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Panther tank

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

"Pantera" (it. Panzerkampfwagen V Panther, Socrates. PzKpfw V «Panther») - German medium or heavy tank of the Second World War. This war machine was developed by MAN in 1941-1942 as the main tank of the Wehrmacht.

Panther tank – video

"Panther" was armed with a weapon of smaller caliber, than "Tiger" and was considered by the German classification tank with secondary weapons (or a medium tank). The Soviet tank classification "Panther" was considered a heavy tank, We referred to it as a T-5 or T-V. Heavy tanks, it was considered and allies. The departmental-through "Panther" system of military equipment had Nazi symbols index Sd.Kfz. 171. Beginning with 27 February 1944 , the Führer ordered used to indicate only the name of the tank "Panther".

Combat debut of the "Panther" was the battle at the Kursk Bulge, then the tanks of this type were widely used by the Wehrmacht and SS troops on all the European theaters of war. According to some experts, "Panther" was the best German tank of the Second World War and one of the best in the world. At the same time the tank had a number of shortcomings, was complex and expensive to manufacture and operation. On the basis of "Panther" produced antitank self-propelled artillery "jagdpanther" and a number of specialized machines for the engineering and artillery units of the German armed forces.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

History of creation

Work on the new medium tank, intended to replace PzKpfw III and PzKpfw IV, started in 1938 year. The project is a combat vehicle weight 20 tonnes, is working on the company "Daimler-Benz", "Krupp" and MAN, I get spidered: VK.30.01 (DB) - the company "Daimler-Benz" project, and VK.30.02 (MAN) - the project company MAN. Work on the new tank was quite slow, as reliable and proven in battle medium tanks fully meet the German military. Nevertheless, to fall 1941 , the chassis design was generally worked. However, by this time the situation has changed.

After the outbreak of war with the Soviet Union, German troops met with the new Soviet tanks - the T-34 and KV. Initially, Soviet equipment has not caused much interest among the German military, but by autumn 1941 the pace of the German offensive began to fall, and from the front began to receive messages about the superiority of the new Soviet tanks - particularly T-34 - over the Wehrmacht tanks. For the study of Soviet tanks German military and technical experts created a special commission, which included leading German designers of armored vehicles (in particular F. Porsche and G. Knipkamp). German engineers have studied in detail the pros and cons of T-34 tanks and other Soviet, then ruled the need to implement in German tank such innovations, as the inclined arrangement armor, Undercarriage with large rollers and wide tracks. Work on the 20-ton tank was discontinued, instead of this 25 November 1941 The firm "Daimler-Benz" and MAN had issued an order for a prototype of a 35-ton tank with all these constructive solutions. Promising tank received the code name "Panther". To determine the "Pantserkomissiya" the most suitable for the Wehrmacht prototype was also formed from a number of prominent military figures of the Third Reich.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

spring 1942 , the two contractors submitted their prototypes. The prototype of the company "Daimler-Benz" even outwardly strongly resembled the T-34. In its quest to achieve the similarity with "tridtsatchetvorkoy" they offered even to equip the tank with diesel engine, while an acute shortage of diesel fuel in Germany (it is in the vast majority went to the needs of the submarine fleet) makes this option unpromising. Hitler showed great interest and propensity to this embodiment, company "Daimler-Benz" even received an order for 200 machines. But in the end the order was canceled, and preference was given to firms competing projects MAN. The Commission noted a number of advantages of the project MAN, more particularly successful suspension, Gas engine, better maneuverability, smaller radius gun barrel. Also expressed concerns, that the similarity of the new tank with a T-34 will lead to the confusion of combat vehicles on the battlefield and losses from its same fire.

MAN company's prototype was born entirely in the spirit of the German School tankostroitelnoy: front-mounted transmission and rear compartment - Engine, Individual torsion "chess" suspension design engineer Mr.. Knipkampa. The primary arms in said tank installed Fuhrer 75mm long barreled gun firm "Rheinmetall" (Rheinmetall). The choice of a relatively small size is determined by the desire to obtain a high rate of fire and large transportable ammunition inside the tank. Interesting, that in projects of both companies German engineers immediately rejected the suspension type Christie, used in T-34, finding her unfit and outdated design. On the creation of "Panther" a large group of MAN employees of the company under the leadership of chief engineer of the company Panzer Division II. Vibikke. Also, a significant contribution to the creation of a tank made an Engineer T. Knipkamp (chassis) and the designers of the company "Rheinmetall" (rifle).

After selecting the prototype began preparations for the quick launch of the tank into series production, which began in the first half 1943 of the year.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Prototypes MAN firms and "Daimler-Benz"

Production

Serial production of PzKpfw V «Panther" lasted from January 1943 to April 1945 , inclusive. In addition to the engineering company MAN «Panther" produced such well-known German groups and companies, how «Daimler-Benz», "Henschel", "Demag" and others. Just a "Panther" production involved 136 smežnikov.

Cooperation in the production of "Panther" was a very complex and developed. Deliveries of major components and assemblies tank duplicated, to avoid interruptions in the supply with various kinds of emergency situations. This proved to be very useful, since the location involved in the production of "Panther" was known companies command of the air forces of the Allies, and almost all of them have experienced quite a successful bombing enemy. As a result of the leadership of the Ministry of arms and ammunition of the Third Reich was forced to evacuate part of the production equipment in small towns, less attractive for the massive Allied bombing. Also, the issue of components and assemblies, "Panther" was organized in the various kinds of underground shelters, number of orders has been transferred to small businesses. Therefore, the original plan to produce 600 "Panther" in a month or could not be reached once, Maximum serial production fell in July 1944 year - while the customer was put 400 machines. All were released 5976 «Panther», of them 1943 year - 1768, at 1944 year - 3749, at 1945 year - 459. In this way, PzKpfw V has become the second largest tank Third Reich, losing on issue volume only PzKpfw IV.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Top view of the "Panther" A modification.

Design

Armor hull and turret

Housing tank going from rolled surface hardened armor plate medium and low hardness, connected "in spike" and double seam welded. The upper frontal part (VLD) thickness 80 mm had rational angle of inclination of 57 ° relative to the normal to the horizontal plane. The lower frontal part (NLD) thickness 60 mm was mounted at an angle of 53 ° to the normal. Trophy "Panther" obtained when measuring at the site at Kubinka data differed somewhat from the above-stated: VFD thickness 85 mm was 55 ° tilt to normal, NLD - 65 mm and 55 ° respectively. The upper body side sheet thickness 40 mm (the later versions - 50 mm) inclined to the normal at an angle of 42 °, lower installed vertically and have a thickness 40 mm. Transom sheet thickness 40 mm is inclined to the normal at an angle of 30 °. The housing roof hatches, manholes were above the control compartment for the driver and arrow-wireless operator. Manhole covers are lifted up and shifted aside, as modern tanks. Kormovaya part of the tank shell razdelyalas bronevыmy partitions on 3 compartment, at overcoming water barrier proximal to the sides of the tank compartment can be filled with water, but in the middle compartment, where the engine, water out. At the bottom of the hull were technological hatches for access to the torsion bar suspension, drain valve supply system, cooling and lubrication, pumpout pump and crankcase drain plug gearbox.

