First Of May State Farm ETO (id:#62209)

(Kursk - Gates of Hell ID: GoH#4)   [next]   [previous]

Ponyri Station, Russia 1943-07-08 (51 others)

No balance information available

Overview:

The Sd. Kfz. 184, better known as the "Ferdinand", or "Elephant", first saw combat during the Battle of Kursk, where eighty-nine were committed, representing the most concentrated use of the massive AFV during the war. The Ferdinand was optimized for destroying Soviet T-34 tanks, from well behind the front lines. With a range of over 3 kilometers, with its potent 88mm Pak43/2 L/71, this was a role at which it could performed optimally. However, after advancing through the initial line of Soviet resistance, Ferdinand crews soon found their fighting abilities hampered by a variety of the AFV's flaws, such as the lack of peripheral vision blocks, a turret or even a single machine-gun as secondary armament in early models. Enemy infantry quickly exploited these flaws. Ivan calmly laid low in his slit trench, until the Ferdinand passed by, then emerge to attack in close combat with grenades and Molotov cocktails. Ferdinands were deployed at Ponyri in the attack on the First of May state farm, with a large strike-group in the van of the attack, with 100 meters between AFVs and a second echelon following. Heavy fire was placed on Russian lines, and progress was made. That is until some AFVs struck Russian mines, and were soon subjected to Molotov attacks. A group of 7 T-34 tanks joined the fray. Command Ferdinands were marked by special flags on their antennas, and seemed to get special attention from enemy gunners. More than half the Ferdinands committed to the assault were stopped, due to chassis and track damage, only one holed by a 76.2mm round. Another destroyed by an aircraft bomb, and a last knocked out by a direct hit by a 203mm howitzer round. The attack lost impetus and the heavy machines could not be evacuated due to intense enemy fire.

Defender: Russian (1021st Rifle Regt., 307th Rifle Division)  

Errata (source)