032

BERMANY'8 P ANT HER TANK

The speed that the lurrel traversed was govemed by the Panlher Ausf.A with the monocular T.2.F.12a gun slght motor speed. selection ot high or Iow rangę, and degree that and the Kugelblende machinegun mount were first completed the footpedal was depressed. The time required to traverse in late November/early December 1943.

360° was:

Engine	Speed	Timein
frpml	Ratio	Seconds
1000	High	46
2000	High	23
2500	High	18
3000	High	15
1000	Low	93
2000	Low	45

•    An improved Rohrausblasevorrlchtung (borę evacu-ator) for clearing powder gases out ot the gun.

•A spring compressed sealing ring on the turret race pre-vented water from entering during fording.

•    A simplified azimuth indicator with a single dial gradu-ated from 1 to 12 o:clock was mounted to the left of the gun-ner.

t Panther Ausf.A produced from August through December 1943 still had the binocular T.Z.F.12 gun sight, open port in the glacis for the hull machinegun, and MP Stopfen (pistol ports) in the turret side and rear walls.

I

4.2 PRODUCTION

As with the Ausf.D, four firms were lnvolved with the assem-bly of Panther Ausf.A chassis. Henschel was dlyerted to pro-duction of the Berge-Panther Ausf.A and were replaced by Demag who produced 50 Panther Ausf.A at thelr Benrath assembly plant. Original reports have survived with details on monthly production from three of the assembly firms (M.A.N., D.B., and MNH) but not from Demag. The monthly production figures shown in parenthesis for Demag are esti-mates. They are based on calculations using the monthly reports on Consolidated production from the Waffenamt and reports on Panthers issued to units in the Fgst.Nr. series rang-ing from 158101 through 158150. Following the series of 50 Panther Ausf A, Demag converted to production of the Berge-Panther Ausf.A. Conversion of the three remaining assembly plantsfrom Panther Ausf. A to Panther Ausf.G production was staggered at two month intervals.

M.A.N.    D.B.    MNH    Demag

TABLE 4.2: PANTHER AUSFUEHRU^G A PRODUCTION

Month	No.	Fgst.Nr.	No.	Fgst.Nr.	No.	Fgst.Nr.	No.	Fgst.Nr.
Aug43					3	154803	0
Sep43	46	210300	50	151950	45	154848	(8)	158108
Oct43	104	210404	90	152040	50	154898	(13)	158121
Nov43	76	210480	71	152111	75	154973	(10)	158131
Dec43	114	210594	82	152193	60	155033	(11)	158142
Jan44	105	210699	90	152283	75	155108	(8)	158150
Feb44	106	210805	70	152353	90	155198
Mar44	94	210899	85	152438	90	155288
Apr44			105	152543	100	155388
May44			32	152575	111	155499
Jun44					120	155619
Jul44					11	155630
Total:	645		675		830		50 =	2200

CHAPTER 4: PANTHER AUSF.A

i 3 MCDIFICA] PRODUCTION

Tne modifications are listed in the chronological order in which me changes (irst appeared on completed Panthers leaving me assembly plants In some cases, several months elapsed Detween the first appearance of a modification and the time that it was present on all new production Panthers.

4 3 t ReiNFQEC£D ROAPWHEEIS

With the exception of the 2nd position which had the rein-forced roadwheels with 24 rim bolts, the older 16 rim bolt roadwheels (sometimes reinforced with rivets) were still be-mg mounted at the factory. Gradually, the reinforced roadwheels with 24 rim bolts were mounted on all positions as Ihe stock of earlier 16 bolt roadwheels was exhausted.

4.3.2 ZIMMEHIT ANTt-MAGNETIC COATING

Starting in September 1943, Zlmmerlt (anti-magnetlc coat-ing) was applied at the factory to all upright surfaces that could be reached by a man standing on the ground. This was designed to prevent magnetic shaped charges from adher-ing to the armor. The Zlmmerlt surface was rippled to in-crease the distance to the Steel surface without increasing the weight of the coating.

4 3.3 MAYBACH HL230 P30 MOTOR MODIFICATIONS

Problems were experienced with blown head gaskets. As advised by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, this was corrected by in-stalling copper rings pressed into grooves to seal the heads of Maybach HL 230 P30 motors starting with serial number 8321466 in September 1943,. Other modifications were in-

MODIFICATIONS INTRODUCED WITH THE PANTHER AUSF.A

1943    1944    1945

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sap Oct Nov Dac Jan Fab Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sap Oct Nov Dac Jan Fab Mar Apr

Turret and Gun Mantiet Redeslgnod (Refer to 4.1)
Commande^s Cupota wkh Seven Periscopea (Refer to 4.1)
Perbcope for Loader on Turret Root (Refer to 4.1)
Varlabie-Speed Power Traverse (Refer to 4.1)
SimpWtod Azknuth Indicator wtth Single Olał (Refer to 4.1)
Roadwheels wkh 24 Rim Bolts (Refer to 43.1)
Zlmmerlt And-Magnetic Coating (Refer to 432)	-T-		►-

Mambach

HL 230 P30Mc*orGovemed et 2500 rpm (Refer to 433)

Turret Platform Reinforced (Refer to 43.5)

Cwt&ttó Tow Couplng Bołtod to Hun Rear (Retor to 43.6) Monocular TiF.12a Gun Slght (Retor to 43.7)

Bell Mount for Holi MacNnegun (Refer to 43.8)

HuN Root Plata Not Interiockod with HuM Sidea (Refer to 433)

.....-.........................►

Polot Porta on Turret Skfes and Rear (Refer to 43.10)

^    N^rerteklgungawaffo Close Defenaa Weapon (Reter to 43.10)

E/gne Exhauet MantfokJ CooljgPlpea (Refer to 43.11)

Vertlcał Mount tor 20 ton Jack (Refer to 43.12)

Towlog Couptlng Wekfed to Motor Acoeaa Hatch (Refer to 43.12 Agmuth Indfcator Ring In Cupola wfch DrVe (Refer to 43.14)

Plxe Socketa tor 2 ton Jto Boom (Refer to 43.15)

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