Tower "Panther" is a welded construction from rolled sheets of armor, connected "in spike". The thickness of the board and the sheet feed tower 45 mm, incline 25 ° to the normal. In front of the tower in a cast mask set the gun. Thickness gun mask 100 mm. The rotation of the tower produces hydraulic mechanism, selects power from the engine of the tank; Turret rotation speed dependent on engine speed, at 2500 r / min while rotating tower was 17 seconds left and 18 seconds left. Also, manual turret rotation drive was provided, 1000 rotation of flywheel rotations corresponded tower 360 °. Tower inequitable tank, due to which its rotation by hand in roll more than 5 ° was impossible. The thickness of the roof of the tower was 17 mm, modifications Ausf. G increased it to 30 mm. On the roof of the tower mounted commander's cupola, from 6 (later with 7) viewing devices.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

PzKpfw V Ausf. Tune in D. Switzerland

Engine and transmission

In the first 250 tanks installed 12-cylinder V-shape engine carburetor Maybach HL 210 P30 volume 21 l. From May 1943 the year he was replaced by Maybach HL 230 P45. On the new engine piston diameter has been increased, engine displacement increased to 23 l. Compared with the model HL 210 P30, wherein the cylinder block has aluminum, this detail in HL 230 P45 was made of cast iron, because of what the weight of the engine has increased by 350 kg. HL 230 P30 developed capacity 700 l. from. at 3000 rev / min. The maximum speed of the tank with the new engine is not increased, but the stock has increased traction, which allowed more confident to overcome the lack of roads. interesting feature: crankshaft bearings of the engine crankshaft are not skidding, as is the case everywhere in the modern engine building, and roller. Thus the engine designers economized (the cost of higher labor input products) a non-renewable resource of the country - non-ferrous metal.

Transmission consisted of a main clutch, driveline, gearbox (PPC) Gear Factory AK 7-200, Swing mechanism, final drives and disc brakes. Transmission - trohvalnaya, with longitudinal shafts, seven-speed, pyatihodovaya, with constant mesh gears and simple (inertialess) cone synchronizers to enable transmission from 2 nd to 7 th. Carter gearbox - dry, oil was purified and fed under pressure directly into the point of meshing gears. Operate the machine was very easy: exhibited in the desired position lever CPR is called automatically squeezing the main clutch and switching the desired pair.

CAT and steering gear were carried out in a single unit, which reduces the amount of work centering in the assembly of the tank, but the dismantling of the marker unit in the field has been a time consuming operation.

Drives a tank control - combined, a hydraulic servo follower action with mechanical feedback.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Red Army soldiers inspect a tank "Panther" (Kpfw. V Ausf. D Panther, tactical number 312) 51-Tank Battalion (Panzer Battalion 51) 39-Panzer Regiment (Panzer-Regiment 39) 10-Tank Brigade (Panzer-Brigade 10), padded during the offensive of the Wehrmacht "Citadel".

Chassis

Chassis tank with a "checkerboard" arrangement of rollers D design. Knipkampa provide good smoothness and a more uniform distribution of pressure on the ground on a support surface in comparison with other technical solutions. On the other hand, such a design the chassis has been difficult to manufacture and repair, and also had a large mass. So, to replace one roller from the inner row needed to dismantle a third to a half of the external rollers. On each side of the tank had 8 large diameter rollers. The double torsion bars are used as the elastic suspension elements, front and rear pair of rollers supplied with hydraulic shock absorbers. Leading rollers - front, with removable rims, engaging tracks lantern. Caterpillars steel melkozvenchatye, each 86 steel shoe. Truckee cast, SAG tape 153 mm, width 660 mm.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Chassis "Panther" tank

weaponry

tank main armament is a 75 mm tank gun KwK 42 production firm "Rheinmetall-Borsig". The length of the gun barrel 70 calibres / 5250 mm excluding muzzle brake and 5535 mm with him. The main design features of the gun include:

– semi-automatic vertical wedges follower type;
– recoil device:
– hydraulic brake rollback;
– gidropnevmatičeskij nakatnik;
– hoist sector type.

Shooting from guns was carried out only by unitary cartridges with elektrozapalnoy sleeve, squib button is placed on the handwheel hoist. In critical situations, the crew included directly in the gate circuit inductor guns[Source Unknown 1996 days], "Button" which, Triggered by kicking gunner provided a shot in any situation - swaying in the field of a permanent magnet solenoid coil betrayed necessary EMF elektrozapalu in the sleeve. The inductor included in the gate circuit by means of plug, as a table lamp. The tower was proofed purge channel guns after firing, which consisted of a compressor and a system of hoses and valves. Purge air aspirated from the duct gilzoulavlivatelya.

Gun ammunition consisted of 79 shots to modifications A and D and 82 shots for the modification of G. In ammunition were cartridges with armor-piercing tracer shells Pzgr. 39/42, subcaliber armor-piercing tracer shells Pzgr. 40/42 and high-explosive projectiles Sprgr. 42.
These shots are only suitable for guns KwK / StuK / Pak 42 with a barrel 70 calibres. Shots were placed in niches turret box, in the fighting compartment and the control compartment. Weapon KwK 42 there has been a strong and ballistics at the time of its creation, could hit almost all the tanks and self-propelled anti-Hitler coalition. Only appeared in the middle 1944 , the Soviet IS-2 tank with spryamlonnoy VFD had a head-to book housing, reliably protect it from projectiles guns "Panther" on the main battlefield distances. American tanks M26 «Pershing" and limited-edition M4A3E2 «Sherman Jumbo" also had armor, ability to protect them in the frontal projection of the KwK shells 42.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Tank "Panther» Pz.Kpfw. V battle group Myulenkamp 5 Panzer SS (5.SS-Panzer-Division «Wiking») near GMINA NURZEC-STACJA (Nurzec-Station). The division took part in the fighting to curb the rapid advance tank units of the Red Army during the "Bagration" operation. The machine has a modified housing Ausf. A tower and modifications Ausf. G.

With gun was paired 7.92mm gun MG-34, second (course) machine gun was placed in a head-body sheet in the yoke installation (in the front hull had a vertical slit for gun, closable shutter armor) for modification D and a ball mounted on modifications A and G. Komandirskie turret modifications tanks A and G were adapted for setting the zenith gun MG-34 or MG-42. The total ammunition cartridges for machine guns was 4800 cartridges in tanks Ausf. G and 5100 for "Panther» Ausf. A и D.

As a means of defense against infantry modifications tanks A and G were equipped with "device close combat" (Nahkampfgerat), mortars caliber 56 mm. Mortars was located in the right rear of the roof of the tower, In ammunition were smoke, shrapnel and fragmentation-incendiary grenades.

"Panther" modification D equipped scrap binocular telescopic sight TZF-12, on A and G versions tanks posed a simple monocular sight TZF-12A, represents TZF-12 right sight tube. Binocular sight had multiplicity 2,5 × and field of view 30 °, Monocular - variable multiplicity of 2.5 × or 5 × and field of view 30 ° or 15 °, respectively,. When changing tools elevation deflected only objective part sight, ocular remained motionless; This ensures ease of use with an eye on every corner of elevation gun.

Also on the commander's "Panther" began to mount the latest equipment - night vision devices: At the commander's turret installed infrared illuminator illuminators power 200 W plus observation devices, which allows you to inspect the area of ​​the race 200 m (wherein the driver of such a device is not owned and operated machine, Guided by the instructions of the commander).

