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German Heavy tank Panzerkampfwagen V Ausf D
The Army ordered 250 Panthers to be ready by May 12, 1943, while 750 more were to be completed as soon as possible. In December 1942, Ausf D entered production, and the first D model left the factory on January 11, 1943. Armor protection was improved (in comparison to Ausf D1) and the newer version of the 75mm KwK 42 L/70 gun was mounted in a hydraulically-powered turret. The first 250 Panther Ausf D tanks were powered by a Maybach HL 210 P 30 [with 23 liters (1,400 cubic inches) displacement] and were also referenced as Ausf D1. The Panther's weak spot was its side armor, which ranged from 40mm to 50mm, depending on the variant.
From the original 250 Panthers, only 43 were in service by August 10, 1943. These were later converted to Panzerbefehlswagen (Sd.Kfz.267). The next 600 Ausf D (also called Ausf D2) were powered by a more powerful 700hp HL 230 P 30 engine, which became the standard power plant for all later models of the Panther. They also featured a cast commander's cupola instead of the early drum-type cupola, and armor skirts, which were standard on later Ausf D Panthers and all later models. Ausf D also equipped 23rd and 26th Independent Panzer Regiment as well as Panzer Regiment of Das Reich and Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Panzer Divisions. In general, from December 1942 to September 1943, some 850 were produced by MAN, Daimler-Benz, MNH and Henschel.
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Main Data
| Weight, tonns |
44.8 |
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| Lenght,m |
8.66 |
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| Width, m |
3.27 |
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| Height, m |
2.85 |
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| Crew, men |
5 |
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Armament
| Machine gun MG-34, mm |
2 x 7,92 |
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| Gun KwK 42 L/70, mm |
75 |
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Ammo
| MG34, rounds |
4200-5100 |
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| KwK 42 L/70, rounds |
79 |
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Armor thickness
| Hull front, mm |
80 |
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| Hull side, mm |
30 |
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| Hull back, mm |
40 |
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| Hull top, mm |
17 |
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| Hull bottom, mm |
17 |
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| Hull turret, mm |
17-100 |
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Engine & Speed
| Engine type |
Maybach HL 230P30, carburetor |
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| Engine power, h.p. |
700 |
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| Max speed, km/h |
46 |
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| Max range, km |
250 (Road) |
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