NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Panther tank

The Panther (listen (help· info)) was a tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. It was intended as a counter to the T-34, and to replace the Panzer IV and III, though it served along with them and the heavy tanks until the end of the war. The Panther's excellent combination of firepower, mobility, and protection served as a benchmark for other nations' late war and immediate post-war tank designs and it is frequently regarded (along with the Soviet T-34-85) as the best tank design of World War II. This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Countershaded Ibex are almost invisible in the Israeli desert. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany_1933. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany_1933. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... MAN AG (formerly called Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-NÃ¼rnberg AG, ISIN: DE0005937007) is a German transportation company. ... Military vehicles are commonly armoured to withstand the impact of shrapnel, bullets or shells, protecting the soldiers inside from enemy fire. ... The 7. ... The 8 mm Mauser cartridge next to a United States 5 cent coin. ... The Maschinengewehr 34, or MG 34, was a German machine gun that was first produced and accepted for service in 1934, and first issued to units in 1935. ... Gasoline, as it is known in North America, or petrol, in many Commonwealth countries (sometimes also called motor spirit) is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting primarily of hydrocarbons, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ... Several Maybach 57 and 62 models at the 2005 Concours dElegance in Pebble Beach, CA. Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH (IPA: ), founded by Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl, was a German manufacturer of engines for Zeppelins and later, large and luxurious automobiles. ... The HL230 is a water-cooled 60Â° V12 gasoline engine designed by Maybach. ... A torsion spring is a ribbon, bar, or coil that reacts against twisting motion. ... The Panther ( ) was a tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. ... Image File history File links De-Panther-pronunciation. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945and died 2007 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank first produced in 1940. ... The Panzerkampfwagen IV (PzKpfw IV), more commonly referred to as the Panzer IV, was a tank developed by Germany and used extensively in World War II. It was designed initially as an infantry-support medium tank, to work in conjunction with the anti-tank Pzkpfw III. Later in the war... The Panzerkampfwagen III (PzKpfw III), more commonly referred to as the Panzer III, was a tank developed in the 1930s by Nazi Germany and used extensively in World War II. It was designed to fight other armoured fighting vehicles, serving alongside the infantry-support Panzer IV. It soon became obsolete... Soviet redirects here. ... The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank first produced in 1940. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Until 1944 it was designated as the Panzerkampfwagen V Panther and had the Ordnance inventory designation of Sd.Kfz. 171. On 27 February 1944, Hitler ordered that the Roman numeral V be deleted from the tank's designation. 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... February 27 is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945, standard German pronunciation in the IPA) was the Führer (leader) of the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party) and of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. ...

Development and production

The Panther was a direct response to the Soviet T-34. First encountered on 23 June 1941, the T-34 decisively outclassed the existing Panzer IV and Panzer III. At the insistence of General Heinz Guderian a team was dispatched to the Eastern Front to assess the T-34. Among the features of the Soviet tank considered most significant were the sloping armor, which gave much improved shot deflection and also increased the apparent armor thickness against penetration, the wide track and large road wheels which improved mobility over soft ground, and the 76.2mm gun, which had good armour penetration and fired an effective high-explosive round. Daimler-Benz (DB) and Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg AG (MAN) were tasked with designing a new thirty to thirty-five-tone tank, designated VK3002, by April 1942 (apparently in time to be shown to Hitler for his birthday). The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank first produced in 1940. ... is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... The Panzerkampfwagen IV (PzKpfw IV), more commonly referred to as the Panzer IV, was a tank developed by Germany and used extensively in World War II. It was designed initially as an infantry-support medium tank, to work in conjunction with the anti-tank Pzkpfw III. Later in the war... The Panzerkampfwagen III (PzKpfw III), more commonly referred to as the Panzer III, was a tank developed in the 1930s by Nazi Germany and used extensively in World War II. It was designed to fight other armoured fighting vehicles, serving alongside the infantry-support Panzer IV. It soon became obsolete... Heinz Wilhelm Guderian (17 June 1888 â€“ 14 May 1954) was a military theorist and innovative General of the German Army during the Second World War. ... The force bearing on the axle has an eccentricity e with the point of contact to the rolling surface and exerts a moment about the contact point. ... A gun is a common name given to an object that fires high-velocity projectiles. ... Daimler-Benz AG was founded on May 1, 1924 by the merger of Benz & Cie. ... MAN AG (formerly called Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-NÃ¼rnberg AG, ISIN: DE0005937007) is a German transportation company. ... Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945, standard German pronunciation in the IPA) was the Führer (leader) of the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party) and of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. ...

