PzKpfw V Panther

The Ausf. G was the third series of the Panther. Many design changes were made with this model, brought about by recommendations from the troops in the field manning the Ausf. D and A. A completely new simplified hull design was introduced on the Panther Ausf.G. Side armour was increased on the upper hull side, and the side plate was now a single piece. This was made basically to simplify production and to allow Jagdpanther production and Panther production to use the same components . The rear deck was also redesigned with a new cooling air intake and armoured exhaust louvres.

Furthermore the driver´s vision port was removed from the front plate to increase strengh. Vision was now provided trough a rotating periscope, and the drivers seat could be raised and the controls extended so that he could drive with his head out of the hatch. Also, the driver's and radio operator's hatches were hinged on the outer side.

The suspension remained much the same as before, but on late production vehicles, the rearmost damper was deleted. A trial production series in September 1944 featured the steel rimed "silent-bloc" wheels that were to be standardized on the Ausf. F in 1945. The same turret designed for the Panther Ausf.A was retained on the Panther Ausf.G. A Panther Ausf.G produced in April 1944 had the same turret as a Panther Ausf.A produced the same month. Many minor changes were made to improve reliability during the production run, especially to the drive train.

Late production Panther Ausf.G. which features the chin on the mantlet.

A gearbox oil cooler was fitted. 3 mm armoured ammunition bins were installed for the first time. From October 1944 vehicles were equipped with a fighting compartment heater system which drew warm air from a tower like device fitted over the left side engine fan. Effective flame trap exhaust mufflers were introduced.

Modifications introduced during the production run of the Panther Ausf.G included changing to welded armour guards to protect the exhaust pipes, adding sheet metal shields around the exhaust pipes, welding Pilze sockets to the turret roof, fastening a rain guard over the driver's periscope, welding a debris guard over the gap behind the gun mantle, starting in October 1944 ceasing application of Zimmerit anti-magnetic coating and in some very few Panthers preparations for mounting the FG 1250 infra-red searchlight and scope. These Panthers with an FG1250 were identified by the letter "F" stamped behind the Fahrgestell Nummer of the serial plate.

In September 1944, a proportion of the turetts delivered were fitted with a new gun mantlet on which the under curve was eliminated (by a forward agled projection) to prevent downward deflection of hits through the thin hull roof armour, additionally five loops for holding camouflage were welded on each turret side.

Panther Ausf.G (FstNr. 121306 completed by MAN on or about 11 December 1944) was tested by WaPruef 6. It had a "Chin" gun mantlet and Kampfraumheizung (crew compartment heater). The cylindrical canister for stowing the gun cleaning rods and spare antenna rods is still on the left superstructure side where it was fastened to all Panthers when they left the assembly plant.

The Ausf G saw action on eastern, south-eastern and western fronts until the end of the war. It generally comprised over half the tank strength of the Panzer divisions, making itself felt in the last offensives in East Prussia, Hungary and Belgium. Approximately 450 Panthers were available with units under Army Group B at the start of the Ardennes offensive.

2953 Panther Ausf.G were produced by MAN in Fgst.Nr. series 120300-121443 (1143), Daimler-Benz in Fgst.Nr. series 124300-125304 (1004), and MNH in Fgst.Nr. series 128300 to 129106 (806) from March 1944 and continuing until the assembly plants were captured by the Allies in April 1945.