This is a video of a Nashorn, the first vehicle to carry the 88mm Pak43/1 L/71 gun in service with the German army in the Second World War. Lightly armored and based on the reliable Panzer IV chassis, it proved to be quite a successful tank destroyer.
Originally called "Hornisse" or Hornet in English, it was renamed "Nashorn" by Hitler in 1944. A total of 494 were produced Feb. 1943 - Mar. 1945. Weight was 24 tons. Powered by a Maybach 11.9 liter 300hp engine with top speed on/off road of 40/24 km/h. The engine was mounted in the middle of the vehicle, with driver and radio operator at the front and Commander/loader and gunner in the rear compartment. The frontal hull armor was 30mm and superstructure 10mm, giving only enough protection against small arms.
The new 88mm L/71 gun gave the Nashorn the ability to engage tanks while still out of range of their fire, with 190mm of penetration of 30 degree sloped armor at a distance of 1000m. 40 rounds could be carried aboard.
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