The two proposals were delivered in April 1942. The Daimler-Benz (DB) design was a direct homage to the T-34, side-stepping the German propensity for over-engineering and, hence, complexity, to produce a clean, simple design resembling the T-34 in hull and turret form, diesel engine, drive system, leaf spring suspension, track layout, and other features. In the DB design, like the T-34 design, the internal crew layout provided for two men: the commander would also have to serve as the gunner. This provided the advantage of a smaller, inexpensive turret design, as well as manpower savings, and a smaller target for enemy gunners to hit during a battle. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... A hull is the body or frame of a ship or boat. ... Turret (highlighted) attached to a tower on a baronial building in Scotland In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects from the wall of a building, such as a medieval castle or baronial house. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The front suspension components of a Ford Model T. Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. ...

The MAN design was more conventional German thinking: it was higher and wider with a substantial turret placed centrally on the hull, a petrol engine, torsion-bar suspension, and a characteristically German internal crew layout for three men: commander, gunner, and loader. The MAN design was accepted in May, 1942 in spite of Hitler's preference for the DB design. One of the principal reasons for this was that the MAN design used an existing turret designed by Rheinmetall-Borsig while the DB design would have required a brand new turret to be designed and produced, substantially delaying the commencement of production. Gasoline, as it is known in North America, or petrol, in many Commonwealth countries (sometimes also called motor spirit) is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting primarily of hydrocarbons, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ... Rheinmetall AG is a German automotive and defense company with factories in DÃ¼sseldorf, Kassel and UnterlÃ¼ÃŸ. It has a long tradition of making guns and artillery pieces. ...

A mild steel prototype was produced by September 1942 and, after testing at Kummersdorf, was officially accepted. It was put into immediate production with the very highest priority. The start of production was delayed, however, mainly because there were too few specialized machine tools needed for the machining of the hull. Finished tanks were produced in December and suffered from reliability problems as a result of this haste. The demand for this tank was so high that the manufacturing was soon expanded out of MAN to include Daimler-Benz and in 1943 the firms of Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen-Hannover (MNH) and Henschel & Sohn in Kassel. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with prototyping. ... Kummersdorf is the name of an estate near Luckenwalde at 52°05 N and 13°20 E, around 25km south of Berlin, in the Brandenburg region of Germany. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Henschel & Son (Henschel & Sohn) was German company, situated in Kassel. ...

The initial production target was 250 tanks per month at MAN. This was increased to 600 per month in January 1943. Despite determined efforts this figure was never reached due to disruption by Allied bombing, manufacturing bottlenecks, and other difficulties. Production in 1943 averaged 148 per month. In 1944, it averaged 315 a month (3,777 having been built that year), peaking with 380 in July and ending around the end of March 1945, with at least 6,000 built in total. Strength peaked on September 1, 1944 at 2,304 tanks, but that same month a record number of 692 tanks were reported lost (source: T.L. Jentz (1999) Die deutsche Panzertruppe Band 2). Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Look up ally in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

Design characteristics

If the over-hanging gun and sloping armor are ignored, the Panther was a conventional German design. The tank's weight had increased to 43 tonnes from the planned 35. A tonne or metric ton (symbol t), sometimes referred to as a metric tonne, is a measurement of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms. ...

The Panther was the first Axis tank design where modern features were more prominent than early WWII-era ones. The rule-of-thumb among Allied tank crews of Sherman-to-Panther ratio was 5:1 & T-34-to-Panther ratio was 9:1.^{[citation needed]} Once the problems caused by the vulnerability of the engine and the transmission were solved, it proved to be a very effective fighting vehicle, being as effective as heavier Allied tanks.

Engine

The Panther was powered by a 690 hp/3000 rpm 6.24 gallon Maybach HL 230 P30 V-12 petrol engine that drove two front drive sprockets via the gearbox and steering unit. The engine was generally considered reliable, and had a fatigue life of up to 1136 miles. In order to minimize engine failures, the Panther engines were fitted with a governor in late 1943 that limited the engine revolutions to 2500 rpm and power to 592 hp. The installation of the governor also dropped the tank's top speed from 31.25 mph to 26.13 mph. Several Maybach 57 and 62 models at the 2005 Concours dElegance in Pebble Beach, CA. Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH (IPA: ), founded by Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl, was a German manufacturer of engines for Zeppelins and later, large and luxurious automobiles. ... The HL230 is a water-cooled 60Â° V12 gasoline engine designed by Maybach. ...

Suspension

The suspension consisted of front drive sprockets, rear idlers and eight double-interleaved rubberized steel bogie wheels on each side, suspended on a dual torsion bar suspension that had two torsion bars per each swing arm. The Panther's suspension was costly and time-consuming to manufacture.

