PANTHER Characteristics

Operational characteristics demonstrate the effectiveness of a main battle tank by relating the capabilities to effectively deliver firepower, maneuver, and survive on the battlefield.

FIREPOWER

The effectiveness of firepower that can be delivered by the main gun is dependant upon the penetration ability of the armor piercing rounds, inherent accuracy of the gun, characteristics of the gun sights, and ability to get quickly and accurately on target.

German penetration statistics for armor plate were expressed in terms of the thickness in mm that could be perforated when the plate was laid back at an angle from the vertical of 30 degrees. The penetrating ability of armor piercing rounds fired from the 7,5 cm Kw.K.42 L/70 was determined by tests conducted at firing ranges which proved that the results shown in the Table below could be achieved.

Of the total ammunition load (79 rounds in the Ausf.D and Ausf.A, 82 rounds in the Ausf.G, and 64 rounds in the Befehlspanther), the recommended ratio was 50 percent PzGr.39/42 (armor piercing, capped, ballistic capped with explosive filler and tracer) and 50 percent SprGr.42 (high explosive shells). Occasionally, when available, a few rounds of PzGr.40/42 (high velocity, sub-caliber, tungsten core with tracer) were carried for use against the heaviest armored Russian tanks and tank destroyers. The PzGr.40/42, without an explosive filler charge, was not as lethal after penetration as the PzGr.39/42.

The 7,5 cm KwK42 L/70 was a very accurate gun capable of first round hits at ranges exceeding 1000 meters. The estimated accuracy is given as the probability (in percentage) of hitting a target 2 meters high and 2.5 meters wide, representing the target presented by the front of an opposing tank. These accuracy tables are based on the assumptions that the actual range to the target has been correctly determined and that the distribution of hits is centered on the aiming point. The Test data show the accuracy obtained during controlled test firing of the gun to determine the pattern of dispersion. The Practice data include the variation expected during practice firing due to differences between guns, ammunition, and gunners. Both data were reported in the accuracy tables from an original report on the 7,5 cm KwK42 L/70 as shown in the Accuracy table. These accuracy tables do not reflect the actual probability of hitting a target under battlefield conditions. Due to errors in estimating the range and many other factors, the probability of a first round hit was much lower than shown in these tables. However, the average, calm gunner, after sensing the tracer from the first round, could achieve the accuracy shown as the Practice data.

The reticles for the TZF 12 and TZF 12a gun sights with the range scales that could be indexed for the various types of ammunition

The sight in the Panther Ausf.D and Ausf.A produced up to November 1943 was the articulated, binocular Turmzielfernrohr 12 mounted parallel and on the same axis as the main gun. Each of the two sight tubes had a different sight reticle. The pattern in the left reticle consisted of 7 triangles, separated by 4 mils. Placing the target on the point of a triangle allowed the gunner to aim without obstructing the view of the target. The distances between triangles were used to lead moving targets. The triangle height and separation distances in mils were also used as an aid in estimating the range to a target. The pattern in the right reticle also contained the 7 triangles plus adjustable range scales that allowed the gunner to register the exact range to the target. The range scale was graduated at 100 meter intervals out to a range of 2000 meters for the PzGr.40/42, 3000 meters for the PzGr.39/42 and 4000 meters for the Sprgr.42.

With the replacement gun sight Turrnzielfernrohr 12a, introduced during the production run of the Panther Ausf.A in late November/early December 1943, the gunner could select two magnifications, 2.5X and 5X. The lower magnification provided a wider field of view for target detection. The higher magnification assisted in precise aiming at long ranges. The adjustable range scales allowed the gunner to register the exact range to the target. The range scale was graduated at 100 meter intervals out to a range of 2000 meters for the PzGr.40/42, 3000 meters for the PzGr.39/42 and 4000 meters for the SprGr.42.

To quickly traverse onto a target, the Panther was outfitted with a hydraulic motor for the turret drive. In the Aust.D, the hydraulic drive traversed the turret at a maximum rate of 360 degrees in 60 seconds independent of the engine speed.

An improved hydraulic traverse was introduced with the Ausf.A in which the speed at which the turret was traversed under power was dependent on the engine speed. At the maximum allowable engine speed of 3000 rpm, the turret could be traversed at a maximum rate of 360 degrees in 15 seconds. After November 1943, with the HL 230 P30 governed at 2500 rpm, the turret traverse speed decreased to a maximum of 360 degrees in 18 seconds.

The hydraulic traverse enabled coarse laying for the gunner to quickly acquire the selected target within the viewing field of the sight. Fine adjustment (laying the target onto the peak of the proper triangle in the sight reticle) was accomplished using the gunner's hand traverse and hand elevation wheels. If the power traverse failed the gunner could traverse the turret by hand. The gunner could be assisted by the loader using the auxiliary hand traverse.

MOBILITY

The capability of the Panther to negotiate obstacles and cross terrain was better than all other German and Allied tanks encountered by the Panther as shown in the performance characteristics table below.

The Panther initially experienced numerous automotive problems which required a continuous series of modifications to correct. These problems can be traced to three main causes: leaking seals and gaskets, an overtaxed drive train originally designed for a 30 metric ton vehicle, and an untested engine. But, following modification of key automotive components, with mature drivers taking required maintenance halts, the Panther could be maintained in a satisfactory operational condition.

SURVIVABILITY ON THE BATTLEFIELD

Along with the extremely effective main gun, a major asset of the Panther was the thick frontal armor. However, the sides and rear were vulnerable to attack from most tank guns including the American 75 mm and the Russian 76 mm tank guns at long ranges. The tables extracted from a WaPruef 1 report dated 5 October 1944 relate the relative ability of the major opponents to penetrate the Panther and vice versa as shown in the following Penetration Range Tables. The penetration ranges were determined based on the assumption that the tanks stood at a side angle of 30 degrees to the incoming round.

In addition, lucky hits on the lower half of the original gun mantlet sometimes deflected downward, occasionally defeating the 16 mm deck plate over the driver and radio operator. The data shows that, in a frontal attack, even the upgunned American Sherman with a 76 mm M1 gun and the Russian T34/85 only stood a chance of penetrating the frontal armor by hitting the very small target presented by the turret front of the Panther. However, not a single Sherman that landed on the beaches at Normandy had a 76 mm gun. On 6 September 1944, only 250 out of 1913 Shermans with the 12th Army Group had 76 mm guns. Based on penetration ranges, without consideration of numerous other factors, the Panther outclassed all common opponents' tanks and was only matched by the Russian heavy Josef Stalin with the 122 mm gun.

The original report did not show the effectiveness of British tank guns against the Panther. The data presented in Penetration Range Table below was found in a D.T.D. document dated 24 May 1944:

In a frontal attack, the 17 Pounder firing normal APCBC rounds could defeat the turret and gun mantlet but not the hull armour of the Panther at normal combat ranges for tank versus tank actions in Europe. By 23 June 1944, a total of 109 Shermans with 17 Pounders had landed in France along  with 6 replacements. At the end of the War, on 5 May 1945,  the British 21st Army Group had in their possession 1235 Shermans with 17 Pounder versus 1915 with 75 mm M3 guns.

Source

Thomas L. Jentz "Der Panther - Entwicklung, Ausführungen, Varianten, Charakteristische Merkmale, Kampfwert" Podzun-Pallas Verlag 1997

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