History, technical details and pictures

History of the Jagdpanther

At the end of 1942, Germany faced economic troubles and delays in industrial construction of armored vehicles. German military engineers had then to create a new char, efficient but inexpensive.

A first prototype is manufactured in October 1943: the Germans reuse the structure of a Panther tank and the principle of the turret was removed for cost reasons, while the gun used is a Pak 43 88 mm, particularly effective.

The production began three months later in January 1944 and the first copies were delivered in June 1944, at a time when the Allies landed in Normandy. Deployed in the region in order counter the Americans, British and Canadians, Jagdpanther tanks destroyed many allied tanks before being destroyed by the allied air raids.

Only 392 vehicles were manufactured from January 1944 to March 1945, but the Jagdpanther tank has emerged as being one of the most successful German tanks of all World War II.

Jagdpanther tank sheet

Country creator/user: Germany
Name: Nahverteidigungsgerät "Jagdpanther"

Rate of fire: 9,87 m
Width: 3,27 m
Height: 2,72 m
Weigth: 45 500 kg
Maximum speed: 55 km/h
Range: 257 km

Main gun: Pak 43 L/71 88 mm gun
Secondary armament: 7,92 mm MG 34 machine gun

Engine: Maybach HL 230 P 30, 700 hp
Consumption: 280 L for 100 km

Crew: 5 (1 tank commander, 1 pilote, 1 co-pilote and gunner, 1 radio operator and loader)

Front shield: 100 mm
Back shield: 16 mm