Feb 1945. (U.S. Army Signal Corps Photo 111-SC-201967)

 

Jagdtiger of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653. 

 

Another view of the same Jagdtiger of the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 after being attacked.

 

Destroyed Jagdtiger of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 512 in Osterode, 1945.

 

Jagdtiger.

 

Jagdtiger.

 

American troops examine a destroyed Jagdtiger with Porsche suspension.

 

Jagdtiger of the 3rd company of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 512 at St. Andreasberg, 1945.

 

An American soldier with binoculars perches on top of the front hull of a Jagdtiger of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 512.

 

Jagdtiger with its main gun barrel blown completely off the vehicle.

 

Jagdtiger.

 

This Porsche-suspension vehicle belonging to s.Pz.Abt.653 was destroyed by the crew setting off a charge internally which, in turn, detonated the ammunition completely destroying the vehicle. 

 

American servicemen posing with a Jagdtiger heavy tank destroyer. Note the Jagdpanther in the background.

 

Jagdtiger with Porsche suspension and zimmerit of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Jagdtiger of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 at Steinweiler Pfalz in 1945 being transported on rail car. 

 

Jagdtiger of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 destroyed by its crew outside Etterschlag, Germany, 1945.

 

Another view of the Jagdtiger of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 at Etterschlag.

 

Another view of the same Jagdtiger of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 at Etterschlag after it was completely destroyed. 

 

Jagdtiger of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 512 at Osterode in 1945. The white tape, being used here to provide notice for drivers of other vehicles and/or to mark it for saving or recovery, is normally used to mark cleared areas in mine fields.

 

Jagdtiger of 2 kompanie of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 512 at Bad Driburg, Germany, 1945. 

 

Jagdtiger that lost its left track, possibly to a mine, and apparently tried to back up and then got stuck in the ditch, thus the portion of the track seen in the foreground was left behind.

 

Jagdtiger abandoned and destroyed.

 

Three captured Jagdtigers from s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 512, Germany, 1945.

 

Destroyed Jagdtiger of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 near Gmund am Tegernsee.

 

Another view of destroyed Jagdtiger of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653 near Gmund am Tegernsee.

 

Destroyed Jagdtiger.

 

Destroyed Jagdtiger of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 512 at Offensen, 1945.

 

Another view of destroyed Jagdtiger of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 512 at Offensen, 1945. A Dodge WC-51 ¾-ton truck is on the road.

 

Destroyed Jagdtiger of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653.

 

Jagdtiger with two direct hits (circled) on its frontal armor.

 

A Jagdtiger collapsed a bridge that it was attempting to cross in Kolbermoor, Germany, April 1945.

 

Another view of the Jagdtiger in the river.

 

Seen at a later date, another view of the Jagdtiger in the river after the bridge collapsed beneath it.

 

Another view of the same Jagdtiger in the river.

 

The same Jagdtiger recovered from the river.

 

GIs “Pop” Eichers and Rod Grey pose for a photo next to the carcass of a Jagdtiger during their occupation duty in Germany in the summer of 1945. The tank destroyer was photographed in a field behind the Gasthof zur Post in Gauting, Germany where the two aforementioned men performed their duties. Note the tow cables attached to the Jagdtiger’s drive sprockets; the towing method done by U.S. forces when moving the vehicle.

 

Cutaway view of interior of fighting compartment of a Jagdtiger.

 

Cutaway view of Jagdtiger. 

 

Jagdtiger Porsche and Henschel variants.

 

Oberfahnrich Heinrich Rondorf - Jagdtiger at Bay by David Pentland. Iserlohn, Rhur, 15 Apr 1945. In the closing days of the war, U.S. forces surrounded the town of Iserlohn. Lying in wait, Oberfahnrich Rondorf destroyed three of the advancing Shermans, bringing his total score of enemy tanks destroyed to 106 - at least five of these in the giant Jagdtiger. This action was the last for Panzerjager Battalion 512, as it surrendered itself and the town the following day. (Cranston Fine Arts)

 

 

 

 

Jagdtiger 332, of the 3rd company 653rd schwere Panzerjäger Abteilung (Heavy Panzerjäger Battalion). Morsbronn-les-Bains 1945.

 

653. schwere-Panzerjäger-Abteilung - Germany, March 1945.

 

Experimental Running Gear (Porsche).

 

s.Pz.Jg.Abt.653 - Fallingbostel, Germany, September 1944.

 

One of the rare Jagdtigers armed with 88 mm Pak 43. This was due to shortages of the128 mm PaK 44 (Artist's view).

 

One of the rare Jagdtigers armed with 88 mm Pak 43. This was due to shortages of the128 mm PaK 44 (Artist's view). The 7.92 mm MG 34/42 machine gun is mounted on the Fliegerdrehstüze 36 mount on the rear deck. 

 

2.kompanie 512th s.Pz.Jg.Abt near Iserlohn April 1945 - Lt. Otto Carius. The vehicle is equipped with a Sternantenne (star antenna) placed at the back of the casemate.

 

The installation of this barrel with its larger breech would have caused the casemate to lengthen on the rear deck, to save enough work space.

