±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: cgsimpson
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6645

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 803
Total: 803
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Photo Gallery
02: Photo Gallery
03: Community Forums
04: Member Screenshots
05: Community Forums
06: Home
07: CPGlang
08: Community Forums
09: Photo Gallery
10: Community Forums
11: Photo Gallery
12: Community Forums
13: Community Forums
14: Photo Gallery
15: Downloads
16: Community Forums
17: Community Forums
18: Member Screenshots
19: Community Forums
20: Community Forums
21: Home
22: Photo Gallery
23: Statistics
24: Community Forums
25: Community Forums
26: CPGlang
27: CPGlang
28: Photo Gallery
29: Community Forums
30: Photo Gallery
31: CPGlang
32: Community Forums
33: Photo Gallery
34: Home
35: Community Forums
36: Community Forums
37: Community Forums
38: Community Forums
39: Photo Gallery
40: Community Forums
41: Community Forums
42: News Archive
43: Photo Gallery
44: Your Account
45: Community Forums
46: Community Forums
47: Community Forums
48: Community Forums
49: Photo Gallery
50: Photo Gallery
51: CPGlang
52: CPGlang
53: Downloads
54: CPGlang
55: Community Forums
56: CPGlang
57: Photo Gallery
58: Community Forums
59: CPGlang
60: Home
61: Community Forums
62: Community Forums
63: Photo Gallery
64: Community Forums
65: CPGlang
66: Community Forums
67: Community Forums
68: Downloads
69: Community Forums
70: Community Forums
71: Community Forums
72: Member Screenshots
73: Downloads
74: Community Forums
75: Community Forums
76: Community Forums
77: Community Forums
78: Your Account
79: Community Forums
80: Community Forums
81: Community Forums
82: Community Forums
83: Community Forums
84: Downloads
85: Community Forums
86: Photo Gallery
87: Photo Gallery
88: Home
89: Community Forums
90: Community Forums
91: Downloads
92: Community Forums
93: Community Forums
94: Community Forums
95: Community Forums
96: Home
97: Community Forums
98: Photo Gallery
99: Community Forums
100: Community Forums
101: Community Forums
102: Home
103: Community Forums
104: Community Forums
105: Community Forums
106: Community Forums
107: Photo Gallery
108: Community Forums
109: Your Account
110: Community Forums
111: Community Forums
112: Community Forums
113: Community Forums
114: Community Forums
115: Community Forums
116: Community Forums
117: Community Forums
118: Community Forums
119: Photo Gallery
120: CPGlang
121: Community Forums
122: Photo Gallery
123: Home
124: Community Forums
125: Home
126: Community Forums
127: Community Forums
128: Home
129: Community Forums
130: Community Forums
131: Community Forums
132: Photo Gallery
133: Community Forums
134: Community Forums
135: Community Forums
136: Photo Gallery
137: CPGlang
138: Home
139: Home
140: Community Forums
141: Home
142: Community Forums
143: Home
144: Community Forums
145: Photo Gallery
146: Community Forums
147: Community Forums
148: CPGlang
149: Community Forums
150: Community Forums
151: Community Forums
152: Community Forums
153: Photo Gallery
154: CPGlang
155: Community Forums
156: Community Forums
157: Community Forums
158: Home
159: Community Forums
160: Photo Gallery
161: Downloads
162: Community Forums
163: Community Forums
164: News Archive
165: Community Forums
166: Photo Gallery
167: Photo Gallery
168: Home
169: Photo Gallery
170: Community Forums
171: Community Forums
172: Community Forums
173: Community Forums
174: Community Forums
175: Community Forums
176: Photo Gallery
177: Community Forums
178: Community Forums
179: Community Forums
180: CPGlang
181: CPGlang
182: Community Forums
183: Community Forums
184: Downloads
185: Home
186: Community Forums
187: CPGlang
188: Community Forums
189: Downloads
190: Community Forums
191: Community Forums
192: Community Forums
193: CPGlang
194: Community Forums
195: Photo Gallery
196: Your Account
