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.

This particular 1:72 scale replica is based upon a vehicle used by 9.Panzer Division during its Defense of the Western Front from 1944-'45. Sold Out!

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

Release Date: September 2004

Original Issue Price: $12.99

Historical Account: 9.Panzer Division was formed in January 1940 from the 4.Leichte-Division (light division). It took part in the campaign in the west, barreling through the Netherlands, Belgium and finally France before being transferred to Poland in September. It saw action in May 1941 during the Balkans Campaign and was deployed on the southern sector of the advance into Russia during the June invasion. The unit was transferred to the central sector in October and participated in the summer offensive of 1942 and later in the fighting at Kursk during the summer of 1943. Ninth Panzer was transferred to the southern sector that fall and stood its ground defending the River Dnieper, suffering heavy losses in the process.

In March 1944, the unit was sent to France for rebuilding where it absorbed the 155.Reserve Panzer Division. It was transferred to northern France in August to prevent the Allies from breaking out and was mauled at Falaise before withdrawing to Germany for a second reconstitution. It fought at Aachen along the Franco-German border and in the Ardennes before being trapped in the Ruhr pocket, where it surrendered to the US Army on April 26th, 1945.