Panzer V Panther Ausf A (SdKfz 171)
Type: German heavy medium tank
History: After a study had been made of the Russian T-34, Hitler ordered the development of a similar vehicle. Production of the Panzer V Panther Ausf D was to start in December 1942, with 250 to be built by 12 May 1943, the time for the summer offensive.
The Ausf A was the second series of the Panther production.
The basic design remained the same as the Ausf D, the difference being a series of modifications to improve performance.
Panther tank Ausf A with late commander's cupola.
The important changes on the Panther Ausf A were the introduction of the new cupola for the commander and strengthened running gear. The number of wheel-rim bolts was doubled to prevent failures. Several modifications were made to the drive-train to improve reliability. Engine exhaust cooling was modified. The hull design remained unchanged, but a new ball-mount was designed to replace the letter-box flap MG port. These ball-mounts were fitted to a proportion of Ausf A from August 1943, and were fitted to all Ausf A from late 1943.
The turret had many modifications. In addition to the new cupola, an episcope for the loader was provided on
the right side of turret roof. The small ammunition-loading hatch in
the left side was eliminated, and during the production run, the turret side pistol ports were eliminated in favour of the roof-mounted 'Nahverteidigungswaffe' (close-defence weapon). The TZF12 binocular
telescope was gradually replaced by the monocular TZF12a during
the Ausf A production.
A Panther tank between a Tiger I and a Panzer VI Kingtiger at the RAC Tank Museum, Bovington Camp, Dorset (UK).
When the Panther Ausf A was first introduced, it saw
service in Russia and Italy. Most of the Panther detachments deployed
to meet the Allied invasion of France in mid 1944 were equipped with
Panther Ausf A, and many of them were still in service at the end of the war.
After WW2 the US Army had calculated that it had cost five M4 Sherman to destroy one Panzer V Panther tank.
Users: Germany, Romania (for all variants).
PzKpfw V Panther from the Panzermuseum Munster, Germany.
A short video about Shermans vs Panthers with 3d models.
3d model of Panther tank A
|
Two Panther Ausf A under fire on the Russian Front.
Panzerkampfwagen V Ausf A Panther (SdKfz 171) |
Technical data and statistics : |
| Type |
medium tank |
| Engine |
Maybach HL 230 P30 gasoline engine with 700 hp
|
| Gearbox |
7 forward, 1 reverse |
| Crew |
5 |
| Turret crew |
3 (with 360° Commanders cupola) |
| Length |
8.86 m |
| Width |
3.42 m |
| Height |
2.98 m |
| Weight |
44.8 tons |
| Maximum speed |
29 mph |
| Cross-country speed |
15 mph |
| Fuel consumption per 100 miles |
724 litres on road,
1,078 litres cross-country |
| Fuel |
730 litres |
| Road radius |
100 miles |
| Cross-country radius |
60 miles |
| Vertical obstacle |
0.90 m |
Trench crossing |
1.90 m |
| Fording depth |
1.70 m |
| Turning circle |
10 m |
Climbing power |
35 ° |
| ARMOUR |
mm / angle |
| Turret front |
110 / 11 ° |
| Turret side |
45 / 25 ° |
| Turret rear |
45 / 25 ° |
| Turret top |
16 / 84-90 ° |
| Upper hull front |
80 / 55 ° |
| Upper hull side |
40 / 40 ° |
| Upper hull rear |
- |
| Hull top |
16 / 90° |
| lower hull front |
60 / 55 ° |
| lower hull side |
40 / 0 ° |
| lower hull rear |
40 / 30 ° |
| Hull bottom |
16-30 / 90 ° |
| Gun mantlet |
100 / round |
| ARMAMENT |
7.5 cm KwK42 L/70
with 79 rounds |
| Traverse |
360° (hydraulic),
Elevation -8° to +18° |
| Muzzle velocity |
Pzgr: 925 m/s
Pzgr40: 1,120 m/s (available only in limited numbers) |
| Shell weight |
Pzgr: 6.80 kg
Pzgr40: 4.75 kg |
| Penetration 100 yds at 30° |
Pzgr: 138 mm
Pzgr40: 194 mm |
| Penetration 500 yds at 30° |
Pzgr: 124 mm
Pzgr40: 174 mm |
| Penetration 1000 yds at 30° |
Pzgr: 111 mm
Pzgr40: 149 mm |
| Penetration 1500 yds at 30° |
Pzgr: 99 mm
Pzgr40: 127 mm |
| Penetration 2000 yds at 30° |
Pzgr: 89 mm
Pzgr40: 106 mm |
| Secondary armament |
one 7.92mm MG34 coaxially to gun, one 7.92mm MG34 in front hull (traverse 5°left to 5°right, elevation -10° to +15°), one 7.92mm MG34 on commander's cupola, together 5,100 rounds
|
| Radio |
|
| Telescopic sight |
TZF12a (2.5 miles aiming)
|
| Production |
from August 1943 to May 1944
|
| Price per tank |
129,100 RM (early)
= 58,095 $
= 12,308 £
|
| Total production figure |
|
Service statistics of all Panzer V variants |
|
Available |
Production |
Losses |
| before 1939 |
- |
- |
- |
| 1939 |
- |
- |
- |
| 1940 |
- |
- |
- |
| 1941 |
- |
- |
- |
| 1942 |
- |
- |
- |
| 1943 |
- |
1,768 |
525 |
| 1944 |
1,084 (1.1.) |
3,749 |
2,297 |
| 1945 |
1,982 (1.1.) |
459
(until March) |
237
(only Jan) |
| Total (losses only for January 1941 - January 1945, production until March 1945) |
- |
5,976 |
3,059 |
|
