Nashorn

SdKfz 164 Nashorn
Specifications
Mass	24 tonnes
Length	8.44 m inc gun
Width	2.95 m
Height	2.65 m
Crew	4 or 5
Armor	hull: 20 to 30 mm superstructure: 10 mm
Main armament	88 mm PaK 43/1
Secondary armament	7.92 mm MG (carried inside)
Engine	Maybach 11.9 litre V-12 gasoline 300 hp (224 kW)
Power/weight	12.5 hp/tonne
Suspension	leaf spring
Operational range	235 km
Maximum speed	42 km/h

External images
Nashorn
Nashorn [1]
Nashorn in a museum [2]

Nashorn (German "rhinoceros", pronounced Nahz-horn, not Nash-orn), initially known as Hornisse (German "hornet") was a German tank destroyer of World War II. It was developed as an interim solution in 1942 and was armed with a hard-hitting 88mm anti-tank gun. Though only lightly armoured and with a high profile, it stayed in service until the end of the war and proved to be a quite successful tank destroyer.

Development

After the first German experiences with the newer Soviet tanks like the T-34 or the Kliment Voroshilov tank during Operation Barbarossa, the need for a Panzerjäger capable of destroying these heavily armoured tanks became clear.

In February 1942, the Alkett (Altmärkische Kettenwerke GmbH) arms firm of Berlin designed a tank destroyer using their recently developed Geschützwagen III/IV which as its name indicated used components of both the Panzer III and Panzer IV tank. The 8.8 cm Panzerabwehrkanone (PaK) 43/1 L/71, a long barreled anti-tank gun, was mounted on the rear of the chassis complete with its gun shield and an open topped superstructure was built up around the gun to give the crew some protection. The gun had the same traverse and elevation as if it had been on its carriage: 15° to either side and between -5° to +15° elevation. To accommodate the long and heavy gun, the hull had to be lengthened and the engine moved from the rear to the centre of the chassis. Weight considerations meant that the amount of armour which could be used for the fighting compartment was limited, the crew were only protected from blast and small arms.

This model was presented for approval to Adolf Hitler in October 1942 and entered production in early 1943. It had numerous official designations, such as 8.8 cm PaK 43 (L/71) auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen III/IV (Sf) or 8.8cm PaK43 (L/71) auf Geschützwagen III/IV (Sd. Kfz. 164), though it was also known as the Panzerjäger Hornisse (in English "Hornet")

During the first half of 1943, a new model of the Hornisse was introduced into production. This model altered the driver's front armour plate, along with other petty differences. The difference between this model and its predecessor, the few early production vehicles, were almost indistinguishable. All the vehicles were named 'Nashorn' by Hitler's orders.

Total production of the Hornisse and Nashorn amounted to some 494 vehicles, of which most were built in 1943. As a Panzerjäger, it was soon replaced by the newer German tank destroyers, like the Jagdpanzer IV and the Jagdpanther. However, production continued, though at a slow pace, into 1945.

There are two Nashorns on display in military museums: at the United States Army Ordnance Museum and at the Kubinka Tank Museum.

Combat service

The Hornisse/Nashorn was issued to the schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilungen ("Heavy Antitank Battalions"), with which six would eventually be equipped: schwere Panzerjäger Abteilung 560, 655, 525, 93, 519 and 88. Each Abteilung/Battalion was equipped with 30 Nashorns.

Nashorn's gun was one of the most effective anti-tank guns deployed during the war. Its tungsten carbide cored sub-calibre round, Pzgr. 40/43, was capable of penetrating 190 mm of rolled steel armour at a 30° angle of impact at a distance of 1,000 m. The gun's tremendous performance enabled Nashorn to engage enemy tanks while they still were out of range themselves.

The Hornisse/Nashorn made its debut during the Battle of Kursk, where they performed well. The ability to engage the enemy at long distances negated the disadvantages of light armour and a high profile and revealed the weapon was suited to the open, flat landscape of much of Russia. Like all German vehicles armed with Pak 43 or Kwk 43, Nashorn could punch a hole in the front plating of any Allied armoured vehicle. It is reported that in early 1945, a Nashorn knocked out a Soviet IS-2 from a distance of 4,600m(4.6km).

Technical data

• Manufacturer: Deutsche-Eisenwerke AG, in Teplitz-Schönau
• Crew: 4 or 5
• Combat weight: 24 metric tons
• Dimensions
  • Length (with gun): 8.44 m
  • Length (without gun): 7.26 m
  • Width: 2.95 m, 3.176 m with 'Ostketten' tracks
  • Height: 2.65 m
  • Ground clearance: 0.4 m
• Road speed: 42 km/h
• Road range: 235 km
• Tracks: 61/400/120 kg
  • Type: single pin
  • Width: 400 mm
  • Ground contact length: 3.80 m
  • Shoes(links)/track: 104
  • Ground pressure: 0.85 kg/cm²
• Suspension: leaf spring
• Shock absorbers: no
• Vertical obstacle: 0.6 m
• Trench: 2.3 m
• Fording: 0.8 m
• Engine: Maybach HL 120 TRM Ausf. A
  • Type: V-12 60 deg
  • Horsepower: 300 @ 3000 rpm
  • Displacement: 11,867 l
  • Comression ratio: 6.2-6.5:1
  • Fuel: gasoline
  • Fuel consumption (road): 2 l/km
  • Fuel capacity: 470 l (two fuel tanks)
• Transmission: ZF (Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AG) SSG 77 Aphon
  • Type: synchromesh manual
  • Gears: 6/1
• Steering: Daimler-Benz/Wilson clutch/brake
• Clutch: Fichtel & Sachs La 120 HDA dry, triple disc
• Armament
  • Main gun: 88 mm Pak 43/1
  • Type: Anti-tank gun
  • Caliber: 88 mm
  • Barrel length: 71 calibers
  • Breech: semiautomatic, horizontal sliding block
  • Traverse: manual, +/-15°
  • Elevation: manual, +20/-5°
  • Rounds carried: 24 to 40
  • one 7.92 x 57 mm MG-34 or MG-42 machine-gun carried inside the vehicle
  • appr. 600 rounds
• Primary gun sight: Sfl. Z. F. 1a (Selbstfahrlafetten-Zielfernrohr)
  • Magnification: 5x
  • Field of view: 8°
• Indirect fire sight: Aushilfsrichtmittel 38
  • Magnification: 3x
  • Field of view: 10°
• Radio: FuG Spr. f

External links

• Achtung Panzer!-Nashorn Page
• WWII Vehicles
• Hornisse manual
• Armour penetration table of 8.8 cm PaK 43
• Surviving Panzer IV variants - A PDF file presenting the Panzer IV variants (Jagdpanzer IV, Hummel, Nashorn, Brummbär, StuG IV, Flakpanzer tanks and prototypes based on Pz IV) still existing in the world