7457587635857467
Recruit
- 2
- Mar 19, 2013
Well, I can not argue that it was the "best", but the Ferdinand was definitely the most successful tank destroyer of this time period, and probably in the whole WW2.
In total only 90 Ferdianands destroyed some 800 soviet AFV's, at a cost of only 13 own losses by sPzJagAbt 656 and a few more unknown losses by sPzJagAbt 653 (of which most were disabled by mines or
mechanical breakdown rather than by enemy fire). The Ferdinand's were almost immortal to any Soviet gun.
Almost no Soviet tank or anti tank gun was capable of penetrating its armor at medium to long range, except only a very few anti tank guns such as the ZIS-3, SU-76 SPG and of course the 152mm gun of the SU-152.
But regular Russian tanks such as T34 or KV1 had no effective gun to penetrate even the side or rear armor, so it's obvious that none Ferdinand was ever destroyed by a T34 or KV1 tank.
Without any doubt, one or another was knocked out by SU-152's, as this was the only effective weapon to counter it at medium to long range.
Some Russian soruces however try to exaggerate the numbers of Ferdinand killed by SU-152, which is mostly ridiculous far fetched propaganda.
The Tiger was a less successful tank killer in relation to kills per losses, however it was still more successfull overall because there were more Tigers deployed, which means they had a greater impact overall. Like the Ferdinand, it had the best allround protection and survivability on the battlefield, which allowed it survive many hits from Sovoet tank guns and score numerous kills, before getting destroyed or disabled by enemy fire. It was nearly immortal from the front, only the side hull armor could be penetrated by T34 and KV if they came close as 100 meters. But only rarely got Russian tanks the chance to get this close to a Tiger on open terrain. Again, the only effective weapons to counter the Tiger were ZIS-3, SU-76, SU-122 and SU-152.
The Panter was also a good tank killer overall, but only in relation to its own numbers. A single Panther alone however wasn't that effective because it lacked the good allround protection of the Tiger.
Having very vulnerable side and rear armor, it didn't have this superb survivabilty that the Tiger and Ferdinand had. Most Panthers were easilly destroyed by flank hits even at long range.
Even the T34 and KV1 could already penetrate its weak side armor at over a kilometer. Which is why there are at least 10 Tiger aces credited with over 100 tank kills, but not a single Panther ace credited with 100 tank kills.
(the highest scoring Panther ace achieved "only" 60 tank kills).
KV-1 was only effective against early German Panzers like Mark II and III, and only at close to medium range. But against even a Panzer IV F2 it was already inferior.
Not even to mention the bad accuracy of its tiny gun. It was maybe a fearsome beast back in 1941/42 but in 1943 it wasn't that good anymore.
Although there were a few instances where KV1 crews achived some impressive victories in 1942, but they fought only against light German tanks with automatic machine guns. Not that impressive, is it?
The StuG's were good tank killers too, but again only in respect to their numbers. A single StuG alone isn't that impressive,
Although It did have a very good front armor that made it invulnerable against early T34 and KV1 guns. Since it's the most produced German AFV in WW2, it claims the most tank kills out of any AFV in WW2.
T34-76 shouldn't be listed in a poll of "best tank killers" in my opinion, it simply doesn't fit its role. Not enough crew training, no hatch for the commander, no radio, bad gun sights,
bad turret sights, vulnerable to any German Panzer higher than Mark III. Heck, in most cases, even the inferior Panzer III L had more victories over the T34-76, simply due to better crew training, better gun sights, and superior tactics in general.
Its only adventage was its numbers, and that's what it was good for.
In total only 90 Ferdianands destroyed some 800 soviet AFV's, at a cost of only 13 own losses by sPzJagAbt 656 and a few more unknown losses by sPzJagAbt 653 (of which most were disabled by mines or
mechanical breakdown rather than by enemy fire). The Ferdinand's were almost immortal to any Soviet gun.
Almost no Soviet tank or anti tank gun was capable of penetrating its armor at medium to long range, except only a very few anti tank guns such as the ZIS-3, SU-76 SPG and of course the 152mm gun of the SU-152.
But regular Russian tanks such as T34 or KV1 had no effective gun to penetrate even the side or rear armor, so it's obvious that none Ferdinand was ever destroyed by a T34 or KV1 tank.
Without any doubt, one or another was knocked out by SU-152's, as this was the only effective weapon to counter it at medium to long range.
Some Russian soruces however try to exaggerate the numbers of Ferdinand killed by SU-152, which is mostly ridiculous far fetched propaganda.
The Tiger was a less successful tank killer in relation to kills per losses, however it was still more successfull overall because there were more Tigers deployed, which means they had a greater impact overall. Like the Ferdinand, it had the best allround protection and survivability on the battlefield, which allowed it survive many hits from Sovoet tank guns and score numerous kills, before getting destroyed or disabled by enemy fire. It was nearly immortal from the front, only the side hull armor could be penetrated by T34 and KV if they came close as 100 meters. But only rarely got Russian tanks the chance to get this close to a Tiger on open terrain. Again, the only effective weapons to counter the Tiger were ZIS-3, SU-76, SU-122 and SU-152.
The Panter was also a good tank killer overall, but only in relation to its own numbers. A single Panther alone however wasn't that effective because it lacked the good allround protection of the Tiger.
Having very vulnerable side and rear armor, it didn't have this superb survivabilty that the Tiger and Ferdinand had. Most Panthers were easilly destroyed by flank hits even at long range.
Even the T34 and KV1 could already penetrate its weak side armor at over a kilometer. Which is why there are at least 10 Tiger aces credited with over 100 tank kills, but not a single Panther ace credited with 100 tank kills.
(the highest scoring Panther ace achieved "only" 60 tank kills).
KV-1 was only effective against early German Panzers like Mark II and III, and only at close to medium range. But against even a Panzer IV F2 it was already inferior.
Not even to mention the bad accuracy of its tiny gun. It was maybe a fearsome beast back in 1941/42 but in 1943 it wasn't that good anymore.
Although there were a few instances where KV1 crews achived some impressive victories in 1942, but they fought only against light German tanks with automatic machine guns. Not that impressive, is it?
The StuG's were good tank killers too, but again only in respect to their numbers. A single StuG alone isn't that impressive,
Although It did have a very good front armor that made it invulnerable against early T34 and KV1 guns. Since it's the most produced German AFV in WW2, it claims the most tank kills out of any AFV in WW2.
T34-76 shouldn't be listed in a poll of "best tank killers" in my opinion, it simply doesn't fit its role. Not enough crew training, no hatch for the commander, no radio, bad gun sights,
bad turret sights, vulnerable to any German Panzer higher than Mark III. Heck, in most cases, even the inferior Panzer III L had more victories over the T34-76, simply due to better crew training, better gun sights, and superior tactics in general.
Its only adventage was its numbers, and that's what it was good for.
Last edited:
, unless thats what Panzer ausf. G is supposed to represent. 