197: Community Forums
198: Community Forums
199: Community Forums
200: Community Forums
201: Community Forums
202: Community Forums
203: Home
204: Community Forums
205: Home
206: Community Forums
207: Community Forums
208: CPGlang
209: Community Forums
210: Community Forums
211: Photo Gallery
212: Community Forums
213: CPGlang
214: Community Forums
215: Community Forums
216: Community Forums
217: Community Forums
218: Community Forums
219: CPGlang
220: Photo Gallery
221: Community Forums
222: Statistics
223: Photo Gallery
224: Community Forums
225: Downloads
226: Community Forums
227: Community Forums
228: CPGlang
229: Community Forums
230: Community Forums
231: Statistics
232: Community Forums
233: Community Forums
234: Community Forums
235: CPGlang
236: Community Forums
237: CPGlang
238: Home
239: Community Forums
240: Home
241: Community Forums
242: Community Forums
243: Your Account
244: Community Forums
245: Photo Gallery
246: Community Forums
247: Community Forums
248: Community Forums
249: Community Forums
250: Community Forums
251: Community Forums
252: Your Account
253: Community Forums
254: Community Forums
255: Community Forums
256: Photo Gallery
257: Community Forums
258: CPGlang
259: Photo Gallery
260: Home
261: Community Forums
262: Community Forums
263: Community Forums
264: Community Forums
265: Your Account
266: Community Forums
267: Community Forums
268: Community Forums
269: Community Forums
270: Community Forums
271: Community Forums
272: Community Forums
273: Community Forums
274: Community Forums
275: Community Forums
276: Member Screenshots
277: Downloads
278: Community Forums
279: Community Forums
280: Photo Gallery
281: Community Forums
282: Community Forums
283: Downloads
284: Home
285: CPGlang
286: CPGlang
287: Community Forums
288: Community Forums
289: Community Forums
290: Community Forums
291: Photo Gallery
292: Community Forums
293: Community Forums
294: Home
295: Photo Gallery
296: Community Forums
297: Your Account
298: Community Forums
299: Home
300: CPGlang
301: Community Forums
302: CPGlang
303: Community Forums
304: Community Forums
305: Community Forums
306: Community Forums
307: Community Forums
308: Community Forums
309: Photo Gallery
310: Community Forums
311: Community Forums
312: Community Forums
313: Community Forums
314: Community Forums
315: Home
316: CPGlang
317: Community Forums
318: Home
319: Home
320: Community Forums
321: Community Forums
322: Photo Gallery
323: Community Forums
324: Photo Gallery
325: Community Forums
326: Community Forums
327: Community Forums
328: Home
329: Community Forums
330: Member Screenshots
331: Community Forums
332: Community Forums
333: Home
334: Photo Gallery
335: Community Forums
336: Community Forums
337: Community Forums
338: Home
339: Community Forums
340: Community Forums
341: Community Forums
342: Home
343: Community Forums
344: Community Forums
345: Community Forums
346: Community Forums
347: Your Account
348: Community Forums
349: Statistics
350: Downloads
351: Photo Gallery
352: CPGlang
353: Community Forums
354: Home
355: Community Forums
356: Statistics
357: Member Screenshots
358: Community Forums
359: Photo Gallery
360: Community Forums
361: Photo Gallery
362: Photo Gallery
363: Community Forums
364: Downloads
365: Photo Gallery
366: Community Forums
367: Photo Gallery
368: Community Forums
369: Community Forums
370: Your Account
371: CPGlang
372: Community Forums
373: Community Forums
374: Community Forums
375: Community Forums
376: Home
377: Statistics
378: Community Forums
379: CPGlang
380: Community Forums
381: Photo Gallery
382: Downloads
383: Community Forums
384: Community Forums
385: Community Forums
386: Community Forums
387: Member Screenshots
388: Your Account
389: Home
390: CPGlang
391: Photo Gallery
392: Downloads
393: Community Forums
394: Community Forums
395: Community Forums
396: Community Forums
397: Community Forums