In order to fire at night, I needed a more powerful illuminator. For this purpose, half-track armored personnel carrier SdKfz 250/20 infrared spotlight Uhu capacity was installed 6 kW, provides work night vision device at a distance 700 m. The tests were successful it, and the company Leitz-Wetzlar produced 800 optics kits for night vision devices. In November 1944 year Panzerwaffe received 63 "Panther", equipped with the world's first serial active night vision devices.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

tank Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf. A Phanter (Sd.Kfz. 171) on the factory site of MAN.

modifications

V1 and V2 (September 1942) - prototypes, practically do not differ from each other.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Modification a (Dl) (it. Execution A (Dl)). The first "Panther", released in January, 1943 year engine HL 210 P45 and transmission ZF7, were designated Ausf. a (A not to be confused with). Weapon KwK 42 It was equipped with a single-chamber muzzle brake, on the left side of the tower was placed projection-tide under the base commander's cupola. In February 1943 , these machines have the index Ausf. Dl.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Modification D2 (it. execution D2). Running in the gross production of "Panther" Ausf received index. D2. On the cannon was installed more efficient two-chamber muzzle brake, which allowed the shift commander closer to the gun and remove the tide commander's cupola. The tank mounted engine HL 230 P30 and CAT AK 7-200. Exchange machine gun was placed in a head-body sheet in the yoke installation. Tanks Ausf. D2 equipped scrap binocular telescopic sight TZF-12. Gun ammunition and machine guns consisted of 79 gunfire and 5100 cartridges respectively.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

«Panther» Ausf. A (Tank Museum Munster, Germany)

Modification A (it. execution A). Since the fall 1943 year started production of Ausf modification. A. The tank was installed a new tower (the same was put on the recent modification of the machine Ausf. D2). In the new tower were abolished hatches Verstandigungsoeffnung (one of translation - "Luke for communication with the infantry") and embrasures for shooting pistols. Tanks equipped with this modification easier monocular sight TZF-12A, as well as the commander's cupola, unified with the tank "Tiger". Changes were made and the body: ineffective bugel'niy setting a course machine gun was replaced with a more traditional ball. Several "Panther» Ausf. A was in the experimental procedure equipped with infrared night vision devices.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

PzKpfw V Ausf. G 1st SS Panzer Division, Netherlands, 1944

Modification G (it. Type G). In March 1944 year series went most mass modification "Panther" tank. version Ausf. G had more than a simple and manufacturable housing, of front plate has been removed-hatch plug of the driver, angle sides reduced to 30 ° to the normal, and their thickness is reduced to 50 mm. In the later machines of this modification form of gun mask has been changed to prevent ricochets into the roof of the housing shells. Gun ammunition increased to 82 shots.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Since the fall 1944 it was planned to start production of a new modification of the tank ausf. F. This modification is characterized by a more powerful armor housing (forehead 120 mm, bead 60 mm), as well as a new design of the tower. Developed by "Daimler-Benz" Tower Schmalturm 605 ("Close the tower") had several smaller compared to the standard, which allowed to strengthen to a head-to book 120 mm at an inclination of 20 ° to the normal. The boards had a thickness of a new tower 60 mm and angle 25 °, thickness gun mask reached 150 mm. Until the end of the war not a single complete prototype, although they were made 8 buildings and 2 tower.

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"Panther II» at the Museum of Cavalry and armored troops Patton

Modification of the "Panther 2" (it. Panther 2).

Adopting the autumn 1943 , the tank "Tiger II», Ministry of arms and ammunition issued task to develop a new tank "Panther II», with the condition of maximum uniformity over the sites of the two machines. new tank design was entrusted to the company "Henschel and Sons" Design Bureau. The new "Panther" is like a lightweight "Tiger II» reduced thickness of armor, equipped tower Schmalturm. The main armament - 88-mm tank gun KwK 43/2 (Eng.)Russian. with a barrel 70 calibres. The main problem was the lack of a suitable engine for potyazhelevshy machines, Fitting variants were worked MAN / Argus LD engines 220 power 750 l. from., Maybach HL 234 power 850 l. from. and other, but the work had been completed were not.

At the end 1944 , the control arms was issued an order to produce two "Panther II», but we managed to make only one body, on which test was installed tower from the serial "Panther» Ausf. G. But the tests were not carried out, and the tank was captured by US troops. The body of the tank is kept at the Museum of Cavalry and armored troops Patton - Fort Knox.

Modification Commanding tank "Panther" (it. Panzerbefehlswagen Panther, Sd.Kfz. 267).

Since the summer 1943 of the year, based on the "Panther" modification D, began production of commander's tank, differs from the linear machines installation of additional radio stations and reduced ammunition. Produced two versions of the tanks: Sd.Kfz. 267 with radiostantsiyami Fu 5 и Fu 7, to link in the chain "company - a battalion", i Sd.Kfz. 268, with radiostantsiyami Fu 5 и Fu 8, providing communication at the level of "battalion - Division". Additional radio Fu 7 и Fu 8 housed in the housing, and staffing Fu 5 - on the right side of the tower machines. Externally tanks different from linear presence of two additional antennas, one male and the other with a characteristic "whisk" top. The communication range for Fu 7 reached 12 km at the phone and 16 km at CW, Fu 8 I could work on 80 km in telegraph mode.

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"Jagdpanther"

Machines based on the "Panther"

"Jagdpanther" (Sd.Kfz. 173)

Since the debut of the heavy tank destroyer "Ferdinand" in the Kursk Bulge leadership of the Ministry of Armaments of the Third Reich had issued an order to develop a similar armament combat vehicle at a technological and a mobile chassis. The best option is the use of "Panther" base for installation on armored cockpits with it 88mm long-barreled gun StuK43 L / 71. The resulting ACS - tank destroyer was named "jagdpanther" and became one of the world's best cars in its class. The frontal armor "jagdpanther", as well as at other German tank destroyers typed sheets of "sea" armor, taken from stocks Kriegsmarine. Armor prewar production, This achieves high snaryadostoykost frontal projection.

Bergepanther (Sd.Kfz. 179)

For evacuation from the battlefield wrecked military vehicles under the influence of the enemy fired on the basis of "Panther" Specialized Armored Recovery Vehicle was developed (BREM) Bergepanther. Instead of the tower with weapons on the chassis "Panther" established an open platform, crane boom and winch. The first samples were armed with 20-mm automatic cannon, follow - 7.92-mm machine gun MG-34. The crew besides the commander and the driver included ten repairers. Bergepanther often called the best ARV WWII.

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Tankers Wehrmacht restore the damaged tank tracks "Panther» Pz. Kpfw. V Ausf. D.

Prototypes and projects

Armored observation car Panther - tank advanced artillery observers. On the machine gun was missing, instead it was placed in a nonrotating turret wooden mock. Armament consisted of the mask set in the machine gun MG-34. The tank was equipped with a periscope the commander of the circular rotation of the TSR 1, wide periscope TSR 2, which could go up to a height of 430 mm over the tower, two tank periscopes TBF 2 and horizontal base stereoscopic rangefinder. The crew consisted of commander, observer, driver and radio operator. According to one source, only copy was built, on the other - in a series of 41 car.

