In many respects, the Panther tank was viewed as the finest armored fighting vehicle of the Second World War. Based in large part upon the Soviet's highly successful T-34 medium tank, the PzKpfw V Ausfuhrung G was built by several manufacturers including MAN, Daimler-Benz and MNH. Mounting a fearsome 7.5cm KwK42 L/70 cannon and two 7.92mm MG34 machineguns, the Panther Ausf. G represented the third and certainly the most impressive installment in the Panther series.

The weight of the production model was increased to 43 tons from the original plans for a 35 ton tank. Hitler had personally reviewed the final designs and insisted on an increase in the thickness of the frontal armor - the front glacis plate was increased from 60mm to 80mm and the turret front plate was increased from 80mm to 100mm.

Once the problems caused by the vulnerability of the engine and the transmission were solved, it proved to be a very effective fighting vehicle. The crew was made up of five members: driver, radio operator (who also fired the bow machine gun), gunner, loader, and commander.

The initial Ausf. D and early Ausf. A models used a "letterbox" flap opening, through which the machine gun was fired. In later Ausf A and all Ausf G models (starting in late November-early December 1943), a ball mount in the glacis plate with a K.Z.F.2 machine gun sight was installed for the hull machine gun.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale German Early Version Sd. Kfz. 171 PzKpfw V Panther Ausf. D medium tank with side skirts that was attached to 8./Panzerabteilung 52, Panzer Regiment.39, then deployed to Kursk, Russia, during 1943. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 4-3/4-inches
Width: 2-inches

Release Date: March 2015

Historical Account: "Baptism of FIre" - The Panther was far cheaper to produce than the Tiger I tank, and only slightly more expensive than the Panzer IV. Key elements of the Panther design, such as its armour, transmission, and final drive, were compromises made to improve production rates and address raw material shortages, whereas other overengineered elements such as its highly compact engine and its complex suspension system remained. The result was that Panther tank production was far higher than what was possible for the Tiger I, but not much higher than of the Panzer IV. At the same time, the simplified final drive became the single major cause of breakdowns of the Panther tank, and was a problem that was never corrected even after the war. All these compromises resulted in the Panther being less reliable than the Tiger I which, when given appropriate logistical support and after initial flaws were addressed, was generally satisfactory.

The Panther tank arrived in 1943 and was rushed into combat at the Battle of Kursk with its initial problems uncorrected, which resulted in a high breakdown rate. The Panther tank commanded respect from the Allies, and its qualities, along with the Tiger I, led to the introduction of heavier Allied tanks such as the Soviet IS-2 and the American M26 Pershing, and the development of the postwar British Centurion tank. Its successes were nullified by Germany's generally declining position in the war, the loss of air superiority by the Luftwaffe, the loss of fuel and training space, and the declining quality of tank crews.