[Panzer Tracts 09-3] Jagdpanther - Panzerjaeger Panther (8.8 em) (Sd.Kfz.173).pdf

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PANZER TRACTS No.9-3

agdpanther"

Panzerjaeger Panther (8.8 em) (Sd.Kfz.173)

Ausf.G 1 und G2

Created by Thomas L. Jentz

and Hilary Louis Doyle

All new 1/10th and 1/35th scale as-built drawings

Front Cover Photo: One of the first 50 Jagdpanther Ausf.G 1 with a 16 mm thick roof and a sectional

8.8 em Pak 43/3 gun tube being used for training by the s.Pz.Jg.Abt.654 in the Summer of 1944. (HLD)

The scale prints in this book were drawn at full scale using a CAD program and printed at 1/10th,

1/20th, and 1/35th scale. Eight surviving Jagdpanthers were measured in detail to produce these

extremely accurate as-built drawings within the tolerances allowed to the original assembly firms.

Thanks are especially due to Karlheinz Muench (14) for providing copies of rare and unique photos.

Photos were also obtained from the Bundesarchiv-Bildarchiv and Militaerarchiv (3), The Tank Museum

(11), the Public Archives of Canada (4), the Ordnance Museum (3), and the National Archives (3).

Special thanks also go to AI, David, Ed, Frank, John, Mike, Paul, and Rob for supporting our efforts in

measuring details on surviving Jagdpanthers to create accurate as-built drawings.

Published by

Panzer Tracts

P.O.Box 334

Boyds, MD 20841

Jentz 2005

ISBN 0-9771643-0-6

www .panzertracts.com

publication may be reprinted or reproduced

in any fashion or by any means without the

express written permission of the publisher.

INTRODUCTION

In our continuous search for better ways to

present our research results, the Panzer

Tra~ts

team

have selected a unique approach for presentmg new

coverage of the Jagdpanther - by using enhanced

1/10th scale component drawings as well as the more

traditional 1/35th scale multiple views of the complete

Panzer. These new, precise "as-built" drawings were

created by spending thousands of hours researching,

not by scanning

measuring, and drawing

copyrighted drawings and adding a multitude of

imaginative details and/or faked camouflage colors.

This is the first time that "as-built" drawings

of the J agdpanther have been created to the same

exacting tolerances demanded of the original

producers. This was achievable only through hard

work because original detailed drawings for most of

the external Jagdpanther components did not survive.

took:

over forty trips to public museums and private

collectors in England, France, Germany, Switzerland,

and the U.S.A. to precisely measure surviving

Jagdpanthers in detail,

thousands of research hours digging out the

surviving original documents, photographs, and

drawings,

and over 1000 hours spent drawing with a

versatile CAD program by the skilled, dedicated, and

interactive efforts of the authors.

Many details go unnoticed when they are

hidden in the four or five view drawings of a complete

Panzer printed at 1/35th scale. Therefore, we have

created additional drawings for display at 1/10th scale

(where lines as close as 2 mm apart can be seen). In

addition, it is sometimes difficult to obtain dimensions

of parts that are drawn at the angles in which they

were actually mounted on a Panzer. To aid the

modeler and enhance the display of details, many

components and parts have been redrawn to create

multiple-dimension views on flat planes.

Unfortunately, many of the drawings and

reports on minor modifications did not survive.

Therefore, we have developed a systematic approach

to identifying when modifications were introduced

Original documents,

into a production series.

photographs, and surviving Jagdpanthers are care-

fully examined to identify the externally visible

changes (even on the belly).

is also very important

to identify (by Fgst.Nr.) exactly when a Jagdpanther

in a photograph or museum was produced and then

use this information to establish the chronological

modification lists. One must be diligent in comparing

museum Panthers with wartime photographs to

ensure that parts in museums haven't been altered or

replaced with postwar equipment.

