Germany PzKpfw V Ausf A (Panther) SdKfz 171 (Panther) or Panzer V Ausf A (Panther) SdKfz 171 or Panzerkampfwagen V Ausf A (Panther) SdKfz 171(armoured fighting vehicle)   Ordnance classification - SdKfz 172 or Sonderkraftfahrzeug(special purpose vehicle) number 172

Tweet The PzKpfw V Ausf A (Panther) SdKfz 171, it was based on the fully tracked Panther chassis and was in use from 1943 to 1945. It was commonly called a Panther. General Details (Heavy Tank) Specifications Operational Date(s) 1943 - 1945 Ordnance classification SdKfz 172 Quantity Produced 2000 Weight unknown Crew 5 M.G's small 2 M.G's large(>10mm) n/a Length 7.05 mtr Width 3.52 mtr Height 2.98 mtr Engine Details/Performance Max Road Speed 29 mph Max Cross Country Speed 15 mph Range Road 125 miles Range Cross Country 62 miles Fuel Type Petrol Fuel Capacity 160 gal Horse Power 700 hp Power/Weight unknown General Information The PzKpfw V Ausf A (Panther) SdKfz 171, it was based on the fully tracked Panther chassis and was in use from 1943 to 1945. It was commonly called a Panther. It was armed with 2 light machine guns which were 7.92mm MG 34s. Its main armament consisted of a 7.5cm Kwk 42 L/70 which could penetrate 178 mm of flat plate at 100 metres The arrival of the Russian T34 prompted Hitler to order a study of the vehicle and produce a German version. The Panther Ausf A was the second main production model after the Ausf D with a number of design modifications to improve performance, especially with regards to the drive train and turret. Armour Details Turret Front 110mm @ 11° (112mm) Side 45mm @ 25° (50mm) Rear 45mm @ 25° (50mm) Top 16mm @ 87° (16mm) Superstructure Front 80mm @ 55° (139mm) Side 40mm @ 40° (52mm) Rear 40mm @ 30° (46mm) Top 16mm @ 90° (16mm) Hull Front 60mm @ 55° (105mm) Side 40mm @ 0° (40mm) Rear 40mm @ 30° (46mm) Top 30mm @ 90° (30mm) Armour (x)mm @ (y)° (Effective mm @ 0°) Effective Armour - Maximum 139 mm - Minimum 30 mm Weapon Details 7.5cm Kwk 42 L/70 7.5cm Kampfwagenkanone 42 L/70 (translates as Tank Gun) History As the war progressed there was an increasing requirement to have harder hitting anti tank guns with higher velocity shells, this required an increase in length of the standard 75mm Pak 39/40 from L/48 to L/60. The 7.5cm Kwk 42 was a version provided for tanks, specifically the Panther and was semi automatic with electric firing. Calibre 75mm Length L/70 Number of Rounds  79 Ammunition Details Name/Id Calibre Weight MVelocity Explosive Content 7.5cm Pzgr 39/42 (APCBC Armor Piercing Capped Ballistic Cap) 75mm 6.8Kg 935M/Sec Quoted Penetration 141mm@400m/30° Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.11 0.22 0.45 0.97 1.56 2.24 3.03 3.97 Penetration(mm@30°) 169 156 141 122 104 88 73 59 Penetration(mm@0°) 196 181 163 141 121 102 85 69 Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 98 85 57 25 22 7.5cm Pzgr 40/42 (APCR Armor Piercing Composite Rigid) 75mm 4.8Kg 1120M/Sec Quoted Penetration 150mm@1000m/30° Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.09 0.19 0.39 0.84 1.39 2.05 2.87 3.92 Penetration(mm@30°) 232 213 189 161 134 109 88 68 Penetration(mm@0°) 268 246 219 186 155 127 102 79 Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 98 90 64 34 22 Weapon Details 7.92mm MG 34 7.92mm Maschinengewehr 34 (translates as Machine Gun) History Derived from the Solothern Maschinengewehr Modell 30, it became the main machine gun for the German army. It could be fitted with a bipod for infantry use, an Anti Aircraft mount, or a heavy tripod to turn the gun into a heavy machine gun. Manufacturer Mauser-Werke Manufactured 1936 - 1943 Calibre 7.92mm Length L/79 Rate of Fire 800 rpm Number of Rounds  5100 Ammunition Details Name/Id Calibre Weight MVelocity Explosive Content S.m.K.H tungsten Cored MG (AP40 Armour Piercing Tungsten Cored) 8mm 0.013Kg 875M/Sec Quoted Penetration 19mm @ 100mtr/0° Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.14 0.33 1.04 Penetration(mm@30°) 17 13 7 Penetration(mm@0°) 20 16 9 Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 S.m.K (BALL Standard Small Arms) 7.92mm 0.012Kg 785M/Sec Quoted Penetration 8mm@100m/30° Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.2 Penetration(mm@30°) 5 Penetration(mm@0°) 6 Hit Probability(%) 98

Hit probability is based on a static 2 x 2.4 metre panel at 0 degrees(vertical) at the range specified.

The data that has been used to create these records has come from Wikipedia, The Lone Sentry, The Bundes Archive and numerous books and websites that have provided the detailed information that has not been available anywhere else. The information we use to calculate the penetration tables, flight times and the hit probability comes from the Gun Calibre, the Shell Mass(Kg) and the muzzle velocity, plus range reductions to allow for gravity and wind resistance. This calculation originally came from a pre-war Krupp calculation which has been modified, and seems to fit the actual test results.

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