a nice piece of a panzer, found in a famous battlefield

[voelender]

Hi guys

I discovered this piece on a famous battlefield. I do not know the exact size but it is about 70/80 cm x 35/40cm and pretty thick. It must be from a panzer/tank , but which one ??

Does anybody recognize this piece ??

[earlymb]

It looks like the cover that went between the gearbox and the front drive sprocket (I think left side)? I think it's German but no idea what vehicle.

[steverobertsbbc]

Yeah, almost certainly an interior part of the final drive, but I've no idea what from.

[Sopwith]

depends on which front you found it and which nation fought there. Looking at it as is, it doesnt look like anything german. It mostly reminds me of a Soviet t-34 final drive.

[planejack777]

Panther tank

The piece pictured is from a Panther’s front drive. It is a part that went between the hull, and larger Front drive casting.

Jack

[steverobertsbbc]

Very good call, Jack. Here's an image from The Panther Project vol 1 book, which shows where this would bolt on. I've flipped and rotated the image in the book to roughly match the OP's photo.
http://www.dropbox.com/s/eonn2z2ko4u...inal-drive.jpg

[voelender]

Thanks guy's so far for the info.
I have left it on the spot because I could not handle it at that time.
I will go back there anyway so I might take to my home.
Has it any value ??

[earlymb]

It will always have value, but how much depends on what vehicle it came off exactly. Planejack777 gave you a suggestion you can research.

[steverobertsbbc]

It would have value to someone, certainly. If I was in your position, I'd want to take it home, just to have a bit of a Panther (although I do actually already have a Panther track link at home).

[Hans Kristian]

At the moment, it seems very popular to restore panzers, so I am sure it has a good value for someone. Especially as the final-drive always was a problem on these tanks.

And if you look carefully, maybe there are more stuff lying around the same area..most likely there are..