398: Community Forums
399: Community Forums
400: Community Forums
401: Community Forums
402: Community Forums
403: Community Forums
404: Home
405: Community Forums
406: Home
407: Community Forums
408: Member Screenshots
409: Community Forums
410: Community Forums
411: Community Forums
412: Community Forums
413: Community Forums
414: Community Forums
415: Home
416: Community Forums
417: Photo Gallery
418: Photo Gallery
419: Your Account
420: Your Account
421: Community Forums
422: Community Forums
423: Community Forums
424: Home
425: Community Forums
426: Home
427: Community Forums
428: Community Forums
429: Community Forums
430: Home
431: Community Forums
432: Community Forums
433: Community Forums
434: Home
435: Home
436: Community Forums
437: Community Forums
438: Community Forums
439: Statistics
440: Community Forums
441: Community Forums
442: Downloads
443: Community Forums
444: Community Forums
445: Community Forums
446: Community Forums
447: Community Forums
448: Community Forums
449: Photo Gallery
450: Photo Gallery
451: CPGlang
452: Community Forums
453: Community Forums
454: Community Forums
455: Community Forums
456: CPGlang
457: Community Forums
458: Community Forums
459: Community Forums
460: Community Forums
461: Community Forums
462: Home
463: Community Forums
464: Community Forums
465: CPGlang
466: Community Forums
467: Community Forums
468: Community Forums
469: Community Forums
470: Home
471: Community Forums
472: Community Forums
473: Community Forums
474: Home
475: Photo Gallery
476: Community Forums
477: Community Forums
478: Community Forums
479: Photo Gallery
480: Downloads
481: Home
482: Community Forums
483: Community Forums
484: Community Forums
485: Home
486: Community Forums
487: Community Forums
488: Community Forums
489: Community Forums
490: Community Forums
491: Community Forums
492: Community Forums
493: Community Forums
494: Home
495: Photo Gallery
496: Community Forums
497: Community Forums
498: Community Forums
499: Community Forums
500: Community Forums
501: Photo Gallery
502: News
503: Photo Gallery
504: Community Forums
505: Your Account
506: Community Forums
507: Community Forums
508: Community Forums
509: News
510: Home
511: Community Forums
512: Community Forums
513: Community Forums
514: Community Forums
515: Community Forums
516: Community Forums
517: Community Forums
518: Home
519: Community Forums
520: Community Forums
521: CPGlang
522: Community Forums
523: Home
524: Home
525: Photo Gallery
526: Home
527: Downloads
528: Home
529: Community Forums
530: Community Forums
531: Community Forums
532: Community Forums
533: Community Forums
534: Home
535: Community Forums
536: Community Forums
537: Community Forums
538: Your Account
539: Community Forums
540: Photo Gallery
541: Community Forums
542: Community Forums
543: Community Forums
544: Home
545: Community Forums
546: CPGlang
547: Photo Gallery
548: Community Forums
549: Photo Gallery
550: Community Forums
551: Community Forums
552: Downloads
553: Home
554: Community Forums
555: Downloads
556: CPGlang
557: Community Forums
558: Photo Gallery
559: Community Forums
560: Community Forums
561: CPGlang
562: Home
563: Photo Gallery
564: Member Screenshots
565: Community Forums
566: CPGlang
567: CPGlang
568: Community Forums
569: CPGlang
570: CPGlang
571: Downloads
572: Community Forums
573: Community Forums
574: Community Forums
575: Community Forums
576: Photo Gallery
577: Community Forums
578: Photo Gallery
579: Community Forums
580: Home
581: Community Forums
582: Community Forums
583: Community Forums
584: Home
585: Community Forums
586: Photo Gallery
587: Community Forums
588: Home
589: Downloads
590: Community Forums
591: Community Forums
592: Community Forums
593: Photo Gallery
594: Community Forums
595: Home
596: Photo Gallery
597: CPGlang
598: Home
599: CPGlang
600: Community Forums
601: Community Forums
602: Community Forums
