Kanonenjagdpanzer (History)

Development

In 1960, the Bundeswehr decided to use the 90 mm M36 gun from the M47 Patton tank in a series of German tank destroyers. The design would be doctrinally similar to the World War 2 tank destroyers of the Wehrmacht. The specifications were given to three companies, Hanomag, Henschel, and the Swiss manufacturer MOWAG. The prototypes were tested, and Henschel and Hanomag were kept for pre-production. They made two more prototypes with the BK 90/L40 made by Rheinmetall, based on the 90 mm M36 gun from the United States. In 1965 the design was accepted by the Bundeswehr. It was known as the Kanonenjagdpanzer, also known as the Kanonenjagdpanzer 4-5, the Kanonenjagdpanzer 90, or the Jagdpanzer Kanone 90. The name could be shortened to KanJPz or KnJPz.

Design

Hull

The hull featured a "stepped" design, meaning the engine compartment was lower than the crew compartment. The driver sat on the left front of the vehicle, under the driver's hatch. The loader sat right behind the driver, and had a cupola. The commander sat in the rear right hand side of the vehicle, and had a cupola. The gunner sat at the front right hand side of the vehicle, on the other side of the gun breech from the driver, and had no hatch.

Armor

The design included sloped armor, although the thickness was not great. The frontal glacis was 50 mm thick, the sides and rear were 30 mm thick, the frontal crew compartment roof section was 20 mm thick, and the engine deck, bottom, and rear crew compartment roof section were 10 mm thick.

Drivetrain/Powerplant

The powerplant of the KanJPz was a MTU MB 837 Aa V8  29.4 L water-cooled multi-fuel diesel engine, which produced 500 hp. The suspension that was used was an independent torsion bar design. It had five double road wheels, three return rollers, a rear drive sprocket, and a front idler wheel. The maximum speed on-road was 70 kph (43.5 mph).

Armament

The main armament consisted of a BK 90/L40 90 mm gun, and carried 51 rounds for the main cannon. The gun could traverse 15° to the side and had -8° to +15° depression and elevation.Secondary armament consisted of two 7.62 mm MG3 machine guns. One was co-axial, while the other was mounted on a ring on the commander's cupola. The KanJPz included infrared sight systems.

Production and Service

770 units were ordered and delivered, with 385 made by Henschel and 385 made by Hanomag. They were delivered from 1965 and 1967. Belgium received 80 modified KanJPz in 1975, which served until the late 1980's.

The KanJPz was a successful design, but the USSR began to use the T-64 and T-72, which the 90 mm gun of the Kanonenjagdpanzer could not penetrate from a distance. Hanomag and Henschel proposed an improved armament of a 105 mm gun. Instead, in 1983, 163 were converted to the Jaguar 2. The Jaguar 2 was a version that had the main gun removed, and had a TOW missile launcher added. In addition, some units were the made as Beobachtungspanzers. The Beobachtungspanzer was a variant that was intended as an artillery observation vehicle, with the main gun removed, in order to guide mortar units.

Specifications

General

• Crew: 4 (Commander, Driver, Gunner, Loader)
• Total Weight (Battle Ready): 27.5 tons (27.1 long tons, 23.3 short tons)
• Length:
  • Total: 8.75 m (28 ft 8 in)
  • Hull: 6.24 m (20 ft 6 in)
• Width: 2.98 m (9 ft 9 in)
• Height: 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in)
• Engine: 29,4l MTU MB 837 Aa V8 Water-Cooled Multi-Fuel Diesel 500 hp (368 kW)
• Suspension: Torsion Bar

Performance

• Operational Range: 385 km (239 mi)
• Maximum Speed (On-Road): 70 kph (43.5 mph)

Armor / Armament

• Armor Thickness: 10-50 mm (.39-1.97 in)
• Main Armament: 1 × Rheinmetall BK 90/L40 90 mm anti-tank gun (51 Rounds)
• Secondary Armament:
  • 2 × 7.62 mm MG3 Machine Guns (4,000 Rounds)
  • 8 × Smoke Dischargers
  • 2 × 71 mm Lyran Mortars (In Belgian Service Only)