|
Panzerkampfwagen V Panther heavy tank |
|
|
|
|
In 1941 the most powerful tank mservice with the German army was thePzKpfw IV, infrequently a match for thenew Soviet T-34 tank, which appearedin small numbers on the Eastern Frontin that year. Work on a successor to thePzKpfw IV had started as far back as1937, but progress had been slow becauseof changing requirements. In1941 Henschel and Porsche had eachcompleted prototypes of new tanks inthe 30/35-tonne class designated theVK 3001(H) and VK 3001(P) respectively.These were not placed in production,and further development resultedin the Tiger (VK 4501), Late in1941 a requirement was issued for anew tank with a long barrelled 75-mm(2.95-in) gun, well-sloped armour formaximum protection within the weightlimit of the vehicle, and larger wheelsfor improved mobility. To meet this requirementDaimler-Benz submittedthe VK 3002(DB) while MAN submittedthe VK 3002(MAN). The former designwas a virtual copy of the T-34 but theMAN design was accepted. The firstprototypes of the new tank, called thePanzerkampfwagen V Panther (SdKfz171) were completed in September1942, with the first production modelscoming from the MAN factory just twomonths later. At the same time Daimler-Benz started tooling up for productionof the Panther, and in 1943 Henscheland Niedersachen were alsobrought into the programme togetherwith hundreds of sub-contractors. Itwas planned to produce 600 Panthersper month, but Allied bombing meantthat maximum production everachieved was about 330 vehicles permonth. By early 1945 just over 4,800Panthers had been built.The Panther was rushed into productionwithout proper trials, andnumerous faults soon became apparent:indeed, in the type's early daysmore Panthers were lost to mechanicalfailure than to enemy action, and consequentlythe crew's confidence in thevehicle rapidly dwindled. The vehiclefirst saw action on the Eastern Frontduring July 1943 during the Kursk battles,and from then on it was used on allfronts. Once the mechanical problemshad been overcome confidence in thetank soon built up again, and manyconsider the Panther to be the best allround German tank of World War II. Inthe immediate post-war period theFrench army used a number of Panthertanks until more modern tanks wereavailable. First production models were of thePzKpfw V Ausf A type, and were reallypre-prodution vehicles; the PzKpfw VAusf B and PzKpfw Ausf C were neverplaced in production. Later modelswere the PzKpfw V Ausf D followed forsome reason by another PzKpfw VAusf A, which was widely used in Normandy,and finally by the PzKpfw VAusf G. Variants of the Panther includedan observation post vehicle(Beobachtungspanzer Panther), ARV,Jagdpanther tank destroyer, and commandvehicle (Befehlspanzer Panther),while some were disguised to resembleMIO tank detroyers during theBattle of the Bulge.Main armament of the Panther was along barrelled 75-mm (2.95-in) gun forwhich 79 rounds of ammunition werecarried. Mounted co-axial with themain armament was a 7,92-mm (0.31-in) MG34 machine-gun, while a similarweapon was mounted in the hull frontand another on the turret roof for antiaircraftdefence. SpecificationPzKpfw V Panther Ausf ACrew: 4Weight: 45500 kg (100,310 lb)Dimensions: length (includingarmament) 8.86 m (29 ft 0,75 in); length(hull) 6.88 m (22 ft 7 in); width3.43 m(11 ft 3 in); height 3.10 m (10 ft 2 in)Powerplant: one Maybach HL 230 P 3012-cylinder diesel engine developing700 hp (522 kW)Performance: maximum road speedGerman armour, committedpiecemeal, could not stop the Alliedinvasion of Europe. Here a Pantherburns after being hit by British an titank weapons.46 km/h (29 mph); maximum roadrange 177 km (110 miles); fording1.70 m (5 ft 7 in); gradient 60 per cent;vertical obstacle 0.91 m (3 ft 0 in); trench 1.91m (6 ft 3 in)
|
