Overview of rhinoceros tank destroyer

Panzerjager Hornisse/Nashorn self-propelled anti-tank gun rhinoceros "No.sd.kfz. 164.

1942 In February, eckert Company equipped the chassis of Geschutzwagen III/IV with Pak43 anti-tank gun, named Bumblebee. Later, in 1942, this car body was also used in hummel self-propelled howitzer (serial number Sd. Kfz. 165)。 The engine was moved to the middle, and the body was lengthened to accommodate the 88 mm long barrel anti-tank gun, while balancing the weight distribution of the whole vehicle. Due to the huge weight of the gun and the limitation of the carrying capacity of the car body, the occupants can only be protected by light armor.

1942, 10 in June, the whole vehicle model was shown to Hitler himself and approved. He also hopes to start production of 1943 in May.

1944 changed the layout of the armor plate in front of the cab in the early production, and the gun was also changed to PaK43, so there are two different models of the car. 1On February 24th, 944, Hitler ordered the second model to be named Nashorn. There is no difference between "Bumblebee" and "Rhino" except for the arrangement of armor plates in front of the cab and the type of artillery. These two changes are irrelevant. Despite the lack of armor protection, they all provide much-needed maneuverability for powerful 88 mm anti-tank guns. The limited space in the battle room limits the bomb load, which is usually between 24 and 40 rounds. The open fighting room at the top of bumblebee and rhinoceros only relies on canvas to shelter from the wind and rain, and lacks a body machine gun. Normally, MG34 or MG42 machine guns will be equipped on the car body to provide close defense. From February 1943 to March 1945, the output of bumblebee and rhinoceros self-propelled anti-tank guns designed by eckert Company and manufactured by German Eisen wilk Company was very low, with 20 guns and 474 guns respectively.

These two types of self-propelled anti-tank guns are equipped with heavy tank destroyer battalions. The first battle was with the 655th heavy tank destroyer battalion to join the Battle of Kursk. They are very successful, so they will be equipped with six such heavy tank destroyer artillery battalions in the future, which will appear on various fronts (for example,1525th heavy tank destroyer artillery battalion fighting on the Italian front in 944). Finally, it was gradually replaced by more powerful and better-protected self-propelled anti-tank guns, such as the No.4 tank destroyer and the Cheetah tank destroyer, but their war history continued until the end of the war.