Steering

Tank control was accomplished through a seven-speed AK 7-200 synchromesh gearbox, designed by ZF, and a MAN single radius steering system, operated by steering levers. The steering system allowed a single, fixed radius of turn at each gear. The higher the gear, the bigger was the turning radius. If the radius was bigger than desired, the steering brakes could be used to tighten the turn. A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ...

The weakest parts in the tank were, throughout its career, the final drive units. The main reason for this was that the units could not be manufactured using hollow gears, due to the shortage of suitable gear-cutting machinery in Germany during the war. The final drives were in fact so weak that their fatigue life was sometimes as low as 85 miles.

Crew

The crew was made up of five members: driver, radio operator (who also fired the bow machine gun), gunner, loader, and commander.

Armor

The armor consisted of a thick homogeneous steel glacis (ie frontal hull) plate sloped back at 55 degrees from the vertical, welded but also interlocked for strength. The combination of thick 80mm armor with a high degree of slope made the Panther's glacis armor extremely effective: very few Allied or Soviet weapons could penetrate it. The front of the turret was covered by a 100mm thick cast mantlet, made in the shape of a semi-circle. The curved shape of the mantlet meant that it was more likely to deflect shells. But it was discovered that the rounded mantlet created a shot-trap: if a non-penetrating hit bounced downwards off the lower mantlet, it could penetrate the thin forward hull roof armor, and plunge down into the front crew compartment. Penetrations of this nature could have had catastrophic results since the the front crew compartment housed the driver and radio operator sitting along both sides of the massive gearbox and steering unit combination, topped with the radio equipment. From September 1944, a redesigned mantlet with a much thicker "chin" design was fitted to the Panther G, the chin being intended to prevent such deflections.

The main weakness of the Panther tank was its much thinner (40-50mm thick) side armor. The thinner side armor was necessary to keep the tank's overall weight within reasonable bounds, but it made the Panther vulnerable to attacks from the side by most Allied and Soviet tank and anti-tank guns. German tactical doctrine for the use of the Panther thus emphasised the importance of flank protection. Five millimeter skirt armor, Schürzen, intended to provide protection for the lower side hull from Soviet anti-tank rifle fire was fitted on the hull side. Zimmerit ceramic coating against magnetic mines also became standard with the Ausf. A, and retrofitted to older versions until deleted from new Panthers from about September 1944. Zimmerit was an anti-magnetic mine coating produced for German armored fighting vehicles during World War II. It was created by the German company Chemische Werke Zimmer AG. The coating worked by providing a non-conducting, irregular surface that would reduce the area of contact between a mine and the...

Armament

The main gun was a semi-automatic 75 Rheinmetall-Borsig KwK 42 (L/70) with 79 rounds (82 on Ausf. G). The main gun used three different types of ammunition, APCBC-HE (Pzgr. 39/42), HE (Sprgr. 42) and APCR (Pzgr. 40/42), the last of which was usually in short supply. While the gun was of only average caliber for its time, nonetheless, the Panther's gun was one of the most powerful tank guns of WWII, due to the large propellant charge and the long barrel, which gave it a very high muzzle velocity and excellent armor-piercing qualities. The flat trajectory also made hitting targets much easier, since accuracy was less sensitive to range. The 75mm gun actually had more penetrating power than the 88 mm KwK 36 gun, although not the 88 mm KwK 43 fitted to the Jagdpanther, in which the weapon was known as the 88mm cm Pak 43/3. Image File history File links Panther_g_axb01. ... Image File history File links Panther_g_axb01. ... Rheinmetall AG is a German automotive and defense company with factories in DÃ¼sseldorf, Kassel and UnterlÃ¼ÃŸ. It has a long tradition of making guns and artillery pieces. ... A shell is a projectile, which, as opposed to a bullet, is not solid but contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage includes large projectiles without a filling which are properly termed shot. ... A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to a bullet, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage includes large solid projectiles previously termed shot (AP, APCR, APCNR, APDS, APFSDS and Proof shot). ... A shell is a projectile, which, as opposed to a bullet, is not solid but contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage includes large projectiles without a filling which are properly termed shot. ... A guns muzzle velocity is the speed at which the projectile leaves the muzzle of the gun. ... Mathematically the term trajectory refers to the ordered set of states which are assumed by a dynamical system over time (see e. ... The Jagdpanther (Hunting Panther) was a tank destroyer built by Germany during World War II based on the chassis of the Panther tank. ...

