A tank's overall effectiveness is determined by the combination of five factors. The first is the vehicle's lethality - the penetrative capabilities of its main armament, its accuracy (determined chiefly by the quality of its optical equipment), and the number of rounds carried. The second factor is the tank's battlefield survivability - the degree of protection afforded by its armour. The third is the vehicle's mobility - its ability to move and manoeuvre at speed across various types of terrain, including the ability to cross bridges without them collapsing under its weight, as well as its ability to obtain a reasonable operational range from the fuel carried. The fourth is the tank's mechanical reliability, particularly that of its engine, transmission and suspension. The last factor is the financial and resource costs involved in producing the tank and then maintaining it in an operational state on the battlefield. When these criteria are considered, it is clear that the Panther was one of the best tanks of the Second World War. Undoubtedly, its most impressive aspect was its lethality. The 7.5cm KwK 42 L/70 gun was a superb weapon, as attested to by the numerous 'kills' obtained in combat at even long range.
The gun carried three main types of ammunition - the PzGr.39/42 armour piercing ballistic-capped (APBC) round, the rare PzGr.40/42 tungsten AP shell, and the SprGr high explosive round. Firing the PzGr.39/42 and 40/42 rounds at the normal combat range of 1000m, the Panther could penetrate 111mm and 149mm-thick armour sloped at 30 degrees, enough to deal with virtually all enemy tanks. In addition, the Panther's excellent TFZ 12 or 12a telescopic sight permitted accurate targeting even at long range. This enabled the L/70 gun to achieve an impressive 97 per cent probability of hitting a target first time at 1000m with the PzGr.39/42 under normal combat conditions; indeed, even at the long range of 2500m, the Panther still obtained a 29 per cent first-hit probability with this round. The other chief strength of the Panther was its survivability, which rested mainly on its thick, well-sloped frontal armour. The Soviet T-34/85, for example, could only penetrate the Panther frontally at a range of 500m, whereas the 75mm-gunned Sherman M3A2 could not do so even at point-blank range. However, by 1944-45, new threats had emerged - notably the Soviet Josef Stalin and the American Pershing heavy tanks, plus the 17-pounder anti-tank gun - that proved capable of penetrating the Panther frontally at 1500m. The side and rear armour of the Panther, however, remained much more vulnerable, with most Allied tanks being able to penetrate these plates at ranges of 1500m or more. Significantly, with the exception of the JS and Pershing tanks, throughout its operational career, the Panther always proved capable of knocking out opposing tanks at ranges at which the latter were incapable of penetrating the Panther. The combination of potent firepower and impressive survivability might have made the Panther the most effective tank of the war.
However, Unfinished Panther tank hulls and Jagdpanther heavy tank destroyers can be seen on this production line at one of the five armament factories located in the Reich that manufactured the Panther tank. (The Tank Museum, 4049/C3)
Model G Panthers such as this vehicle spearheaded the advance made by Battle Group Peiper toward the Meuse bridges during the mid-December 1944 German Ardennes offensive. Note the absence of the driver's visor on the left hull glacis plate. (The Tank Museum, 6087/D1) it was less impressive in terms of mobility, reliability and cost; conse- quently, some scholars believe that the solid all-round performance of the Soviet T-34/85 tank gave it the edge over the Panther as the most effective tank of the war. For in terms of mobility, the Panther's performance was only reasonable. This 44.8-tonne tank had an unimpressive ground pressure of 0.735kg/cm2, remained relatively underpowered at 15.6bhp/tonne (with the 700bhp engine), and had an unimpressive cross-country range of only 100km.
The problems the bulky Panther experienced in confined terrain were aptly demonstrated, as we have seen, by the difficulties Peiper's tanks experienced in the Ardennes. In addition, the Panther was dogged by mechanical reliability problems throughout its career, even though by the time of the Model G these weaknesses had been ironed out to a significant degree.
Last, it should also be remembered that the Panther was a complex and sophisticated vehicle that proved both expensive and time consuming to produce - each tank took 2000 man-hours to complete - as well as to maintain in the field. The combination of these three factors served to undermine somewhat the superb lethality and impressive survivability delivered by the Panther. Nevertheless, it remains clear that the Panther medium tank was one of the most effective of the entire war, and its employment at the front undoubtedly enabled the German Army to resist over- whelming Allied pressure for significantly longer than would otherwise have been possible. Given this effectiveness, it remains surprising that after the end of the war, no more than two dozen captured Panthers saw service in other armies (such as the Bulgarian and French forces). Consequently, it would be fair to say that the impressive operational history of the Panther tank ended in the ruins of Hitler's supposed 1000-year Nazi Reich in May 1945.
