German Early Variant Sd. Kfz. 164 Hornisse Self-Propelled Howitzer - "211", Schwere Panzerabteilung 525, Italy, 1944

In an effort to get sizeable numbers of tank destroyers into service along the Eastern Front, the Waffenamt embarked upon a series of hurried improvizations throughout 1942-43. Eventually, a special weapons-carrier vehicle based on the PzKpfw IV chassis was developed, which was adapted to take the 8.8cm PaK 43 gun. The first of these so-called Nashorns ("Rhinocerous") entered service in 1943. Later knows as Hornisse (Hornet), the vehicle had an unusually high profile that was difficult to conceal, a problem increased by poor armor with only the driver being fully protected. It was therefore used as a long-range weapon, in contrast to most other tank destroyers. The powerful gun made the Nashorn a potent battlefield weapon, but it was too bulky for its prescribed role and only the lack of anything better kept it on the production line as long as it did. Some 433 were built before production ceased in 1944.