603: Home
604: Community Forums
605: Home
606: Community Forums
607: Community Forums
608: Photo Gallery
609: Your Account
610: Community Forums
611: Community Forums
612: Community Forums
613: Community Forums
614: Photo Gallery
615: Home
616: CPGlang
617: Photo Gallery
618: Community Forums
619: Photo Gallery
620: Community Forums
621: Community Forums
622: Community Forums
623: Community Forums
624: Community Forums
625: CPGlang
626: Community Forums
627: CPGlang
628: Community Forums
629: Photo Gallery
630: Photo Gallery
631: Your Account
632: Photo Gallery
633: Community Forums
634: Home
635: Community Forums
636: Community Forums
637: Community Forums
638: Community Forums
639: Community Forums
640: Community Forums
641: Community Forums
642: Community Forums
643: Community Forums
644: Community Forums
645: Community Forums
646: Community Forums
647: Community Forums
648: Community Forums
649: Community Forums
650: Community Forums
651: Community Forums
652: Community Forums
653: Community Forums
654: Community Forums
655: Community Forums
656: Community Forums
657: Photo Gallery
658: Community Forums
659: Downloads
660: Photo Gallery
661: Your Account
662: Community Forums
663: Photo Gallery
664: Community Forums
665: Community Forums
666: Community Forums
667: Photo Gallery
668: Community Forums
669: Community Forums
670: Community Forums
671: Photo Gallery
672: Downloads
673: Home
674: Community Forums
675: Community Forums
676: Photo Gallery
677: Community Forums
678: Community Forums
679: Photo Gallery
680: Community Forums
681: Community Forums
682: Community Forums
683: CPGlang
684: Home
685: Community Forums
686: Community Forums
687: Home
688: Photo Gallery
689: Community Forums
690: Community Forums
691: Community Forums
692: Community Forums
693: Community Forums
694: Community Forums
695: Community Forums
696: Community Forums
697: Community Forums
698: Community Forums
699: News Archive
700: Community Forums
701: Photo Gallery
702: CPGlang
703: Community Forums
704: Home
705: Community Forums
706: Community Forums
707: Community Forums
708: Community Forums
709: Home
710: Community Forums
711: Community Forums
712: Your Account
713: Photo Gallery
714: Member Screenshots
715: Community Forums
716: Community Forums
717: Home
718: Community Forums
719: Member Screenshots
720: Community Forums
721: CPGlang
722: Member Screenshots
723: Community Forums
724: Community Forums
725: Photo Gallery
726: Community Forums
727: Community Forums
728: Community Forums
729: Community Forums
730: Photo Gallery
731: Community Forums
732: Community Forums
733: Community Forums
734: Community Forums
735: Community Forums
736: Home
737: Community Forums
738: Community Forums
739: Home
740: Downloads
741: Community Forums
742: Community Forums
743: Home
744: Community Forums
745: Community Forums
746: Home
747: Community Forums
748: Photo Gallery
749: Community Forums
750: CPGlang
751: Community Forums
752: Community Forums
753: Community Forums
754: Community Forums
755: Your Account
756: Home
757: Community Forums
758: Community Forums
759: Member Screenshots
760: CPGlang
761: Community Forums
762: Community Forums
763: Community Forums
764: Community Forums
765: CPGlang
766: Community Forums
767: CPGlang
768: Community Forums
769: Photo Gallery
770: Photo Gallery
771: Downloads
772: Community Forums
773: Community Forums
774: Home
775: Home
776: Home
777: Community Forums
778: Community Forums
779: Home
780: Community Forums
781: Community Forums
782: News
783: Community Forums
784: Community Forums
785: Community Forums
786: Community Forums
787: Community Forums
788: Photo Gallery
789: Community Forums
790: Photo Gallery
791: Home
792: Photo Gallery
793: Community Forums
794: Photo Gallery
795: Home
796: Community Forums
797: Home
798: Photo Gallery
799: Downloads
800: Downloads
801: Community Forums
802: Community Forums
803: Home

