Design Overview & Tactical Role
Originally built on the pre-fabricated Porsche Tiger (VK 45.01 P) chassis rejected in favor of Henschel's design, Ferdinand Porsche converted 91 hulls into heavy tank destroyers. Utilizing an ahead-of-its-time hybrid petrol-electric powertrain, it mounted 200 mm of front armor and the ferocious 8.8 cm Pak 43/2 L/71 gun. At the Battle of Kursk, they scored an astounding 10:1 kill ratio against Soviet armor.
Combat History & Battle Records
Renamed 'Elefant' after modifications in late 1943 (adding a hull machine gun and commander's cupola), they fought in Italy (Anzio) and the Eastern Front, where their massive weight and electric drives struggled in soft mud and mountain passes.
Related Armored Vehicles (World War II)
Modern
2014
Modern
2001
Cold War
1965
World War II
1942