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.

Now The Motor Pool is proud to offer this stunning 1:35 scale diecast replica of the PzKpfw V Panther Ausf. G medium tank, which is handpainted in an eastern front summer camouflage scheme and 'muddied' to give it a more weathered appearance. This particular Panther tank was attached to 5.SS Panzer Division ("Wiking") when it fought at Kowel, Poland in the spring of 1944. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 10-inches
Width: 4-inches
Height: 2-3/4-inches

Historical Account: "The House at the End of the Street" - 5.SS Panzer Division "Wiking" was formed in December 1940 around the Germania regiment from the SS-Division Verfugungstruppe (later renamed "Das Reich"). Attached to Heeresgruppe Sud, it took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union and, during the advance, participated in several encirclements of Soviet troops before reaching Rostov in November 1941. That winter, it was pushed back by several Soviet counterattacks. In the spring 1942, it once again went over to the offensive, this time advancing on the oil-rich Caucasus in southern Russia as part of Army Group B. Later that year, it was forced to withdraw to avoid being cut off like the Sixth Armee at Stalingrad. "Wiking" fought at Kursk in the summer of 1943 and, following the failure of Operation Zitadelle, it retreated and was subsequently trapped in the Cherkassy pocket. It managed to break out of the pocket but, in the process, lost all of its tanks and suffered heavy losses in men and materiel. Afterwards, it withdrew to Cholm for rest and refitting. In July 1944, it was sent to Poland where it fought at the River Vistula. The Division was sent to Hungary in December of that year, where it took part in the failed attempt to relieve Budapest. It withdrew through Hungary and Czechoslovakia before finally surrendering in Austria in May 1945.