Germany's Jagdtiger; 12.8 cm PaK 80 auf Panzerjäger Tiger, Ausf B; Panzerjäger Tiger Ausf B; "Jagdtiger", SdKfz 186

Photos

Jagdtiger tank destroyer:	Jagdtiger tank destroyer:	Jagdtiger tank destroyer:	Jagdtiger tank destroyer:
Jagdtiger tank destroyer:	Jagdtiger tank destroyer:	Jagdtiger tank destroyer:	A destroyed Jagdtiger tank destroyer:
1/72 Die cast Models
Dragon Armor
60013: 60013SP: 60014: 60014SP:	60109: 60110: 60110SP: 60111:	60111SP: 60112: 60112SP: 60127:	60127SP: 60128: 60179: 60264:

Design

On May 18, 1942 Hitler ordered the development of a self-propelled vehicle mounting the 128 mm gun. A wooden mockup was presented in Arys, East Prussia on Oct. 20, 1943. The first production model was built at Kummersdorf on April 6, 1944. Two types were made using the PzKpfw VIB chassis which had to be extended 10".

The Jagdtiger was the heaviest armored vehicle used in World War II.³ It was nearly useless as an offensive weapon and was basically a mobile armored pillbox.³

Due to air raids production wasn't able to meet the goal of 50 per month. In February 1945 production ceased.

It had a double door in the rear of the superstructure for entry and exit, and to be able to access the gun for maintenance. The roof was bolted to the superstructure. Located in the roof was a hatch, roof ventilator, close defense weapon, and smoke equipment. The gun sighting equipment was also in the roof.

Main Armament

It had a 128 mm PaK 44 L/55 installed.⁵ The ammunition had to be split into two sections as it was so heavy.⁵

Ammunition Type	Weight	Velocity	Range	Penetration
				1000 m / 3,028'	3000 m / 9,842'
		3,016'/s5 920 m/s5	73,523'5 22,410 m5	9.1"5 230 mm5	6.8"5 173 mm5
AP	62.4 lb4	3,019'/s4
HE			17,279 yd4

Engine

The massive Jagdtiger's bulk was propelled by the same engine that was in the lighter Jagdpanther.³

Prototype

A mockup, made of iron, first appeared in October 1943.³

Production

The German Weapons Department ordered 150 from the Austrian firm Steyr-Daimler-Puch at St. Valentin.⁵ They took a standard PzKpfw VIB chassis and extended it vertically.⁵

Due to shortages in 128 mm gun some had 88 mm PaK 43/3.³ The last 26 produced had the 88 mm.⁵

• Jagdtiger: 70^3,4, 77^2,5
  • Production: October 1943 - ?³, July 1944 - March 1945²
    • 1944: 48^5,7
    • 1945: 25⁵
  • Manufacturer: Henschel⁴, Nibelungenwerke^2,4, Nibelungwerk at St. Valentin³

Variants

• Jagdtiger (Henschel): Had 9 road wheels.⁵
• Jagdtiger (Porsche): Had 8 road wheels.⁵

Usage

512th Army Heavy Anti-tank Battalion

Was formed in Paderborn on February 11, 1945. It saw action at the Remagen bridgehead.

Was formed from the remaining members of the 424th (former 501st) Heavy Tank Battalion.⁵ It resisted the Soviet offensive east of the River Vistula.⁵

653rd Army Heavy Anti-tank Battalion

During the first week of April 1945 the last four produced were delivered to the 653rd.⁵

Nine Jagdtigers took part in the Ardennes Offensive with the 5th Panzer Army's strategic reserve.⁵ It never ended up being used in action.⁵

The 653rd was moved to the Saar to take part in Operation Northwind (Nordwind).⁵ At least one was destroyed near Rimling.⁵

On April 1, 1945, there were 23 Jagdtigers assigned to the 653rd.⁵ All were lost in the last month of the war.⁵

