The "Ferdinand" was optimized for destroying Soviet T-34 tanks and 76.2 mm anti-tank guns from behind the front lines with its 88 mm gun at a range of over 3 kilometres, a role which it performed well. Its most significant problem at Kursk was mine damage and mechanical failure. Any damage to the tracks or suspension negated the protection of the armor, as crews were forced to dismount and attempt repairs. The extreme weight of the "Ferdinand" made towing difficult: the standard armored recovery vehicle in German service at the time was the "Bergepanzer IV", a variant of the "Panzer IV" that could tow a single "Panzer" IV without assistance. It was insufficient for larger vehicles, with a Tiger I heavy tank requiring three Bergepanzer IVs to be towed, and the "Ferdinand" requiring five linked in tandem to pull the vehicle off the field.