#operation citadel

[deutschland-im-krieg]

Ferdinand tank destroyer, Kursk 1943, Operation Citadel

[theworldatwar]

German Wespe self-propelled howitzers make their way along a country road during Operation Citadel - Kursk, July 1943

[carbone14]

Attaque de chars soviétiques T-34 – Bataille de Koursk – Juillet 1943

Photographe : Dmitri Baltermants

[all-action-all-picture]

Iron Cross No. 4 (2020) . Quarterly magazine focussing on German Military History from 1914-1945. The cover, by Keith Burns, depicts a Tiger l of the 13th Heavy Company at Kursk in Operation Citadel, July 1943.

[militaryhistoryvisualized]

[deutschland-im-krieg]

Wespe self-propelled howitzers from the 2nd Battalion of the Großdeutschland Artillery Regiment, moving towards the front line along a country road during Operation Citadel (Battle of Kursk), July 1943

[carbone14]

Tigre I Ausf.E S21 de la 2e division SS Das Reich sur le champ de bataille de Prokhorovka – Bataille de Koursk (Opération Citadelle pour les allemands) – Union soviétique – 12 juillet 1943

[all-action-all-picture]

The Elefant Tank Destroyer. Originally called the Ferdinand after its designer, Ferdinand Porsche. Only around 90 were built, of which 2 still survive as Museum pieces.

Most of the Ferdinands were deployed in Operation Citadel at the Battle of Kursk where many fell victim to mines (among other types of damage). This led to later upgrades such as the application of Zimmerit anti-magnetic paste (you can just about make out on the front of the vehicle above) and an MG34 machine gun.

Only around 50 Ferdinands survived Kursk and post-modification they were eventually renamed the Elefant. The name change wasn't down to the modifications but more that Hitler had a leaning toward using animal names for his armour.

I reckon the image above was likely a tracing as there are a few source photographs (below) of the Ferdinand/Elefant at a similar angle.

This was a back page feature from Battle No. 339, dated 31 October 1981. Treasury of British Comics.