ACS projects on the basis of "Panther"

Chassis "Panther" to be used for a variety of combat vehicles with various artillery weapons, However, all these projects have remained only on paper, Here are some of them:

– Self-propelled 150mm howitzer tank VK to the chassis 3002 from MAN, working title Grille 15.
– HEALTHY, 128 mm-armed anti-tank gun PaK 44 L / 55 - Grid 12.
– HEALTHY, armed with 150-mm heavy field howitzer sFH 18/4 firm "Rheinmetall» - Gerät 811.
– HEALTHY, armed with 150-mm heavy field howitzer sFH 43 firm "Rheinmetall» - Gerät 5-1530.
– HEALTHY, armed with 128-mm gun K-43 firm "Rheinmetall» - Gerät 5-1213.
– Self-propelled armored installation to run unguided projectiles caliber 105 mm company "Skoda» - 10,5-cm Škoda Panzerwerfer 44.

ZSU projects on the basis of "Panther"

Since the fall 1942 year study began self-propelled anti-aircraft projects (MAT) on the basis of the new tank; the first of them was self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon on the chassis "Panther", armed with 88-mm anti-aircraft gun FlaK 18 (later FlaK 40). However, the project was rejected in favor of the ZSU, armed rapid-shellgun. December 1942 It started designing versions of the gun mount on the basis of "Panther", Armed 37 mm and 50-55 mm automatic cannon.

Only in January-February 1944 the project of the tower was designed, armed with two 37 mm automatic cannon FlaK 44. The new gun mount was called Flakpanzer «Coelian». However, only the layout was built ZSU. The prototype has not been made.

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Red Army soldiers walk past a destroyed tank "Panther» Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf. D (№ 322) 51-Tank Battalion Panzer Grenadier Division "Greater Germany" (Panzer Grenadier Division "Greater Germany"). In the background discernible silhouette of another "Panther" tank. Region Craiova Karachev.

Organizational structure

Top management of the Wehrmacht and the arms of the Ministry of implied, that "Panther" tanks have been replaced by a PzKpfw III and PzKpfw IV and become main tank Panzerwaffe. However, the possibility of production could not meet the needs of armored forces, tank proved difficult to manufacture, its price was also higher than planned. It was therefore a compromise solution: rearm in the "Panther" only one battalion each tank regiment, while increasing the production of PzKpfw IV.

The composition of the staff of the battalion were:

– 8 staff tanks (3 platoon and communication 5 a reconnaissance platoon).
– 4 company on 22 "Panther" (in the company 2 the tank commander and 4 a platoon of 5 linear machines). In the future, the number of tanks in the companies was reduced several times, first to 17 machines, then to 14, and by the spring of 1945 year in companies, there were at 10 tanks (states Wehrmacht tank companies K.St.N. 1177 ausf. A, K.St.N. 1177 ausf. B и K.St.N. 1177a).
– Air Defense Platoon, armed with anti-aircraft tanks Möbelwagen, Whirlwind или east wind.
– sapper platoon.
– Technical company.

Total statewide battalion was supposed to have 96 tanks, but in practice, organizations often rarely corresponded staff, in the army of the battalion consisted of 51-54 "Panther", Waffen SS were a few more - 61-64 tank.

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Tank Wehrmacht Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf. G Panther 116 Panzer Division (116. Panzer Division "Greyhound"), padded during operation Ardennes. In the background the destroyed tank Pz.Kpfw. IV.

combat application

all with 5 July 1943 by 10 April 1945 year has been lost in the fighting 5629 "Panther" tanks. Later there are no statistics, but the final number of this type of destroyed vehicles some more, as fights with their participation in the Czech Republic went down to 11 May 1945 of the year.

The battle of Kursk

The first part, get new tanks, became the 51 th and 52 th tank battalions. In May 1943 , they received 96 "Panther" and other provisions of the state machinery, a month later, both battalions were a part of the 39th Tank Regiment. All in the regiment, there were 200 machines - for 96 each battalion and more 8 Tank Regiment Staff. Commander of the 39th Tank Regiment was Major Laukert. Before the operation "Citadel" was formed 10 th Tank Brigade, which included the 39th Tank Regiment and a tank regiment pantsergrenaderskoy division "Greater Germany". The brigade commander was appointed Colonel Decker. The brigade was subordinate to the division "Greater Germany".

1-Battalion of the 2nd Tank Regiment SS Division "Das Reich" (it. I. Department / SS Panzer Regiment 2), which the 17 April 1943 year left for Germany for a new technology - "Panther" tanks, I returned to the front after the completion of the Battle of Kursk.

5 July 1943 , German troops launched an offensive on a broad front at Kursk. 39-Panzer Regiment attacked the position of the Soviet troops in the area of ​​the village and Cherkassy, despite the stubborn resistance of the 67-th and 71-th Infantry Division, and the counterattack of the 245th Independent Tank Regiment, the evening took a village. Thus for the first day of fighting, the loss amounted to 18 «Panther». 6 July tanks of the 10th Tank Brigade together with the divisional "Greater Germany" attacked towards Lukhanina, but they were stopped by units of the 3rd Mechanized Corps, losses were 37 «Panther». On the next day, and continued to advance, despite the desperate resistance of the Soviet troops, of the 10th Tank Brigade took the village rattlesnake, all day fighting off the attack of Soviet tanks and infantry. By the end of the day in the ranks there are only 20 combat-ready tanks.

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Soviet soldiers inspect a German tank Pz.Kpfw. The "Pantera", destroyed during the battle of Prokhorovka.

In the days that followed the fighting power of the shock of the 39th regiment has fallen significantly; per night 11 July were combat-ready 39 tanks, 31 the car was lost forever and 131 tanks in need of repair. 12 July 39th Regiment was withdrawn from the fight to clean up the material part. New attack of the 10th Brigade took 14 July, part of the newly incurred losses and the evening was combat-ready 1 PzKpfw III, 23 PzKpfw IV и 20 «Panther». Despite the good performance of repair services (a day back in operation to 25 machines), the loss of the 39th Regiment were significant, and 18 July 51st battalion was in the ranks 31 tank and 32 needed repair, in 52nd battalion was 28 bodied cars and 40 "Panther" in need of repair. The next day, the 51st Tank Battalion gave the remaining tanks 52 th and served under the Bryansk for new tanks, Having to account (According to German) 150 wrecked and destroyed Soviet tanks, irretrievably lost in the fighting 32 "Panther". In the future, the battalion was included in the Tank Regiment Division "Greater Germany".

52-Battalion during July 19-21, was transferred under the Bryansk, He continued to fight already in the 52 th Army Corps, and then it was included in the 19th Panzer Division. In subsequent battles battalion suffered heavy losses and the latest "Panther" lost in the battles for Kharkov.

The first experience of combat use of "Panther" tanks reveals both the dignity, and the disadvantages of the tank. Among the advantages of the new tank the German tank crews celebrated reliable protection body forehead (at that time the former invulnerable to all the Soviet tanks and anti-tank guns), powerful gun, which made it possible to strike all the Soviet tanks and self-propelled guns on the forehead, and good sights. However, the protection of the remaining projections tank was vulnerable to fire 76-mm and 45-mm tank and anti-tank guns on the main battlefield distances, also there were several cases of breaking the frontal projection of the tower 45-mm subcaliber and 76-mm caliber armor-piercing projectiles.

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Tank "Panther» Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf. A. 1-SS Panzer Regiment (SS Panzer-Regiment 1) 1-SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" (1. SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler), padded on the narrow country road.

