“Panther” – surely one of the most famous heavy tanks, took part in the Second World War. Catalyst for this unforeseen in the tank armament of Wehrmacht war machine was a Soviet medium tank T-34. His appearance on the Eastern Front forced the Ministry of arms of Germany to suspend the work, which in 1937 led the company Nepschel on future tanks 30-tonne class. July 18, 1941 Rheinmetall firm was commissioned to develop a long-barrel 75-mm cannon capable of punching a 140-mm armor at a distance of 1000 m. Nov. 25 companies Daimler-Benz and MAN was, in turn, issued an order for 35-ton tank. Tactical and technical requirements for new combat vehicle identified the following: the width to 3150 mm, height 2990 mm, engine capacity of 650-700 hp, armor protection, 40 mm, the maximum speed – 55 km / h. Quest was the code name – “Panther”.
The tank, designed by Daimler-Benz, apparently much like the T-34, but still liked Hitler. From the Soviet machine was completely copied the layout of rear-engine-transmission of the first compartment and the driving wheels. Eight large diameter rollers arranged in a checkerboard pattern, blocked two and had the leaf springs as the elastic suspension elements. Intended to be used on the tank diesel engine Daimler-Benz MB 507. In early February 1942 began building a prototype – VK 3002 (DB), and four weeks later, Hitler ordered the Minister of the Armed Speer give us an order for the first 200 cars. However, the point of view of the Fuhrer did not find understanding and support of the Ministry of weapons experts who not unreasonably thought that in wartime conditions, similar in appearance to the T-34 could cause a fire the tank of his own artillery. Project by MAN, who had a traditional German layout with a front transmission and drive wheels, it seemed preferable, although it was much more complicated. These differences have led to the formation of the so-called “Panther commission.”

May 13, 1942 Hitler was informed expert opinion on both projects, with preference given to this unique tank company MAN. The Fuhrer was forced to agree with the opinion of specialists, but immediately set his condition: the first machine to manufacture in July, and the following two – in August 1942. The price of one tank without arms was 117,000 Reichsmark (for comparison PzIII worth 96,163, and “Tiger” -250 800 marks).
Designers PzKpfw V (known as “Panther”, without mentioning the army entered the index on the orders of Hitler’s only February 27, 1944) was the chief engineer of the tank division of MAN P. Vibikke and engineer, Knipkamp of management improvement and testing of weapons.
The first two tanks V1 and V2 (V – Versuch – experience), which differ from each other by minor details, produced by September 1942. 3 November one of the cars, the layout instead of the present tower, Speer demonstrated at the training ground in Bad Berka. During the tests revealed significant weaknesses in the chassis. At the time of their removal was required, and this delayed the start of mass production. Order as provided produce 250 tanks in a fairly short time – to May 12, 1943. In addition, Hitler received an unexpected order to arm the Panthers 75-mm cannon with a barrel length of 100 calibers. Fortunately (for the Germans, of course), this gun was not ready and the mass production of the tank indication Hitler did not stop much.
The first series of “Panther” had left the factory workshop of MAN January 11, 1943. Tanks “zero” series (20 units) were designated Ausf A. They had nothing to do with the same engines, produced from September 1943. A characteristic feature of the first production of “Panther” was the commander’s cupola with the tab on the left side of the turret and gun-chamber muzzle brake. The tanks were equipped with engines Maybach HL210P45 and had frontal armor thickness of 60 mm. They were used only in the rear for crew training. Since February 1943 the designation of machines in this series was changed to Ausf D1.
Until now, we can not say exactly why the first large-scale modification “Panther” was designated D. Perhaps the letters B and C reserved for other options.
Tanks PzKpfw V Ausf D (in this and subsequent modifications of the index through a system of notation armored Wehrmacht was the same – SdKfz171) slightly differed from the prototypes and machines “zero” series. Changes affected mainly commander’s cupola and the gun muzzle brake – they became more familiar “panterovsky” look. The thickness of the frontal armor increased to 80 mm. The tank and a new gearbox type AK 7-200.