The tank had normally two MG 34 machine guns of a specific version designed for use in armored combat vehicles featuring an armored barrel sleeve. An MG 34 machine gun was located co-axially with the main gun on the gun mantlet; an identical MG 34 was located on the glacis plate and fired by the radio operator. Initial Ausf D and early Ausf A models used a 'letterbox' flap opening, through which the machine gun was fired. Later Ausf A and all Ausf G models use a more conventional ball mount in the glacis for this machine gun. The Ausf A introduced a new cast commander's cupola. It featured a steel hoop to which a third MG 34 or either the coaxial or the bow machine gun could be mounted for use in the anti-aircraft role, though it was rare for this to be used in actual combat situations. The Maschinengewehr 34, or MG 34, was a German machine gun that was first produced and accepted for service in 1934, and first issued to units in 1935. ... The Maschinengewehr 34, or MG 34, was a German machine gun that was first produced and accepted for service in 1934, and first issued to units in 1935. ...

Combat use

The Panther was intended to supplement the Panzer IV and replace the Panzer III medium tanks. Each German Panzer (armored) Division had two tank battalions; the intent was to equip one battalion in each division with Panthers, retaining the lighter, older, but still useful Panzer IV in the other battalion. Beginning in mid-1943, battalions were gradually converted to Panthers. The Panzerkampfwagen IV (PzKpfw IV), more commonly referred to as the Panzer IV, was a tank developed by Germany and used extensively in World War II. It was designed initially as an infantry-support medium tank, to work in conjunction with the anti-tank Pzkpfw III. Later in the war... The Panzerkampfwagen III (PzKpfw III), more commonly referred to as the Panzer III, was a tank developed in the 1930s by Nazi Germany and used extensively in World War II. It was designed to fight other armoured fighting vehicles, serving alongside the infantry-support Panzer IV. It soon became obsolete...

The Panther first saw action at Kursk on July 5, 1943. Early tanks were plagued with mechanical problems: the track and suspension often broke, and the engine was dangerously prone to overheating and bursting into flames. At Kursk, more Panthers were disabled by their own failings than by enemy action. For example, the XLVIII Panzer Corps reported on July 10, 1943, that they had 38 Panthers operational and 131 awaiting repair, out of about 200 they had started with on July 5. Heinz Guderian, who had not wanted Hitler to order them into combat so soon, later remarked about the early Panther's performance in the battle: "they burnt too easily, the fuel and oil systems were insufficiently protected, and the crews were lost due to lack of training." Guderian also stated, however, that the firepower and frontal armor were good. While many of the Panthers used at Kursk were damaged or suffered from mechanical difficulties, only a small number were lost for good and the tanks also achieved success, destroying 263 Soviet tanks. Combatants Germany Soviet Union Commanders Erich von Manstein GÃ¼nther von Kluge Hermann Hoth Walther Model Georgiy Zhukov Konstantin Rokossovskiy Nikolay Vatutin Ivan Konyev Strength 2,700 tanks 800,000 infantry 2,000 aircraft 3,600 tanks 1,300,000 infantry and supporting troops 2,400 aircraft Casualties German Kursk... is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

After Kursk, the tanks suffering from damage or mechanical breakdowns were repaired and the inherent design problems of the early Ausf. D models were fixed, making the Panther a truly formidable tank. Later in 1943 and, especially, into 1944 Panthers appeared in increasing numbers on the Soviet-German front. By June 1944, Panthers were about one-half of the German tank strength both in the east and the west. The Panther was increasingly commonly encountered by Allied forces and by the end of the war it was the third most produced German armored fighting vehicle.

Perhaps the best known German Panther commander was SS-Oberscharführer Ernst Barkmann of the 2nd SS-Panzer Division "Das Reich". Ernst Barkmann, circa 1944, with several combat decorations and badges Ernst Barkmann (25 August 1919 - ) was a German Waffen-SS soldier and panzer ace. ...

The Allied response

The Soviet response to the large numbers of Panthers on their front was swift. In 1943 the Red Army was still equipped with T-34 tanks armed with the same 76.2mm gun as in 1941. This gun was ineffective against the Panther's frontal armor, meaning the Soviet tanks had to try to flank the Panther to be able to successfully destroy it, while the Panther's main gun could penetrate the T-34 at long range from any angle. Plans were made to improve the T-34 with an 85mm gun and new and more spacious three-man turret, producing the T-34-85. Although this tank was not quite the equal of the Panther, it was much better than the 76.2mm-armed versions and made up for its quality shortcomings by being produced in greater quantities than the Panther. New self-propelled anti-tank vehicles based on the T-34 hull, such as the SU-85 and SU-100, were also developed. By mid-1944, the Red Army was deploying far more T-34-85s than the Germans had Panthers. The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank first produced in 1940. ... The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank credited by some armor analysts to be the best and most influential tank of the Second World War. ... The SU-85 was a Soviet self-propelled gun used during World War II. History The SU-85 was based on the earlier SU-122, which itself was based on the T-34. ... The SU-100 was a Soviet self-propelled gun used during World War II. // History The SU-100 was developed as an improvement to the SU-85, with a more powerful gun. ...

