In World War II, the Wehrmacht used cutting-edge equipment to fulfill the Führer‘s ambition of asserting Germany’s military supremacy. Among the tank destroyers developed, the Jagdtiger – officially the Panzerjäger Tiger Ausf. B – distinguished itself. This formidable armored vehicle proved instrumental in engagements across both the Western and Eastern Fronts.
The Jagdtiger was built upon the chassis of a Tiger II heavy tank
Tanks played a pivotal role in the strategic maneuvers of both sides during World War II. Consequently, the Germans placed an emphasis on equipping themselves with a tank destroyer capable of defeating any Allied tank encountered on the battlefield. The decision was made to mount a formidable 12.8 cm Pak 44 main gun onto a tank chassis, enabling these anti-tank weapons to fire 62-pound shells, effectively neutralizing any enemy tank they engaged.
Across Germany, weapon manufacturers developed prototypes for such a vehicle, experimenting with wooden guns mounted on a Panther and Tiger II chassis. It was soon established that the Panther chassis was unsuitable, leading to the manufacturing of the Jagdpanzer VI, based on the Tiger II chassis, which was later renamed the Jagdtiger.
Production of the Jagdtiger was tricky
The Jagdtiger boasted a box-like superstructure, enveloped in 250 mm of armor on the casemate and 150 mm on the sloped glacis plate, extending upward across the full height of the former’s top. The tank destroyer’s massive size posed challenges in production, earning it the distinction of being the largest and heaviest tracked vehicle developed and operated during WWII.
Despite an initial order for 150 units and production commencing in July 1944, only 70-85 Jagdtigers were manufactured by the war’s conclusion. This limited output was attributed to persistent issues plaguing the tank destroyer. Its considerable weight posed a challenge for propulsion, as it lacked a sufficiently powerful engine. Consequently, many units faced fuel shortages and various mechanical problems, leading to their loss during the conflict.
The tank destroyer’s issues were amplified on the battlefield
Despite the inherent challenges it presented, the Jagdtiger saw action on the battlefield, primarily owing to its formidable anti-tank gun, which could neutralize enemy vehicles. Nevertheless, operators of this tank destroyer encountered growing frustration due to various factors.
Firstly, the gun required two-part ammunition, mandating a two-person loading crew. Furthermore, it had to be immobilized during maneuvers to prevent rapid wear on its mounting brackets. Wehrmacht soldiers faced an additional predicament, as the Jagdtigers proved challenging to deploy effectively on the battlefield due to their size, confining them to specific locations. As a result, only two heavy Panzerjäger battalions – the 512th and 653rd – were equipped with these vehicles.
Exacerbating these challenges was the poor training of the initial Jagdtiger operators. This, combined with the increasingly unfavorable turn of events for the Germans in the mid-1940s, contributed to low morale among the units entrusted with these tank destroyers.
The Jagdtiger delivered devastating blows
Once deployed effectively, the Jagdtiger unleashed devastating impacts upon reaching its targets. Its formidable firepower allowed the armored vehicle to accurately target objects hundreds of meters away.
Furthermore, its robust armor made it nearly impervious to destruction, though such instances weren’t unheard of. In a notable incident during Operation Nordwind in 1945, a Jagdtiger succumbed to an American infantryman wielding a bazooka.
Despite occasional setbacks, the tank destroyer achieved remarkable feats. In one assault, a mere three Jagdtigers successfully eliminated 25 Allied tanks. Another saw a squadron destroy 11 M4 Shermans and 30 other targets, all while losing only one of their own.
An enduring legacy
The Jagdtiger was both devastating and limited. While the tank destroyer’s gun was capable of obliterating almost any opponent, the vehicle required a much more powerful engine and other tweaks to make it effective. With the restrictions placed on Germany following the end of the Second World War, such improvements were never made.
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Today, just three Jagdtigers are on display in museums. The one housed at The Tank Museum in Dorset, England was captured by the British while it was undergoing testing, while the one at the Kubinka Tank Museum in Moscow, Russia was taken when a German battlegroup surrendered to Red Army troops in May 1945. The final surviving Jagdtiger sits in Fort Benning, Georgia’s National Armor & Cavalry Collection and was captured by American soldiers near Neustadt an der Weinstraße.
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