All of this hard work paid off in new

discoveries, such as:

• the first 50 Jagdpanthers hulls had 16 mm thick

roof plates and most of the fixtures on the roof are

different than those on the rest of the Jagd-

panthers with 25 mm thick roof plates,

• .a cast (instead of a welded) bump stop for the

second swing arm on both sides,

• "spikes" cast onto one end of most Jagdpanther

track links,

• Jagdpanthers carried a EM 0.9 mR rangefinder

that was mounted on the three "spikes" welded on

the superstructure roof in front of the rear hatch,

• there were two Jagdpanther Ausfuehrung-an

Ausf.G 1 with Panzerwanne (021 B 51201) and an

Ausf.G2 with Panzerwanne (021 B 51272) in

which the rear deck is longer and the

superstructure rear plate is shorter and at a

steeper angle,

• the modification of protecting cooling air louvers

on the rear deck from being penetrated by

strafing aircraft by cutting up sections of

Schuerzen plates was actually implemented,

• a redesigned "squashed" armor casting (021 B

51181) for the machine-gun ball mount,

• and numerous internal changes.

Surviving Jagdpanthers are especially useful

for measuring parts and

··

their original locations to

create these accurate drawings; however, photo-

graphs of entire surviving Jagdpanthers have not

been included - due to the misleading effect created by

missing and damaged bits. We prefer to use the space

available to provide a much more useful product.

Please go to our website panzertracts.com to view

some unique details on surviving Jagdpanthers.

This accurate, detailed history of the develop-

ment, production, and employment of the Jagd-

panthers has been based solely on the content of

primary source documents written during the war by

those who participated in the design, production, and

employment of

,the

Jagdpanthers. Thanks to the

British School of Tank Technology, correspondence

between Krupp and the Waffenamt on the conceptual

design of the Pz.Sfl.4d (the grandfather of the

Jagdpanther) survived.

Fabulous insight into the strengths and weak-

nesses of the Jagdpanther in action in 1944 and 1945

is gained from the few surviving experience reports

written by schwere Panzer-Jaeger unit commanders.

Hauptmann Noak reveals that Jagdpanthers were

actually being penetrated by hits on the glacis plate at

short range from tank and anti-tank guns in the West

in late 1944. An Oberleutnant commanding s.Pz.Jg.

Abt.559 wanted to run the show because the sup-

ported troops didn't understand Jagdpanther tactics.

9-3-1

Jagdpanther

Panzerjaeger Panther (8.8 em Pak 43/3 L/71) (Sd.Kfz.173)

Ausf.G1 and G2, Fgst.Nr.Serie 300001-, 303001, and 30(6)001-

DEVELOPMENT

Prior to embarking on the first attempt to

design a Sturmgeschuetz mit 8.8 em, in 1939 Krupp

had already been contacted by Wa Pruef 6 to prepare

conceptual designs for a full-tracked armored self-

propelled gun, known as the Pz.Sfl. mit 8.8 em Flak

L/56 (Pz.Sfi.IVc). In their fiscal year report for

1940/41, Krupp recorded that:

3 Versuchs(alzrzeuge

Pz.S{l.IVc are being built. It is intended to increase the

gun performance by mounting an 8.8 em Flak L/71.

Acceptance of this model by the army hasn't been

concluded, because the original purpose of using this

self-propelled gun as a Schartenbrecher (bunker buster)

against the Maginot Line has been outdated. The

armor of the Pz.S{l.IVc is not thick enough to provide

adequate protection of the crew for it to be employed in

In part this design has been

offensive combat.

szirpassed by the VK 4501 Panzers from Porsche and

Henschel for which we are designing the turret as well

as the future 80 to 90 ton schweren Kamp(wagen with a

8.8 em Kamp(wagenkanone L/7I.

NOTE: A single Pz.Sfi.IVc was actually completed as

a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun and sent to Italy for

troop trials in 1944 (refer to Panzer Tracts No.12).

