Specification Crew : 5 Engine power : 690 hp Combat weight :45,500 kg (100,327 lb) Max speed : road , 46 km/h (24.84 mph) Length : 8.86 m (29.07 ft) Range : 200 km (124.2 miles) Width : 3.4 M (11.16 ft) Main gun : 75 mm (2.96 in) Height : 2.98 m (9.78 ft) Armour : 30 mm (1.18 in) to 110 mm (4.33 in)

The Panther was the best of all the German tanks produced until 1945.It had a remarkable balance of firepower, protection and mobility and the Allies treated Panther formations with great respect knowing they had a formidable opponent to tackle.The Panther was the Germans response to the Soviet T-34(q.v.)which greatly impressed them due to its wide tracks,powerful engine and hard-hitting gun as well as sloping armour which provided extra protection.All these features were built into the Panther which was rushed into production during early 1943.The Panther was armed with a 7.5 cm(2.96 in)gun 70 calibres long which imparted an excellent anti-armour preformance.Overlapping road wheels and a state-of-the-art suspension enabled the Panther to traverse rough terrain at speed.Defensive firepower was balanced with one machine gun in the front hull and a coaxial machine gun in the turret.The Panther's combat debut at Kursk was a debacle,many breaking down before the got into action,others proving dangerously inflammaable.But these problems all stemmed from the hurry to get it into battle;after a few alterations the Panther was developed into a formidable fighting machine with the one disadvantage that there were never enough of them.After World War II Panthers equipped many French Army tank units.