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PANTHER
PANTHER
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80 mm thick armour at 55° deflection angle at it's upper front haul made it hard for the Allies to penetrate. While it's slopped armour provided it with good protection, the Panther's high-velocity gun was capable of piercing 140mm of armour at 1,000 yards. |
| The Panther first saw action July 1943 at the Battle of Kurst, code name "Operation Zitadelle", which became the biggest clash of armour ever. For the Panther however, this was not to be its impressive introduction. Design upgrades that were needed to accommodate increased weight from the original specifications could not be met on time so the Panther saw it's first action premature. Brake downs followed as a result. Of the 200 Panther tanks in Hoth's fourth panzer army, 160 were out of action by the end of the first day, nine days later, only 43 were in German hands. Many had broken down between the railheads and the front, others on the battlfield were left as they could not be easily towed. |
| The Panthers problems were quickly addressed and the tank ended the war with an impresive service record. It was truly an excellent design of hitting power, armour protection and mobility. Much of it's success is owed to the Russian T-34 for which it's design was much copied, however the Germans designed the Panther tank to not only be able to out duel the latest Russian armour but to remain a worthy opponent against future Russian tank developement. |
A look inside the PANTHER'S turret.
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Pzkpfw V Panther Ausf G
Here is a close up of the gunner's telescope. As destroyed by age as this tank is inside, looking into it was an incredible thought provoking experiance. |
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Top center the exhuast fan is visible as well as it's power cord hanging down. |
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Center of this picture you can see one of the racks for holding the rounds. A springed hinge is in the up position, when lowered, another set of rounds will lay above the rack here. |
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Visit the Specifications Table
to check out other detailed information about the Panther.
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A German soldiers letter home from the front during the Kursk battle. |
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Dear Kürtchen, You know me, I have never been one for losing my head or panicking. I have always believed firmly in our aims and in victory. But now I want to say goodbye to you. Don't be surprised, I really mean goodbye and forever. We attacked not that long ago. If you only knew how disgusting and horrible it was. Our soldiers went forward bravely, but the Russian devils wouldn't go back for anything, and every metre cost us the lives of our comrades...And then those Russian devils came rushing down on us, we started to back off, a real ding-dong began. We abandoned Belgorod yesterday. There aren't many of us left... only 18 in our company. But that's not so bad, there are only nine in the 2nd... God, how will it all end...I know they'll kill me, goodbye, but I don't care, what's the point of living if the war's lost and the future black? |
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Otto Richter was killed before he could post the letter. |
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