Since 1943, during World War II, thee appeared an unusually fast tank on the European Front that silhoueted among its German Mechanized Division. This was the "Panther" medium tank, with its formidable power of attack and fast maneuverability, that soon became an object of terror to men of the Allied Forces.
If put to a question, "Which was the best German tank during the war?" The majority of the people, without hesitation will answer the name "Panther". It is known that the PZKW-IV and the Tiger-II tanks were also produced by German technology and were both outstanding tanks. But the PZKW-IV was meant to be replaced by the Panther, and the Panther, showing improved attacking and defensive powers and accurate maneuver ability on the field, soon became the German's main strength tank.
The Tiger I with its 88mm gun would seem at first to be superior to the Panther's 75mm gun in attacking power. But when viewed from the point of armour piercing power of the shell, the Panther, with its 70 caliber KWK 42 anti tank gun and sloping side armour provided much stronger in actual fighting than the Tiger I's 56 caliber KWK 36 anti tank gun with vertival side armour.
The Tiger II tank, which should be called the 'improved Panther' was much stronger in attacking and defensive power than the Panther. However, considering the number of Panthers produced and used during this time, the Panther tank was still number 1.
The main strength German tanks at the start of the war were all unique in the sense that their designs were completely based on German plans and ideas. But the Panther was influenced by the Soviet masterpiece tank T-34 which was seen for the first time on the east European Front.
In the beginning of 1942, in order to fight against the T-34, the German military ordered a new tank from Dymler-Benz and M.A.N. companies with the following specifications:
Weight- 35 tons; speed- 60 km/h; armament 75mm long gun and armour, 60mm thick in front hull, 35mm thick in the rear and 100 mm at the front of the gun turret.
Lastly, it was specified that the tank be equipped with a Maiback HL210, water-cooled, V-type 12 cylinder engine. In May of the same year, M.A.N.'s model was chosen without waiting for completion of a prototype tank. However, there were 2 important modifications. First, in order to meet the military's demand, considerably more than the original 35 ton weight was needed. Second, the military ordered a change in the thickness of the frontal armour from 60mm to 80mm.
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