It should be noted that the machines release of the first half of 1943 commander’s cupola was similar to the pinnacle of the “Tiger”, later it was replaced with a new one, with seven periscopes on the perimeter and a special ring to install anti-aircraft machine gun MG 34.
Along the sides of the tower were fastened mortars NbK 39 to launch smoke grenades caliber of 90 mm.
Armor tanks that were released in the second half, covered “tsimmeritom, in addition, they were equipped with bulwarks, made from 5-mm armor plates.
Among the characteristic features of the machine Series D (officially D2) is the lack of ball localizer installation gun (he was placed inside the tank and only for the shooting was inserted into a narrow vertical slit, closable flap), as well as the presence in the left side of the turret round hatch to eject spent cartridges and loopholes for firing a personal weapon in the sides and stern of the tower.
As already mentioned, the first batch of “Panther” was planned to produce by May 12, 1943 – the date chosen is no accident, May 15 was supposed to start the German offensive at Kursk – Operation Citadel. However, during February and March, most of the 77 manufactured military tanks are not accepted in April, the same does not have any. In connection with this timing attack suffered at the end of June. By the end of May, the Wehrmacht was a long-awaited 324 “Panther”, which allowed complement of 10 Tank Brigade. But the problems encountered with the development of tank crews complex binocular sight TZF 12, and a desire to commission another 98 tanks that were released in June, was forced to move the start date of onset from June 25 to July 5. Since difficulties with production and exploration in the military first “Panthers” have influenced the timing of the summer offensive on the Eastern Front in 1943.

To make up for losses suffered in battles at Kursk, since August has been set a monthly production plan – 250 “Panther”. However, in August produced only 120 tanks – as a result of Allied air bombings were severely damaged plants by MAN in Nuremberg and DaimIer-Benz in Berlin. Failed to execute the plan in September (197 cars), and only in October the factory shops left 257 tanks!
In September 1943 began production of the next versions of Panther “- Ausf A. Changes have not much: there is a course ball mount machine gun in the front plate of the housing; eliminated hatch to eject spent cartridges and loopholes for firing a personal weapon in the sides of the tower, instead of two lamps began to install only one – on the left wing. Binocular sight replaced monocular TZF 12a. Elevation tank gun fell from 20 ° (from Ausf D) to 18 °.
Modification Ausf G – the most massive of the three (produced 3740 tanks) – launched into production in March 1944. Airborne Corps have received lists of the angle of inclination of 61 ° (at D and A – 50 °), the thickness of the side armor increased to 50 mm and the front of the turret – up to 110 mm from the front hull was removed hatch-tube of the driver. Planting hatches gunner and the driver got another form. Some of the tanks received a mask with a gun sort of “skirt” at the bottom which makes it impossible to jam the tower in contact with an enemy shell. At the three-shot gun ammunition increased, changes were made in the design of fans, blinds engine exhaust nozzles, etc. Tanks G Series
planned to equip the road wheels without rubber tires, but the complete absence of photographs of combat vehicles with a chassis gives grounds to assume that the project remained on paper. Neobrezinennymi machine with rollers in the experimental procedure built by MAN in September 1944. Some serial “Panther” had a single neobrezinennye rinks on the last line.
Experiments were conducted on the use of the “Panther” different engines: MAN / Argus LD 220 with air-cooled engine with 700 hp (515 kW) BMW 132D radial aircraft with capacity of 650 hp (478 kW), diesel Daimler-Benz MB 507 power 850 hp (625 kW).
Tested and new transmission options – hydrostatic and hydrodynamic, equipment fording, and wheels with internal shock absorbers. However, use in production machines, all these innovations not found. Remained unrealized, and flame-thrower version of Panther.
After the cessation of work on a reconnaissance tank VK 1602 Leopard firm Krupp and Rheinmetall started designing the version of the Panthers for the same purpose. Intended to equip the new car tower with 50-mm cannon KwK 39 L/60. This project is not accepted, since his arms were found to be insufficient, and the intelligence to use linear tanks.
Application allies in the anti-Hitler coalition in the ever-increasing volumes of air to fight German tanks (especially after opening a second front in Europe) has reduced the possibility of movement of armored units during the day to almost zero. Acutely the question arose about equipping tanks with night vision, on which work was carried out by AEG in 1936. At the commander’s cupola Panthers was mounted infrared illuminator illuminator power of 200 watts and surveillance device that allows you to monitor the terrain for a distance of 200 m. The driver of such a device did not and drove the instructions of the commander. To keep the fire at night, needed a more powerful lamp. For this purpose a semi-tracked armored vehicle SdKfz 250/20 was installed infrared illuminator Uhu 6 kW, which provides work night vision device at a distance of 700 m. Tests have passed through it successfully, and the company Leitz-Wetzlar produced 800 sets of optics for night vision devices. In November 1944 Panzerwaffe received 63 “Panther”, equipped with the world’s first serial passive night vision devices. Firm Zeiss-Jena developed an even more powerful device that allows to “see” at a distance of 4 km, but due to the large size of the illuminator – diameter 600 mm – application of a tank “Panther” is not found.