A German comparison of German tanks with the new Soviet T-34-85 and IS-2 heavy tank (with a 122mm gun), from March 23, 1944, stated that "the Panther is far superior to the T-34/85 for frontal fire (Panther Ausf G could penetrate frontal armor of T-34/85 at 6,000 ft, while T-34/85 could penetrate frontal armor of Panther Ausf G at 2,500 ft), approximately equal for side and rear fire, superior to the IS-2 for frontal fire and inferior for side and rear fire." In 1943 and 1944, a Panther was able to destroy any Allied enemy tank in existence at ranges of 6,000 ft, while in general veteran Panther crews reported a 90 percent hit rate at ranges up to 3,000 ft. The Panther weighed about as much as the new Soviet IS-2 heavy tank, and indeed this vehicle is a closer match than the much lighter T-34. The Iosef Stalin tank, named after Joseph Stalin, was a heavy tank developed by the Soviet Union during World War II. It is sometimes transliterated Iosif Stalin, from the Russian, Иосиф Сталин. The tanks in the series are also sometimes called... March 23 is the 82nd day of the year (83rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... The Iosef Stalin tank, named after Joseph Stalin, was a heavy tank developed by the Soviet Union during World War II. It is sometimes transliterated Iosif Stalin, from the Russian, Иосиф Сталин. The tanks in the series are also sometimes called...

The Western Allies' response was inconsistent. The Panther was not employed against the western Allies until early 1944 at Anzio, where Panthers were employed in small numbers. The Panther was thought to be another heavy tank that would not be built in large numbers. Thus the US Army entered the Battle of Normandy expecting to face a handful of German heavy tanks alongside large numbers of Panzer IVs. In fact almost half the German tanks in Normandy were Panthers and the 75 mm guns of the US Sherman tanks could not penetrate their frontal armor. // Anzio is a city and resort on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about 33 miles south of Rome. ... It has been suggested that Northern France Campaign (1944) be merged into this article or section. ... WWII foreign variants and use: Lend-Lease Sherman tanks Post-WWII foreign variants and use: Postwar Sherman tanks The Medium Tank M4 was the primary tank produced by the United States for its own use and the use of its Allies during World War II. Production of the M4 Medium...

US forces eventually responded with large numbers of 76mm-armed Shermans, 90mm-armed tank destroyers, and eventually the Pershing heavy tank. Even with these better weapons it was still difficult to penetrate the frontal armor of the Panther. According to US Army Ground Forces statistics, destruction of a single Panther was achieved after destruction of an average of five M4 Shermans^{[citation needed]} The Heavy Tank M26 Pershing was an American tank used during World War II and the Korean War. ...

British forces responded to the heavier German tanks with the 76mm gun mounted in the Sherman (the Sherman Firefly), as well as towed 76mm Guns. By the conclusion of the Normandy campaign, British forces were fielding roughly a 1:4 ratio of Fireflys to 75mm Shermans in their tank units. Eventually they deployed the Comet tank in 1945. The Sherman Firefly (M4A4 VC Firefly) was a British variation of the M4 Sherman tank, fitted with the more powerful 17 pounder main gun. ... The Tank, Cruiser, Comet I (A34) was a British tank that first saw use near the end of World War II. // Combat experience against the Germans in the Western Desert Campaign demonstrated to the British the inferiority of their tanks. ...

The Panther remained a major German tank until the end of the war. Later versions of the Panzer IV with long 75mm KwK 40 L/48 guns were slightly cheaper to produce and more reliable, and so they remained in production alongside the Panther. However, the main reason for the prolonged Panzer IV production was that the reorganization of the German tank industry to manufacture Panthers rather than Panzer IVs would have resulted in such a temporary decrease in overall tank production that it would have been unbearable for Germany when the tide of war had already turned. The Panzerkampfwagen IV (PzKpfw IV), more commonly referred to as the Panzer IV, was a tank developed by Germany and used extensively in World War II. It was designed initially as an infantry-support medium tank, to work in conjunction with the anti-tank Pzkpfw III. Later in the war... The 7. ...

