"Jagdpanther" equipped heavy antitank battalions ("schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilungen") and served mainly on the Eastern Front. In the West, they were encountered in very small numbers late in the Battle of Normandy; the German "654 schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung" ("654th Heavy Antitank Battalion") deployed about twelve "Jagdpanthers" against the British armed forces. Later, significant numbers were concentrated in the West for the Ardennes Offensive.