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Germany's Panzerkampfwagen V Ausf F,
Panther, SdKfz 171,
Panther II:
PzKpfw V Ausf F: |
| Dragon Armor 1/72 Diecast Models of Panther: |
|---|
60043: |
The Army Weapons Department issued specifications for a design for the Panther's replacement in the spring of 1943.8 It was to have as many parts be interchangeable between the Panther and the King Tiger.8
It was to have a smaller turret that would have better protection, but also would take less time and resources to build.8 It was to be able to take the 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 or the 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 guns.8
MAN and Henschel started on a new design in April 1943. Two prototype hulls were made and one was equipped with Ausf G turrets for trials. This resides at the Patton Museum for Armor, in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Daimler-Benz produced 8 prototype hulls in 1945. Had steel rimmed wheels. New hull ball mount that used MP/StG 44 assault rifle. Turret front was 120 mm, sides/rear 60 mm, and roof 30 mm. Infrared telescope and searchlight were mounted and a new rear gun port for a MP/StG 44. Permanent aerial base and fittings were installed so that it could become a command tank in the field quickly. MG 42 became coaxial gun.
It had a FuG5 radio installed.3
Some were used at Stuhlweissenburg in 1945 with great success.
| Panzerkampfwagen V Ausf F | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 53 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 45 tons3 |
| Length w/gun | 8.86 m3 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 2.92 m3 |
| Width | 3.44 m3 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 75 mm KwK42/1 L/703 75 mm KwK 44/1 L/707 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2: 7.92 mm MG343 7.92 mm MG34, coaxial7 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 793 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 80@55°3 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 60@55°3 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 50@30°3 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 40@0°3 |
| Hull Rear | 40@30°3 |
| Hull Top | 25@90°3 |
| Hull Bottom | 16-30@90°3 |
| Turret Front | 120@20°3,7 Mantlet: 120 Saukopfblende3 |
| Turret Sides | 60@25°3,7 |
| Turret Rear | 60@25°3,7 |
| Turret Top | 40@90°3,7 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL230P303 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | 7 forward, 1 reverse.3 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | |
| Max speed | 55 kph3 |
| Cross country speed | |
| Road radius | 200 km3 |
| Cross country radius | |
| Turning radius | |
| Elevation limits | |
| Fording depth | |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical obstacle | |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | |
| Wheels each side | |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread |
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?