Around the time of the Battle of the Bulge, a number of Panther tanks were disguised to look roughly like an M10 Wolverine by welding on additional plates, applying US-style camouflage paint and markings. This was carried out as part of a larger operation that involved paradropping soldiers disguised as Americans, and other activities. These deception attempts were uniformly unsuccessful and the disguised Panthers were detected and destroyed. Combatants United States United Kingdom Germany Commanders Dwight D. Eisenhower Bernard Montgomery Omar N. Bradley George S. Patton, Jr. ... The M10 Gun Motor Carriage known as Wolverine in British service was a US tank destroyer of World War II. // Usage American doctrine planned for tank destroyers to engage enemy tanks while tanks were used principally to support infantry. ...

Captured Panthers proved to be extremely popular vehicles among Soviet troops, who received them as rewards for extraordinary achievements in combat, and who sought to keep them in service as long as possible, contrary to regulations that captured Panthers should not be repaired but abandoned and destroyed after mechanical failure. Even the humorous instruction manual for German Panther crews, called the Pantherfibel (Panther Primer), was translated into Russian and provided to crews of captured Panthers^{[citation needed]}.

Further development

Design work on the Panther II began in February 1943. The main aim was to secure maximum interchangeability of parts with the Tiger II heavy tank in order to ease manufacturing. The Panther II had a hull similar to the Tiger Ausf. B, and also shared identical wheels, track, suspension and brakes. One of the parts to be changed was the gun-mantlet, which had to become smaller. This was referred to in German as Turm mit schmaler Blende (narrow-mantlet turret). Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Tiger II is the common name of a a German heavy tank of the Second World War. ...

The Panther II project never got further than one single chassis, that now can be seen in the Patton Museum.

The only other significant differences between the Panther and the Panther II were running gear, and increased armor protection. The turret was exactly the same on both types. The Panther II was only designed with the 75mm KwK L/70 in mind, and the 88mm KwK L/71 idea didn't enter into consideration after the Panther II project had been dropped.

Later in the war, in March 1944, work started again on a Panther turret with a smaller forward aspect. This led to the development of the Schmalturm (narrow turret). In August a Versuchsturm (trials turret) was completed. This was mounted on the chassis of a regular Panther Ausf. G. The Schmalturm featured thicker armour, a built-in stereoscopic rangefinder, the capability to carry the 88mm KwK L/71 and eliminated the shot-trap under the mantle, but weighed less than the original turret. A partially destroyed example of a production Schmalturm still exists, and is on display at the Bovington Tank Museum. British Mark V; one of the few WWI tanks still in working order. ...

In that same period, development of the Panther led to the Ausf. F, slated for production in April 1945. The key points for this mark of Panther were the new Schmalturm with its improved armor protection, and an extended front hull roof which was also slightly thicker. A number of Ausf. F hulls were built at Daimler-Benz and Ruhrstahl-Hattingen steelworks; however there is no evidence that any completed Ausf F saw service before the end of the war.

Designs based on chassis

The Jagdpanther (Hunting Panther) was a tank destroyer built by Germany during World War II based on the chassis of the Panther tank. ... The Maschinengewehr 34, or MG 34, was a German machine gun that was first produced and accepted for service in 1934, and first issued to units in 1935. ...

Production

Panther use after the Second World War

After 1945, fifty Panther tanks had been used by French 503e Régiment de Chars de Combat stationed in Mourmelon le Grand. Before the end of 1950, the Panther tanks had been replaced by French-built ARL 44 heavy tanks. Year 1945and died 2007 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The ARL 44 was a French Tank used after World War 2. ... Tank classification can be done either by weight or by role. ...

Surviving Vehicles

Twenty-four Panthers survive in reasonably good condition. Three - held by the Kubinka_Tank_Museum in Russia, the Musée des Blindés in France and the Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung in Koblenz, Germany - are in running condition. A fourth, in the United States Army Ordnance Museum, is currently being restored to running condition. The Kubinka Tank Museum also known as The Tank Museum in Kubinka is a large Armoured fighting vehicle museum in Russia, just outside Moscow. ... Located in the Loire Valley of France at the city of Saumur, the MusÃ©e des BlindÃ©es or MusÃ©e GÃ©nÃ©ral Estienne is one of the worlds leading tank museums. ... Map of the Koblenz region Koblenz (also Coblenz in pre-1926 German spellings; French Coblence) is a city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck (German Corner) and its monument ( Emperor William I on horseback) are situated. ... The U.S. Army Ordnance Museum is a museum located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, in Aberdeen, Maryland. ...

Extended Specification

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1280x957, 144 KB) Reiceived e-mail authorisation, as per request, by the author, on 2006-10-16. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1280x957, 144 KB) Reiceived e-mail authorisation, as per request, by the author, on 2006-10-16. ... A torsion spring is a ribbon, bar, or coil that reacts against twisting motion. ... Gasoline or petrol is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting mostly of hydrocarbons and enhanced with benzene or iso-octane to increase octane ratings, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ...

