Pzkpfw V Panther its variants.

[CharlesBronson]

Honestly I dont have a clue why they did that, I suppose they had a spare Panther chassis and a spare Pz IV turret so they think...why not? and married it.

And yes the Pz IV ausf G turret used a K.w.K 40 75 mmm gun with 48 calibres in lenght.

 

[B-17engineer]

Very good info CB

 

[CharlesBronson]

Thank you.

Panther Combat and Experience Report on the Action near Wilkowischken

Narration of the combat who took place from 9 to 11 August 1944 by Oberfeldwebel Heinz Bergmann of the 4. Kompanie/Panzer-Regiment 26 (Extract from T. Jentz's Panther book, courtesy of Rob White's Panther page).

The East Prussian border was threatened. The enemy had succeeded in reaching Wilkowischken. Counter measures were initiated. During the night of 8/9 August, heavy Panzers, Artillerie, Fusiliers, Grenadiers and Flak came rolling together on the roads Ebenrode-Eydtkau-Wirballen and gathered in the assembly area. It is the best division in the East, "Grosssdeutchland" with its attached units. The fire fighters of the East as they are called. It had the objectives of pushing back this corner of the Front and to retake Wilkowischken.


The assembly area was lit by the dawn and quiet reigned. A gigantic portrait of military might and power had gathered here in a confined area. Punctually at the ordered time for the attack, the motors started and their droning ripped through the still of the morning. Like an avalanche, the impregnable spearhead rolled toward the enemy main battle line and bored through. Closely followed by the Fusiliers and Grenadiers enlivened by a spirit to attack against which every resistance must break. Also, the enemy is awakened and sent his artillery and motar shells against the juggernaut.

Enemy destroyer aircraft attack in waves attempting to force a halt. Fountains of earth climb skyward. Sheds in which the enemy take cover, go up in smoke and flames. Unstoppable, the spearhead advanced toward Wilkowischken, grinding guns and positions underneath. Often in man-to-man combat, the Fusiliers and Grenadiers engage the tough and stubborn enemy. At about 1200 hours, the city is in our hands. The battlefield shows the mark of heavy combat. The enemy has lost large quantities of both men and material. Positions were established to defend the city.

Toward the southeast, in the rear of the city, two Panthers pulled into their defensive area. Russian tanks were reported. Not a half hour had passed when four Russian tanks approached the city from from the southeast. They were spotted immediately, but the range was still too long. Then they disappeared into a depression. Will they come up again is the question. There, somewhat left, all four appeared in a line at a range of 1300 meters. Now their full size was seen and the defenders opened fire. Five shots quickly followed each other and three columns of smoke stand out against the sky. The fourth was lucky to turn right and disappeared into a patch of woods. Was it only an advanced spearhead? Will still more follow or were they recon vehicles? The eyes of the commanders search the terrain. But nothing stirs.

Twilight slowly enveloped the terrain in darkness. What will the next day bring? Will the Russians try to counterattack and retake the city or not? The leader decided to change to another position to get a better field of fire. During the night running motors from moving tanks were heard. Toward morning, a Panther was called back for resupply and the other Panther had to take over the entire defense.

Daybreak has long since passed and an attack was no expected when out of the depression at full speed fourteen Russian tanks carrying infantry charged toward the defending Panther. The loader was outside well away from the Panther finishing his business when shelling forced him to take cover. This made the situation more difficult. The driver took his place and fire was opened at a range of 1000 meters. Shot after shot was sent toward the attacker. The enemy had charged to within 600 meters turned right and disappeared into a hole. Four enemy tanks remained as smoking wrecks on the track. An immediate call on the radio alerted the defenders positioned further to the north. They managed to destroy six of the ten remaining tanks. Driving wildly, the rest escaped.

An attack behind our front had been repulsed and cost the enemy heavy losses.
Again the defending Panther changed his position. After an hour, the second Panther returned from being resupplied and took up his defensive position. The enemy hadn't given up their attempt to enter the city.

During the afternoon, the enemy with an infantry battalion supported by four SU assault guns, under cover of the tall corn fields, tried twice to break in from the southeast. But, both attacks were completely repulsed by the two defending Panthers. All four SU assault guns that took part in both of these attacks were shot up. Two Panthers defending the city from the south and southeast had broke up two tank and two infantry attacks. The enemy suffered the loss of eleven tanks and very heavy losses of men.

 

[Matt308]

What is the last pic, CB. An obvious hit, but on what vehicle and where? I don't recognize the vehicle and location.

 

[CharlesBronson]

Amidship hit in T34 M1943, the accesory in the side I am not sure what it is, it look very thick walled to be the gun cleaner kit box.

 

[B-17engineer]

Reading this site Untitled Document
found this information



Armour: 14.5mm.

Weight: 7.2 tons.

Armament: 20mm KwK 30 L/55 automatic cannon (120 rounds) and 1 x 7.92mm mg.

Speed: 40kmh (25mph) on road and 20kmh (12mph) cross-country.

