The Panther tank is kinda, sorta, back
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Snautzer01
Honourably banned
- 42,972
- Mar 26, 2007
Think you need to edit the link Tomo
- Thread starter
- #3
Rheinmetall
The Panther is the first of its kind: Rheinmetall's radically new main battle tank concept drawing on some of the latest technologies.
www.rheinmetall-defence.com
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
They should send a couple of hundred to Ukraine for, you know, field testing. 
Jabberwocky
Staff Sergeant
Yep.
Cliff notes are
Leopard 2 base chassis with new turret
59 tonnes base weight
1450hp MTU diesel in the back
Three man crew, with option for fourth 'specialist' crew member
'New' 130mm L/52 cannon (this is actually about seven or eight years old) fed by dual revolver style autoloader with up to 20 ready rounds. Rumoured that the tank also has the capability to fit the old 120mm L/55 if desired (which is about a tonne lighter)
New commanders sights with current gen thermals and night vision
Three layer - active, reactive, passive - protection system. Turret armour reportedly better than the Leopard 2A7Vs just delivered to the Dutch
Fully compatible with the NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture software standard
Pop up launched in back of turret capable of deploying a UAV, or using the same space for four loitering/suicide munitions or ATGMs
Germany’s Badass New Tank Could Outmatch Every Other Tank in the World
The KF51 is named “Panther.” Sound familiar?
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
It definitely looks cool.
I think this has a pretty good shot. Its not 1970s technology like the HSTP—L. Germany is pretty adamant about rearming and they are pretty good at these things.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
With those lines up front, perhaps "Tiger" would have been a better fit?
Admiral Beez
Major
Below the face of the turret looks like the perfect shot trap.
How long now before a German warship named Bismarck is laid down?
How long now before a German warship named Bismarck is laid down?
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Count Zeppelin and Peter Strasser were notable for the German Airship service, which is why the carriers bore their names.
I would imagine that a modern German warship (surface warfare) would be more inclined to be named after notable German naval figures.
I would imagine that a modern German warship (surface warfare) would be more inclined to be named after notable German naval figures.
I've heard rumblings of the Germans considering building a carrier now, possibly together with the French.
Admiral Beez
Major
The British should have kept their Aircraft Carrier Alliance program. They could be making carriers for half the West by the 2030s.
It does give that impression but the angled pieces on the turret front make an outer shell which is like a sandwich of hard material on the outsides and softer material
on the inside which is either a resin type or rubber.
This makes a type of reactive outer armour without the need for explosive reactive modules. When a round hits the outer hard surface can be penetrated with the softer
section 'spreading' and deforming which essentially stuffs up the rounds trajectory and takes away a lot of it's kinetic energy. The other bonus is the softer inner section
can reshape after the hit. The shell itself can be replaced without affecting the integrity of the turret.
High energy smaller rounds (30mm etc) can still bounce down but won't penetrate the armour of the turret itself or the main glacis as these are the two parts of the vehicle with
the most armour.
Essentially the angled bit on the front is not the turret armour but is more like a spaced buggeruperer added in front.
This system is also used on the lower glacis with the softer 'stuff' straight behind the glacis plate.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Now there's your Graf Zeppelin or Peter Strasser!