Since it hadn't been mentioned in the above

report for fiscal year ending September 1941,

preliminary discussions between Krupp and Wa

Pruef 6 on the conceptual design for a heavily

armored 8.8 em Sturmgeschuetz (assault gun enclosed

in armor) hadn't occurred until the last quarter of

1941. But these preliminary discussions must have

occurred in late 1941, since Krupp had already

prepared conceptual drawings by early January 1942.

During a meeting at Meppen on 6 January

1942, Herrn Dorn and Woelfert from the Artillerie-

Konstruktion Abteilung of Fried.Krupp A.G.

presented conceptual overview drawings of a

Pz.Sfi.IVc2 to Major Ventz of Wa Pruef 6. Two

different conceptual designs had been prepared - one

by a Maybach HL 90 Motor. Wa Pruef 6 agreed with

the overall layout of the vehicle. Krupp was to

prepare a further conceptual design based on an

Ausfuehrung with the Maybach HL 90 Motor,

maximum weight of 30 metric tons, 80 mm frontal

and 40 mm side armor, maximum speed of 40 km/hr,

gun depression of 10 degrees, and an optional leaf

spring suspension.

At a meeting in Berlin on 21 January 1942,

Woelfert presented two conceptual drawings of a

Pz.Sfi.IV c2 mit 8.8 em L/71 Geschuetz zur Begleitung

der Infanterie (armored self-propelled gun model

9-3-2

IVc2 with 8.8 em gun 71 calibers long for escorting

infantry) to Oberst Fichtner (Chef), Obstlt. v. Wilcke,

and Oberbaurat Kniepkamp of Wa Pruef 6. Because

of production reasons the Maybach HL 90 Motor was

preferred over the Kloeckner-Deutz-Stern-Diesel mot-

or. Production capabilities also governed the choice

between a torsion bar and leaf spring suspension. The

latter allowed the firing height and overall height to

be 100 mm lower than a torsion bar suspension.

On 2 April 1942, Oberstlt. Crohn and Major

Ventz of Wa Pruef 6 inspected the wooden model of

the Pz.Sfi.IVc2 mit 8.8 em K. L/71 constructed by

Krupp and agreed with the overall layout. Further

points to be incorporated in the detailed design were:

a) Fahrgestell (chassis)

1) Increase the ground clearance from 400 to 450 mm

2) Due to the increased height, the gun depression

could be reduced to 8 degrees

3) Determine

available wider tracks can reduce the

ground pressure while staying within the. allowable

width of 3140 nun

4) Periscopes or pistol ports are to be used for vision to

the sides and rear

5) The periscope for the driver must be traversable to

the side

6) Investigate the installation of a commander's cupola

with periscopes and a built-in traversable ring for a

Flieger-M.G.

b) Gesclmetz

1) The lowest possible deflector is to be designed

2) Improve the gunner's position by relocating the

traversing handwheel

3) A redesign of the gun sight should eliminate the long

slit in the roof

4) Drop the gun sight for indirect fire

Having been sent a copy of the contract SS

006-6488/42 dated 4Jun42 from Wa Pruef 6 for three

Versuchs-Pz.Sfi.IVd, on 17 June 1942, Fried.Krupp

Grusonwerk informed Krupp that the assembly of

these trial vehicles didn't fit into and would greatly

disturb their BW-Serie (Pz.Kpfw.IV) production

program. They intended to transfer the assembly of

these 3 Pz.Sfl. to Deutsche Stahlindustrie, Muehlheim.

On 29 June 1942, Krupp sent contract SS 006-4735/42

dated 9Jun42 for three Versuchsaufbauten (super-

structures) for Pz.Sfi.IVd back to Wa Pruef 6 with the

request that this contract be given to Krupp-

Grusonwerk, where the chassis were being assembled.

Krupp asked Wa Pruef 6 to award the contract for

production of the Panzerwanne (armor hull) and

associated armor parts as Krupp proposed on

19Jun42.

A major change in design direction occurred

on 3 August 1942, when Major Ventz of Wa Pruef 6

informed Krupp that the suspension and other

components from the Panther were to be

·used

for the

schweren Panzer jaeger (Pz.Sfl.IVd) (8.8 em L/71).

