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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. |
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| 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 160.3 mm of flat plate at 800 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. | |
| | 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 |
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7.5cm Kwk 42 L/70
7.5cm Kampfwagenkanone 42 L/70
(translates as Tank Gun) |
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| | History | |
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| | 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 |
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| | Length | L/70 |
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| | Number of Rounds | 79 |
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| Ammunition Details |
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| 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 |
0.44 |
0.91 |
1.41 |
1.94 |
2.5 |
3.09 |
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| Penetration(mm@30°) |
173 |
168 |
160 |
145 |
132 |
119 |
108 |
98 |
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| Penetration(mm@0°) |
200 |
195 |
186 |
168 |
153 |
139 |
126 |
114 |
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| Hit Probability(%) |
93 |
93 |
93 |
87 |
77 |
64 |
52 |
23 |
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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 |
0.18 |
0.37 |
0.76 |
1.16 |
1.59 |
2.04 |
2.51 |
|---|
| Penetration(mm@30°) |
213 |
209 |
201 |
185 |
170 |
157 |
145 |
133 |
|---|
| Penetration(mm@0°) |
247 |
242 |
232 |
214 |
197 |
182 |
168 |
155 |
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| Hit Probability(%) |
93 |
93 |
93 |
90 |
83 |
74 |
52 |
35 |
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| Weapon Details |
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7.92mm MG 34
7.92mm Maschinengewehr 34
(translates as Machine Gun) |
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| | 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 |
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| | Rate of Fire | 800 rpm |
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| | Number of Rounds | 5100 |
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| 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) |
0.11 |
0.23 |
0.46 |
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| Penetration(mm@30°) |
7 |
6 |
5 |
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| Penetration(mm@0°) |
9 |
7 |
6 |
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| Hit Probability(%) |
74 |
74 |
74 |
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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) |
0.13 |
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| Penetration(mm@30°) |
1 |
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| Penetration(mm@0°) |
2 |
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| Hit Probability(%) |
74 |
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About Penetration Figures
All penetration figures in this database are calculated to a common standard
based on German WWII testing criteria (complete penetration with functioning fuze).
This allows direct comparison between all nations' guns.
Original national test figures would be higher for some nations due to different criteria:
- German: 1.00? (baseline - strictest)
- British: 1.02? (slightly looser)
- American: 1.05? (50% mass through plate)
- Soviet: 1.10? (75% mass through plate)
For example, a Soviet gun showing 159mm here would be published as ~175mm in Soviet documents,
and a German gun showing 120mm would be published as 120mm in German documents.
The 159mm figure is directly comparable to the German 120mm - the Soviet gun really was more powerful.
|
| National Testing Standards |
|---|
| German: | 1.00? - Complete penetration, fuze functions (strictest) |
| British: | 1.02? - Complete penetration |
| American: | 1.05? - 50% of shell mass through plate |
| Soviet: | 1.10? - 75% of shell mass through plate |
|
All database figures are normalized to German standard for direct comparison.
Multiply by the factor above to see original national test figures.
|
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.
© WWIITanks 1980-2026
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![photo of 7.92mm MG 34 from Bundesarchiv(https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de)](javascript:launch("https://bild.bundesarchiv.de/device_barch/dev1/2019/10-16/22/6d/file77kccr7omh51h75l1k0m.jpg"))
