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"Ferdinand & the Panther" from Journal of Recognition Below is an article on the German Ferdinand self-propelled gun and Panther tank from the February 1944 issue of Journal of Recognition. The Ferdinand (officially Sturmgeschütz mit 8.8 cm PaK 43/2) and Panther (officially Panzerkampfwagen V Ausf D) both first appeared in combat during the Battle of Kursk in July 1943. During the battle and ensuing counterattack, the Russians captured several examples of the Ferdinand and Panther allowing for detailed analysis.

More pictures of self-propelled "88" and PzKw Mark V reveal details of new Nazi weapons

LACK OF RETURN ROLLERS TO TAKE UP SLACK IN TRACK GIVES MOTIVE GEAR OF FERDINAND A DILAPIDATED LOOK. CHASSIS BOW IS LONG BUT GUN BARREL LONGER.

The Germans have been hurling their heaviest armored equipment against the Russians. Recently silhouettes and more pictures of the two newest Nazi armored threats encountered on the Russian front, Ferdinand and the Panther (see Journal Nov. and Dec.), have been made available to the Journal, are shown on these two pages. Ferdinand is a tremendous 70-ton self-propelled mount which carries an 88-mm. gun on a chassis built to offer maximum resistance to enemy firepower. The thickness of Ferdinand's armor plate is as much as 8 in. on the front, intended to make the mount serve as a battering ram to clear the way for lighter armored vehicles of the Nazi anti-tank battalions. There are usually 44 of these self-propelled "88's" in one heavy battalion and each one carries a crew of six. Although the mighty firepower and armor of Ferdinand make it a dangerous opponent, it has been proved to be quite vulnerable. Unwieldy and underpowered for its great size, it can travel only 12 m.p.h. on a highway and 6 to 9 m.p.h. on rough ground; to fire, it must come to a full stop. When Ferdinand is attacked by more that one opponent at a time, its fixed weapon is a great handicap. Russians concentrate their artillery attacks on Ferdinand's mobile parts which break down readily under the great weight of the chassis; also on the gun installation and on the gas tanks in the center of the hull. Grenades and Molotov cocktails hurled through a large shell-case ejection opening in the rear of the mount will blast the twin electric motors located directly inside.

HUGE BOW OF PANTHER SLOPES UP TO IMPOSING HEIGHT. TURRET HAS ROUNDED FORWARD WALL RESEMBLING RUSSIAN T-34 . ARMOR PLATE PROTECTS SUSPENSION.

A new heavy tank in the German arsenal, the 45-ton PzKw Mark V series to bridge the gap between the 22-ton Mark IV and the 60-ton Mark VI, Tiger. This tank, which is called the Panther, appears to be a first-class vehicle, fast, well-armored and hard-hitting. It has the advantage of being swifter and more maneuverable than the Tiger but at the same time is easier to knock out because of lighter armor protection. Its long-barreled 75-mm. gun with double-baffle muzzle brake is a new weapon which has a high velocity, considerable armor penetration, and direct sights up to a distance of 1,640 yd. Like the Tiger, the Panther can be converted for deep stream fording. It has a speed of 31 m.p.h. and carries a crew of five. Its heaviest armor plate, on the front of the turret and the cannon shield, is about 3.94 in. thick. The top and bottom of the tank are lightly armored and are especially vulnerable to grenade fire. RECOGNITION: The huge coffinlike gunshield of Ferdinand, set well to rear, has sloping sides and top. Hull is rectangular and straight-sided. Six large evenly-spaced bogie wheels support track approximately 2 1/2 ft. wide. The Panther is built close to the ground with a low center of gravity. Its turret sides flow in sloping line into the sides of the hull. The turret is slab-sided and set slightly to the rear of center with a cupola at the back. The 75-mm. gun barrel is extremely long. From the side, the Panther's hull is sharply undercut behind. Eight overlapping bogie wheels on each side with driving sprocket in front are typical of German-designed suspension systems. Back to Lone Sentry Home Page