How to hunt a panther

[Franconicus]

I always thought any allied tank commander would have solved the problem by calling the air force.

So what is the right use for the Ferdinand:

1. Use them in defense only;
2. Use them behind a strong infantry line.
3. Dig them 30 cm so the wheels are protected.
4. Secure the flanks with some tanks.
5. Add some 2cm twin flak - they can keep Il2 away and hold the infantry down.
6. Plave some mechanics right behind.
   Maybe also some Panzergrenadiere as reserve.

Then let the Soviets attack frontal.

Did you know that the Germans modified Panzer III vehicles and used them as ammo carriers for the Ferdinands.

[Watchman]

They made somehting of an art form out of converting captured and/or just plain obsolete vehicles for assorted support roles in general. Stripping old tanks of their turrets and converting them to light assault guns was a pretty popular one.

[Kraxis]

I always thought any allied tank commander would have solved the problem by calling the air force.

So what is the right use for the Ferdinand:

1. Use them in defense only;
2. Use them behind a strong infantry line.
3. Dig them 30 cm so the wheels are protected.
4. Secure the flanks with some tanks.
5. Add some 2cm twin flak - they can keep Il2 away and hold the infantry down.
6. Plave some mechanics right behind.
   Maybe also some Panzergrenadiere as reserve.

Then let the Soviets attack frontal.

Well in Italy they didn't have such an overpowering aircover at first, so the commander possibly didn't have the option. But he was one cynical person.
Whenever I think of that incident I can't help but also think of Starship Troopers where the bugs attack the outpost and use their bodies to create a ramp to the walls. Those cases are quite similar. "Hah! I will let him expend all his ammo on killing my tanks, then it will be easy."

But the Ferdinand/Elephant was useable as a normal, if somewhat heavy TD. It didn't need more support than most other assault guns or TDs in the German army. What could do that the others could not, was take on any Russian tank attack and live through it. So if it was around, then the line was secure

[Franconicus]

Reminds me of how the Russians cleared the minefields

[Kraxis]

Yeah it is similar to the British getting the subs to deplete their torpedoes on battleships, cruisers and other warships to get the merchants to get through.
Silly...

But the Russian minefield clearing was done normally, but once in a while they had a penal battalion nearby, so why not use it.
This could of course not be used on minefields that were covered by machineguns, which most were.

I heard a story from a Pole once, that the Russians kept attackign a village in Poland with penal troops, unarmed of course. The Germans of course killed them, but in the process melted the barrels of their MG42s so they were useless. I have to add that given the rapid exchange of barrels for the MG42 I find it increadible that they could destroy some three barrels or more for each machinegun.
After this the regular attacked and 'easily' took the village.

[Husar]

Go here and have a look at Landkreuzer P 1000 "Ratte".
It´s all german, but if you can´t read it, you may get the idea from the 2D plan.