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work on the new tank. In December of 1941, Wa Pruef ordered Daimler-Benz and MAN
(Maschinenfabrik Augsburg Nuernberg) to design new 30-ton tank armed with 75mm KwK
L/70 gun as a response to the Soviet T-34/76 tank. Rheinmetall-Borsig was in charge of
the development of the turret for this new tank. In March of 1942, Daimler-Benz was the
first to produce their version of VK3002's design based on previously rejected VK3001
(direct copy of T-34/76) design from January of 1942. Two versions of VK 3001 with
different suspensions were designed by Daimler-Benz - one with spring suspension and
other with torsion bar suspension. Daimler-Benz VK3002 design was largely based on T34/76 and was more like a modified German version of it. MAN finished their design of
VK3002 in early Spring of 1942.
December 1942, Ausf D entered production, and the first D model left the factory on
January 11, 1943. Armor protection was improved (in comparison to Ausf D1) and the
newer version of the 75mm KwK 42 L/70 gun was mounted in a hydraulically-powered
turret. The first 250 Panther Ausf D tanks were powered by a Maybach HL 210 P 30 [with
23 liters (1,400 cubic inches) displacement] and were also referenced as Ausf D1. The
Panther's weak spot was its side armor, which ranged from 40mm to 50mm, depending on
the variant.
Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Ausf D(D1), along with Panzerjger Tiger(P) Ferdinand
(Sd.Kfz.184) and other new armored fighting vehicles, made their debut with Panzer
Abteilungen 51 and 52 (96 tanks each) along with Panzer Regiment Stab 39 (8 tanks
each) as part of Heeresgruppe Sued (Army Group South) in July 1943 during Operation
Citadel in the Kursk salient. Because of technical problems (especially with the gearbox,
transmission and suspension, and engine fires) that were not fully solved until later, many
Panthers broke down before and during the battle.
"...they (Panthers) burnt too easily, the fuel and oil systems were insufficiently protected,
and the crews were lost due to lack of training." - Heinz Guderian.
components. Krupp designed and proposed two series of such vehicles, Grille and
Heuschrecke. In late 1942, two designs were proposed, Grille 12 armed with 128mm K 43
gun and Grille 15 armed with 150mm sFH 43 L/35.5 gun. In 1943/44, both guns were
replaced by never 128mm K 44 L/55 and 150mm sFH 44 Both designs had their
armament dismountable and fully traversable. Heuschrecke 12 and 15 (had the same
armament as Grille 12 and 15) and were designed as weapon carriers - Waffentrager.
Heuschrecke development was cancelled in February of 1943, while in October October of
1943, Grille development was cancelled. In early/mid 1944, Krupp proposed new designs
of Panther based Waffentragers with 150mm sFH 18 and 128mm K 44 L/55 guns. In
October of 1944, the design of Sturmpanther armed with 150mm StuH 43/1 gun (similar to
Jagdpanther) was proposed, delayed and included on the list of planned modifications to
the Panther series (from February 20th of 1945). Rheinmetall-Borsig provided their
proposals for similar vehicles at the same time as Krupp, such as Skorpion armed with
128mm K 43 gun. Both Krupp and Rheinmetall-Borsig designs never went beyond wooden
model stage. From late 1942 to early 1944, Rheinmetall-Borsig also worked on the 88mm
Flakwagen (Versuchsflakswagen / 8.8cm Flak 41 (Sf.) Panther) based on Panther's
chassis and its components but it eventually cancelled. In 1944, Rheinmetall-Borsig
started the development of a new Flakpanzer based on Panther's chassis. It was planned
to arm it with two 37mm Flak 43 guns mounted in a fully traversible armored turret that
allowed near vertical elevation of the guns. Later models were to be armed with two 55mm
Flak guns mounted in newly designed turret. First projects with two 37mm Flak 43 (Flak
431 or Flak 44 L/57) guns was designated as Flakpanzer 341 but was also unofficially
referred to as Flakpanzer V Coelian. Wooden mock-up of the turret was made and
mounted on Panther chassis but entire program never reached the production stage.
Another project was to mount Panther with a newly design turret armed with four 20mm
guns - Flak Vierling MG 151/20. Skoda also designed very modern looking variant of
Panther armed with 105mm Raketenwerfer (rocket launcher) mounted on the fully
traversible platform in a place of the standard turret, but this design never even reached
prototype stage. Many of those interesting designs never went beyond drawing boards due
to the desperate war situation and lack of resources.
