Travel:

Aberdeen Proving Ground
Tank Park and Museum

WWII German PzV Panther Tank

article and photos by Russ Lockwood



Meeting Soviet T34s in the 1941 spurred development of a successor to the PzIV, and the PzV Panther borrowed ideas such as sloped armor, wide tracks, and bigger gun. Prototypes arrived in September 1942 and first production in November 1942. Production called for 600 a month--a figure never reached. Early teething problems were corrected. The Model D increased armor, while the Model A (coming after the D), included strengthened road wheels and an additional MG. The G, released in March 1944, incorporated more modifications and production changes. The Model F (which should have succeeded the G) was to have an 88mm gun, but only reached prototype stage. Total Panther production from 1942-45 was 6,132.

Crew: 5, 75mm gun, 3 MGs, Speed: 34mph, Range: 110 miles.

With the January temperature around 15 degrees, Russ Lockwood becomes a MagWeb-sickle next to a Panther.

With the October temperature around 75 degrees, Panzer Commander John Buzansky makes sure the Panther remains steady for the camera.

Aberdeen Museum and Tank Park

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