PzKpfw V Panther

The next production model of the Panther series was the Ausf.A. It first appeared in August 1943 and had an improved cupola for the commander, replacing the "dustbin"-shaped earlier model with better vision via armoured episcopes rather than vision slits. It retained the same chassis as the Panther Ausf.D, but it had a new ball mounting for the hull machine gun to replace the letter-box flap MG port.. Futhermore the number of wheel-rim bolts was doubled to prevent failures. The hull, chassis, drive train and suspension of a Panther Ausf.A produced in September 1943 were exactly the same as the components in a Panther Ausf.D produced during the same month. Basically the modifications that were made to the drive train, had the purpose to improve reliability.

Early Panther Ausf.A sketch by Hilary Doyle. Note the Smoke dischargers still mounted. These were discontinued after a report stating that small arms fire had set off the smoke candles resulting in the temporary incapacitation of the crew members.

The turett had many modifications. In addition to the new cast commander´s cupola with seven periscopes, an episcope for the loader was provided on the right side of the turett roof. The small ammunition-loading hatch in the left side was eliminated, and during the production run, the turett side pistol ports were eliminated in December 1943 in favour of the roof mounted "Nahverteidigungswaffe" (close defense weapon), which wasn´t intoduced before March 1944, due to shortages and production faults. Many Ausf. As assembled in February and March had a circular plate held by four bolts to cover the hole in the turett roof for the missing Nahverteidigungswaffe. The seals behind the gun mantlet and the seals for the turret race were redesigned, the elevating gear for the gun was simplified, and a variable speed turret traverse drive based on the engine speed was introduced.

left: An excellent example of the superior protection afforded by the new cupola. A hit has blown off one periscope guard, and bent the cupola ring, yet there was no penetration although the impact did break off the periscope and rubber pad. Note the hatch stop stud at the right of the hatch opening.

right: This interiour view of the Ausf.A cupola shows the method of using the cupola mounted periscopes which may be lowered and raised in their frames using the crank in the commander´s hand.

The new variable-speed power traverse replaced the single speed system that had been used in the Ausf.D. The Boehringer-Sturm Type L4S hydraulic system for powered turett traverse was driven by a power take-off from the engine drive shaft. A high and low gear ratio were provided and selected by a lever on the left of the turett drive housing.

Power was transmitted through a hydraulic pump and hydraulic motor. Traverse was controlled by a foot pedal which regulated the output from the hydraulic pump. The pedals were located on the floor in front of the gunner´s position.

The speed that the turett traversed was gouverned by the motor speed, selection of high and low range, and degree that the footpedal was depressed. The time required to traverse 360° was:

Although the main visual difference between the Ausf. D and the Panther Ausf.A was the cast commander's cupola, which wasn't present on any of the Panther Ausf.Ds, the key improvement over the Panther Ausf.D was the introduction of the Boehringer-Sturm L4S variable speed turret traverse drive, which theoretically enabled faster target acquisition by the gunner.

Furthermore an improved "Rohrausblasevorrichtung" (bore evacuator) was introduced for clearing powder gases out of the gun.

Starting in late November/early December 1943, the Kugelblende (ball mount) for the hull machinegun with a spherical armoured guard was introduced. At the same time, the forward facing periscope on the hull roof for the radio operator was deleted. It was no longer necessary since the radio operator was to use the KZF2 sight provided with the MG mount for direct observation.

The standard Panther ball mount for the bow MG34. Note that the barrel jacket for this gun was not the standard perforated type. It was armoured, about 0,25" thick and had a four inch long cooling slot on the top and one on the bottom.

Starting in September 1943, Zimmerit (anti-magnetic coating) was applied at the factory to all upright surfaces that could be reached by a man standing on the ground. The Panthers produced from August through December 1943 still had the binocular TZF 12 gun sight which was changed to the monocular TZFl2a gunsight in the Panthers first completed in late November/early December 1943. During the production run furthermore cooling pipes for the left engine exhaust were added, a tow coupling to the engine access hatch on the hull rear was welded and starting in June 1944 Pilze sockets were to be welded on the turret roof by the troops to be used for mounting the 2-ton jib boom.

Problems were experienced with blown head gaskets. As advised by Dr Ferdinand Porsche, this was corrected by installing copper rings pressed into grooves to seal the heads of Maybach HL 230 P30 motors starting with serial number 8321466 in September 1943. Other modifications were introduced at the same time including improoved coolant circulation inside the motor and a reinforced membrane spring installed in the fuel pump.

In November 1943, starting with Maybach HL230 P30 motor number 8322575, the governor was already set at the factory for a maximum speed of 2500 rpm under full load and the motors were outfitted with a hand operated temperature control on the oil cooler.

A Panther Ausf.A produced in September/October 1943 and coated with Zimmerit. Only the roadwheel for the 2nd station is the reinforced type with 24 bolts on the rim. Pistol ports are still present on the turret sides and rear.

When the Panther Ausf A was first introduced, it saw service in Russia and Italy. Most of the Panther detachments deployed to meet the Allied invasion of France in mid 1944 were equipped with Panther Ausf A, and many of them were still in service at the end of the war.

About 2,200 Panther Ausf.A were produced by MAN in Fgst. Nr. series 210254-210899 (645), by Daimler-Benz in Fgst. Nr. series 121900-152575 (675), by Demag in Fgst. Nr series 158100-158150 (50), and MNH in Fgst.Nr. series 154800-155630 (830).