In 1943 he started designing the next versions of Panther “- Ausf F, which differed significantly from previous models. The most important innovation was the tower, dubbed Schmalturm (”narrow” or “close the tower”), which was smaller than the standard and had a different design.
During the 1944 constructed and tested several prototypes. Designing only ended in January 1945.
As a result, the thickness of the turret was: forehead – 100 mm, board and food – 50, the roof – 30. In the front plate still remained loophole for telescopic sight TZF 13. In the final version of the frontal armor increased to 120 mm, side – up to 60, and top armor – up to 40. Establish a new periscope sight stabilized TZF 1 and a stereoscopic rangefinder firm Zeiss. Rangefinder with a base 1320 mm and 15-fold increase was located in front of the tower, along the sides of which were armored shields for his eyepiece. Provide and install a night vision device FG 1250.
Mask gun type Saukopfblende (”pig snouts”) thickness of 120 mm was applied in a tank similar to the “Tiger II”.
Innovation was not spared and armament of the tank. And if the gun remains the same and was just upgraded factories Skoda – she lost her muzzle brake and received index KwK 44 / 1, MG 34 machine gun turret replaced by the MG 42. Instead, the exchange rate machine gun mounted machine MP 44. Mounting arms in the tower at the plant of Krupp and Skoda.

The changes affected not only the tower, but the case. The thickness of the roof was increased from 17 to 25 mm, the driver changed the hatches, and the arrow-radio operator.
Were tested and two new engines: Deutz T8M118 engine with 700 hp (515 kW) and the Maybach HL 234 with direct fuel injection and a power of 850 hp (625 kW).
Until the end of the war does not add any prototype in final form, although mass production scheduled to begin in June of 1945. In the beginning, the company Daimler-Benz brought together the chassis, which set the standard turret Ausf G. In turn, close the tower “installed on the chassis Ausf G and tested in Kummersdorf. Total for “Panther” Ausf F produced 8 blocks and 2 towers.
In February 1943, were developed tactical and technical requirements for tank “Panther II”, assumes a high degree of unification of tanks “Tiger II” and “Panther”. Realize this was simply because the plants Henschel produced two types of machines.
At Panther II “was supposed to use” close the tower and the new building. Its front armor reached 100, side – 60 and aft – 40 mm. Armament – 88 mm cannon KwK 43 L/71. Since in this case the weight of the tank exceeds 50 m, the question of a new power plant. The variants considered engines Maybach HL 234, Simmering Sla 16 (720 hp) and MAN / Argus LD 220 (700 hp). In 1945, for the Panther II “started designing a new tower with 150-mm frontal armor.
Neither of the two prototypes was not completed. To more or less high degree of readiness drove the same chassis, setting him on the tower from Ausf G. It is interesting to note that, in parallel with the design of the Panther II “was being developed tank E-50, designed to replace it.

In the course of work on the Ausf F and Panther II “firm Krupp twice offered the usual options for re-Panthers KwK 43 L/71 gun caliber 88 mm, but to no avail. Remained on paper and draft equipment Panthers 100-caliber 75-mm cannon with a muzzle velocity 1250 m / sec.
Along with the creation of new variants of the linear tank based on the “Panther” is issued, and several special-purpose machinery. The first of these was the armored recovery vehicle (ARV) Bergepanzer V or Bergepanther (SdKfz 179). It is no coincidence: new tanks arrived in the army, and means for their evacuation from the battlefield almost was not. Existed technique proved to be too weak to tow-tank “Tiger”, for example, had to “harness” the two 18-ton truck Famo.
Order for BREM issued May 7, 1943, and already a month later the company began producing MAN chassis Ausf D, designed for her. The first batch of ARV (46 cars) did not have a crane and winch, but very soon the factory Henschel in Kassel have been designed and manufactured crane and winch with a pulling force of 40 tons and a length of rope 150 m. The selection of the power produced by the engine of the tank, aft which had two hinged ordering pa-shoe designed to keep cars in place when working winch. During the last tow blocked. The tower was replaced with a cargo platform for the transport of spare parts or disassembled units.
BREM, released on the chassis Ausf A and Ausf G, had enlarged fuel tanks. On the upper front hull mounted bracket for a 20-mm cannon KwK 38, veiled shield of thickness 10-15 mm.

“BREM-Panthers originally equipped with cranes of 1500 kg, then 6000 kg. They were used mainly for dismantling the engine.
In front of the BREM had two stop tabs from solid wood, for pushing a narrower machines.
March 1, 1944 at the site of Bad Berka Bergepanther was demonstrated to the Inspector General of tank forces, Colonel-General H. Guderian. April 7, Hitler gave the order for monthly production of 20 cars. However, the real issue was in April of 13 cars in May – 18 June – 20, and in July only 10. In total, 347 left the factory shops