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GERMANY'S PANTHER TANK

any Panther completed m November The Panthers already prepared for msiallation of fhe FG 1250 were to be converted back to normal Ausf G This mcluded re-mountmg the Gepaeckkasten stowage bm on the right hull rear. replacmg the stand for the GG 400 with the three-round ammunition bm, and removing the mounts for the FG 1250 in the turret. as well as removmg the battery and the high voltage trans former In this same order MNH was directed to outfit 30 Panthers with FG 1250 in December

On 13 December 1944. MNH was mformed that they were still expected to mount 30 FG 1250 on Panthers in December 1944 Later. MNH was ordered to outfit all of their Panthers with the FG 1250 startmg on 15 January 1945.

5 3 16 CHIN GUN MANTLET mlgefederten Stahllaufrollen (steel roadwheels with interna! rubber cushionmg) These roadwheels were created to bear the weight of heavier armored vehicles Origmally in-vented by the Russians for the KV senes of heavy tanks, the design was sigmficantly altered with improved bearmgs and reduced weight As revealed by the drawmg number (021 D 50204). these roadwheels were originally designed for the Panther II Except for the hub. these 800 mm diameter. steel-tyred roadwheels were exactly the same as those mounted on all Tiger II and starting with Tiger I Fgst.Nr.250822

Steel-tyred roadwheels were mounted on the last station on several Panthers completed by M.A.N. in March/Apnl 1945. It is not known if this was due to a shortage of rubber-tyred roadwheels or installed as an attempt to reduce roadwheel failure.

Armor piercmg rounds strikmg the lower half of the gun mantlet 5.3 18 AMMUNITION STOWAGE had been deflected downward. Sometimes the roof was pen-

etrated or a large hole was broken in the roof above the dnver Since the slidmg sheet-metal dust covers for the racks in the and radio operator The “chm" gun mantlet (021 St 50258). side panmers mterfered with ammunition handling. starting designed to deflect the projectiles upward. was mtroduced in September 1944. these dust covers were no longer in-starting m September 1944 However, this conversion to the stalled “chm’ gun mantlet (021 St 50258) was gradual and resulted in many Panthers still bemg assembled with the rounded gun

mantlet (021 St 50255) through to the end of the War.    5 3 19 RADIATOR COOUNG FANS

5 3 17 SIEEItTYREP RQAPWH5EL$

In September 1944. M A.N outfitted a limited series of Panthers (Fgst Nr. 121032 to 121055 identified) with gum-

The “Chin" gun mantlet (Drawmg No 021 B 50258) was designed to prevent armor piercmg rounds from bemg deflected onto the hull roof As with previous Panther gun mantlet designs. the gun mantlet was mounted on the turret 40 mm to the right of centerłme The gun was mounted 40 mm to the left of center m the gun mantlet. resultmg m the gun bemg mounted on the centerłme of the Panther Three Six mch wide brackets were welded to the turret roof (two at the front and one on the right side) to hołd a Losterkennungstafel (warnmg sign for poison gas attacks)

Due to the demand for improved cooling and to strengthen the fan blades that were bent when hit. starting in September 1944. a redesigned fan was installed Panthers with the new fan were marked with a red cross painted on the mtake grill.

5.3.20 FINAŁ DRIVES IMPROVED

In September and October 1944. a series of modifications were incorporated into the finał drives as countermeasures to reported problems including chewed up gear teeth, broken parts. damaged bearings, and insufficient lubrication.

5.3.21 SELF-CLEANING IDLER WHEEL

Due to poor self cleaning. mud and ice built up inside the origmal idler wheel. Starting in October 1944, an improved self-cleaning. larger diameter idler wheel was mounted.

5.3.22 FLAME SUPPRESSOR EXHAUST MUFFLERS

Starting in October 1944. the temporary solution of sheet metal covers over the exhaust pipes was replaced by Flammenvernichter (flame suppressor) mufflers that pre-vented glowing and flaming exhausts at night. MNH first mounted the Flammenvernichter starting with Panther Ausf.G Fgst.Nr. 128875 (completed on 8 December 1944).

On 23 January 1945. MNH reported that they had re-ceived 40 Absatzkruemmer (curved hoods for the Flammenvernlchter) and a notice that these were to be im-mediately mounted These curved hoods were mounted on 20 Panthers with Fgst.Nr 128997 to 129016 (completed from

CHARTER 5: PANTHER AUSF.G

Startmg m October 1944. a 650 mm diameter self-cleaning idler wheel repiaced the smaller idler that had given problems through buiid up of mud and ice (TTM)

25 January to 1 February 1945) At the same time. the Waffenamt ordered that curved hoods were to be delivered for backfittmg to all of the Panthers that had initially been outfitted with Flammenvernichter

Siartmg m October 1944. Flammvernlchter mufflers were nstaiied to prevent glowmg and flaming exhausts at mght.

5 3 23 CRfiW COMPABTMENT HEATER

Starting in October 1944 a Kampfraumheizung (crewcom partment heater) was installed that was designed to heat the fightmg compartment with air warmed by the engmes radia-tors When the heater was placed m service. a cover was installed over the radiator coolmg air outlet cowlmg With the normal outlet closed off the radiator coolmg air fan forced warm air through ductwork into the fightmg compartment at the firewall. through two pipes forward to the driver and radio operator positions. and through two pipes to warm the batter-les The radiator water temperaturę was regulated at 70 to 80°C by covermg both air mtakes on the right side with slid-mg sheet metal covers Louvres. previously installed to regu-late the engine coolmg temperaturę, were dropped when the Kampfraumheizung was installed

Starting with Fgst Nr 128827 (completed on 22 Novem-ber 1944). MNH installed the modified mountmg and cover plates for the Schutzkappe (armored cowlmg over the fan) for the Kampfraumheizung To regulate air mtake MNH installed cover plates on the gratmgs on the right side starting with Fgst.Nr. 128877 (completed on 9 December 1944)

Above and below Starting m October 1944 a fan tower for the Kampfraumheizung (crew compartment heater) was mounted over the right coolmg air exhaust fan Heated air was dwerted mto the crew compartment when six pie-shaped covers were installed to seal the top of the fan tower (TU)

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