1:35 German Panther Medium Tank Kit
(Item #35065)

DESCRIPTION

In the beginning of 1942, in order to fight against the T-34, the
German military ordered a new tank from Dymler-Benz and M.A.N.
companies with the following specifications:

Weight- 35 tons; speed- 60 km/h; armament 75mm long gun and
armour, 60mm thick in front hull, 35mm thick in the rear and 100
mm at the front of the gun turret.

Lastly, it was specified that the tank be equipped with a Maiback
HL210, water-cooled, V-type 12 cylinder engine. In May of the
same year, M.A.N.'s model was chosen without waiting for
completion of a prototype tank. However, there were 2 important
modifications. First, in order to meet the military's demand,
considerably more than the original 35 ton weight was needed.
Second, the military ordered a change in the thickness of the
frontal armour from 60mm to 80mm.

Because of these changes, the engine type had to be chanded from
HL210 to HL230. Then, in order to accommodate this engine, a much
better gear was needed, but mass production began without this
last change, which resulted in frequent gear malfunctions and
related trouble. This became the Panther's greatest defect. In
the same year, Dymler-Benz and Henschel were ordered to produce
the Panther. Therefore, production was greatly increased and a
total of 6283 Panther Tanks were produced, second only to P2KW-4
in number.

The first mass produced Panther type D was not equipped with a
machine gun but after the experience of close battle. A 7.92mm MG
34 was added to the Panther's right front hull armament
beginning with its type A. The special feature of the Panther was
the left and right driving mechanism. This created an
interchangeability of movements, using the torsion bar system. By
1944, the Panther was further improved from Type A to Type G
with a change in its side shape.

The Panther continued its activities against the Allied Forces
throughout the latter half of the war. One of the famed battles
it waged during this latter period probably is the one against
the new Soviet JS II heavy tank on the eastern front.

The Panther at that time, was the main strength tank of the Gross
Deutschland, the strongest German Mechanized Division, under the
command of General Hasso Von Manteuffel. The Panther reportedly
destroyed 350 JS II tanks and 20 other armoured vehicles in the
battle. It was a complete one-sided victory for the Panther and
one for the book of military history. The Panther, therefore, was
an extremely balanced tactical tank and should be called a
masterpiece destined to bear the last glory of German war
technology. It's glorious name will forever remain in the records
of the 2nd World War.

Since 1943, during World War II, thee appeared an unusually fast
tank on the European Front that silhoueted among its German
Mechanized Division. This was the "Panther" medium tank, with its
formidable power of attack and fast maneuverability, that soon
became an object of terror to men of the Allied Forces.

If put to a question, "Which was the best German tank during the
war?" The majority of the people, without hesitation will answer
the name "Panther". It is known that the PZKW-IV and the Tiger-II
tanks were also produced by German technology and were both
outstanding tanks. But the PZKW-IV was meant to be replaced by
the Panther, and the Panther, showing improved attacking and
defensive powers and accurate maneuver ability on the field, soon
became the German's main strength tank.

The Tiger I with its 88mm gun would seem at first to be superior
to the Panther's 75mm gun in attacking power. But when viewed
from the point of armour piercing power of the shell, the
Panther, with its 70 caliber KWK 42 anti tank gun and sloping
side armour provided much stronger in actual fighting than the
Tiger I's 56 caliber KWK 36 anti tank gun with vertival side
armour.

The Tiger II tank, which should be called the 'improved Panther'
was much stronger in attacking and defensive power than the
Panther. However, considering the number of Panthers produced and
used during this time, the Panther tank was still number 1.

The main strength German tanks at the start of the war were all
unique in the sense that their designs were completely based on
German plans and ideas. But the Panther was influenced by the
Soviet masterpiece tank T-34 which was seen for the first time on
the east European Front.