The use of "Panther" on the Soviet-German front in 1944-1945

As noted above, after the failure of the German offensive in the Kursk Bulge, remaining "Panther" gathered as part of the 52nd Tank Battalion, who in August 1943 It was renamed in I. Department / Armored Regiment 15. 51-Panzer battalion has been beefed up in Germany and stayed in the division "Greater Germany". Until November 1943 year on the Eastern Front came more 3 battalion, completed with new tanks:

– I. Department / SS Panzer Regiment 2, who was part of the SS division «Das Reich» («Reich») — 71 "Pantera".
– II. Department / Armored Regiment 23 — 96 «Panther».
– I. Department / Armored Regiment 2 — 71 "Pantera".

During autumn fighting again noted a large number of technical problems in the engine and transmission tank; new gun KwK 42 and the frontal armor protection have received compliments German tank.

In November 1943 of the year 60 tanks were sent under the Leningrad, where they were transferred to the 9th and 10th divisions aviapolevyh (Air field divisions). The tanks were dug in the ground and used as a durable emplacements, 10 most capable vehicles were on the move as a mobile reserve. In the same month on the Soviet-German front came two more tank battalions, equipped with the "Panther". In December, all the tanks on the move transmitted in the 3 Panzer corps.

Only for 1943 year on the Soviet-German front was sent 841 "Panther" tank. As of 31 December 1943 at combat readiness remains 80 machines, yet 137 tanks in need of repair, a 624 "Panther" was lost. In the future, the number of "Panther" on the front steadily increased, and by the summer 1944 the number of combat-ready tanks peaked - 522 cars.

However, during a large-scale summer offensive of the Soviet troops, Germany once again suffered heavy losses in armor, and it was formed to refill the tank troops 14 armored brigades, in each of which there was a battalion "Panther". But only 7 of these teams got on the Eastern Front, the others were sent to Normandy to reflect the start of the offensive of the allied forces.

all with 1 December 1943 to November 1944 of the year, on the Soviet-German front was lost 2116 «Panther».

The last episode of the massive use of tanks, the Germans began to counterattack in Hungary, near Lake Balaton. Subsequently, equipped with tanks "Panther" of the Wehrmacht and SS troops took part in the defense of Berlin and the battles in the Czech Republic.

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Padded German tank PzKpfw V modifications D2, a wounded during the operation "Citadel" (Kursk). This picture is interesting in that it is present signature – "Ilin" and the date "26/7". probably, is the name of the commander of guns, podbivshego tank.

"Panther" in Italy

The first tanks "Panther" appeared in Italy in August 1943 year as part of the 1st Battalion of the 1st SS Panzer Division. All in the battalion was totaled 71 tank "Panther» Ausf. D. In the battles that unit did not participate in the October 1943 , it was sent back to Germany.

The first to take part in the battles became part of the 1st Battalion of the 4th Tank Regiment, who had 62 "Panther" Ausf modifications. D and Ausf. A. Battalion fought at Anzio area and a few days of fighting suffered heavy losses. So, on 26 May 1944 , he goes back 48 tanks, of which only 13 able-bodied. TO 1 June, the battalion left all 6 «Panther». 16 wrecked and destroyed tanks were inspected by the Americans, And of these, only 8 vehicles had traces of battle damage, and the rest were blown up or burned their crews during the retreat.

On 14 June 1944 , the 1st Battalion had 16 «Panther», of them 11 able-bodied; get a refill of July - June 38 tanks, in September - more 18 «Panther», and the latest addition of 10 machines battalion received 31 October 1944 of the year. In February 1945 , a part was renamed the 1st Battalion of the 26th Tank Regiment, and he remained in Italy until the surrender of the whole of the Italian group of German troops in April of the same year.

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Two US soldiers inspect a German tank "Panther" with Towers

The use of "Panther" on the Western Front

On the Western Front the first to receive new tanks steel parts I. Department / SS Panzer Regiment 12 (1-Battalion of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment) and I. Department / Armored Regiment 6 (1-Battalion of the 6th Tank Regiment). In June and July of Normandy it sent more 4 battalion "Panther". These units entered the fray in early June 1944 of the year, and to 27 July "Panther" irrecoverable losses were 131 tank.

The new German tanks proved an unpleasant surprise for the Allies, as its frontal armor was impenetrable by all staff antitank weapons, except for the 17-pound tank and anti-tank guns of the British. This fact has given rise to the myth, that the majority of German tanks on the Western Front was destroyed by Allied air, dominant in the air, as well as rocket-propelled grenade. However, the statistics of the affected tank suggests otherwise. for 2 summer months 1944 , the British were examined 176 wrecked and abandoned "Panther" tanks, damage types as follows:

– Armor-piercing shells - 47 tanks.
– Cumulative shells - 8 tanks.
– Concussive Shells - 8 tanks.
– Aircraft missiles - 8 tanks.
– Aircraft guns - 3 tanka.
– Destroyed crews - 50 tanks.
– Abandoned during the retreat - 33 tanka.
– Failed to set the type of damage - 19 tanks.

As can be seen from this list, Rate «Panther», destroyed aircraft and cumulative shells, small enough. Much more often the Germans had to destroy, and to throw the technique due to lack of fuel or technical malfunctions. Allies greatly underestimated the number of "Panther", they expect to find in France. By analogy with the "Tigers" was supposed, that the "Panther" are concentrated in separate heavy tank battalions, and meeting them will be infrequent. Reality showed complete failure of these assumptions - "Panther" accounted for about half of all German tanks in France, resulting in the loss of tank allied forces were much higher than expected. The situation worsened by the fact, that the main tank gun allies the M4 "Sherman" was ineffective against the frontal armor "Panther". One solution could be the tanks "Sherman Firefly", 17-armed British pound gun with powerful ballistics, as well as the widespread use of sabots. However, both groups had a little. As a result, successful struggle with the "Panther" was based on a considerable numerical advantage of their allies, and the rule of aviation, is an attack on the rear part of the Wehrmacht significantly reduced the combat capability of the German tank divisions.

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Two abandoned German medium tanks Pz.Kpfw.V Ausf.A «Panther" series early

"Panther" in other countries

Germany's allies attempted to get the tanks of this type, but they were not crowned with success. There were plans for serial production of "Panther" in Italy; five tanks and one ordered Hungary - Japan, but these orders were not implemented. AT 1943 year one "Panther» Ausf. A was sold to Sweden. A certain number of trophy, "Panther" was used by the Soviet troops (eg, in the 20th tank body), the first such case dates back to the 5 August 1943 of the year. but, due to maintenance difficulty, the need to use high-quality fuel and ammunition own, Mass nature of their use does not involve. After the war trophy "Panther" for several years served in the French army, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Hungary.

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A column of Soviet soldiers pass by the tower of the German tank Pz.Kpfw. The "Pantera", set as long firing point (DOT) in the middle of the streets of Berlin.

Tankobashennye bunkers (Pantherturm-ДОТ)

In addition to the tanks, "Panther" tower used for installation as long-gun emplacements (DOT). For this purpose, used as a regular tower Ausf modifications tanks. D and Ausf. A, and special tower, which differed enhanced to 56 mm roof and the absence of the commander's cupola.

there 2 modification bunkers with towers of "Panther":

– Pantherturm I (Steel pedestal) - tower mounted on armored base, brewed from the sheet thickness 80 mm, the thickness of the base of the tower 100 mm. The base modules consisted of two, combat and residential. The upper module is mounted tower, and it also housed the ammunition. The lower module has been used as a housing compartment and has two outputs, first - through a secret door out of the bunker, second - in the transition section to the weapon stations.