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
Panther II
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 12:31 am
Post subject: Panther II

This in one of the 'premiere' exhibited vehicles of the Patton Museum that will be moved to Ft Benning at some point in the future.

It was operationally restored back in the late 70's and was exhibited as a 'runner' during occasional demonstrations. At some point it was decided to not continue any further useage and it was parked in the museum, where it has been on display.



As most people know it is the only surviving Panther II. when captured, it had the non-standard Panther Ausf G turret, which is currently on it.

I climbed into the turret thru the escape hatch on the back of the turret.








The loaders periscope...


The view looking thru it...


The big surprize was locating the Data Plate for the turret, mounted on the turret rear ring area near the escape hatch:


Luckily I happened to write down this info. It says
Panther Ausf 'G'
Turm Nr: 121455
Fahrgestell : 121455

I assume this is merely the turret data plate, and not the plate for the tank itself,....interesting still

Regards
Don
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
piney
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 2330
Location: Republic of Southern New Jersey
PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 12:46 am
Post subject: Re: Panther II

Thank you so much Don for all your efforts. It's gives folks like me who never got a chance to visit Fort Knox and will have even less chance of ever getting to Benning a chance to see all these great vehicles that otherwise we would never get to see. It's not said often enough, but truly, Thank you very much

_________________
The only good skwerril is a dead un
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
JWB2
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 25, 2006
Posts: 199

PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 7:00 am
Post subject: Re: Panther II

I second Piney's post. What an absolute treasure that vehicle is and how truly lucky we are to have you here and post info that I personally would never have the opportunity to discover for myself.

Back to top
View user's profile
L.Delsing
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Feb 10, 2006
Posts: 960

PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 9:01 am
Post subject: Re: Panther II

Very interesting, is the other Panther still there? (fahrgestellnummer 121455).

Regards,
Lesley
Back to top
View user's profile
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 12:48 pm
Post subject: Re: Panther II

- L.Delsing
Very interesting, is the other Panther still there? (fahrgestellnummer 121455).

Regards,
Lesley


Lesley

We 'only' have two Panthers here. The Panther II and a Panther Ausf G. Both have the Panther 'G' turret, so no Panther hulls, just sitting around.

I have located a number of photos of the Panther II getting its operational rebuild at the 'Boatwright' Maint Facility. It was an 'ground up' restoration.

There was a siginificant amount of parts taken off the Panther 'G' to restore the Panther II. This is why the Panther 'G' appears to be incomplete. All the remaining parts removed from that tank are cataloged and crated up in one of the storage buildings in RMP.

Regards
Don
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
Koluchiy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: May 19, 2009
Posts: 178

PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 4:53 pm
Post subject: Re: Panther II

Thank you for photos.

Can you say, what is the engine in this tank?
Was it installed during the restoration in USA, or by Germans?
Are there some serial numbers at the hull, at the left wall from the driver seat?

_________________
RTY on other forums;

Looking for Pz.IV manuals D 653/2 Erzatsteilliste(pictures), D 653/10, D 653/25 (Handbuch fur den Panzerfahrer), D 653/50b, D 653/50c, D653/51
Looking for Maybach HL120 repair instruction...
(Copyes or scans)
Can pay money or exchange
Back to top
View user's profile
Joe_D
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 29, 2006
Posts: 2066
Location: Razorback Country
PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 5:15 pm
Post subject: Re: Panther II

Thanks for sharing Don,

Now at the risk of being a downer, I wish they had restored the Panther G instead. At least she is a "Real" tank used in combat. I think of what Mr. Littlefield went through to restore his Panther and seen a much better starting point with the "G" you have before being cannibalized. Maybe someday they'll get some funds to rebuild the "G" or at least turn her over to someone who will. I think of all the excitement for potential restoration when we hear a "Panther" is found in pieces and horrible shape these days and the one at RMP is just waiting to be restored. But at least she wasn't scrapped way back when.

Keep posting those insider images.

_________________
Joe_D
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 8:12 pm
Post subject: Re: Panther II

- Koluchiy
Thank you for photos.

Can you say, what is the engine in this tank?
Was it installed during the restoration in USA, or by Germans?
Are there some serial numbers at the hull, at the left wall from the driver seat?


It is my understanding that the engine, although rebuilt during the restoration, is the original engine that was found in the Panther II when she was captured. I'm not sure of the exact model engine.

I was not able to crawl into the drivers position to find any possible data plate there, however I will see about that if I have more time, on my next museum visit.

Regards
Don
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
Koluchiy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: May 19, 2009
Posts: 178

PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 8:24 pm
Post subject: Re: Panther II

Thank you for answer.
Do you have (or can make) some engine photos?