Range: 200km (125 miles) on road and 126km (78 miles) cross-country.

Crew: 3, driver, commander/gunner and loader/radio operator.

The PzKfw II entered production in late 1935. The vehicle did not prove very effective in combat, due to its light armament and armour protection. Its main armament of the 20mm cannon was adequate at the time of its introduction into service but soon proved to be insufficient. The cannon was mounted on the left and machine gun on the right side in the turret. The turret itself was offset to the left of the superstructure and was traversed by hand. However, despite the vehicles many shortcomings, it did serve the role of a good light tank and effective reconnaissance tank. It also provided German designers and manufacturers with tank building experience. Early models had a rounded nose plate, but these were soon replaced by two angled armour plates joined at a 70° angle. Like other panzers, its chassis became a base for various conversions including Marder II tank destroyers and Wespe self-propelled howitzers. The suspension was developed from its predecessor, the PzKfw I and consisted of three articulated pairs of road-wheels, connected by an outside girder. The Ausf A/1, A/2 and A/3 were pre-production vehicles, which entered service for testing purposes without their mechanical problems being completely solved and remained in service until mid 1941. Each subsequent variant featured some modifications, including improved engines, cooling and exhaust systems, as well as changes to the suspension to correct problems encountered in the previous variant. In March 1937, a new variant, the Ausf C appeared. It featured a new suspension, which consisted of five independent road-wheels and became the standard for following models of PzKfw II. The vehicle also had improved armour protection, which was increased to 16mm. In May 1938, the PzKfw II Ausf D/E were produced as light tanks for cavalry units. They featured the unsuccessful Famo/Christie type suspension, similar to that developed by the British and Russians. The top speed was increased to 55kmh, with the introduction of a new engine and gearbox. The armour protection was also increased to 30mm. Due to its poor suspension the vehicle suffered from unsatisfactory cross-country performance. In May 1940, armour protection was further increased with the addition of 20mm plates bolted to the front areas of the vehicle. This measure was introduced following combat experience during the Polish campaign in September 1939. In March 1941, the PzKfw II Ausf F was introduced. Some vehicles of this final variant were fitted with the newer 20mm KwK 38 L/55 cannon. The vehicles ammunition storage capacity was increased to 180 rounds. The Ausf F featured numerous modifications based on the experience with earlier models. These included improvements to the front hull, front superstructure, mantlet, suspension and commander's cupola. The Ausf F was also heavier, weighing 9.5 tons and featured a smaller fuel tank, which reduced the vehicles range.
A number of vehicles were also converted to Flammpanzer II Flamingo flamethrower tanks and Schwimmpanzer II, an amphibious tank. On the amphibious version, flotation devices were installed on the sides and front of the vehicle and all openings were made water tight. The hull was divided into 3 chambers with walls that were made from inflated celluloid bags. A marine propeller was added, which ran off the engine via an extension sleeve and gave the vehicle a speed of 10 kph in the water.
The flame throwing variant was introduced in January 1940 and was based on the PzKfw II Ausf D/E's chassis. It was armed with two flame-throwers, mounted on the track guards on each side of the vehicle. They were mounted in special turret-like cases that allowed them to rotate in a 180° radius. Each flame-thrower had its own fuel tank with a 160 litre capacity, which was enough to fire 80 bursts out to the maximum range of 25m. The flame-thrower's fuel consisted of a mixture of oil and gasoline that was projected with the help of pressurized nitrogen stored in six pressurized tanks. The vehicle was also fitted with a 7.92mm MG34 mounted in the turret. These vehicles saw service in Russia until late 1941, when they were withdrawn and the chassis were used for conversion into the Marder range of vehicles.
In September 1943, the final variant the Panzerspahwagen II Ausf L Luchs (Lynx) entered production. This light reconnaissance tank was a development of the Ausf F and used a modified suspension and hull. It was powered by a new engine and gearbox, weighed 13 tons and had an increased road range of 290km. It also had a four men crew consisting of a commander, gunner, driver and radio-operator and was armed with the 20mm KwK 38 L/55 cannon. This light reconnaissance tank saw service until the end of the war on the Eastern and Western Front with armoured reconnaissance units. Vehicles operating on the Eastern Front were mounted with additional frontal armour plate for increased protection.

 

[B-17engineer]

Here's another good link

germanmediumtanks

 

[CharlesBronson]

Well, the light Panzers deserve a topic too.

Panzerbeobachtungwagens:

Until 1942 the advanced artillery observers were doing his work from armored cars and light halftracks, that vehicles had a very low survivality in the battlefield, that was particulary true in the hard envoromen of the Eastern Front plagued with antitank rifles, at guns, artillery and mines.
A heavier and well protected panzer was needed for artllery duties.

Already in a early date as november 1942 the Panther was nominated as a possible heavy Panzerbeobachstungwagen ( armored obserbation vehicle)

The Panther entwurf 3.

