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.

Pictured here is a 1:43 scale replica of a German Sd. Kfz. 171 Panther Ausf. A medium tank that was attached to the 18.Panzer Division and deployed to Poland during 1944. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Length: 8-inches
Width: 3-inches

Release Date: April 2021

Historical Account: "Fighting Withdrawal" - The 18.Panzer-Division was a German World War II armored division that fought on the Eastern Front from 1941 until its disbandment in 1943.

18.Panzer Division first saw action during the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa, on 22 June 1941. The 18th Panzer Division fought as part of XLVII Panzer Corps, and over the next six months was involved in seizing Smolensk, Bryansk and the assault on Tula. The division suffered heavy losses in the first month of the war, losing half its tanks and a third of its manpower in June and July. With the start of the Soviet counter offensive in December 1941 the 18th Panzer Division was driven back to Oryol with heavy losses.

In the summer of 1942, 18.Panzer Division took part in the initial drive on Stalingrad, but was soon transferred to the central section of the front. The 18.Panzer Division took part in security warfare in the spring of 1943. In the summer of 1943, the division fought in the Battle of Kursk, and suffered heavy losses. After Kursk, the 18.Panzer-Division suffered from poor morale and frequent desertions and was disbanded, with the division's personnel being used to build the 18.Artillerie Division.