– Pantherturm III (Betonsockel) - a variant of the bunker to the concrete base, Pantherturm I differed from several modules enlarged size, made of reinforced concrete, but specific structural differences had.

There were also simplified version of the bunkers, when the tower was mounted only on the top combat unit.

Such firing points were applied on the Atlantic shaft, on the Gothic Line in Italy, on the Eastern Front, as well as on the streets of German cities. Often used as bunkers dug for the tower damaged tanks "Panther".

At the end of March 1945 year produced 268 Pantherturm-ДОТов.

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Soviet soldiers in the battle of the destroyed "Panther" German tank

Evaluation of the project

Evaluation of "Panther" is difficult to solve and controversial issue, in the literature are diametrically opposite statements on the matter, burdened by the war propaganda of the parties involved. An objective analysis of the "Panther" must take into account all aspects of the tank - construction, manufacturability and reliability in operation, inherent in the development potential of the machine, combat use. From the point of view of the realities of the war this tank which became fully reflect the defensive military doctrine, after the defeat in the Great Patriotic War. Even more persistent frontal armor and more big armor. small size of the tower and large angles vertical lay. High precision tools and expensive shells. All these traits defensive tank. in front of, tanks breakthrough was the development of on-board reservations and large-caliber guns, IP-2 had muzzle brake e.g., which strongly unmasks the tank after the shot, and dramatically lowers the defensive capabilities of the application (Panther gun, taking into account the caliber still much more secretive, like a flash shot and liftable back dust / snow). side armor of the tank inferior about 20 % board armor T34 and offense did not provide protection from many antitank, including anti-tank guns. Create a universal tank did not work. As a result, Pantera became one of the most massive tanks of the Wehrmacht.

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Burned-out German tank Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf. G «Panther" 11th Panzer Division on the roadside

Design and development potential

"Panther" is fully consistent with the canons of the German school of tank of World War II - the location of the transmission in the front end of the machine, the crew compartment with a tower in the middle of the hull and the engine at the rear. Suspension using individual double torsions, road wheels of large diameter are located in the "checkerboard" manner, the driving wheels of the front position. Respectively, such layout and design solutions define a common set of advantages and disadvantages of the "Panther". The former include a good smooth ride, uniform distribution of weight on hardpoints, accommodation towers in the center of the housing, absence hatches on the upper front part of the housing, a large volume of the crew compartment, a step-up crew work comfort. The disadvantages are the high altitude of the machine due to the need for a torque transmission from the engine to the transmission units through cardan shafts under the floor of the crew compartment, greater vulnerability of the transmission node and the drive wheels due to their location in the most vulnerable to fire the frontal part of the machine, worsening the working conditions of the driver and radio operator-gunner from the noise, heat and odors, outgoing from nodes and transmission units. Besides, in addition to a better visibility on the battlefield, high altitude has a negative impact on the total weight of the machine, reducing its dynamic characteristics as compared with tanks different layout scheme.

Another advantage of the arrangement of "Panther" is the placement of fuel tanks outside the inhabited places of the tank, which increases fire safety and survivability of crews in the defeat of the machine. The Soviet tanks dense arrangement forced to place the fuel tanks directly into the fighting compartment. It is necessary to note the presence of an automatic fire extinguishing system in the engine compartment of the German tank. At the same time, the arrangement is not guaranteed the protection of the tank against fires, as in "Panther" management department has transmission units, and in the fighting compartment - hydraulic rotation mechanism of the tower. The engine oil in the transmission units and the liquid in the hydraulic drive easily ignited, not just fire hearths destroyed tanks were located exactly in the front end of the machine.

Interestingly comparison "Panther" the Soviet medium tank T-44, taken into service in the middle of 1944 of the year, But do not take part in hostilities. Soviet tank at a significantly lower mass and dimensions (especially height) He had a stronger frontal and side armor protection especially housing, than "Panther". German designers were forced to have to increase the weight and dimensions of their new vehicles during the war, while Soviet engineers have succeeded in developing new machines due to the arrangement laid down in provisions. "Panther" was created "from scratch", without continuity with existing structures, which gave rise to the difficulties of industrial character. Remarkably, projects that the equipping of "Panther" more powerful 88 mm gun and enhancing its armor were unenforceable, that is, the potential development of the basic design was small.

On the other hand, German designers were lucky in the sense, that their British colleagues were able to until the end of the war to create an alternative "Panther" as "Comets" inferior "Panther" in booking, but surpassing it in maneuverability, and the American heavy tank M26 «Pershing", approximately equal to the characteristics of "Panther", He enrolled in a small number of troops in the most part of the test in combat in February 1945 , and I have not played any significant role in the battles of the Second World War.

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tanks Pz.Kpfw. The "Pantera", abandoned by the Germans in the Ukrainian city Proskurov (now the city of Khmelnitsky)

Workability

"Panther" was planned as the main tank Panzerwaffe with a very substantial volume of the issue - 600 tanks per month. But the great mass of the car, the complexity of the design and not regulated in comparison with reliable and well mastered in the production PzKpfw III and PzKpfw IV resulted in, that issue volumes were significantly lower than planned. In this case, the deployment of mass production of "Panther" had for spring-summer 1943 of the year, when the Third Reich was officially entered into the stage of "total war" and a large part of skilled workers, which was based on German industry to some extent, It was designed in the Wehrmacht (and later - and the Volkssturm). Since their forced replacement of German women was unacceptable to the leadership of the Third Reich for ideological reasons, had to use war and forcibly deported to work in Germany from the captured civilians in Western and Eastern Europe. The use of slave labor, hitting the Anglo-American air for plants, participating in the "Panther" release and its components, aggregates and components, related evacuations and redirecting freight traffic did not contribute to the implementation of production plans.

In this way, with the possible removal and PzKpfw III and PzKpfw IV with production, technological difficulties in the development of the new tank could lead to a sharp dip in the tank production, that it would be unacceptable for the Third Reich.

As a result,, Germans had to save in production was planned for PzKpfw IV removal, and that he, rather than "Pantera", It has become the most massive tank (if we assume that all of the issued "Four"; for 1943-1945 years it was released about the same number of machines) Germany WWII. Thus, as a "main battle tank" Wehrmacht in the period "Panther" was "equal" with PzKpfw IV and T-34 lost or "Sherman", which were the most widespread anti-Hitler coalition tanks and which in the years 1943-1945 was released much more, What "Panter". Some historians have expressed the view, that adopting "Panther" was a mistake, as an alternative, they considered the hypothetical possibility of increasing the output of PzKpfw IV.

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Myulenkamp combat group of the 5th SS Panzer Division (5.SS-Panzer-Division «Wiking») near GMINA NURZEC-STACJA (Nurzec-Station). In front of the armored Sd.Kfz.251 Untersturmfuhrer SS Gerhard Mann (Gerhard Mahn). Counter-attacks were made in an attempt to curb the rapid advancement of tank units of the Red Army during the "Bagration" operation. In the background a tank "Panther» Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf. G.

Reliability

Sent to the front in the summer 1943 tanks, the PzKpfw V «Panther" is characterized by low reliability for German cars - non-combat losses among them were the biggest. In many ways, this fact is explained nedovedonnostyu new machine and the weak development of its personnel. In the course of serial production of some of the problems was solved, others pursued the tank until the end of the war. His contribution to the low reliability of the car has made a "checkerboard" chassis design. Mud, stuffed between the track roller machine, often freeze in winter and completely immobilize a tank. Replacing damaged by mines or artillery fire internal rollers had a very time consuming operation, sometimes taking more than a dozen hours. In comparison with the most widespread enemy tanks - "Sherman" and especially the issue of T-34 1943 of the year, "Panther" is clearly at a disadvantage.

