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Up until 1943 the various chassis that had been used to mount the powerful 8.8cm PaK 43 anti-tank gun had proved to have severe limitations. The Elefant tank destroyer, for example, was unwieldy and had been largely unsuccessful in combat while the Nashorn had had very limited protection.
The Panther tank chassis was the obvious choice to be used as the basis for a new tank destroyer mounting the 8.8cm weapon. A prototype vehicle was developed by MIAG and demonstrated in the presence of Hitler on 20 October 1943 at Arys. Production took place at MIAG from January 1944 and at MNH and MBA from November 1944, and ended in March 1945. The combination proved to be formidable, being fast, well armoured and very well armed. By the end of the war the Jagdpanther (Hunting Panther) had gained a reputation out of proportion to the relatively small numbers produced, just 415 in total.
The Jagdpanther was based on the chassis of the Panther tank with the front and upper side plates extended upwards to make a large, highly sloped, superstructure. The original Panther side plates were set at 30 degrees, too sharp an angle to provide enough interior space in the Jagdpanther so they were reset at a more vertical angle of 40 degrees. The side plates were also increased in thickness from 40mm to 50mm. Both these changes were incorporated in the Panther Ausf G as they simplified production without reducing ballistic protection.
Early Production Vehicles
Early production vehicles differed from the prototype only in having a single periscope in the glacis plate for the driver, rather than two, and in not having pistol ports in the side. However, at least one vehicle photographed in service had pistol ports, but it is not known if this one was originally a prototype (source: M. Hayward). From February 1944 the left periscope aperture was plated over and a towing hold was added to the rear engine access panel. All early vehicles had a single-piece ‘monobloc’ gun barrel and a large mantlet collar welded into the glacis plate.
All vehicles were fitted with 5mm Schürzen armour plates to protect the top run of the track and the hull side. Those built before September 1944 also received a covering of Zimmerit anti-magnetic mine paste. Mid-production vehicles, from May 1944, saw the introduction of a two-piece gun barrel. It had been found that the barrel did not wear evenly and it was easier and more economic to replace part of it rather than the whole barrel. From June 1944 three threaded Befehlskran sockets were added to the superstructure roof, and a single threaded socket was added to the top of the gun mantlet.
1) Museé Des Blindés, Saumur, France
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58
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This early production Jagdpanther has a monobloc gun barrel and a welded mantlet collar. It carries the number “123”. It was built in February 1944 and has the early Panther Ausf A engine deck arrangement, but has the later tool stowage arrangement (source: L. Archer). It has a late production idler wheel that may be the result of restoration work (source: M. Hayward). [Preserved Tanks in France: Number 73].
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Late Production Vehicles
Late production vehicles, from September 1944, were fitted with a larger mantlet collar, secured by eight large bolts, to save time and reduce costs in construction. In October 1944 this was modified with a much thicker lip. These vehicles also had the change of tool stowage seen on late production Panthers; this was not universal, however, and was apparently also available as a field modification to earlier vehicles. From November 1944 only one aperture was provided for the driver’s periscope, and an extra extractor fan was added to the front of the superstructure roof. A new pattern muzzle brake was also introduced at some point during production. (Source: L. Archer). Some late production vehicles were also fitted with the new idler wheel seen on some late Panther Ausf Gs (source: M. Hayward).
Six types of exhaust pipe arrangements appear to have been used on the Jagdpanther. The most common appear to match the changes seen on the Panther Ausf A, where the earliest type had two single exhaust pipes with the wheel jack mounted horizontally beneath. Then from February 1944 the jack was mounted vertically between the pipes, and finally an extra set of twin pipes was added to the left exhaust outlet from May 1944. The next type was the same as seen on the standard Panther Ausf G with the straight segments of the single exhaust pipes shrouded by curved shields from October 1944. The fifth arrangement, seen from December 1944, was the swirl cowl exhaust system planned to be incorporated in the Panther Ausf F and seen on some very late Ausf Gs. The sixth type was seen on only a few examples and may only have been used on MNH built vehicles. This was the swirl cowl system but with the extra set of twin pipes on the left exhaust outlet. In a similar way the Jagdpanther followed the Panther changes in engine deck. However, the deck was shorter anyway because of the long fighting compartment and so the forward radiator grilles were about 75mm shorter than on the Panther. Shorter grilles were also adopted from December 1944 at the aft end of the deck. Also a new air inlet was introduced between the two filler caps, the raised left intake was fitted as on the Panther, and rubber bumpers were removed from the main engine hatch. At about the same time ammunition stowage was increased from 58 rounds to 60 (sources: L. Archer, M. Hayward).
