The Combat History of German Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 in World War IIHundreds of photos, many never published before, of Germany's rarely seen tank destroyers, including the Ferdinand, Elephant, and JagdtigerColor illustrations focus on unit markings, numbering, and camouflageAccompanying text chronicles the unit's combat operations plus there are personal accounts from the men who rode in these mechanical monstersGerman Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 was equipped with the heaviest tank destroying vehicles of the German armed forces. Initially activated as an assault gun battalion and redesignated in April 1943, the 653 received its first Ferdinand heavy tank destroyers (later modified and renamed Elephants) in May 1943 and went into action on the Eastern Front a month later. In 1944, the unit converted to the even more massive Jagdtiger. The seventy-five-ton, heavily armored Jagdtiger was the behemoth of the battlefield and boasted a 128mm gun-as opposed to the Ferdinand's 88-with a range of more than thirteen miles, making it deadly despite its limited mobility. Outfitted with these lethal giants, the 653 saw service in Russia, Italy, Austria, and Germany. |
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The Combat History of German Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 in World War II Karlheinz Münch Limited preview - 2022 |
Common terms and phrases
1./schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 653 3./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 197 Abteilung 653 ammunition antitank April Armored Forces Army arrived artillery fire assault guns assembly area attack August battalion battery Briansk bridgehead chassis number combat Company/schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 653 crew damage December destroyed Dnepr Dnepropetrovsk driver Elefant Elefanten enemy tanks engine February Feldwebel Ferdinand fighting compartment front Gefreiter German gun commander halftrack Hauptmann Headquarters Company Headquarters Company/schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung heavy Heeresgruppe HILARY LOUIS DOYLE Infanterie-Division infantry Jagdtiger jäger-Abteilung 653 January July June Kampfgruppe kilometers Knight's Cross Leutnant loaded aboard LOUIS DOYLE main gun Maintenance Company March meters moved Nibelungen night Nikopol November Oberleutnant October Operation Zitadelle Orel Overhaul Panzer Panzer III Panzer IV Panzerjäger personnel photograph Platoon Pölten Porsche rail loading received recognition panel recovery regiment Repair road roadwheels Russian Saporoshye schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 653 schwere Panzerjäger-Kompanie 614 schweres Panzerjäger-Regiment 656 Sd.Kfz SECRET COMMAND MATTER September 1941 Soviet Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 197 Sturmpanzer tank destroyer train Unteroffizier vehicle weather wounded
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