External links

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... The Wikimedia Commons (also called Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ...

References

June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Categories: Articles with unsourced statements since April 2007 | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | Articles with unsourced statements since March 2007 | Medium tanks | World War II German tanks Tanks Panzer I The Panzer I wasnt intended as a combat vehicle, but more to familiarise industry and the army with tanks. ... The Panzerkampfwagen I, or Sonderkraftfahrzeug (SdKfz) 191, abbreviated PzKpfw I and more commonly referred to as the Panzer I, was a light tank produced by Germany in the 1930s. ... The Panzer II was a German tank used in World War II. Designed as a stopgap while other tanks were developed, it played an important role in the early years of World War II, during the Polish and French campaigns. ... The Panzerkampfwagen III (PzKpfw III), more commonly referred to as the Panzer III, was a tank developed in the 1930s by Nazi Germany and used extensively in World War II. It was designed to fight other armoured fighting vehicles, serving alongside the infantry-support Panzer IV. It soon became obsolete... The Panzerkampfwagen IV (PzKpfw IV), more commonly referred to as the Panzer IV, was a tank developed by Germany and used extensively in World War II. It was designed initially as an infantry-support medium tank, to work in conjunction with the anti-tank Pzkpfw III. Later in the war... The Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. ... Tiger II is the common name of a a German heavy tank of the Second World War. ... The LT-35 or LT vz. ... The Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) was a Czechoslovakian tank used by Germany during World War II. (The Czechoslovak military designation was LT-38. ... A U.S. M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer Self-propelled artillery (also called mobile artillery or locomotive artillery) vehicles are a way of giving mobility to artillery. ... The Wespe (German for wasp) was a German self-propelled artillery vehicle during World War II based on the Panzer II tank. ... The Hummel (‘Bumble Bee’) was a self-propelled artillery unit based on the Geschutzwagen III/IV chassis, armed with a 150 mm howitzer. ... The Grille series of self propelled artillery vehicles were used by Germany during World War II. The Grille series was based on the Czech Panzer 38(t) tank and used a 15 cm sIG 33 infantry gun. ... Panzerwerfer alias Maultier Panzerwerfer is the name for two different types of half-tracked multiple rocket launchers employed by Germany during the Second World War. ... The sIG 33 (schwere InfanterieGeschÃ¼tz 33) was a German 150 mm close support gun used in the Second World War. ... The Wurfrahmen 40 was a German World War II artillery unit. ... German StuG III with high-velocity 75 mm gun, 1943 An assault gun is a gun or howitzer mounted on a motor vehicle or armored chassis, designed for use in the direct fire role in support of infantry when attacking other infantry or fortified positions. ... The SturmgeschÃ¼tz III (StuG III) assault gun was Germanys most produced armoured fighting vehicle during World War II. It was built on the chassis of the Panzer III tank. ... The SturmgeschÃ¼tz IV (SdKfz 167) was a German amoured fighting vehicle of the Second World War. ... The SturmgeschÃ¼tz III (StuG III) assault gun was Germanys most produced armoured fighting vehicle during World War II. It was built on the chassis of the Panzer III tank. ... General characteristics Length 5. ... The Tiger-MÃ¶rser, 38 cm RW61 auf Sturm(panzer)mÃ¶rser Tiger, or SturmmÃ¶rser Tiger, more commonly known as the Sturmtiger or Sturmpanzer VI, was a World War II German assault gun built on the Panzer VI Tiger I chassis armed with a large naval mortar, the 38cm... A self-propelled anti-tank gun, or tank destroyer, is a type of armoured fighting vehicle. ... The first of many tank destroyers, the PanzerjÃ¤ger I (tank hunter I) was based on the chassis of the Panzer I ausf B and was armed with the Skoda 47 mm Pak L/43 anti-tank gun. ... Marder I on Tracteur Blinde 37L chassis The Marder I was a German World War II tank destroyer, armed with a 75 mm anti tank gun. ... The Marder II was a German tank destroyer of World War II based on the Panzer II chassis. ... The Marder III is the name for a series of World War II German tank destroyers built on the chassis of the Panzer 38(t). ... Polish-seized Hetzer on a baricade during the Warsaw Uprising Based on the Czech Panzer 38(t) chassis Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer was an excellent tank destroyer: it was better armoured than the earlier Panzerjäger (60 mm sloped armour at 60 degrees, giving a equivalence of about 180 mm... Jagdpanzer IV/48 Jagdpanzer IV/70 (V) Jagdpanzer IV/70 (A) Prototype The Jagdpanzer IV, Sd. ... The Jagdpanther (Hunting Panther) was a tank destroyer built by Germany during World War II based on the chassis of the Panther tank. ... Nashorn (Ger. ... The