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CHAPTER 8

PRODUCTION HISTORY

After bemg mformed of the decision to produce their Panther design on 15 May 1942. MA N received con-tracts to rapidly complete two Versuchs-Panthers by August September 1942 and to begin series production m the Fali of 1942

The four firms (MAN. Daimler-Benz. Henschel. and MNH) imtially selected to produce Panthers met m Nuernberg on 4 June 1942 to discuss the production program for the VK 30 02 (Panther) MAN and Daimler-Benz were already to begin assembly m late 1942. while MNH and Henschel were to begin delivery m July 1943 On this same day. at a confer-ence with Speer. Hitler declared that the number planned for the start of Panther production was m no way satisfactory. Steps were to be taken to ensure that 250 Panthers were available for use by 12 May 1943

A meeting on 18 June 1942 was conducted to determine how many Panthers each assembly plant could de!iver by the end of April 1943 As shown on the following Schedule, the start of production by Henschel and MNH had been moved forward to January 1943.

	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Total
MAN.. Nuernberg	1	3	10	20	25	25	= 84
Daimler-Benz. Berlin		1	10	20	30	30	= 91
Henschel & Sohn. Kassel			1	4	9	12	= 26
MNH. Hannover			1	10	20	30	= 61
Total:	1	4	22	54	84	97	= 262

On 9 December 1942. it was announced that M A N. had not completed their first Panther Ausf.D scheduled for No-vember Instead. M A N. planned to complete four Panthers in December.

The status of Panther production was discussed at a meeting on 17 December 1942 attended by Hauptdienstleiter Saur (Speer Ministry). Oberst Thomale (In 6). and others. Delivery of the armored hulls appeared to be assured. while delivery of the turrets was still not clarified. As an example. turret armor had still not been delivered to Daimler-Benz for their first Panther that was to be completed m December. They were also skeptical if the 7.5 cm Kw.K.42 guns would be delivered on Schedule. M.A.N. received their first gun for the November-Panther on 15 December Production of gunsights was to first begin on 24 December 1942

No series Panthers were completed in 1942 The back-log was added to the monthly production goal for January as

Left: The locations of the six plants mvolved in the assembly of Panthers Daimler-Benz in Berlm-Manenfelde. MAN m Nuernberg. MNH. in Hannover. Henschel m Kassel. Wegmann in Kassel and Demag m Duisburg Wegmann. Kassel only completed turrets which they shipped next door for mountmg on chassis completed by Henschel

CHAPTER 8: PRODUCTION HISTORY

revealed m the following report on the Panther production program dated 22 January 1943

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Daimler-Benz	6	10	20	30	35	40	45	51	55	60	65	80
Faikansee						1	5	10	15	20	30	40
Henschel	5	10	10	15	20	25	30	30	30	30	30	30
MAN	14	20	25	30	35	40	50	55	60	65	70	75
MNH	1	10	20	30	35	40	45	50	50	50	55	60
Nibelungenwerk									1	5	10	20
Total:	26	50	75	105	125	146	175	196	211	230	260	305

The first and second Panther Ausf D (Fgst Nr. 210001 and 210002) arnved in Grafenwoehr on 24 January, the third (Fgst Nr 210003) arrived on the 26th. The fourth Panther (Fgst Nr 210004) was diverted to Kummersdorf. Even though these four Panthers had not been accepted by the Waffenamt inspectors. under orders from Speer. they were still delivered to the troops

Automotive and other teething problems quickly became overwhelmmg. To correct the situation. it was decided to re-build all of the Panthers completed through the end of Apnl 1943 at a plant in Berlin-Falkansee or at M A N in Nuernberg At midday on 10 May. Saur visited MAN. He had been ordered to report to Hitler and needed reliable statistics. It had turned out to be impossible to complete the number of

Panther Ausf D m the assembly Ime at Henschel & Sohn. Kassel ■n June 1943 (BA)

Panther Ausf D in the assembly Ime at Daimler-Benz, Berlin-Marienfelde in Augusl/September 1943 after an Allied bombmg raid removed the roof (BA)

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