MAP CONTROLS: Use slider or mousewheel to zoom, and hold down left mouse button
to drag.
KEY: Location markers are coloured from Green meaning exact to Red meaning
gone or unknown (details here)
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.
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).
1) The Tank Museum - Public Areas, Bovington, Britain
Click
here or on the image for this tank's profile page
Unique ID: |
59
|
Serial Number: |
303101: chassis number (source: L. Archer).
|
Registration: |
|
Name: |
|
Other Identification: |
Plaque fixed to glacis. German crosses painted on superstructure sides. Painted overall in a late-war sand, green and brown ‘ambush’ camouflage scheme.
|
At the end of the war, when the Allies occupied Germany, a detachment of the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (REME) set up a workshop in one of the Panther factories and, with the help of the local workforce, completed the manufacture of a number of Panther tanks and Jagdpanthers. The plaque on the glacis of this Jagdpanther indicates that it was one of these vehicles; however, the plaque has been painted over and is no longer legible. It was put on the museum books in 1951.
|
2) SdKfz Military Foundation, Yalding, Britain
Click
here or on the image for this tank's profile page
Unique ID: |
62
|
Serial Number: |
|
Registration: |
|
Name: |
|
Other Identification: |
|
This wreck was previously at Sinsheim, Germany, and is believed to have been used in the restoration of the Foundation's running Jagdpanther.
|
3) SdKfz Military Foundation, Yalding, Britain
Click
here or on the image for this tank's profile page
Unique ID: |
63
|
Serial Number: |
|
Registration: |
|
Name: |
|
Other Identification: |
|
It is believed that this Jagdpanther went from Pirbright ranges (note correct spelling) to the Hubeck collection at Darmstadt, Germany, before being restored to running order in the UK.
|