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Photos, Articles, & Research on the European Theater in World War II

"The Pz-Kw 5 (Panther) Tank" from Tactical andTechnical Trends

Initial report on new German Panther tank based onRussian intelligence sources, from Tactical and TechnicalTrends, Nov. 4, 1943. The Panther tank was firstdeployed on the Russian front, and initial intelligence onthe Panther tank was based on Russian sources.

[Editor's Note: The following article is wartimeinformation on the German Panther tank published for

Allied soldiers. More accurate data on the Panther tank isavailable in postwar publications.]

THE PZ-KW 5 (PANTHER) TANK

The German tank series 1 to 6 has now been filled in with the

long-missing PzKw 5 (Panther) a fast, heavy, well-armored vehicle

mounting a long 75-mm gun. It appears to be an intermediate typebetween the 22-ton PzKw 4 and the PzKw 6 (Tiger) tank. The Panther

has a speed of about thirty-one miles per hour. It approximates

Panther Tiger Tank Tank WW2 WWII

Pagina 1 di 5Pz-Kw 5 Panther Tank, WWII Tactical and Technical Trends, Nov. 1943: PzKpfw ...

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(corresponds roughly to) our General Sherman, a tank which evokedcomplimentary comment in the Nazi press.

The following is a description of the tank: (It should benoted that practically all data contained in this report come fromRussian sources).

Weight - 45 tons

Crew - 5Armament - 75-mm

(2.95 in)gun, longbarrel,(1943); 1machine gun,MG-42, 7.92-mm

Ammunition - 75rounds (AP &HE)

Motor - Maybach,gasoline, 640hp in rear oftank; the gastanks arelocated oneither sideof motor

Cooling system - water

Ignition - magneto

Armor - front of

turret andcannon shield

100 mm (3.94in); upperfront plate85 mm (3.45in) 57inclination;lower frontplate 75 mm

(2.95 in) 53inclination;side and rearplate 45 mm(1.78 in);top of turret& tank andbottom oftank 17 mm(.67 in)

Dimensions:

width - 11 ft 8in (same asthe PzKw 6)

length - 22 ft 8in (1 1/2 ftlonger thanthe PzKw 6)

clearance - 1 ft 8in (10 cm)

(3.9 in) more




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Panther tanks are organized into separate tank battalions

similar to the Tiger tanks. Many of these tanks have been used by

the Germans during the July and August battles. The Russians state

that this tank, although more maneuverable, is much easier to

knock out than the PzKw 6. Fire from all types of rifles and

machine guns directed against the peep holes, periscopes and the

base of the turret and gun shield will blind or jam the parts.

High-explosives and armor-piercing shells of 54-mm (2.12 in)

caliber or higher, at 800 meters (875 yds) or less, are effective

against the turret. Large caliber artillery and self-propelled

cannon can put the Panther out of action at ordinary distances for

effective fire. The inclined and vertical plates can be pierced by

armor-piercing shells of 45 mm (1.78 in) caliber or higher.

Incendiary armor-piercing shells are especially effective against

the gasoline tanks and the ammunition located just in the rear of

the driver.

The additional 4 to 6 mm (.157 to .236 in) armor plate above

the suspension wheels is provided to reduce the penetration of

hollow-charge shells but the Russians state that it is not

effective. Antitank grenades, antitank mines and "Molotov

cocktails" are effective against the weak bottom and top plates

and the cooling and ventilating openings on the top of the tank

just above the motor.

This tank is standard but the quantity and rate of

production is not known.

See Also: New Heavy Tank: The Pz. Kw. 5 (Panther), The Heavy Mobile Punch, Ferdinand & thePanther

Keywords: Panther, Panzerkampfwagen V Panther, Panzer V, Pz.Kpfw. V, Sd. Kfz. 171

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