In many respects, the Panther tank was viewed as the finest armored fighting vehicle of the Second World War. Based in large part upon the Soviet's highly successful T-34 medium tank, the PzKpfw V Ausfuhrung G (Type G) was built by several manufacturers including MAN, Daimler-Benz, and MNH. Mounting a fearsome 7.5cm KwK42 L/70 cannon and two 7.92mm MG34 machineguns, the Panther Ausf. G represented the third and certainly the most impressive installment in the Panther series.

The weight of the production model was increased to 43 tons from the original plans for a 35 ton tank. Hitler had personally reviewed the final designs and insisted on an increase in the thickness of the frontal armor - the front glacis plate was increased from 60mm to 80mm and the turret front plate was increased from 80mm to 100mm.

Once the problems caused by the vulnerability of the engine and the transmission were solved, it proved to be a very effective fighting vehicle. The crew was made up of five members: driver, radio operator (who also fired the bow machine gun), gunner, loader, and commander.

Pictured here is a 1:50 scale replica of a German Sd. Kfz. 171 PzkPfw V Panther Ausf. G medium tank that saw action in the Battle of the Bulge and was attached to "Kampfgruppe Peiper," of the 1.SS Panzer Division. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 5-1/2-inches
Width: 2-inches

Release Date: December 2004

Historical Account: "The Pied Peiper" - This Panther was the spearhead of Kampfgruppe Peiper, which made the greatest penetration and came the closest to achieving their objective only to be knocked out near Stoumont by the 740th Tank Battalion. Colonel Joachem Peiper was given the strongest elements of the 1.SS-Panzer Division, who became the only unit commander to make a major breakthrough during the offensive. His unit also became infamous for the massacre of American prisoners and medics at Malmedy. The unit ended the Battle of the Bulge only 40 kilometers from its start point thanks to stiff resistance from scattered US units.