Otherwise known as the Sd Kfz 171 Panzerkampfwagen V Ausf G, and the best German tank design of WWII.

The basic design can be traced back to 1941 drawings although it is similar in shape, particularly in the use of sloped armour, to the Russian T-34. The first prototype was produced by M A N of Nuremburg in September 1942 and production began in January 1943.

The 45-tonne Panther was not as thickly armoured, nor as heavily armed (75mm main gun), as tanks such as the Tiger but was probably a much more balanced design. It was one of the fastest German tanks, highly manoeuvrable and equipped with an accurate gun. Its worst defect was a propensity to catch fire if the engine backfired.

The Model G was the last main production variant. This particular one was found partly completed on the production lines of Maschinenfabrik Niedersachen, in Hannover, after the German surrender and was finished by 823 Armoured Workshop of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. It has features characteristic of the Ausf G, including increased armour, a one-piece side plate and hinged hatches in the hull.

Examples of the ammunition used in the main gun can be seen in the case in the foreground. The camouflage scheme is similar to that used on Panthers leaving the factory in the last months of the war, namely a basic undercoat of red with other colours rapidly applied, as seen on Panthers of 5th Battalion, 25th Panzer Grenadier Division on the Eastern Front in February 1945.

Seen in the new hall at The Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset, England in early 2009.

German Panzer V Panther G tank marker (FMCV0076 B7).

Germany
Panzerkampfwagen V (G) (Panther I)
(Medium Tank)
Initial Production 1944
Combat Weight 45.5 tons

This Panther was recovered from France. The Panther also had a crew of 5 and armed with one 7.5cm KwK 42 main gun, two 7.92mm MG 34 machine guns (coaxial and bow). This version was the third in the series. This version has a number of changes including increased upper hull side armor, drivers direct vision ports eliminated, driver and radio operator hatches were changed to hinged rather than picot and the main gun mantlet curve was squared to prevent deflection of incoming rounds into the hull. Panther V (G) saw service on the Eastern and Western Front to the end of the war. Four hundred and fifty Panthers were available to units at the start of the Ardennes Offensive. Road speeds could reach 45 mph.

For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzer_V