Panzerkampfwagen V Ausf A(2), Panther, SdKfz 171:
Came after the Ausf D, and was introduced late in the summer of 19448. MAN, Daimler-Benz, MNH and DEMAG built this model. Ball mounted hull MG8,11, stronger wheel fixing (24 bolts vs. 16 bolts), armored cupola in turret8. Had better vision with episcopes rather than vision slits. Ammunition loading hatch on left-hand side and pistol ports were removed. Nahverteidgungswaffe close-in defense weapon was installed.
The cupola was cast and had seven periscopes.10 There was also a mount for an AA MG to be installed.10
The AP round weighed 15 lbs and had a muzzle velocity of 3,066'/sec.13
Later models had the turret modified.10 The side gun ports and the left side loading hatch were eliminated.10
Armored aprons were installed for the top of the tracks.10,11 Zimmerit was also applied.10,11 There were four exhaust pipes that were mounted differently than the Ausf D.10
Zimmerit was added to all new Panthers starting in September 1943 through September 1944, at which time it was discontinued as it was felt that it was unnecessary .8
A total of 1,768 were constructed.8
This was the main type encountered in Normandy.9
* The subscripts are my convention to be able differentiate between the very first models that were initially called Ausf As and the ones that were designated Ausf As later.
| Panzerkampfwagen V Ausf A(2)* | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 45, 512,13 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 45,500 kg5 98,800 lb, 100,310 lb5 44 tons12, 44.8 tons6, 45.5 tons4, 50.2 tons13 |
| Length w/gun | 29' 0.75"5, 29' 1"9,12 8.86 m5,6 |
| Length w/o gun | 22' 7"5, 22.6'13 6.88 m5 |
| Height | 9.7'13, 9' 9"9,12, 10' 2"5, 10.3'4 2.98 m6, 3.1 m5 |
| Width | 10.8'13, 11' 3"5,9,12 3.42 m6, 3.43 m5 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 21.2"13, 1' 10"12 |
| Ground contact length | 154"13 |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 75 mm KwK 42 L/7012,13 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 3: 7.92 mm MG3412 2: 7.9 mm MG34, coaxial, bow13 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 7912,13 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 4,50012,13, 5,100 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 15 - 1104 Front: 3.2"@55°13, 1106 Side: 1.6"@40°13, 456 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 80@55°12 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 60@5°, 80@55°12 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 40@40°12 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 40@0°12 |
| Hull Rear | 40@30°12 |
| Hull Top | 15@90°12, 16@90° |
| Hull Bottom | 16-30@90°, 20+13@90°12 |
| Turret Front | 4.3"13 110@10°12, 110@11° |
| Turret Sides | 1.8"13 45@25°12 |
| Turret Rear | 45@25°, 45@28°12 |
| Turret Top | 15@83° & 88°12, 16@83°-90° |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 230 P305,12,13 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water13 |
| Cylinders | V-1213 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 690@3,000 rpm12, 7006 700@3,000 rpm13 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | 6.8:113 |
| Transmission (Type) | AK 7-200, 7 forward, 1 reverse12 Synchromesh, 7 forward, 1 reverse13 |
| Steering | Discontinuous regenerative13 |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | Electric and inertia13 |
| Eletrical system | Starting :24-volt13 Normal: 12-volt13 |
| Ignition | Magneto13 |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline13 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 193 gallons (5 tanks)13 |
| Road consumption | 0.67 mpg13 |
| Cross country consumption | 0.34 mpg13 |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | Hand and hydraulic13 |
| Max speed | 25 mph, 29 mph5,13, 34 mph12 46 kph5,6 |
| Cross country speed | 15 mph12, 16-19 mph13 |
| Road radius | 110 miles5,12, 124 miles13 177 km5, 200 km |
| Cross country radius | 55 miles12, 62 miles13 |
| Turning radius | |
| Elevation limits | -8° to +18° |
| Fording depth | 4' 7"12, 5' 7"5, 67"13 1.7 m5 |
| Trench crossing |
6' 3"5,12, 6.25'13 1.91 m5 |
| Vertical obstacle | 35.4"13, 3'5,12 0.91 m5 |
| Climbing ability | 35° (70%) slope13 |
| Suspension (Type) | Two large road wheels independently sprung on 2 torsion bars13 |
| Wheels each side | 813 |
| Return rollers each side | 1 (small, behind sprocket)13 |
| Tracks (Type) | Dry pin13 |
| Length | |
| Width | 2' 1.75"12, 26"13 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | 8713 |
| Pitch | 5.9"13 |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 8.6'13, 8' 7 1/8"12 |
| Production | 7/1943-2/1944: 1,788 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1943-1945, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- Panther Variants 1942-1945, Hilary Doyle and Tom Jentz, 1997
- German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- The Panther Family, Horst Scheibert, 1990
- Battle Winning Tanks, Aircraft & Warships of World War II, David Miller, 2000
- AFV 10: Panzerkampfwagen V Panther, Chris Ellis and Peter Chamberlain
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
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