The Hornisse (Hornet) was another brand new vehicle rushed to the front to take part in Operation Citadel. The vehicle was armed with the new and powerful 8.8cm PaK43 gun, the same found in the Ferdinand heavy tank-hunters. Built on the Panzer IV hull, the Hornisse was easy to maintain, and devastated Soviet armour wherever they were stationed. It had 30mm of hull front armour, but only 10mm on its superstructure. It had a crew of four and an additional machine gun for local and anti-aircraft defence. The first 100 were to be completed ready for the summer offensive on the eastern front. They served with the 655th schwere Panzerjägerabteilung during the Kursk offensive.