Jagdpanthers are currently being sought for a film; a report of one found in Sofia, Bulgaria, has not been confirmed (source: J.M. Holmes/CompuServe).
2) The Tank Museum - Public Areas, Bovington, Britain
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59
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303101: chassis number (source: L. Archer).
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Plaque fixed to glacis. German crosses painted on superstructure sides. Painted overall in a late-war sand, green and brown ‘ambush’ camouflage scheme.
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This Jagdpanther has a plaque on its glacis plate that reads: “Built in 823 Armd Troops Wksp REME No.13 BAOR 1945”. It was number thirteen of a small batch of Panther tanks and Jagdpanthers built by 823 Armoured Troops Workshop, REME, in Germany in 1945 for trials. Some of the others still survive, including the Panthers at Bovington, BWB Koblenz in Germany, and Solingen in Germany. It was assembled at the MNH factory in Hanover; tool stowage is on the hull rear and engine deck (source: L. Archer). It has the late production idler wheels and engine deck (source: M. Hayward).
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3) BWB Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung, Koblenz, Germany
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60
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This Jagdpanther was acquired from the external display area at the Saumur Armour Museum, France, during 1984/5, when it carried the number “232” painted on its side. It was transported to the Heeres Instandsetzungswerk (German Army Ordnance Installation) at Darmstadt, along with a T-34/85, and restoration began late in 1986 - the plan being to return it to running order before displaying it in Koblenz.
It has chassis number 300099 and was built in October or November 1944. It is unusual in having tool mounts on the engine deck. It has large rear engine grilles, and carries its cleaning rod tube on the engine deck. (Source: L. Archer).
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4) Auto und Technik Museum, Sinsheim, Germany
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61
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This Jagdpanther has damage on the mantlet, nose and right side of the mantlet collar. It was restored to its current condition by the staff of the museum.
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5) SdKfz Military Foundation, Yalding, Britain
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62
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The hull of this Jagdpanther is in many pieces, with its superstructure in two halves. It is little more than a rusted wreck and it is missing substantial parts of its superstructure and roof, as well as part of its gun barrel, its tracks and suspension, and all its external fittings. It has numerous shell holes in it probably indicating that it has been recovered from a range. It was removed from display at Sinsheim some years ago and its current status is not known (source: R. Fleming).
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6) SdKfz Military Foundation, Yalding, Britain
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63
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This hull was recovered from Purbright ranges in Britain by the staff of the Budge Collection. It was in a bad condition and missing its gun, mantlet and many other parts. Its engine was removed by the staff of the IWM at Duxford and used in the restoration of the IWM Panzerbefehlswagen Jagdpanther. It was exchanged for an 8” howitzer. (Source: R. Fleming).
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7) Panzermuseum, Munster, Germany
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64
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This Jagdpanther was built by MNH at Hanover in February or March 1945. It saw service on the western front but its parent unit is not known. It was captured by British troops in April 1945, and in July 1961 it was donated to Kampftruppenschule 2. It was restored by Panzerwerkstatt 1 at KTS 2 during 1988 and 1989. It is now in running order. It shows evidence of shell strikes on the mantlet, nose and front edge of the mantlet collar. It has chassis number 303094 (source: L. Archer). It has late production idlers; it also has many non-original parts, including the engine (source: M. Hayward).
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8) Panzermuseum, Thun, Switzerland
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65
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Number “323” painted on superstructure sides.
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This Jagdpanther has an unusual wide driver’s periscope cover that it is believed was added during restoration (source: M. Hayward).
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9) U.S. Army Ordnance Museum, Aberdeen Proving Ground, USA
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66
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This Jagdpanther has chassis number 303018 and was built in December 1944 by MNH. It has an old-style idler, and was captured during the Ardennes offensive. (Source: L. Archer).
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10) Kubinka NIIBT Research Collection - Foreign Vehicles, Kubinka, Russia
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67
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The gun barrel of this Jagdpanther appears to be jammed in the recoiled position. It has a Russian headlamp fitted on the front left mud flap. It used to carry the letter “G” on the glacis plate (source: L. Archer).
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