Germany's Panzerkampfwagen V Ausf A; PzKpfw V Ausf A; Panther; SdKfz 171 medium tank

Photos

PzKpfw V Ausf A medium tank:

PzKpfw V Ausf A medium tank:

PzKpfw V Ausf A medium tank:

PzKpfw V Ausf A medium tank with Panzerbrigade 102:

Design

Came after the PzKpfw V Ausf D, and was introduced late in the summer of 1944⁸. MAN, Daimler-Benz, MNH and DEMAG built this model. Ball mounted hull MG^2,8, stronger wheel fixing (24 bolts vs. 16 bolts), armored cupola in turret⁸. Had better vision with episcopes rather than vision slits. Ammunition loading hatch on left-hand side and pistol ports were removed. Nahverteidgungswaffe close-in defense weapon was installed.

The cupola was cast and had seven periscopes.¹ There was also a mount for an AA MG to be installed.¹

The AP round weighed 15 lbs and had a muzzle velocity of 3,066'/sec.⁶

Later models had the turret modified.¹ The side gun ports and the left side loading hatch were eliminated.¹

Armored aprons were installed for the top of the tracks.^1,2 Zimmerit was also applied.^1,2 There were four exhaust pipes that were mounted differently than the Ausf D.¹

Zimmerit was added to all new Panthers starting in September 1943 through September 1944, at which time it was discontinued as it was felt that it was unnecessary .⁸

Prototype

Production

A total of 1,768 were constructed.⁸

Additional production information.

Variants

Usage

This was the main type encountered in Normandy.⁹

Specifications

	Panzerkampfwagen V Ausf A
Crew	45, 53,6,7,10
Physical Characteristics
Weight	45,500 kg5 98,800 lb, 100,310 lb5 44 tons3, 44.78 tons10, 45.5 tons4,7, 50.2 tons6
Length w/gun	29' 0.75"5, 29' 0.8"7, 29' 1"3,9,10 8.86 m5,7
Length w/o gun	22' 7"5,10, 22.6'6 6.88 m5
Height	9.7'6, 9' 9"9,3, 10' 2"5,7,10, 10.3'4 3.1 m5,7
Width	10.8'6, 11' 3"3,5,7,9,10 3.43 m5,7
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	21.2"6, 1' 10"3
Ground contact length	154"6
Ground pressure
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	7.5 cm L/707 75 mm KwK 42 L/703,6,10
Secondary
MG	2: MG10 3: 7.92 mm MG7 3: 7.92 mm MG343
MG - coaxial	7.9 mm MG346
MG - hull	7.9 mm MG346
Side arms
Quantity
Main	793,6,7
Secondary
MG	4,2007, 4,5003,6, 5,100
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	15 - 1104 Front: 3.2"@55°6 Side: 1.6"@40°6
Hull Front, Upper	807,10, 80@55°3
Hull Front, Lower	60@5°, 80@55°3
Hull Sides, Upper	407, 40@40°3
Hull Sides, Lower	40@0°3
Hull Rear	40@30°3
Hull Top	157, 15@90°3, 16@90°
Hull Bottom	16-30@90°, 20+13@90°3
Turret Front	4.3"6 110@10°3, 110@11°, 1207,10
Turret Sides	1.8"6 45@25°3
Turret Rear	45@25°, 45@28°3
Turret Top	15@83° & 88°3, 16@83°-90°
Engine (Make / Model)	Maybach10, Maybach HL 230 P305,12,13
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Water6
Cylinders	V-126
Capacity
Net HP	690@3,000 rpm3, 7007,10, 700@3,000 rpm6
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio	6.8:16
Transmission (Type)	AK 7-200, 7 forward, 1 reverse3 Synchromesh, 7 forward, 1 reverse6
Steering	Discontinuous regenerative6
Steering ratio
Starter	Electric and inertia6
Electrical system	Starting :24-volt6 Normal: 12-volt6
Ignition	Magneto6
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline6
Octane
Quantity	193 gallons (5 tanks)6
Road consumption	0.67 mpg6
Cross country consumption	0.34 mpg6
Performance
Traverse	Hand and hydraulic6
Speed - Road	25 mph, 28 mph10, 28.6 mph7, 29 mph5,6, 34 mph3 46 kph5,7
Speed - Cross Country	15 mph3, 16-19 mph6
Range - Road	110 miles3,5,7,10, 124 miles6 177 km5,7, 200 km
Range - Cross Country	55 miles3, 55.3 miles7, 62 miles6 89 km7
Turning radius
Elevation limits	-8° to +18°
Fording depth	4' 7"3, 5' 7"5, 67"6 1.7 m5
Trench crossing	6' 3"3,5, 6.25'6 1.91 m5
Vertical obstacle	35.4"6, 3'3,5 0.91 m5
Climbing ability	35° (70%) slope6
Suspension (Type)	Two large road wheels independently sprung on 2 torsion bars6
Wheels each side	86
Return rollers each side	1 (small, behind sprocket)6
Tracks (Type)	Dry pin6
Length
Width	2' 1.6"7, 2' 1.75"3, 2' 2"6 6.5 cm7
Diameter
Number of links	876
Pitch	5.9"6
Tire tread
Track centers/tread	8.6'6, 8' 7"7, 8' 7 1/8"3 2.62 m7