 

 

Prototype with its flammable product tanker-trailer - MIAG factories, Braunschweig, Germany, 1st April 1945. This is a hoax tank originally created on behalf of a special "April Fool" paper, published in the French magazine Trucks & Tanks Magazine (TNT) of March-April 2019, by Mr. Filipiuk. But hey, I could not resist to give you my version for fun ...

 

 

British-captured Jagdtiger in The Tank Museum, the UK (2017).

 

Major Russel L. Smith and Technician 5th Grade Charles Wharton examining Jagdtiger 305004 on 6 Apr 1945. It was one of eleven (plus an unarmored prototype) which were fitted with the Porsche suspension system. It was built in July 1944 and sent to the Sennelager testing ground just north of the city of Paderborn, where it was used for trials. Towards the end of March 1945 units of the American XIX Corps, including the 3rd Armored Division and the 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion were advancing towards Paderborn. The Germans assembled as many armored units as they could to try and fend off their attack. One of these was an improvised unit called Panzergruppe Paderborn manned by instructors and equipped with an assortment of vehicles from test units, including Tiger Is, Tiger IIs, Panthers and even an old Panzer III. It is unclear whether the Jagdtiger was also a part of this force, or whether it took any part in the fighting. Fighting around Paderborn and Sennelager continued for around a week. Although the German forces in and around the training area put up heavy resistance, most American units simply bypassed them to the north or south. By April 5th it was clear that the forces left had to withdraw or risk being cut off. The Jagdtiger was abandoned and captured by the Americans the next day.  It was photographed almost immediately afterwards by a photographer attached to XIX Corps. Although it had been captured by the Americans, after the war Paderborn became part of the British Zone of Occupation. Both the Jagdtiger and the pre-production Tiger II now in the Tank Museum were seen at Haustenbeck by British Ministry of Supply Researchers on 25 Aug 1945. After being tested at Sennelager (with some of this captured on film) it was sent to the School of Tank Technology at Chertsey in the UK before arriving at the Tank Museum in 1952. It is missing its rear engine plate cover, its third suspension unit and two road wheels on its left hand side but still retains its original Zimmerit anti-magnetic mine paste.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 305004 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 512 as seen in the previous photo. It appears that Smith and Wharton are removing a machine gun from the vehicle.

 

Another view of Smith and Wharton with the Jagdtiger.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 305004 of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 512 as seen in the previous two photos after being recovered.

 

American officer with Jagdtiger 305004 on a German 80-ton Gotha trailer.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 305004 on the Gotha trailer being towed by an American  Diamond T 980/1 tractor aka the M20 tractor portion of an M19 tank transporter.

 

Captured Jagdtiger 305004 with a Tiger II and Panther at left, at the Panzer experimental establishment at Haustenbeck near Paderborn.

 

Another view of the vehicles at Haustenbeck near Paderborn, right to left, Panther, Tiger II, Jagdtiger, and another Tiger II, both Tiger II’s have Porsche turrets. The damaged barrel on the Tiger II on the right was due to the crew destroying the barrel by inserting explosives in the muzzle.

 

Jagdtiger 305004 with Porsche suspension after capture.

 

Another view of Jagdtiger 305004 and an abandoned prototype chassis of the Geschützwagen Tiger für 17cm K72 (Sf) in front of it. 

 

Jagdtiger 305004.

 

Rear deck and engine bay of Jagdtiger 305004 in The Tank Museum, Bovington. The two circular grilled apertures at left and right are for the radiator cooling fans.  18 Oct 2009.

 

Jagdtiger (serial number 305020) on display at the former US Army Ordnance Museum in 2007. (Mark Pellegrini photo)

 

Jagdtiger (S/N 305020) while displayed at the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum's former site at Aberdeen, Maryland, 13 Apr 2008.  (Raymond Douglas Veydt photo)

 

Captured Jagdtiger at the Soviet tank proving ground at Kubinka. Jagdtiger Fgst. Nr. 305083 is one of the last completed, and was part of a Kampfgruppe commanded by a Waffen-SS Hauptsturmführer from the 1. SS Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, consisting of 4 Jagdtiger picked up directly at Nibelungenwerke. Several crews from the s.Pz.Jg.-Abt. 653 as well as other tank units manned these Jagdtiger, with the intention to move towards Sankt Pölten, but this proved impossible as Russian forces had already broken through there. Via the Sankt Pölten-Linz road the Kampfgruppe moved towards Amtstetten. Underway a Jagdtiger collapsed through the bridge over the river Ybbs, with the remainder heading to Strengberg. A roadblock by Russian tanks at the entrance to Strengberg ended the march, with the crews surrendering to American forces. Jagdtiger Fgst. Nr. 305083 was taken in pristine condition by the Russians to the Kubinka proving grounds where extensive tests were conducted comparing to other German, Russian and Allied lend-lease tanks. One surprising result of these tests was the conclusion the Jagdtiger, though being the heaviest of any vehicle in service during the war, required the least amount of muscle-power to steer. After testing, the Jagdtiger ended up in the museum where it remains to this day. On the left side of the glacis a text was added via welding that details the date of capture as 5 May 1945.