Description
Book SynopsisIn the early years of World War II the German panzer divisions swept aside all Allied opposition as they swarmed through Poland and France in the Blitzkrieg campaigns. However, during the German invasion of the Soviet Union in July 1941, the advancing German tanks met the Soviet T-34, which could deflect any German tank weapon. A new tank was required that could fight the T-34 on equal terms – thus the Panther was born. By the time of the German surrender in 1945, more than 5500 Panthers had been built. The Panther Tank follows the Panther’s development and production, detailing not only its technical specifications but also its service at, among other battles, Kursk and in Normandy, in the words of the soldiers who fought in it. Specification tables provide manufacturing details, while comparative tables allow the reader to make at-a-glance assessments of how the Panther matched its rivals.
Authoritatively written and featuring 70 photographs, fully annotated cutaway artworks, three- and four-view profile artworks and tables, Panther Tank tells the story of World War II’s finest all-round tank and will have a strong appeal to anyone interested in twentieth century military history.
Table of Contents1. The Origins of the Panther
2. Design and layout of the Panther
3. Production of the Panther
4. Combat Performance: Eastern Front 1943–5
5. Combat Performance: Italian Campaign 1943–5
6. Combat Performance: Normandy to Germany 1944–5
7. Panther Variants
Appendix 1
Panther Specification
Appendix 2
The Panther’s Main Rivals
Index