Qualification combat use

Evaluation in terms of combat application is the most controversial of all dimensions, related to "Panther". Western sources tend to be full trust in the German data for operational use "Panther", often memoir plan, and completely ignore the Soviet documentary sources. This approach is subject to serious criticism in works of tank Russian historians M. Bariatinskii and M. Svirina. Below are some facts, allowing a more objective opinion about the merits and "Panther" shortcomings in the fight.

The tank had a number of undoubted advantages - comfortable crew working conditions, quality optics, high frequency repeated bursts, large transportable ammunition and high armor KwK gun 42 can not be questioned. AT 1943 by armor KwK cannon shells 42 an effortless way to defeat any tank then fought the anti-Hitler coalition countries at distances up 2000 m, and the upper frontal armored plate well protected "Panther" from enemy shells, to some extent even by 122-mm or 152-mm caliber due ricochet (although in the frontal projection of the tank were vulnerable spots - the mask tools and the lower frontal part). These indisputable positive qualities were the basis for the idealization of "Panther" in popular literature.

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Captain James B. Lloyd's (James B. Lloyd), liaison officer of the American 370th Fighter Group, examines German tank Pz.Kpfw V «Panther», which was destroyed by heavy fighters P-38 "Lightning" from the same group in the town of Houffalize District (Houffalize) in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge.

On the other hand, at 1944 the situation has changed - on the arms of the USSR Army, US and British tanks, new samples were taken, artillery guns and ammunition. Lack of alloying elements for brands armor steels forced the Germans to use their surrogate substitute, and snaryadostoykost frontal armor "Panther" later editions dropped sharply compared to released in 1943 and the beginning of the year 1944 Car of the year. Therefore, the struggle with the "Panther" in the head-on collision has become less complicated. British tanks and self-propelled guns, armed with a 17-pounder gun with piercing projectiles with a detachable tray, without any problems hit "Panther" in frontal projection. 90-mm M26 «Pershing" Gun American tanks (which were first used in combat in February 1945 of the year) and ACS M36 «Jackson» also had difficulties in solving this problem. caliber guns 100, 122 and 152 Soviet mm tanks IS-2 and SU-100 SAU, ISU-122, ISU-152 literally breaks through the highly fragile armor "Panther". Using thick-headed projectiles with a ballistic tip type BR and BR-471B-540B largely solved the problem ricocheting, but using ostrogolovyh shells fragile armor could not stand (known fact of defeat "Panther" 122mm ostrogolovym projectile at a distance of about 3 km, when the frontal armor after his rebound was split, and the tank itself incapacitated). Soviet bombardment tests showed, 85 mm armor upper front part "Panther" breaks 122 mm projectile distance jughead 2500 m with a significant margin by increasing the firing distance, and when it enters the tower at a distance 1400 m at last penetrated darts overhead and moves on 50 cm from the axis of rotation. According to the results of shooting at the site have also been found, that SU-100 100-mm armor piercing projectile ostrogolovy BR-412-D from the gun self-propelled 10C can penetrate frontal armor PzKpfw V Panther Ausf. G away 1500 m, surpassing the calculated data and tabular armor.

The approval of the German side of the superiority of "Panther" on the heavy tanks of other countries in the years 1944-1945 to a certain extent received data sample, conducive to German side. for example, conclusion about the superiority of "Panther" on IS-2 did not concretized in a head-on battle, what "Panther" against an IS-2 (past there 6 podmodifikatsy). German conclusion is valid for "Panther" frontal armor with high quality anti-EC-2 sample 1943 , the cast "step" of the upper front part and ostrogolovymi armor-piercing ammunition BR-471 to its guns - in fact, the conditions for the beginning - middle 1944 of the year. The forehead of the IS-2 penetrated gun KwK 42 from 900-1000 m, while the upper frontal part "Panther" had a significant chance to reflect projectile ostrogolovy BR-471. However, there is a high probability of failure of the gearbox and gear onboard tank. Nevertheless, loss of the consideration of the case can be argued the, that transmission damage will not lead to immediate irretrievable loss of the tank. More serious counterargument German assessment is a complete disregard for the case of "Panther" fight with frontal armor of poor quality against the IS-2 sample 1944 year with a katana spryamlonnoy frontal armor and thick-headed projectiles BR-471B. Outer frontal item EC-2 of the pattern did not break any projectile caliber of 75 mm when firing at close range, whereas similar bronedetal "Panther" made its way or split at a distance more 2500 m, And the damage in this and most cases leads to permanent loss of the machine. Since the lower frontal part and gun mask compared tanks were equally vulnerable to both sides, this puts the "Panther" late release with equal skills of crews is clearly at a disadvantage against the IS-2 sample 1944 year with a katana frontal armor. In general, this conclusion is supported by the Soviet report on statistics permanently put out of action in the IS-2 1944 year. They approve, that caliber shell impacts 75 mm were cause irrecoverable losses only in 18 % cases.

AT 1944 year in the battle against Soviet troops had been cases, when the tower "Panther" did not maintain contact with fragmentation projectile. This was due to the fact, that by the time Germany had already lost the Nikopol manganese mine, and without manganese production of high-grade steels (including armor) impossible.

US officials also argue about the good resistance of the frontal armor of heavy tanks M26 «Pershing" and M4A3E2 «Sherman Jumbo" against any 75-mm guns of the enemy. At the same time it should be noted, that the IS-2 was a specialized tank breakthrough and, in general, was not designed to address problems of anti-tank, the number of the M26 and "Jumbo Sherman" was small. The main opponent of the "Panthers" were the T-34 and "Sherman", weapons that do not provide a reliable defeat of the German tank on the forehead, and the book does not provide reliable protection against fire guns "Panther".

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German tank Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf. A "Pantera", a padded board caliber projectile 100-122 mm. Number of captured Soviet "284" command

The main weakness of the "Panther", recognized by all authors, it was relatively thin side armor. Since the onset of the main task of the tank is to fight the entrenched infantry, artillery and fortifications of the enemy, which can be good or masked form a network of support points, the importance of good-board booking can not be underestimated - the likelihood of such conditions, substitute in the board under enemy fire is high. In contrast to the "Tiger" and self-propelled guns "Ferdinand", bead "Panther" protected only 40 mm armor instead of 80 mm. Consequently, by firing on the sides "Panther" achieved success even lightweight 45-mm anti-tank guns. 76-mm tank and anti-tank guns (not to mention the 57 mm ZIS-2) also confidently struck the tank when fired into the side. That is why the "Panther" has not caused a shock at the Soviet troops, in contrast to the "Tiger" or "Ferdinand", at 1943 It was virtually impenetrable by regular antitank weapons even when shooting into the side. In the same time, it should be noted, that the weakness of the side armor was characteristic of all the mass medium tanks of the Second World War: bead PzKpfw IV were only protected 30-mm vertical armor, "Sherman" - 38 mm, T-34 - 45 mm with slope. Good board had only booked specialized heavy tanks breakthrough, such as HF, "Tiger" and the IS-2.

