The FReeper Foxhole's TreadHead Tuesday - PanzerKampfwagen V - Panther - Feb. 17th, 2004

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[SAMWolf]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.

...................................................................................... ...........................................

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PanzerKampfwagen V
Panther

After meeting the Soviet T-34 tank in late 1941 the German army was considerably shaken to find that there was a tank better than its PzKpfw IV. Although work on a successor to the PzKpfw IV had started as early as 1937, which eventually became the Tiger heavy tank, it largely incorporated features from the earlier development prototypes and owed nothing to the T-34 design. After examining captured T-34s during an "on the spot" investigation, the key features of the T-34 design were assessed. The three main characteristics were:

• the sloped armor which gave optimum shot deflection
• the large road wheels which gave a stable and steady ride
• the overhanging gun, a feature previously avoided by the Germans as impracticable

Wooden model of the Daimler-Benz proposal

Having received the commision's report on November 25 1941, the Heereswaffenamt contracted with two armament firms, Daimler-Benz and MAN, to produce designs for a new medium tank in the 30-35 ton class. To be ready for the following spring, the specifications called for a vehicle with 60mm frontal armor and 40mm side armor, a high velocity 75mm gun and the front and sides to be sloped like the T-34.


MAN Panther Ausf. D

In April 1942, the two designs were submitted, with an interesting contrast. Daimler-Benz proposal was an almost unashamed copy of the T-34 in layout, with the addition of a few refinements. It had a hull shape similar to the T-34 with turret mounted well forward; the driver sat within the turret cage. A diesel engine was fitted with transmission to the rear sprockets. Paired steel bogies without rubber tyres were suspended by leaf springs. Other features included jettisonable fuel tanks on the hull rear in T-34 fashion.


Panther Ausf. A

Hitler was impressed with the Daimler-Benz "T-34 type" proposal, although he suggested that the gun be changed from the 75mm L/48 model to the longer L/70 weapon, and prototypes went into production. Leaf springs were cheaper and easier to produce than torsion bars, and the diesel engine would have been an advantage in later years when petrol supply became restricted. However, the Heereswaffenamt preferred the MAN design, since simply copying the T-34 was unpatriotic and there were mechanical features of the T-34 which made copying an impractical proposition for German manufacturers.


Panther Ausf. G

The MAN design displayed original German thinking, sophisticated rather than simple. It had a higher, wider hull than either the Daimler-Benz design or the T-34, with a large turret placed well back to offset as much as possible the overhang of the long 75mm gun. Torsion bar suspension was used with interleaved road wheels, while a Maybach petrol engine was proposed, with drive to the front sprockets. The internal layout followed conventional German practice with stations for the driver and hull gunner/radio-operator in the front compartment.


The crew of a Panther, Eastern Front, April 1944

Militarily, there were two important prerequisites in the comparison of the two models: mass production should start in December 1942, and the weapon should be of superior quality to counter the numerical material superiority of the enemy. Daimler-Benz was not able to produce the turret for the deadline, and needed modifications on the turret as well. The recommendation of the MAN's proposal was presented to Hitler on 13 May 1942, and accepted. At the same time the specifications were restated, increasing the frontal armor thickness to 80mm, a change increasing the weight to 44 tons. By that time much of the design, like wheels and suspension, had been completed and subcontractors at work; throwing additional strain on components designed for the original weight, which lead to problems of unreliability in action.

[snippy_about_it]

Fall In Poundstone and welcome to the FReeper Foxhole where teaching history related to the sacrifices of those gone before us and having fun plus a comfortable environment to discuss it is our mission. From military equipment to battles to biographies, we report you decide.

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning everyone!

[gatorbait]

The Mk V was an impressive vehicle, no doubt, but lots of them dstill died after being shot by "inferior " US Tanks and TDs ..There's one in Southern France that shows an M 10 could kill it nicely. Lovely 3 in holes in the side.
Good article on an important tank.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Good morning!

I can feel the testosterone pumping on this thread today :) Happy Treadhead Tuesday!

[SAMWolf]

In early July of 1944, Das Reich was moved to Saint Lo to halt the advance of the US Army's 9th and 30th Infantry Divisions and the 3rd Armored Division.

On July 8th, Barkmann's Kompanie was a spearhead of Regiment's attack on the advancing American units. On this day, Ernst Barkmann knocked out his first Allied Sherman tank near St.Lo.

