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.

Now Minichamps has created a gorgeous 1:35 scale diecast replica of the famed PzKpfw V Panther Ausfuhrung G (Type G) medium tank, this time around painted in a striking late-war camouflage pattern used in defense of the River Oder in 1945. Note the red oxide undercoat comprising much of the exterior with some rough camouflage stripes applied there upon. This stunning recreation features a rotating turret, elevating gun, working suspension, and treads that are made of flexible metal links! Also comes with a star antenna (not shown in photo) signifying it was used as a befehlspanzerwagen (command vehicle). The command vehicle for the Panther units was developed so as to be inconspicuous when in action. An additional radio (FuG5) was fitted into the turret by reducing the number of ammunition rounds carried for the 7.5cm gun. The FuG5 radio was located in the turret, while the FuG7 or FuG8 were situated in the hull over the gearbox. Sold Out!

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

Release Date: July 2003

Original Issue Price: $99.99

Historical Account: "Death Throes" - Panzer-Division Muncheberg was a German panzer division which saw action on the Eastern Front around Berlin during World War II.

Panzer-Division Muncheberg began forming on March 8th, 1945, in Muncheberg, Germany. The majority of the division's staff and panzer troops were drawn from the 103.Panzer-Brigade, which had been dissolved three days prior. Major General of the Reserve ( Generalmajor der Reserve) Werner Mummert, the commander of 103.Panzer-Brigade and a highly decorated veteran, was placed in command of Panzer-Division Muncheberg.

Despite the fact that it was severely understrength and an ad-hoc formation, the Muncheberg division eventually received small amounts of the latest in supplies and equipment, including several Sperber Infrared (IR) system equipped Panther ausf Gs, as well as a company of panzergrenadiers equipped with the Sperber IR system.

In addition, the division received several of the superheavy Jagdtigers, as well as several Tiger II ausf Bs, and the last five Tiger 1 ausf Es to be sent to the front. By March 12th, the division's strength was still only 6,836 men. On March 18th, the men from an infantry battalion of the 1.SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler were used to bolster the division's strength.

As the advancing Soviet forces neared Muncheberg, the partly formed Panzer-Division Muncheberg was ordered to move east as the mobile reserve for Infantry General (General der Infanterie) Theodor Busse's Ninth Army. The Ninth Army represented a significant part of Colonel General (Generaloberst) Gotthard Heinrici's Army Group Vistula (Heeresgruppe Weichsel).

Panzer-Division Muncheberg arrived at the front in Cottbus on March 22nd.