Panzerkampfwagen V Ausf D, Panther, SdKfz 171:
In Poland in 1945
1st Battalion HQ in summer of 1943
Captured in Italy in 1944.
First main production models.10 One piece hull plates, with all joins, stepped, mortised, and welded. Drum shaped cupola, empty-round ejection hatches in turret side, vertical slit in glacis plate for hull MG (similar to a mailbox flap) to fire through. The driver had an armored flap to see directly out in front of him, and he also had 2 periscopes in the hull roof. Pistol ports were in the side and rear of the turret as well as the cupola hatch.
Hitler ordered that the Ausf D production be stopped in July 1943.8 The final Ausf D rolled of Henschel's production line in September 1943.8 A total of 600 were produced.8
From February 1944, the remaining Ausf Ds were retrofitted with Schürzen along the tops of the tracks.8
Sometimes known as the D2.
Used a FuG5 radio.3
Early Production
The first 20 produced had 21 liter motor.10 There was a bulge in the turret where the commander's cupola was.10 The front armor was 60 mm.10
Late Production Changes
Later models had the cupola moved back and more inward so that the bulge was eliminated.10 The armor was 80 mm.10 A 23 liter motor was installed.10
Kursk
Vehicles were issued in February 1943 but were recalled in April 1943 for major modifications. In May 1943 the 51st & 52nd Panzerabteilungen received the Panthers and these first saw action at Kursk.8 The rest of the production were primarily issued to the already mentioned units as well as the 23rd & 26th Panzerabteilungen, and the Panzer regiments Das Reich and Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler.8
| Panzerkampfwagen V Ausf D | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 52,3,8,12,44 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 94,800 lb 43 tons3,4,6,8, 44.75 tons9, 44.8 tons2 |
| Length w/gun | 22.9'4, 22' 11", 29'8, 29' 1"9,12 7 m, 8.86 m2,3,6,8 |
| Length w/o gun | 22' 7"8 6.88 m8 |
| Height | 9' 8"8, 9' 9"9,12, 11.45'4 2.95 m3,6,8, 3.1 m2 |
| Width | 11' 3"8,9,12, 11.45'4, 11' 5" 3.43 m8, 3.4 m3,6, 3.44 m2, 3.5 m |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 1' 10"12 0.56 m2 |
| Ground contact length | 3.91 m |
| Ground pressure | 0.73 (kg/cm2)2 0.735 (kg/cm2)7 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 75 mm L/702,9 75 mm KwK42 L/703,6,7,8,12 75 mm4 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2: MGs2,4 2: 7.92 mm MG343 1: MG34, coaxial6 7.92 mm MG 34, AA8 7.92 mm MG 3412 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 792,3,6,8,12, 828 |
| Secondary | smoke grenades on either side of turret |
| MG | 2,50012, 4,2008, 5,1002,3,6 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 15 - 804 Front: 80-1108, 1006 Side: 40-458, 456 Rear: 40-458 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 60-802, 80@55°3,7,12, 80@33°9, 80@35°8 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 60@55°7, 60@5°3, 80@35°8, 80@55°12 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 402 40@0°12, 40@40°3,12, 45@25°7, 40@90°8 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 40@0°3,7, 40@90°8 |
| Hull Rear | 402 40@30°3,12, 50@60°8 |
| Hull Top | 15@90°7,12 162 16@90°3 |
| Hull Bottom | 15@90°7 162 16-30@90°3 20+13@90°12 |
| Turret Front | 1002 100@10°3, 100@12°7, 100@80°8, 110@10°12 Mantlet: 100@round3,7 |
| Turret Sides | 452 45@25°3,7,12, 45@65°8 |
| Turret Rear | 452 45@25°3,7, 45@28°12, 45@62°8 |
| Turret Top | 15@84.5°-90°7, 15@0-6°8, 15@83° & 88°12 162 16@83°-90°3 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 210 P308,12 Maybach HL 230 P302,3,9 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | V-128 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 6508, 7006 642@3,000 rpm12, 700@3,000 rpm9 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | Zahnradfabrik AK 7-200, 7 speed7 7 forward, 1 reverse.2,3 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline8 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 161 gallons8 |
| Road consumption | 100 km/432 liters |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, hydraulic.3 |
| Max speed | 28 mph4, 29 mph8, 34 mph9,12 45 kph, 46 kph3,6,8, 55 kph2,7 |
| Cross country speed | 15 mph8,12 24 kph8 |
| Road radius | 105 miles12, 110 miles8, 124 miles 169 km, 177 km8, 200 km2,3 |
| Cross country radius | 53 miles12, 55 miles8 85 km, 89 km8, 100 km2 |
| Turning radius | 8.7 m2, 10 m |
| Elevation limits | -8° to +18°3 |
| Fording depth | 4' 7"12 1.7 m, 1.9 m2, 1.91 m |
| Trench crossing | 6' 3"12 |
| Vertical obstacle | 3'12 0.91 m |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | Torsion bar2 |
| Wheels each side | 8x22, 8 double interleaved wheels each side9 |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | 2' 1.75"12 650 mm, 660 mm2,7 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | Rubber2 Dished with solid rubber.9 |
| Track centers/tread | 8' 7 1/8"12 2.62 m |
| Production | Nov 42 - Sep 1943: Ausf D: 600 |
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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