Jagdpanther -killer from afar photos and info

Jagdpanther-the "hunting Panther" as it was nicknamed was another one of Germanys big tankdestroyers towards the end of the war.  Its original name in german was ""8.8 cm Pak 43/3 auf Panzerjager Panther" but even though that really rolls of your tongue....Hitler himself changed it to Jagdpanther. The Jagdpanther was based on the Panther chassis and the Tiger gun-a fierce combination indeed....

Production started in february 1944 and lasted pretty much until the end of the war, the total number built being around 415.  It never had any significant impact on the war, but if you were in a tank- that 88mm gun was not something you wanted to see pointing at you...

Survivors:
There are actually three running Jagdpanthers today, two in Germany at Deutsches Panzermuseum in Munster and at Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung (WTS) at Koblenz, the third is in England at the SDKFZ Foundation in the UK-who are currently working on getting a second one running as well!

Besides these four there are at least 7 other surviving Jagdpanthers in the largest tank/war museums around the world like Kubinka in Russia and Bovington.



Numbers:
Weight: 45 tons
Length: 9.87 metres
 Width: 3.42 metres
Height: 2.71 metres
Armour: up to 100 mm of steel....
Armament: 88 mm PaK 43/3 or 43/4 L71
Speed: 46 km/h (road)

Thats just massive isnt it?

Two Jagdpanthers back-to-back  in a street in Normandy 1944

This uniqe photo shows the production of Jagdpanthers next to the Panther whos chassis it used.

Jagdpanthers up to no good....

The crew with umbrellas..thats just bizarre....

Jagdpanthers destroyed, probably at the Battle of Bulge

Jagdpanther today-notice the damage on the side

Panther - the tank that changed the battlefield

The Panther tank-or the Panzerkampfwagen V Panther as its full name is in german ment a crucial change in the design anmd size of tanks. After the invasion of Russia in 1941, the germans were suprised by the resistance from the largest russian tanks, the notorious T-34 in particular. This led to a change in the way the germans designes and built tanks- leading to a necessary change for everyone else as well. The Panther first saw combat in 1943, being rushed inti the largest tank-battle in history- the battle of kursk on the eastern front. Being used to soon it didnt have a big impact on this battle, but the tides of the tanks had changed. Tanks now were getting bigger, stronger and deadlier.

The Panther proved a great success for the germans, even if it was used only after the war had turned on the germans, fighting defensively for the whole career of the Panther. About 6000 units were produced, and it was so well designes and successfull that many captured vehicled were overtaken by allied forces, especially the russians who even had the manual translated into russian. It was even produced for the british army up til 1949...



Numbers:
Weight: 45 tons
Length: 6.87-8.66 metres depending on type
Width: 3.27-3.47metres
Height: 2.99 metres
Armour: up to 80 mm of steel....
Armament: 75 mm KwK
Speed: 34 km/h (road)



Panther in the background, soldiers in the front- probably from 5th SS Panzer "Wiking"

Panthers on the way from factory

Panthers overtaken by russian troops

Panther

Wrecked Panther, battle of Kursk

Panther captured and put into service by British troops

Panther in a museum