Jagdtiger (SdKfz 186) (Ger. ... The PanzerjÃ¤ger Tiger (P) Elefant (Sd. ... M3 Half-track A half-track is a civilian or military vehicle with regular wheels on the front for steering, and caterpillar tracks on the back to propel the vehicle and carry most of the load. ... Polish armored car Ursus which saw combat during the Polish-German War of 1939. ... The SdKfz 4 Gleissketten-Lastkraftwagen (track chain truck) or Maultier was a family of halftracks developed in the The Second World War by Germany which, between 1933 and 1945, was the leader in production of these vehicles [1]. The SdKfz 4 was developed after the 1941 invasion of Russia as... In World War II, the SdKfz 6 was a large half track for towing artillery pieces. ... The SdKfz 7 is a half-track military vehicle used by the German Army in WWII. SdKfz 7 Development of the SdKfz 7 can be traced back to a 1934 requirement for an eight-tonne (7. ... The SdKfz 10 was a German half-track that saw limited use in World War II, it could carry eight infantry and tow anti-tank guns. ... The SdKfz 11 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 11) is a half-track military vehicle used by the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War. ... The SdKfz 250 was an armoured half track, similar in appearance to the larger Sdkfz 251, used by Nazi Germany in World War II. The 250 had 4 roadwheel axles, compared to 6 for the 251. ... Sd. ... The SdKfz 252 leichte Gepanzerte Munitionskraftwagen was an Axis powers armoured ammunition half-track used in France in 1940. ... SdKfz 253 leichter Gepanzerter Beobachtungskraftwagen was a German light observation vehicle that was used by artillery forward observers to accompany tank and mechanized infantry units. ... The Sdkfz 254 was a german fully tracked scout car during WWII From 1936, the RK-7 was developed by Saurer as an artillery tractor for the Austrian army. ... The Leichter PanzerspÃ¤hwagen (roughly Light Amoured Reconnaissance Vehicle) were a series of light 4 x 4 armoured cars produced by Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1944. ... The term Schwere PanzerspÃ¤hwagen (Heavy Armoured Vehicle), covers the 6 and 8 wheel armoured cars Germany used in World War II. In the German Army, armoured cars were intended for the vital role of reconnaissance, scouting ahead of the Panzer tank units to assess enemy strength and intentions. ... The ADGZ was original developed as a heavy armoured car for the Austrian army from 1934 and delivered from 1935-37. ... A self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon (SPAA, also self-propelled air defense, SPAD) is an anti-aircraft gun or surface-to-air missile launcher mounted on a mobile vehicle chassis. ... The Flakpanzer IV (Sd. ... Wirbelwind at CFB Borden Wirbelwind at CFB Borden The Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind (Whirlwind in German) was an anti-aircraft vehicle based on the Panzer IV. It was developed in 1944 as a successor to the earlier AA tank MÃ¶belwagen. ... The Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz was a German anti-aircraft (AA) tank from World War II, which was still at the prototype stage at the end of the war. ... History The Flakpanzer (shortened from Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer) 38(t) was designed around the chassis of the Czech-built LT-38 tracked vehicle and was first built in 1943, entering limited service in 1944. ... The Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus (Sd. ... The Entwicklung series, more commonly known as the E- series, was a late-World War II attempt by Germany to produce a standarised series of tank designs. ... The Panther ( ) was a tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. ... // The WaffentrÃ¤ger, or Weasels, 1 is, with only 2. ... The German Neubaufahrzeug series of tank prototypes were a first attempt to create a heavy tank for the Wehrmacht after Adolf Hitler had come to power. ... The 12. ... The German Panzerkampfwagen VII LÃ¶we (Lion) was a WW II design by Krupp to give the Germans a superheavy tank. ... The Panzerkampfwagen IX and Panzerkampfwagen X were theoretical projects using the latest developments of Panzerkapfwagen Armors, intended to enter in action in 1946-47. ... The Panzerkampfwagen IX and Panzerkampfwagen X were theoretical projects using the latest developments of Panzerkapfwagen Armors, intended to enter in action in 1946-47. ... The Landkreuzer P. 1000 Ratte (Rat) was to have been an extremely large tank for use by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was designed in 1942 by Krupp with the approval of Adolf Hitler, but the project was canceled by Albert Speer in early 1943 and none were... The Landkreuzer P 1500 Monster was a German pre-prototype ultra heavy tank designed during World War II - representing the apex of the Nazis extreme tank designs. ... This article lists German AFV production during World War II. Where figures for production in 1939 are given, they refer to September 1939 onwards; that is, they only count wartime production. ...

Contents

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