Kanonenjagdpanzer
Encyclopedia
The Kanonenjagdpanzer 4 - 5 (also known as Jagdpanzer Kanone 90mm, or tank destroyer, gun) was a German Cold War
tank destroyer
equipped with a 90mm anti-tank gun, which remained from the outphased M47 Patton
tanks. Its design was very similar to that of the World War II
Jagdpanzer IV
.
and Henschel for West Germany
and by MOWAG
for Switzerland
. Hanomag and Henschel continued to produce prototypes, until between 1966 and 1967, 770 were built for the Bundeswehr
, 375 by Hanomag
and 375 by Henschel. Eighty of them were delivered to Belgium
from April 1975 onward.
When the Soviets began to deploy their T-64
and T-72
main battle tank
s, the 90 mm gun wasn't capable of ensuring long-range combat, the Kanonenjagdpanzer became obsolete. Although the producers claimed it could be rearmed with a 105 mm gun, between 1983 and 1985, 163 of these tank destroyers were converted into anti-tank guided missile carrying Raketenjagdpanzer
Jaguar 2
by removing the gun, adding a roof-mounted TOW
missile launcher and fastening further spaced and perforated armour
on the hull. Some others were refitted by removing the main gun into artillery observation vehicles, so called Beobachtungspanzer, which served most particularly in the mortar
units.
Some Kanonenjagdpanzer remained into service with the Heimatschutztruppe until 1990.
Its hull consisted of welded steel, which had a maximum thickness of only 50 mm. It carried a crew of four, a commander, driver, gunner and a loader. Since the Kanonenjagdpanzer followed the casemate
design of most World War II
tank destroyer
s, the gun was fixed within the casemate, located a little right from the center. The 90 mm gun could only traverse 15° to the sides and elevate from -8° to +15°. It carried 51 90 mm rounds for the main gun and 4000 7,62 mm rounds for the two MG3s.
The Kanonenjagdpanzer had NBC protection and night-fighting ability.
operated a total of 770 Kanonenjagdpanzer - The Belgian Army
operated 80 slightly modified Kanonenjagdpanzer from 1975 onwards
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
tank destroyer
Tank destroyer
A tank destroyer is a type of armored fighting vehicle armed with a gun or missile launcher, and is designed specifically to engage enemy armored vehicles...
equipped with a 90mm anti-tank gun, which remained from the outphased M47 Patton
M47 Patton
The M47 Patton is an American medium tank, the second tank to be named after General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S. Third Army during World War II and one of the earliest American advocates of tanks in battle. It was a further development of the M46 Patton tank.-History:The M47 was the U.S...
tanks. Its design was very similar to that of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Jagdpanzer IV
Jagdpanzer IV
The Jagdpanzer IV, Sd.Kfz. 162, was a tank destroyer based on the Panzer IV chassis built in three main variants. As one of the casemate-style turretless Jagdpanzer designs, it was developed against the wishes of Heinz Guderian, the inspector general of the Panzertruppen, as a replacement for the...
.
History
The first prototypes of the Kanonenjagdpanzer were built in 1960 by HanomagHanomag
Hanomag was a German producer of steam locomotives, tractors, trucks and military vehicles. Hanomag first achieved international fame by delivering a large number of steam locomotives to Romania and Bulgaria before World War I....
and Henschel for West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
and by MOWAG
MOWAG
MOWAG is a Swiss company which develops, designs and produces armoured vehicles for military applications in both land-only and amphibious configurations. These vehicles have gross vehicle weights ranging from 9t to 30t. More than 12,000 armoured wheeled vehicles of the type Piranha, Eagle and DURO...
for Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Hanomag and Henschel continued to produce prototypes, until between 1966 and 1967, 770 were built for the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
, 375 by Hanomag
Hanomag
Hanomag was a German producer of steam locomotives, tractors, trucks and military vehicles. Hanomag first achieved international fame by delivering a large number of steam locomotives to Romania and Bulgaria before World War I....
and 375 by Henschel. Eighty of them were delivered to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
from April 1975 onward.
When the Soviets began to deploy their T-64
T-64
The T-64 is a Soviet main battle tank, introduced in the early 1960s. It was used solely by the Soviet Army in its front-line divisions and was a more advanced counterpart to the T-62...
and T-72
T-72
The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1970. It is developed directly from Obyekt-172, and shares parallel features with the T-64A...
main battle tank
Main battle tank
A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
s, the 90 mm gun wasn't capable of ensuring long-range combat, the Kanonenjagdpanzer became obsolete. Although the producers claimed it could be rearmed with a 105 mm gun, between 1983 and 1985, 163 of these tank destroyers were converted into anti-tank guided missile carrying Raketenjagdpanzer
Raketenjagdpanzer
Raketenjagdpanzer is the designation of a range of German dedicated tank destroyers equipped with anti-tank guided missiles...
Jaguar 2
Jaguar 2
The Raketenjagdpanzer 4 Jaguar 2 was a German tank destroyer equipped with anti-tank guided missiles. It was only operated by the Bundeswehr. The vehicle is being used by United States Army as the Badger, and it is fitted with a large articulated arm in digging up IED's or any buried device and was...
by removing the gun, adding a roof-mounted TOW
BGM-71 TOW
The BGM-71 TOW is an anti-tank missile. "BGM" is a weapon classification that stands for "Multiple Environment , Surface-Attack , Missile ". "TOW" is an acronym that stands for "Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire command data link, guided missile"...
missile launcher and fastening further spaced and perforated armour
Vehicle armour
Military vehicles are commonly armoured to withstand the impact of shrapnel, bullets, missiles, or shells, protecting the personnel inside from enemy fire. Such vehicles include tanks, aircraft, and ships....
on the hull. Some others were refitted by removing the main gun into artillery observation vehicles, so called Beobachtungspanzer, which served most particularly in the mortar
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
units.
Some Kanonenjagdpanzer remained into service with the Heimatschutztruppe until 1990.
Design
The Kanonenjagdpanzer was a highly mobile vehicle, its survivability was based on its mobility and its low profile.Its hull consisted of welded steel, which had a maximum thickness of only 50 mm. It carried a crew of four, a commander, driver, gunner and a loader. Since the Kanonenjagdpanzer followed the casemate
Casemate
A casemate, sometimes rendered casement, is a fortified gun emplacement or armored structure from which guns are fired. originally a vaulted chamber in a fortress.-Origin of the term:...
design of most World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
tank destroyer
Tank destroyer
A tank destroyer is a type of armored fighting vehicle armed with a gun or missile launcher, and is designed specifically to engage enemy armored vehicles...
s, the gun was fixed within the casemate, located a little right from the center. The 90 mm gun could only traverse 15° to the sides and elevate from -8° to +15°. It carried 51 90 mm rounds for the main gun and 4000 7,62 mm rounds for the two MG3s.
The Kanonenjagdpanzer had NBC protection and night-fighting ability.
Operators
- The German ArmyGerman Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
operated a total of 770 Kanonenjagdpanzer - The Belgian Army
Belgian Army
The Land Component is organised using the concept of capacities, whereby units are gathered together according to their function and material. Within this framework, there are five capacities: the command capacity, the combat capacity, the support capacity, the services capacity and the training...
operated 80 slightly modified Kanonenjagdpanzer from 1975 onwards