Panzerkampfwagen V Ausfuhrung A Panther Walkaround
Location: Military Vehicle Technology Foundation in Portola Valley, California
Date: April 28, 2007
Photographer: Doug Dropeskey
Development on the Panzerkampfwagen (Pz.kpfw.) V Panther began in 1942, with the first production versions entering combat in 1943 as part of the Kursk offensive. The Ausfuhrung A (Ausf. A) version, introduced in late 1943, utilized a new turret with redesigned interior and different weld interlocks. The hull was carried over from the earlier Ausf. D version.
Restoration of this vehicle began some years ago. The Panther sank into a river bed during the winter of 1943-1944, while retreating from an advancing Russian formation. The crew chose to scuttle the vehicle rather than leaving it for the Russians to capture. The demolition charges effectively destroyed the turret, but river water flooding the hull protected most of the lower structure.
Panther restoration, April 28, 2007 by Jack Riggar
Panther restoration, May 17, 2007 by John Admire
You can find more information about this vehicle in the Wikipedia.
Walkaround (select a picture to view at full size):
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| Main gun muzzel. | Gun mount from right front. | Gun mount from right. | ||
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| Gun mount from right rear. | Gun mount from behind with open breach block. | Breach block from below. | ||
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| Mounting tray for gunsight. | Detail of breach block. | Detail on top and in front of breach block. | ||
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| Detail to right of breach block including MG34 from behind. | Detail to right of breach block. | Mounting mechanism for MG34. | ||
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| Left front drive sprocket with casting numbers shown. | Drive housing behind left front drive sprocket. | Return roller behind left front drive sprocket. | ||
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| Return roller behind left front drive sprocket. | Drivers vision block from front. | Drivers vision block from front. | ||
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| Hull mounted machine gun from below. | Bottom of travel lock. | Right front hull welds. | ||
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| More front hull welds. | Left front torsion bars number 1, 2, and 3. | Left front torsion bar number 1. | ||
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| Belly detail. | Right side torsion bars and roadwheels from behind. | Bosch light from left front. | ||
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| Bosch light from rear. | Towing hook on left front hull. | Tools on left front hull. | ||
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| Tool mounting rack on left front hull. | Torsion bar stop on left side of hull. | Underside of torsion bar stop on left side of hull. | ||
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| Left front hull weld detail. | Left front top view showing driver's periscope covers and associated cutouts. | Towing hook on right front hull. | ||
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| Securing mechanism for right front towing hook. | Bolt cutters on right front equipment rack. | Jack block on right front equipment rack, clearly showing a stack of wood blocks banded together. | ||
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| Jack block on right front equipment rack, clearly showing a stack of wood blocks banded together. | Right rear idler wheel from front. | Right rear idler wheel from rear. | ||
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| Right rear hull showing spare track holders. | Right rear hull showing plate interlocks. | Mounting clamp for spare track holder. | ||
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| Engine grills taken from right rear. | Right rear plate detail. | Left rear plate detail. | ||
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| Left rear plate from left side showing exhaust covers. | Left rear stowage pack from top. | Left rear stowage pack from side. | ||
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| Left rear stowage rack from below and wiring to taillight. | Left idler wheel from behind showing mounting arm. | An engine sitting next to the Panther in the shop. | ||
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| Turret race and hull interior from right side. | Turret race and hull interior from right front. | Engine grills and hatch from right front. | ||
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| Drivers compartment from right front overhead. | ||||
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All photographs copyright by photographer. All rights reserved. All photographs used with permission.
To correct any errors or omissions on this page, please contact us.
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