Since 1943, during World War II, there 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.
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 Panther was influenced by the Soviet masterpiece tank T-34 which was seen for the first time on the east European Front.
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.
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.
Requires paint and assembly.
