Jagdtiger : design, production, operations

The Jagdtiger was a logical extension of the creation of Jagdpanzer designs from tank designs such as the Jagdpanther from the Panther tank.

The Jagdtiger used a boxy superstructure on top of a lengthened Tiger II chassis. The resulting vehicle featured very heavy armor and the powerful [...]
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The Jagdtiger was a logical extension of the creation of Jagdpanzer designs from tank designs such as the Jagdpanther from the Panther tank.

The Jagdtiger used a boxy superstructure on top of a lengthened Tiger II chassis. The resulting vehicle featured very heavy armor and the powerful 128 mm PaK 44 L/55 gun capable of defeating any tank fielded in World War II, even at long ranges (+3,500 m). It had 250 mm armor on the turret front and 150 mm on the glacis plate, which made it invulnerable to any frontal fire. However it lacked a traversable turret and the main gun mount had a limited traverse of only 10 degrees; the entire vehicle had to be turned to aim outside that narrow field of fire.

The Jagdtiger suffered from a variety of mechanical and technical problems due to its immense weight and under-powered engine. The vehicle had frequent breakdowns; ultimately more Jagdtigers were lost to mechanical problems or lack of fuel than to enemy action. Despite these shortcomings it was still very effective in defensive roles.

Not the best, but definitely the biggest and heaviest of the Tank destroyers built during WWII. This mammoth was so big and heavy that it was problematic to transport it by railroad in Germany. It wasn't just the biggest vehicle of the war, it also had the biggest gun with the greatest caliber. And its power to kill tanks would be great even on the modern battlefield.

So why wasn't it successful? Why didn't they build more of them? How did it "tick"? What units used it? Any modifications on the model? These questions and many more are answered in this second release of our new Tech series