Several drawings were submitted in late november for fulfilling the observation requeriment, one by Daimler Benz, one by Krupp and other by Rheinmetall Borsig, The only surviving squematic is the know as Entwurf 3 (third proposal) made by RB.

The entwurf 3 panther turret was based on ausf D one, modified with a 1 meter base rangefinder in the front and two observation devices. A large TBF 2 ( TurmBeobachtungFenrohr = turret periscope) centrally located in the commander post ( very much like a submarine periscope) and a smaller TRS1 spotting periscope used by the adjutant observer. Both devices would allow the crew to observe the falling of artillery shots completely enclosed and protected in the turret

Aditional radio equipment in the way of FuG 5 and FuG 10 were to be carried in order to transmit corrections to artilley batteries, two aditional radio mast including a star antenna were installed in the Entwurf 3 Panther.

The armament used was the smaller K.wK 39/1 50mm with 60 calibers barrel with no coaxial gun, that allowed more internal space than with 75mm K.w.K 42 armed Panther.

No production vehicles of this variant were manufactured

Profile of the Pz.Beo.Entwurf 3, november 1942.

 

[m kenny]

What is the last pic, CB. An obvious hit, but on what vehicle and where? I don't recognize the vehicle and location.

The number T88264? on the side is from a block of 180 allocated to Matilda II, IV and V Tanks.

 

[Marcel]

Of course you know the "Panther Fibel"

 

[CharlesBronson]

The number T88264? on the side is from a block of 180 allocated to Matilda II, IV and V Tanks.

Uh, That explain why the turret does not look like a T-34, thanks

Of course you know the "Panther Fibel"

Yup, very nice.

 

[CharlesBronson]

HISTORY of the PANTHER Ausf. G

Following a directive from Hitler on 27 February, 1944, the designation for the Panther-PzKpfw V- was dropped, and the final production variant built between March of 1944 and April of 1945 was simply known as the Panther Ausf. G. MAN, Daimler-Benz and MNH all built the Ausf. G. with a combined total output of 2953 Panthers. To simplify production, the Ausf. G had modified superstructure sides, and hull sides increased in thickness to 50mm.

The angle of slope was also altered. The headlight was repositioned from the left side of the glacis to the left fender and the engine deck was also redesigned and shortened.

The Kinnwalzenblende, or chin mantlet was also newly designed for the main gun mantlet to eradicate a shot trap deflecting shells through the hull roof. The driver's vision port was replaced by a traversing vertical periscope since the fixed episcopes restricted vision. The tool racks were also revised and some very late production vehicles had all-steel resiliently sprung wheels of the type, but not size, fitted to the late production Tiger and Tiger II. In very late production Ausf G's, the cylindrical stowage box for the gun pull-through and cleaning gear was removed from the port side and mounted across the hull at the rear of the engine compartment.

A nahverteidigungswaffe close defense weapon ( it was a grenade launcher actually) was located in top turret.

Ausf G's were no longer painted RAL 7028 (Dunkelgelb), instead leaving the factory in red oxide primer. In October of 1944 a raised heating tower over the rear portside circular engine fan was installed. Its purpose was to pull hot air from the engine radiator and direct it into the crew compartment. Beginning in December 1944 Flammvernichter, or exhaust flame suppressing mufflers were attached to a shortened exhaust pipe. This had a fan like grill in the outlet opening which killed flames or sparks from engine gases. These alterations to the basic Panther design were to be the last production modifications seen.

 

[CharlesBronson]

2 Panther ausf G withdrawing from France 1944.

The heavy concern of being attacked by from the air is clearly depicted the crew watching the skies behind the tank. The guy sited in the deck use luftwaffe schutzbrille, anti glare glasses.

This one have zimmerit, also is noted the inertia starter handle and the termal shield for the exhaust tubes.

The straight rim in the lower hull over the wheels is a tipical characteristic of the ausf G variant, The K.w.K 42 cleaning rod is transversally over the engine room in this tank. A spare rubber tired roadwheel is in the side of the turret.
the ausf G had the side turret armor increased to 50mm.

 

[SoD Stitch]

CB: I often see an old pail or bucket hanging on the backsides of German tanks, like in this photo; do you know what it's for?

 

[CharlesBronson]

I believe it was used for filling up the coolant in the engine. There were other uses, I am sure.

 

[Matt308]

Thanks, m kenny, for the clarification.

And Marcel, I would love to have a translated version of the Panther Fibel. Even in German that was a great read!

 

[Marcel]

The tiger fibel is even better. I know there's a translation of that one (a friend of mine has a hardcopy), but never saw a translated version of the panther fibel. I could do it, but it's quite some text.

 

[Lucky13]

Now, CB...those odd creatures would make for some interesting building, right?

 

[CharlesBronson]

Here you got another oddity, Panzerschule Panther ausf D, fueled with highly compressed natural gas in external tanks.

 

[SoD Stitch]

Here you got another oddity, Panzerschule Panther ausf D, fueled with highly compressed natural gas in external tanks.

Looks like a one-off; just imagine if one of those tanks got hit by an AP round!