Specifications

	Jagdtiger
Crew	Commander, gunner, loaders(2), driver, hull gunner/radio operator 61,2,3,4,5,6,7
Physical Characteristics
Weight	167,551 lb3 70,000 kg1, 76,000 kg3 68.9 tons1, 70 tons2, 70.5 tons6, 70.57 tons7, 79 tons4 Henschel: 71.7 tons5 Porsche: 69.9 tons5
Length w/gun	34' 11.3"1, 34' 11.4"3, 35'7 10.65 m1,2, 10.654 m3
Length w/o gun	24.7'4, 25' 7"7 Henschel: 7.8 m
Height	9'4, 9' 3"5,7, 9' 8"3, 9' 8.1"1 2.82 m5, 2.95 m1,2, 2.945 m3
Width	11' 10.7"3, 11' 10.9"1, 11' 11"7, 12'4 3.63 m1,2, 3.625 m3
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	1' 6", 1' 10"4
Ground contact length	188.5"6
Ground pressure	13.1 psi4
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	128 mm1 128 mm PaK 44 L/552,5,7 128 mm PaK 443 128 mm PaK 803 128 mm Pak 80 L/554,6 88 mm PaK 43/33
Secondary
MG	1: MG7 2: 7.92 mm MG1,3 2: 7.92 mm MG342
MG - top engine compartment	7.92 mm MG345
MG - hull	7.92 mm MG345 7.9 mm MG344
Side arms	7.92 mm MG42
Quantity
Main	38 or 403, 384,5 40 Pzgr and Spgr2
Secondary
MG	1,500 Patr SmK2
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	2501,3,7 Front: 5.9"4, 9.84"3 Side: 3.2"4
Hull Front, Upper	150@50°2, 250@15°6
Hull Front, Lower	100@50°2
Hull Sides, Upper
Hull Sides, Lower	80@0°2
Hull Rear	80@30°2
Hull Top	40@90°2
Hull Bottom	25-40@90°2
Superstructure Front	9.9"4, 250@15°2
Superstructure Sides	3.2"4, 80@25°2
Superstructure Rear	80@5°2
Superstructure Top	40@85°2
Engine (Make / Model)	Maybach7 Maybach HL 230 P301,2,4 Maybach HL 2303 Maybach HL 230 TR5
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Water6
Cylinders	V-124,5
Net HP	600 - 7003; 7007, 700@3,000 rpm4
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio	6.8:14
Transmission (Type)	Olvar preselective4 8 forward, 4 reverse2,4
Steering	Regenerative controlled differential - 2 radii of turn.4 Hydraulically operated.4 Wheel controlled but auxiliary levers provided.4
Steering ratio
Starter	Electric and inertia4
Electrical system	Starting: 24-volt4 Normal: 12-volt4
Ignition	Magneto4
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline3,4
Octane
Quantity	228 gallons4
Road consumption	0.47 mpg4 1.8 gallons / 1 mile.5
Cross country consumption	0.14 mpg4
Performance
Traverse	10° left, 10 right°2,5 ±10°4
Speed - Road	21.5 mph3, 23 mph7, 23.6 mph1, 24 mph5, 26 mph6 34.6 kph3, 38 kph1,2,5
Speed - Cross Country	9 - 12 mph4, 9 mph3, 11 mph5 14.5 kph3, 17 kph5
Range - Road	105 miles3,7, 105.6 miles1, 106 miles4 170 km1,2,3
Range - Cross Country	74.5 miles3, 75 miles4 120 km3
Turning radius
Elevation limits	-7.5° to +15°2,4,5
Fording depth	64"4, 5' 5"3 1.65 m3
Trench crossing	9.85'4, 9' 10"3 2.49 m, 3 m3
Vertical obstacle	2' 9.5"3,4 0.85 m3
Climbing ability	35° (70%) slope4
Suspension (Type)	Henschel: transverse torsion bars5 Porsche: longitudinal torsion bars5 Independently sprung on torsion bars4
Wheels each side	94 Henschel: 9x25 Porsche: 8x25
Return rollers each side	04
Tracks (Type)	Dry pin4
Length
Width	32"4
Diameter
Number of links	95 shoes (47 lines of double shoes)4
Pitch	5.9"4
Tire tread
Track centers/tread	9' 2", 9.3'6