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Germany's Bergepanther, SdKfz 179:
In June 1943, MAN sent 12 Panthers, without their turrets, to two Panther battalions that were to be used at Kursk.8
From July to August 1943, Henschel produced 70 with a 40 ton winch in place of the turrent.8 There was a wood and steel superstructure with a canvas that protected the crew.8,10 A hinged spade was placed on the rear to be use as a counterbalance and lever.8 The spade wasn't installed on all vehicles.10
The middle part of the hull roof was removed and a metal box was mounted across the hull.10 Additional boards were added to increase it's height.10 The boards on the sides could be folded down to allow for people to walk or work on them.10
The compartment held the equipment, winch, cable drum, and the steel arm that ran above the winch area.10 The engine had to be turned off every time the winch was to be turned on.10 Rollers guided the cables over the rear of the Bergepanther.10
It was intended to have two in every Panther battalion.8
A folding derrick with a 1.5 tone capacity was installed. Weighed 42.7 tons, speed of 21 mph, and a crew of 4 or 5, although 2 could operate it. These were produced by Demag of Berlin-Falkensee. Ruhrstahl of Hattingen supplied the armor. Fuel was increased to 1,075 liters.
The chassis used were 232 Ausf As from June to September 1943, 107 Ausf Gs from September 1944 to March 1945, and 8 converted in August 1944. MAN and Henschel built around 350.8
The Panzer Regiment Lauchert and the 51st & 52nd Panzerabteilungen each had 4 at Kursk in July 1943.
| Bergepanther | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 412, 55 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 42 tons5,12 |
| Length w/gun | 26' 9"5,12 8.153 m5 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 9'5,12 2.74 m5 |
| Width | 10' 9"5,12 3.276 m5 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 1' 10"12 |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 20 mm5 20 mm KwK 3812 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 7.92 mm MG5 1: 7.92 mm MG34 MG12 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 80@50°12 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 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 |
| Hull Bottom | 20+13@90°12 |
| Turret Front | |
| Turret Sides | |
| Turret Rear | |
| Turret Top | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL210 P305,12 Maybach HL230 P3012 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 6425 HL210: 642@3,000 rpm12 HL230: 690@3,000 rpm12 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | AK 7-200, 7 forward, 1 reverse12 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline5 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | |
| Max speed | 20 mph5,12 32 kph5 |
| Cross country speed | 10 - 15 mph12 |
| Road radius | 105 miles5,12 169 km5 |
| Cross country radius | 53 miles5,12 85 km5 |
| Turning radius | |
| Elevation limits | |
| Fording depth | 4' 7"12 |
| Trench crossing | 6' 3"12 |
| Vertical obstacle | 3'12 |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | |
| Wheels each side | |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | 2' 1.75"12 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 8' 7 1/8"12 |
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?
