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The Panzerbefehlswagen Panther Sd Kfz 267 was a very successful command tank based on the standard Panther I. The great advantage of the command Panther was that it retained the standard 75mm main gun of the normal Panther. This made it much harder for enemy forces to identify the command tank and single it out for special attention, always a problem with early more easily identified command tanks.
Very little equipment needed to be removed from the Panther to make room for the extra radio equipment required. The coaxial machine gun and supported equipment was removed from the turret, and the number of 75mm shells carried was reduced by 15 in the Ausf D and Ausf A or 12 in the Ausf G.
The command Panther carried the same FuG 5 radio as the standard Panther, alongside a FuG 8 long range medium wave transmitter and receiver. This had a range of up to 65km/ 40 miles, more than enough to make sure that the command tank could keep in touch with both regimental and divisional headquarters. Panzerbefehlswagen Panthers were produced alongside all three production versions of the Panther.
Names
Panzerbefehlswagen mit 7.5cm KwK42 L/70
Sd Kfz 267
Stats
Number produced: 329-350 (75 Ausf D, 200 Ausf A the rest Ausf G)
Produced: May 1943-February 1945
Length: 8.86m
Hull Width: 3.4m
Height: 2.96m
Crew: 5
Weight: 44.5 tons
Engine: Maybach HL230P30
Max Speed: 46 km/hr
Max Range: 200km
Main Gun: One 7.5cm KwK42 L/70
Secondary Armament: Two 7.92mm MG34s
Armour
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Front |
Side |
Rear |
Top/ Bottom |
Turret |
100mm |
45mm |
45mm |
16mm |
Superstructure |
80mm |
40mm |
40mm |
16mm |
Hull |
60mm |
40mm |
40mm |
16-30mm |
Gun mantlet |
100mm |
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Panther Medium Tank, 1942-45, Stephen A. Hart, Osprey New Vanguard 67. This look at what was probably the best German tank of the Second World War concentrates on the technical development of the Panther. The text is divided into chapters on each of the major versions of the Panther, looking at their development, production, deployment and combat career. As a result the text flows well, and each new development is placed properly in its context. [see more]
