Normandy panther.

[behblc]

I don't think I posted these up before , they might ber of interest.

From "Not in Vain" by Ken Bell (Published by David charles and Toronto University press) 1977.

A look at Normandy contrasting images "now and then" , similar to After The Battle"

The knocked out Panther will be well know to most folks , the use of the Panther hull , probably not.
I wonder if she is still "on the go" or has it been donated to Samur ?

The captions read.
"Man confronts the monster.This German Panther tank will never fight again.But thrifty Normans can find other uses for it.The same converted Panther is still at work."

Is it the same tank , probably not but worth a look.

[frank savage]

???????

INCREDIBLE!!!!
Does anybody knows the fate of that hybrid machine? Still works?
cheers to all!

[Panzer Rob]

I highly doubt that the Panther wreck in the black and white photo is the same chassis used to make the crane in the color picture.

That wreck is an ausf.G knocked out somewhere in Normandy (I believe it was from SS.Pz.Rgt.12 but exactly where and when it was knocked out I can’t remember). It’s hard to see from the pic you posted, but the middle section of the lower hull is buckled out, indicating that the vehicle suffered a catastrophic internal explosion which in turn rendered it completely useless. You can see that the road wheels towards the center are pushed out and uneven. Here’s another shot of the same wreck, from the rear:



Various shots of this wreck appear in many publications on WWII German armor, the campaign in Normandy, etc.

Rob

[Bob Carter]

Panther Chassis

I had read on another forum that the Panther chassis pictured was taken in France in the 70's and since has been under restoration, but where and to what extent no one seemed to know.

[Panzer Rob]

I had read on another forum that the Panther chassis pictured was taken in France in the 70's and since has been under restoration, but where and to what extent no one seemed to know.

The chassis used for the crane?

[Bob Carter]

panther

Yes the color photo of the crane

[Panzer Rob]

Yes the color photo of the crane

Thought so. Thanks... It looks like most of the upper hull was cut away, but I guess something's better than nothing, right?

Let us know if you hear any more on that one.

Rob

[behblc]

Panther.

Panzers in Normandy By Eric Lefevre (After The Battle) give the location as being Bretteville-Orgueilleuse.

Several photographs of her atken over several days show how her external fittings slowly became detached and picked over by passing troops.
The two pages shown give her history and show the damage which would be beyond any repair.

The turret just seems to be broken open like a childs easter egg , God help the poor guys inside.

[behblc]

Panther

Second page.

[Gran Sasso]

Two actual views of that location.

[Gran Sasso]

View in opposite (western) direction.

[Panzer Rob]

Gran- Thanks for posting those pictures! It's always nice to see "then and now" comparisons.

Rob

[behblc]

Cheers

Much appreciated Gran. , would love to get the chance to take a similar photo myself.

[derka]

hello,


an other wiew of it :



in the foreground, you can distinguish remains of a hull based on a pz 38 (marder III, flakpanzer 38 ?).

the k.o. panther belonged to the 4/I SS Pz-Rgt 12 of Hustuf Pfeiffer, maybe from the forth section, and was destroyed during an attack during the night (around 12 pm) of june, 8/9 1944.

it was the first panther destroyed in Normandy.

the pictured tank was destroyed by men of the canadian "Regina Rifle Régiment", very close from the regimental HQ established in the farm behind the ruined church.

the tank was first hit by a piat rocket fired by private Joe Lapointe, and 30 m later went into a trap made of grouping grenads which broke a track and imobilized hit.

a secont rocket hit the tank, ans the crew was then killed during bailing out to escape.

after that, the abandoned tank was hit at the rear of the turret by the following panther in the street, who tried to respond with his main gun and mg's to the ambushed troops each part of the street, and imediatly started burning with flams "hight as the church" according witnesses.

from "hors série" historica 39/45 magazine, avril-mai-juin 1999.

so i don't think that this destroyed panther could be the one with the crane.

cheers
derka

[behblc]

Cheers

Cheers Derka , always intersted in "new" photos of this Panther.
Likewise I agree withyou it was destroyed beyond any hope of recovery or rebirth !