“BLACK CAT” OF THE WEHRMACHT

 

Tank, designed by Daimler-Benz, externally strongly resembled the T-34, but, nevertheless, like Hitler. With the Soviet machine was completely copied the layout features a rear motorostroitelnoe compartment and wheels. Eight rollers of large diameter are blocked by two and had leaf springs as the elastic element of the suspension. Soon, however, developed a variant of the undercarriage with the staggered arrangement of rollers and torsion bar suspension. Supposed to be used on the tank diesel engine Daimler-Benz MB 507. In early February 1942 began construction of a prototype — VK 3002(DB), and four weeks later, Hitler ordered armaments Minister Speer to issue a firm order for the first 200 cars. However, the point of view of the Fuhrer did not find understanding and support at the Ministry of armaments, experts believed that in wartime conditions, similar in appearance to the T-34 could cause a fire the tank of his own artillery. The project is the company MAN who had a traditional German layout with a front drivetrain and wheels, seemed to them preferable, although it was much more complicated. In fairness it should be noted that during the Second world war all the warring parties repeatedly fired on their own tanks, regardless of their similarity with the enemy tanks. So the argument against the car company Daimler-Benz can be considered to be largely false.

 

However, on may 13, 1942 Hitler was told conclusion of experts on both projects: the preference clearly given to the tank company MAN.

 

Designers Pz.Kpfw.V (name “Panther” without mentioning the army entered the index on the orders of the Fuhrer only from 27 February 1944) was chief engineer of tank Department of the company MAN P. Vibecke and engineer G. Kniepkamp of management improvement and testing of weapons.

 

First serial “Panther” left the factory floor of the company MAN January 11, 1943. Tanks “zero” series (20 units) were designated Ausf.And, while they had nothing to do with the cars produced later in September 1943.

 

A characteristic feature of the first serial “Panther” was the commander’s cupola with the tab-tide on the left side of the tower and a single chamber “pear-shaped” muzzle brake of the gun. Tanks were equipped with engines Maybach HL 210Р45 and had frontal armor thickness of 60 mm., They were used only in the rear for crew training. Since February 1943 the designation of machines of this series was changed to Ausf.D1. Still we can not say exactly why the first large-scale modification “Panther” was designated D. Perhaps the letters b and C reserved for other options.

 

Tanks Pz.Kpfw.V Ausf.D (this and subsequent modifications of the index via notation of combat vehicles of the Wehrmacht was the same — Sd.Kfz.171) slightly differed from the prototypes and machines “zero” series. The changes affected mainly commander’s cupola and gun muzzle brake — they have acquired a more familiar “panterovsky”. The thickness of the frontal armor increased to 80 mm. tanks mounted 230Р30 HL engine and gearbox AK-7-200.

 

It should be noted that the machines release the first half of 1943 commander’s cupola was similar to the turret “Tiger”, later it was replaced by a new, seven-periscope observation devices on the perimeter and a special ring to install anti-aircraft machine gun MG 34.

 

On the sides of the tower were fastened mortice NbK 39 to start the smoke grenade caliber of 90 mm.

 

Armor tanks, released in the second half, covered “timeritem”, in addition, they were equipped with bulwarks made of 5-mm armor plates.

 

The characteristic features of the machine series D (officially D2) are the lack of a ball machine gun installation course (it was located inside the tank, for the shooting was inserted into a narrow vertical slit, zakryvayutsya hinged lid), as well as the presence in the left side of the turret hatch round to eject spent cartridges and loopholes for firing personal weapons in the sides and rear of the turret.

 

To make up for losses incurred in the battles at Kursk, was installed beginning in August 1943, the monthly production plan — 250 “Panther”! However, in August produced only 120 tanks — as a result of the bombing allied aircraft were badly damaged plants of the company MAN in Nuremberg and Daimler-Benz in Berlin. Failed to execute the plan and in September (197 cars), and only in October the factory shops left 257 tanks!

 

 

 

 

From September 1943 began production of the next modification of the “Panther” — Ausf.. The changes made little: is quite useless in combat, and a drag ball appeared to install exchange machine gun in the hull, designed by Daimler-Benz even for its prototype VK 3002(DB); eliminated hatch to eject spent cartridges and loopholes for firing personal weapons in the sides of the tower; instead of two lights on the upper front hull has only installed one. Binocular gun sight was replaced by the monocular TZF 12A. The angle of elevation of the tank guns reduced from 20° (as in Ausf.D) to 18°.

 

Modification Ausf.G — the most massive of the three (produced 3740 tanks) — launched into production in March 1944. The side plates hull got the inclination angle 61° (variants D and A — 50°), the thickness of the side armor increased to 50 mm, and the frontal armor of the turret — up to 110 mm of front hull was deleted hatch-stopper of the driver. Boarding hatches gunner and the driver began to lean on the hinges to the sides and not to move as the previous versions. Part of the tanks received a mask with a specific gun “skirt” at the bottom, making it impossible for jamming towers when hit with a projectile. At three shots increased gun ammunition. Changes were made in the design of fans, blinds engine, exhaust pipes, etc.

 

Tanks G series planned to equip the road wheels without rubber tires, but the complete lack of photos of military vehicles with such a chassis gives grounds to assume that the project remained on paper. Neobressorennymi machine with rollers in the experimental procedure has built a firm MAN in September 1944. Some serial “Panther” had a single neobrazovannie rinks on the last axis.

 

The use of allies in increasing volumes of aircraft to fight German tanks (especially after opening a second front in Europe) has reduced the possibility of movement of tank units a day to almost zero. There was a question about the equipment of tanks with night vision devices, on which work was carried out by the firm AEG in 1936. As a result, the commander’s cupola “Panther” was mounted an infrared spotlight illuminator power of 200 W and a surveillance device, which allowed to explore the area from a distance of 200 m. the driver of this device had and drove, following the instructions of the commander. To fire the night, needed a more powerful illuminator.