The SdKfz 164 Hornisse was a tank destroyer that was used by Germany during World War II.
Description[]
The Hornisse had a crew of five and a Maybach HL 120 TRM engine that was capable of propelling it at speeds of up to 40 km/h. The armament of the Hornisse consisted of a single 88 mm PaK 43 and a 7.92 mm MG 34.
The SdKfz 164 weighed about 24,000 kg and had a total length of about 8.4 meters.[1] The height of the Hornisse was about 2.6 meters while the maximum fuel capacity was 470 liters. The chassis of the Hornisse was a special design that utilized parts from both the Panzer III and the Panzer IV for maximum cost effectiveness and the endurance needed to support such a large main gun.[2] The SdKfz 164 utilized a 6 speed forward, 1 speed reverse transmission system.
The SdKfz 164 also had a maximum range of about 260 km and the armor protection of the tank destroyer was only 30 mm at its thickest. In the field though, the series was very successful and proved quite reliable. The system was used for engaging tanks indirectly and was not so successful if used as direct fire support. The Hornisse was capable taking out tanks at over 4,000 meters away.[3]
Variants[]
The Hornisse only had one variant made and it was the Nashorn. The Nashorn did not have a modified designation and was simply called the SdKfz 164 Nashorn. The main modification made to the Nashorn was its new and improved 88 mm PaK 43/1 main gun.
History[]
The SdKfz 164 was first developed in 1941 in order to fulfill the need for a brand new tank destroyer. It entered service in early 1943 and was used up until the end of the war. Notably, SdKfz 164's were used in the Battle of Kursk. They were also used in many different places across the Eastern Front. In total, about 470 were produced by war's end.
References[]
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