Jagdpanther-The Hunting Panther

[cyberia]

A Jadgpanther and crew on the road toward Allied positions in Normandy

The Jagdpanther was a heavy tank destroyer design based on the 88 mm Pak 43 gun and the Panther tank chassis. Production started in 1944 with the official designation of SdKfz 173.

Weighing in at 45.5 tonnes and with a length of 9.87 m, the Jagdpanther's Maybach HL230 P30 V-12 engine could achieve the speed of 46 km/h.
Manned by a crew of five it boasted an 88mm Pak 43/3 or 43/4 L/71 with
57 rounds as a main gun, and a 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 with 600 rounds as a secondary weapon.

A Jagdpanther at speed

To accommodate the gun, the sides of the Panther tank were extended up to provide a roomy interior, while maintaining a very low profile. Both the Panther Ausf. G and Jagdpanther had side armor of increased elevation to enhance this effect even further and to harmonize production. Forward the Jagdpanther was well protected with frontal armor 80 mm thick and 100 mm for the gun mantlet.

A Jagdpanther partially hidden in a grove of trees

The Jagdpanther had a good power-to-weight ratio and a powerful main gun, enabling it to destroy any type of Allied tank. The Jagdpanther's low profile meant that it was easily camouflaged. Because it was based on the existing Panther chassis, the vehicle did not suffer too many mechanical problems. It was manned by a crew of 5, a driver, radio-operator, commander, gunner, and a loader.
Two variants can be distinguished, one with a welded steel band around the main gun mantlet and the other with a bolted-on band. The versions with the bolted-on ring were equipped with Pak 43/4 gun. Early Jagdpanthers had a monobloc gun barrel and two vision openings for the driver, whereas late versions had only one.

[lufttiger]

This is one of my fav tanks, and i've only made one model of it, it was the old Italeri kit, so i'm thinking i need to build a newer and better kit like the Dragon one.

[cyberia]

Two photos of a JagdPanther on display at the Imperial War Museum in London...

[Pirate-Drakk]

I think the JagPanther was the best sp gun/TD of WWII. It was fast, well armored and could kill anything on the battlefield. It also had a real look to it. Like a Panther ready to pounce! Here's a shot I took at Aberdeen Proving Ground, before 9/11.

[cyberia]

A group of us are talking about gathering at Aberdeen some time down the road. Care to make a return trip?

[Pirate-Drakk]

Originally Posted by cyberia

A group of us are talking about gathering at Aberdeen some time down the road. Care to make a return trip?

I'd love to go there again! Been there twice already but not for years. What a great place. Wish I had taken more pictures at the time.

Hmmm, not sure how I managed to double post my pic up there...go ahead and delete the top one or combine the two if you like, Moderator.

[lufttiger]

Originally Posted by cyberia

Two photos of a JagdPanther on display at the Imperial War Museum in London...

I've stood right next to this one when i went to England many years ago.
On the left side of this tank is where it was hit twice i think, by a Sherman
Firefly, both rounds went through. Otherwise it looked in pretty good shape.

[cyberia]

A JagdPanther at speed, date and location unknown, could be a reconditioned vehicle

[cyberia]

Jagdpanther alongside a rail line, date and location unknown

[cyberia]

A JagdPanther on the roll