Tank museum in Kubinka, Hall N6 (Auto and armored Nazi Germany – Third Reich) exhibit list
German heavy self-propelled gun SU-88 “Ferdinand” / “Elephant” (as the soviet classification), 1943 (covered heavy self-propelled gun), serial
The Elefant (German for “elephant”) is a Schwerer Panzerjäger (German: “heavy tank-hunter”)—a tank destroyer. It was built in small numbers in 1943 under the name Ferdinand after its designer Ferdinand Porsche, using tank corps that had been produced for the Tiger I tank requirement but was rejected in favour of a Henschel design.
In late 1943 and early 1944 self-propelled guns, were modernized and became known as “Elephant.” (An order to rename the AG came February 27, 1944)
German classification names – 8,8 cm StuK 43 Sfl L/71 Panzerjäger Tiger (P), Sturmgeschütz mit 8,8 cm StuK 43 and Sd.Kfz.184.
Heavy tank destroyer Assault gun ‘Ferdinand’
German heavy assault gun tank destoyer Ferdinand , Kubinka tank museum
Tactical technical characteristics of Assault Gun Ferdinand / Elefant:
- Weight — 68 tons
- Crew — 6 people (driver, radio-operator, commander, gunner, two loaders)
- Overall dimensions (length x width x height) – 8180 х 3430 х 3000 mm.
- Weaponry: cannon – 8.8 cm Pak 43/2 L/71, also known as StuK 43/1 , caliber – 88 mm., ammunition- 63 shots
- machin gun MG-34 (Elefant only) – 1 piece, caliber – 7,92 mm., ammunition – 2000 shots
- The armor protection: front and turret – 200 mm.
- Engine power – 600 (2 x 300) hp
- Maximum speed — 20 km / h
- Cruising on the highway — up to 120 km
- Depth overcome the water barrier — 1.2 meters
Ferdinand / Elefant design features:
Base – heavy tank Tiger (P).
The overall layout – typical for self-propelled units. Weapons – gun installed on the machine and has a horizontal firing angle 24 °, elevation 15 “declination -7.5”; Linkage screw gun; the panoramic sight.
Armory protection – from rolled armor plates; the head-on parts made of the body (of the two armor plates), connected by a screw-type “goujon”
Chassis – two gasoline engines “Maybach”, coupled with a DC generator voltage 385 V, power 210-260 kW; each engine has a separate power supply, cooling, lubrication, ignition and starter; Power Train – electromechanical; suspension with longitudinal torsion bars, rubber stoppers stroke balancers; the rollers with internal shock absorbers.
Additinal photos:
Ferdinand – the chassis Tiger (P)
Note that there are NOT a machine gun at the front desk (installed latter at Elefant model after the modernization)