Another drawback was the weak action of 75-mm high-explosive shells at unarmored targets (due to its high initial velocity, shells had thick walls and a reduced explosive charge).

It is best to "Panther" showed themselves in the active defense in the form of ambushes, He is shooting the advancing enemy tanks with large distances, their counter, When minimized the impact of weak side armor. Especially in this capacity, "Panthers" have succeeded in straitened circumstances of the battle - in cities and mountain passes in Italy, in the bush hedges (Bocage) Normandy. The enemy was forced to deal only with a solid frontal protection "Panther", without the possibility of wing attack to attack the weak side armor. On the other hand, any tank in the defense much more rezultativen, than on the offensive, and therefore it would be wrong to attribute the effectiveness of such exceptional qualities "Panther". Besides, recent design studies for improvement tanks "Panther" by replacing the arms in an even more powerful 75-mm cannon L / 100 or 88 mm gun KwK 43 L / 71 testify, that at the end 1944 - early 1945 , German experts have recognized the lack of effect of 75-mm KwK 42 for the purposes silnobronirovannym.

Military historian M. Svirin "Panther" evaluates as:

– Yes, "Panther" was strong and dangerous opponent, and can be considered one of the most successful German tanks of World War II. But it should not be forgotten, that this tank was a very expensive and difficult to build and maintain, and with proper counteraction burned up with the Joneses.

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Soviet soldiers inspect seized in the town of Uman German tank Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf. A «Panther" three days after the liberation of the city from invaders 10 Martha 1944 of the year. In the background, other various German armored vehicles.

analogs

The weight and size category of 40-50 tons analogues "Panther" (medium tank with a long-barreled gun unitary loading) can act only Soviet tanks KV-85 and EC type-1, IS-2 and American M26 «Pershing". Soviet machine is officially heavy tanks breakthrough and direct support of infantry, But their main weapon - a 85-mm tank gun D-5T and 122 mm tank gun D25T - meant including as a means of combating the new German heavy tanks. From this point of view, they (like tank guns) inferior "Panther" (85 mm- by hack, 122 mm - on rate of fire and fire unit), although equivalent chances of success were even in the most favorable for the "Panther" frontal battle (at a distance of up to 1000 m for 85 mm D-5T and more 2500 m for 122 of D-25T). M26 «Pershing" was extremely belated reaction to the appearance of PzKpfw V, but his fighting qualities, he is quite on a par with "Panther", reviews American tank about his new heavy tanks were very positive - he allowed them to fight "Pantera" on an equal footing. The most massive Soviet heavy tank IS-2 late war period when all external similarity its weight and size characteristics "Panther" not used as the main tank (the primary purpose of "Panther"), as well as a breakthrough tank with a completely different balance of armor and weapons. In particular, great attention was paid to good on-board booking and fire power against unarmored targets. Power 122mm gun D-25T at the EC-2 was almost twice as high, than 75 mm KwK 42, but claimed armor penetration is quite comparable (thus it is necessary to take into account the different methods for determining the armor penetration of the USSR and Germany, as well as the lack of ammunition D-25T sabots). In general, both cars were well adapted to the defeat of their own kind, although on the basis of different approaches to solving this problem.

Also on the concept close to the "Panther" English modification "Sherman" medium tank - "Sherman Firefly", which had comparable with the "Panther" (if not superior) armor its gun. However, the tank was much lighter in weight and have a weaker head-book and released in end 1944 , the British tank "Comet" who had a 102-mm armor forehead towers and armed tank gun QF 77 mm HV, yielding multiple bookings "Panther", he weighed 10 tons less and had higher firepower, speed and maneuverability.

Among the later German tanks PzKpfw V «Panther" was the easiest, but he had a more powerful protection body forehead, than "Tiger I», and better mobility compared to both the "Tiger I», and with the "Tiger II». Given these circumstances, and higher claimed armor 75 mm gun KwK 42 compared with the 88 mm gun KwK 36 the "Tiger I", Some experts estimate the "Panther" as the best German heavy tank of World War II. On the other hand, this kind of evaluation to some extent arbitrary and does not take into account the weakness of the on-board reservations "Panther" and low action high explosive 75mm shells at unarmored targets.

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German tanks Pz.Kpfw. The "Pantera", destroyed by Soviet troops at the Ukrainian Village

The performance characteristics of the Panther tank

Crew, pers.: 5
The layout: front office management, rear engine
developer: MAN
Manufacturer: Germany MAN, Daimler Benz, MNH, Henschel works, Demag
years of production: 1942—1945
years of operation: 1943—1947
The number of issued, PC.: 5976

Weight tank Panther

– 44,8 tonnes

Dimensions Panther tank

– body Length, mm: 6870
– Length with gun forward, mm: 8660
– housing width, mm: 3270
– Height, mm: 2995
– Clearance, mm: 560

Armor Panther tank

– Type broni: rolled low and medium hardness hardened surface
– housing forehead (top), mm / city.: 80/55°
– housing forehead (through), mm / city.: 60/55°
– body board (top), mm / city.: 50/30°
– body board (through), mm / city.: 40/0°
– housing feed (top), mm / city.: 40/30°
– housing feed (through), mm / city.: 40/30°
– Bottom, mm: 17—30
– corps roof, mm: 17
– tower forehead, mm / city.: 110/10°
– gun mantlet, mm / city.: 110 (cast)
– board towers, mm / city.: 45/25°
– tower feed, mm / city.: 45/25°

Armament Panther tank

– Caliber guns and stamp: 7,5 cm KwK 42
– barrel length, calibres: 70
– gun ammunition: 81
– Shotgun: 2 × 7,92 MG-42

Panther Tank Engine

– engine's type: V-shaped 12-cylinder Carburetor
– Engine power, l. from.: 700

Speed ​​Panther tank

– Road speed, kmh: 55
– Speed ​​over rough terrain, kmh: 25-30

– Cruising on the highway, km: 250
– power density, l. p. / m: 15,6
– suspension type: torsionnaya
– Unit ground pressure, kg / cm²: 0,88

Photo Panther tank

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

tanks Pz.Kpfw. V «Panther" 3rd SS Panzer Regiment (SS Pz.Rgt. 3) 3-Panzer-Grenadier Division of the SS "Totenkopf", lined with Soviet artillery south of Pultusk (Poland). Captured by the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Lights stricken German tank Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf. G «Panther». 3-First Byelorussian Front. In the frontal visible fractured shell hole 122 mm IS-2. The crew probably stayed there, after such a hit to survive almost, probably, unreal.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

German tank Pz.Kpfw. The "Pantera", padded calculation Guard Sergeant Parfyonov. Kharkov outskirts, August 1943 of the year.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

A column of German armored vehicles, destroyed in an ambush of the Soviet artillery on the border of Hungary and Austria, Detrits in the city area. In the foreground Pz.Kpfw tank. V «Panther" and examine its Soviet soldiers.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

Tazhe column German armor, destroyed in an ambush of the Soviet artillery on the border of Hungary and Austria, Detrits in the city area – front view.

 Pantera Tank TTH, Video, A photo, Speed, armor

tank Pz.Kpfw. V «Panther» Ausf. G, walked in the fourth column. Gorge in towers of shells krupnokalibernogo, jettisoned muzzle brake. Number of captured Soviet "75" team. A column of German armored vehicles, destroyed in an ambush of the Soviet artillery on the border of Hungary and Austria, Detrits in the city area.

 

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