On July 12th, he destroyed two more Shermans while disabling the third one. During that engagement Barkmann moved his camouflaged Panther to ambush position and awaited for more Allied armor, knocking out three Shermans. After that Ernst Barkmann's tank was hit by an anti-tank gun which caused fire. He decided to abandon his burning Panther and along with his crew he quickly put out the fire. After that engagement his Panther ended up in the workshop for repairs.

After a day of rest, in morning of July 14th, Barkmann was ordered to recover four Panthers that had been cut off behind enemy lines. He succeeded in his task and added three more Shermans to his score.

On the same day at noon, Ernst Barkmann was ordered by the Regimental Commander SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer Tychsen to recover wounded German soldiers from their American captors. Once again he succeeded and in the evening his own Panther was returned to him from the workshop.

On July 26th, Barkmann's Panther suffered from engine problem and was sent to field workshop.When mechanics were working on it, field workshop was attacked by Allied fighter-bombers and Barkmann's Panther was hit in the engine compartment. By the dawn of July 27th, his Panther was repaired but he was cut off from the rest of the Kompanie and was on his way to rejoin it.



Ernst Barkmann

On his way back, near the village of Le Lorey, Barkmann was stopped by the retreating German infantrymen who reported that Americans were closing in. Ernst Barkmann decided to send two of his men to verify that report. They soon returned with news of American column made up of some 15 Shermans and other vehicles approaching. Then Barkmann moved his tank up the road to the crossroad where he positioned his Panther in the surrounding oak trees, awaiting the enemy. When the American column approached, Ernst Barkmann opened fire, knocking out two leading tanks and then a tanker truck. Two Shermans tried to go around burning wreckage that blocked the road and one of them was knocked out followed by the other one.

In the response, Americans retreated and called up the tactical fighter support and Barkmann's Panther was damaged and some of the crew members were wounded. Using the element of suprise two Shermans attacked "wounded" Panther but were also knocked out. Barkmann and his crew repaired their Panther and knocked out a single Sherman while leaving. His driver managed to moved their damaged Panther to the safety of nearby village of Neufbourg.

During that brave engagement often called "Barkmann's Corner", Ernst Barkmann destroyed approximately nine Sherman tanks and many other various vehicles.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Aeronaut.

Holy Smoke! I can see why it's called the Beluga! Looks more like a MAcy's Day Float than an aircraft.

[SAMWolf]

Morning stand waitie.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Archy. Jody Harmon does some of the greatest Armor art, doesn't he?

[SAMWolf]

I can't get enough pictures of the Panther!!

[Aeronaut]

I can see why it's called the Beluga! Looks more like a MAcy's Day Float than an aircraft.

Hi Sam. I saw one up close at Oshkosh last year. She's a big'un.

[SAMWolf]

Morning AnAmericanMother! One of my favorite Mauldin Cartoons! How'd you know?

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Mayor.

[SAMWolf]

Is that a great site or what?

Panzer vs. Ausf. D "Panthers" of the SS Panther Division "Das Reich" make their debut during the initial stages of the German summer offensive for Kursk. This unit with others of the SS Panzer Korps made the deepest advances into the well prepared Soviet lines. Complete success was to elude them however when outrunning their supporting divisions at Prokhorovka they were forced to halt for six days.

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks Sam for the Panther Ace Barkmann story, it certainly emphasizes what we were up against!

The following is the official account for the awarding of the Knight's Cross to Ernst Barkmann:

"SS-Untersharführer Barkmann was left behind with his Panther on 27 July 1944 to guard two broken down vehicles north of Canisy. During the night of 28/29 July the vast backward moves of the Division completely cut him off from his own forces. He destroyed one tank and started his march towing the other. Partly crossing American lines and partly driving among them at night, he knocked out 14 enemy tanks and reached his own lines on 30 July 1944."

[The Mayor]

FedEx has one that looks like that.
I saw it at the Buffalo airport and couldn't beleive how big it is..

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning feather.

[SAMWolf]

Welcome to the Foxhole Poundstone. Grab an entrenching tool and make yourself at home.

[snippy_about_it]

LOL. Not from me you don't! It's just a different kind of thrill for me. :-)

Good morning Colonel.

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Feather.

Hummingbird feather

[SAMWolf]

Yep. Weak side armor was one of the drawbacks to the Panther and of course there was always the Panzers worst enemy.

German troops jump for cover in a Belgian street during 1944. Overhead, R.C.A.F. Hawker Typhoons make a low pass. F/Lt. Harry Hardy pilots the lead aircraft, "Pulverizer 2".