_________________
RTY on other forums;

Looking for Pz.IV manuals D 653/2 Erzatsteilliste(pictures), D 653/10, D 653/25 (Handbuch fur den Panzerfahrer), D 653/50b, D 653/50c, D653/51
Looking for Maybach HL120 repair instruction...
(Copyes or scans)
Can pay money or exchange
Back to top
View user's profile
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 3:16 am
Post subject: Re: Panther II

- Joe_D
Thanks for sharing Don,

Now at the risk of being a downer, I wish they had restored the Panther G instead. At least she is a "Real" tank used in combat. I think of what Mr. Littlefield went through to restore his Panther and seen a much better starting point with the "G" you have before being cannibalized. Maybe someday they'll get some funds to rebuild the "G" or at least turn her over to someone who will. I think of all the excitement for potential restoration when we hear a "Panther" is found in pieces and horrible shape these days and the one at RMP is just waiting to be restored. But at least she wasn't scrapped way back when.

Keep posting those insider images.


Joe

You are so right, we are in total agreement, on that.

I'll keep trying to record what I can. It is abit frustrating that I can't spend much more time than I do. Between maintaining a 'real' job, family, and the myriad of projects I'm involved with, I just don't have the time to get everything done. For now, I have to balance working on CK and getting all the different tanks photographed in detail.

So much to do, and so little time left to get it done.....
Regards
Don
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
Smashy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Aug 05, 2010
Posts: 112

PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:52 am
Post subject: Re: Panther II

A small series of 24 Ausf G were produced in 1944 fitted with the steel road wheels and I think this was one of them.



The 'Panther II' designation may actually be a mistake?

_________________
Smashy
Back to top
View user's profile
Massimo_Foti
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2008
Posts: 5397
Location: Lugano, Switzerland
PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:56 am
Post subject: Re: Panther II

No, it's not a mistake. There is plenty of literature on the topic. A recap is available on Wikipedia:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...Panther_II

Massimo
Back to top
View user's profile
JimWeb
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1439
Location: The back of beyond
PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 2:29 pm
Post subject: Re: Panther II

- Massimo_Foti
No, it's not a mistake. There is plenty of literature on the topic. A recap is available on Wikipedia:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...Panther_II

Massimo


It is more accurate to say there is plenty of literature that all boils back to one publication.

I tend to agree with Smashy (to a certain extent) mainly because of some recently discovered documents in the Bundearchive. The chassis number of this vehicle is 121047 a really late chassis number which would make it one of the vehicles of the march/april 1945 production run that were being built with the steel rim road wheels not a vehicle that was originally built in 1943.

There are also some cosmetic differences - in 1944/45 production the single panther headlight was located on the front left mudguard, unlike previous production that had the headlight located higher up on the actual glacis plate.

If it was the Panther 2 prototype then it should have had the Maybach HL 234 engine (fitted in August 1944) but we know that was missing and was replaced by the one from the Ausf G at Patton so we cannot really check that.

However we now know that the P2p had the increased armour thickness so to confirm it we need someone to take a tape measure and reconfirm the armour thickness of the glacis, side & top plates.

BTW if anyone is interested I proof-read a book on the Panther about a month ago. It is mind-bogglingly thick and packed with documents & images many of which are new (would you believe 67 pages alone of a Panther G being built). It is due out in March 2011 and I would advise you to start saving now, sell the wife children etc so you can afford this.

_________________
TTFN
Jim

If your not a member of JED then your
not serious about anything military..

***********************
www.jedsite.info
JED Military Equipment
***********************
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website ICQ Number
Massimo_Foti
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2008
Posts: 5397
Location: Lugano, Switzerland
PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 3:27 pm
Post subject: Re: Panther II

I was referring to the literature on Panther II, not on the identification of Ft Knox's tank.
I also was assuming the tank was identified based on armour thickness, because that's the most/only logic thing to do.

I am away from home and my library, does anybody out there has a copy of Panzer Tracts 5-4 to check? Jent's book on Panther (Schiffer Publications) would be another good one to check.

Massimo
Back to top
View user's profile
Garry_Redmon
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 398
Location: Kentucky
PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 4:45 pm
Post subject: Re: Panther II

Did late Panther Gs have a rotating periscope for the RO? From what I have read, the Panther G models did away with the forward looking RO periscope, leaving the side-angled periscope and forward vision through the MG sights. The Panther II hull has a rotating periscope in the Ro position. Would this be an indication that it is a prototype Panther II hull?

_________________
armorfortheages.com/
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 4
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum