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Panther Ausf D (Fgst Nr 212061 compieted at Henschei m iate May eariy June 1943) was used m an expenment to test compiete suDmersion it stiii has the onginai stowage layout on the right side and a ram guard weided over the pistol port iWJS)

GERMANY'S PANTHER TANK

_{nove and} peiow Panther Aus1 D Tact.cal Nr 433 (Fgst Nr moi compieted atMNHin late May early June 1943) was sued to Panzer ADte.iung 51 U fought at Kursk belore be.ng fnCed Dy the Russ.ans and sh.pped to England for deta.lea Sm.naticrn Nebelwurfgeraet (smoke candle d.schargers) ar_e konger mounted on the turret s.des Mount,ngbrackets for th_e ark adiustmg tooi and a siedge hammer have been wetdod ont₀ l Lh. <;uoerstruCture s.de but the jack błock .s st.ll heid by two

CHARTER 2: PANTHER AUSF.D

2 3 ib REJNFORCED ROADWHESLS

_sta,ting m June 1943 road wheels were remforced by add ,_ng a f ivet between each of the 16 rim bolts Tbis modification wai. conducted at Weiden near the Grafenwoehr traming area tor aii ot the Panthers sent to the Eastern Front for operation Zitadelle Startmg m August 1943. remforced road wheels w.th 24 rim bolts were mtroduced

2 3 16 COMMUNICATIONS PORT

Startmg m July 1943 the Verstandigungsoeffnung (com mumcation port) was deleted from the left turret side In post-war literaturę this port has contmuously been mistakenly re ferred to as a spent cartndge ejection port In mtelligence reports durmg the war the guesses for its use vaned from machmegun port to a port for loadmg ammumtion An exanm nation of the mternal layout of the turret reveals that this port was only useful for its mtended function of shielded commu-nication between the tank commander and accompanymg mfantry or messengers

Gt iS<l

Left and below This Ausf D Befehis-Panther (Fgst Nr 210137 compieted at M A N in June 1943) was supphed to Wa Pruef 6 for testmg and therefore wasn't outfitted with standard tools and equipment The Verstandlgungsoeffnung (Communications port) was deleted from the left turret side (WJS)

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