Note: From 1943 to 1945, many modifications were made to unit organization by reducing
both number of companies and platoons due to the war situation.
Monte Cassino area) and in the East (approx. 12 in Berlin). Total of 268(280) turrets was
installed as of March 26th of 1945.
In preparations for the Ardennes Offensive, around 10 Ausf Gs were converted to
resemble American Gun Motor Carriage M10 tank destroyer. The conversion was done by
welding additional metal sheets to the turret and hull along with application of US Army
camouflage and markings. Designated Ersatz (Substitute) M10, they all equipped Panzer
Brigade 150, commanded by SS-Standartenfuehrer Otto Skorzeny.
Panther in Action !
On September 13th of 1943, seven Panthers from 1st Battalion of 2nd SS Panzer
Regiment of 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich", commanded by SS Hauptsturmfuehrer
Holzer (turret number 101) fought with a group of some 70 Soviet T-34 tanks near
Kolomak. During the 20 minutes long engagement Panthers destroyed some 28 T-34
tanks without any losses.
During the battle around Siedlce on 28/29th July of 1944, 2nd Battalion of 5th SS Panzer
Regiment of 5th SS Panzer Division "Wiking", destroyed some 107 Soviet tanks (including
T-34s, Shermans and Valentines), while losing 6 tanks (one PzKpfw IV and five Panthers).
The most notable Panther ace was SS-Oberscharfuehrer Ernst Barkmann from 2nd SS
Panzer Division "Das Reich". His actions in Western Europe, especially in Normandy and
Ardennes earned him the Knight's Cross.
Panzerkampfwagen V Panther was a very successful design and two could be produced in
the same time as a single Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger tank. Panther revolutionized tank
designs and influenced post-war western tank designs and is considered to be the first
MBT (Main Battle Tank). Overall, Panther proved to be an excellent weapon when
commanded and operated by people like Ernst Barkmann. Panther was liked by its crews,
best summarized in statement by Lieutenant Berger of "Grossdeutschland" - "We were
shot three times - I owed my life to the Panther...".
After the war, many French Army tank units were equipped with Panthers (eg. 503rd Tank
Battalion in Mourmelon had 50 Panthers in 1947 and 501rd Tank Battalion used Panthers
from 1946 to 1950). Other post-war users included Bulgaria (Bulgarian Panthers),
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Yugoslavia.
After the war, modified Panther's 75mm KwK 42 L/70 gun was produced by French as
75mm DEFA and CN75-50 gun. It was used by them in a number of light tanks (eg. AMX
13) and armored cars (eg. EBR 75). Also, Israelis used the gun to upgrade their M50
Super Sherman.
Between 1949 and 1952, French also worked on AMX-50 tank, which was heavily
influenced by the Panther (and powered by Maybach engine), but it didn't enter production
in favour of American M47 Patton Medium Tank.
Panzerbeobachtungswagen Panther
Artillery observation vehicle with heavily modified turret mounting wooden dummy gun and
ball-mounted 7.92mm MG34. 41 were converted from Panthers returned for repairs in late
1944/45. Mounted with additional observation devices and other equipment, including
range-finders.
Specifications
Model:
Ausf D
Ausf G
Weight:
43000kg
45500kg
Crew:
5 men
5 men
Engine:
Speed:
Range:
Fuel Capacity:
730 litres
730 litres
Lenght:
Width:
3.40m
3.40m
Height:
2.98m
2.98m
Armament:
Ammo:
75mm - 79 rounds
7.92mm - 5100 rounds
Armor
(mm/angle):
100m
500m
1000m
1500m
2000m
Panzergranate 39/42
138mm
124mm
111mm
99mm
89mm
Panzergranate 40/42
194mm
174mm
149mm
127mm
106mm
large spade, 40 ton winch etc.), some of it especially designed. Overall, only 347 (240 Ausf
A and 107 Ausf G) along with 12 based on Ausf D were produced from June of 1943 to
March of 1945. Bergepanthers were produced by Demag(Benrath), Henschel and MAN.
Bergepanthers equipped Panther-Abteilungens (starting in August of 1943), schwere
Panzer(Tiger)-Abteilungens and schwere Panzer-Jager-Abteilungens (starting in January
of 1944) along with some independent recovery and repair units. Some Bergepanthers
had their recovery equipment removed and were modified to carry ammunition, designated
as Munitionspanzer Panther. Bergepanther was the best recovery vehicle of World War II
and after the war, some captured Bergepanthers were used by the French Army until mid
1950s.
George Parada
Copyright@1996-2007