Sd.Kfz. 184 Elefant

Plastic model kit for building an Sd.Kfz. 184 Elefant

• Scale 1:35
• Includes combat engineer (Sturmpionier) figures
• Flexible tracks
• 3 marking options
• Unassembled, unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The Sd.Kfz. 184 Elefant was a heavy German tank destroyer from the Second World War. Its powerful 8.8 cm gun and heavy frontal armor made it dangerous at long range. However, its high weight, limited mobility, and complex maintenance requirements significantly restricted its operational value.

In the 1942 competition to develop the "Tiger" heavy tank, the Porsche design - the VK 45.01 (P) - lost to the Henschel model. The Porsche chassis that had already been manufactured subsequently served as the basis for this tank destroyer. In the spring of 1943, approximately 90 vehicles were produced at the Nibelungenwerk plant in St. Valentin; they were initially designated "Ferdinand," named after Ferdinand Porsche. In July 1943, they saw their first major combat deployment during Operation "Citadel" in the Kursk region, serving with the 653rd and 654th Heavy Tank Destroyer Battalions.

In early 1944, the remaining vehicles were overhauled and improved, receiving additions such as a hull-mounted machine gun and a commander's cupola. Throughout 1944–1945, these vehicles - now designated "Elefant" - were deployed in Italy and on the Eastern Front. Small remaining stocks were still in combat in 1945.
 

Differences:	Ferdinand (1943)	modernized Elefant (1944)
Close-in defense:	No fixed hull-mounted machine gun	7.92 mm MG 34 in a ball mount
Commander’s vision:	Simple roof hatch, limited field of view	raised commander’s cupola with vision devices
Main armament:	8.8 cm PaK 43/2 L/71	unchanged
Other changes:	Original version	includes improved protective grilles and Zimmerit coating