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GERMANY'S PANTHER TANK

Panther Ausf D. Tacticai Nr 203 (Fgst Nr 211213) was compieted at Daimler-Benz m August 1943 The right Tarnlampe (headiight) has Oeen dropped and a ring for the anti-aircraft M G mpunt was welded onto the commander s Cupola (TTM)

2 3 17 SINGLE HEAPLjgHT

Startmg m July 1943 only a single Bosch Tarnlampe (head-light) was mounted on the left side of the glacis above the track guard Previously. two headlights had been mounted one on each side of the glacis piąte

2 3 18 LAST SERIES OF MODIFICATIONS ORDERED FOR THE AUSF.D

At a meetmgs m Berlin łrom 23 to 25 June 1943. Wa Pruel 6 ordered that the followmg modifications be immediately imple mented ¹

•    Spot weld the base of the commander s cupola

•    Cut dram holes m the rim of the commander s cupola

•    Shorten the lever for pivotmg the commander s cupola hatch

•    Immediately weld a sightmg vane on the turret roof

•    Instali an improved cable for the machmegun fmng mechamsm

•    No longer instali the foot guards

•    Mount a catcher for spent cartridges on the recoil guaro

•    Remount the foot rest for the commander 50 mm higher

•    Repiace the thick band m the turret race with a labynnth seal

•    Remforce and reduce the play m the gun sight mount

•    Cleanly weld around the new stop for the gun mantiet

•    Weld a ram channel on the gun mantiet over the two gun sight apertures

•    Remove the pressure relief valve on the compresseo air cylinder and seal the hole

CHARTER 2: PANTHER AU8F.D

ADO we Th.s Panrner Ausf O (Ucense Nr 1A 0805) shown durmg test mg dl d provmg ground was produced after July 1943 The ngni Tarnlampe meadiight) and me Verstandigungsoettnung (Communications port) m the left turret side had been dropped A mounting r.ng tor the anti-aircraft machmegun mount was welded onto me commander s cupola (TTM)

Above and oeiow Pamhers were anven on a test trać¹ atter assemoiy in automotwe wo»kmg order The Pantner was dnven mto a pooi to check mat seais and gas¹ets met leak tight speof" cations The twin air mtake covers on me engme access hatch have the U-snaped handies assoc>atec with Panthers with Maybach HL 230 P30 engmes The armor pot covenng me teiescopmg air mtake pipes on the rear dec¹ was nmged at me front ano had a screened open.ng on top <BA)

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   Instali a duet for removmg fumes from the spent car-tndge Container

•    Instali a modified spent machmegun cartridge tubę

•    Weld on a bump stop for the commander s cupola hatch