Parts such as the Maybach HL 230 engines for 3

Versuchsfahrzeuge had already been ordered.

The first conceptual design drawings of the

schweren Panzerjaegers 8.8 em Kw.K. L/71 mit

Bauelementen des Pz.Kpfw.Panther was discussed

with Oberstlt. Crohn and Major Ventz from Wa

Pruef 6 with Direktor Dorn and Herr Woelfert from

Krupp on 9 September 1942, as follows:

1) The unmodified Panther Fahrgestell is to be used

with the engine} steering unitJ transmission} entire

suspension} and engine deck. The Panzerwanne could

be used with minimal changes.

2) The 8.8 em Kw.K. L/71 is to be installed.

3) Wa Pruef6 will send an example 1.5 m high Sehrohr

for use in observation as well as a drawing for a

commander s cupola with a periscope and mount for

the SF14Z scissors periscope.

4) Krupp is awarded a contract to complete a 1/10 scale

wooden model by the end of September 1942 and a}/1

scale wooden model by 10Nov42.

6) Detailed drawings were to be completed by January

1943.

7) Krupp is to complete 2 Versuchs(ahrzeuge in armor

by June 1943.

8) Series production was planned for delivery to start in

July 1943.

9) Technical data included a combat weight of 35 ton

with an 8.8 em Kw.K. L/71 for the main armament and

an M.G.42 and two M.P. for the secondary armament.

Traverse for the main gun was to be 14 degrees to the

right and 14 degrees to the left with elevation from- 8 to

+14 degrees. A total of 60 rounds of 8.8 em ammun-

ition was to be carried. Armor protection was to consist

offrontal plates of 80

11l11l

at 0 degrees and

mm at 60

degrees with the side plates of 40 mm at 30 degrees.

The total height of the vehicle was planned to be 2.4

meters with a firing height of 1.850 meters and a total

length of 9 meters.

Generalmajor Phillips (head of the

Heereswaffenamt) stated that they intended to further

develop the current Sturmgeschuetz Sfl.IVd as a

Panzerjaeger.

was foreseen that Krupp-Gruson-

werk would deliver 60 Panzerjaeger each month

instead of the previous plans for Panther assembly.

Presented with several conceptual design

drawings of a Sturmgeschuetz auf Panther during a

meeting with Speer on 20-22 September 1942, Hitler

ordered the production of the schweren Sturmge-

schuetzes auf Fgst.Panther mit Panther Motor und

Panther Getriebe mit der 8.8 em L71.

During

meeting

SpeerDs

Reichsministerium

fuer

Rustung

und

Kriegsproduktion on 15 October 1942, it was decided

that Daimler Benz would continue design

development of this vehicle, since production

.was

commence at the Daimler Benz assembly plant in the

Summer of 1943. Krupp was to assist Daimler Benz

with the design of the vehicle and still

.maintained

primary responsibility for the design of the gun and

gun mount. Even though Krupp was relieved of

primary design responsibility, they were to complete a

full scale-wooden model for presentation on 16

November 1942.

Herr Henze and Ebel from Daimler Benz met

with Herr Woelfert and Heerlein from Krupp A.K. on

30 October 1942 to discuss further design

development of the schwerer Panzerjaeger Pz.Sfl.IVd.

was decided that Krupp would complete the

conceptual design up to completion of the full-scale

wooden model. After the model was presented to Wa

Pruef on 16 November, Daimler Benz would take over

From the available overview

the design work.

drawings, it was determined that the following

Typ:8,8un Stu.-Gesch.42 auf

Panther

Fa hrg estell

----

--------"1

·~--MW--

____

J..

_-------···----

-------

----o75tJ.

---

-J27.o----~

Above: A conceptual design for the 8.8 em Stu.:Gesch.42 auf Panther Fahrgestell from 1942 when the

chassis was still based on the VK 30.02(MAN) design with a submerged fording exhaust muffler. (NA)

[Panzer Tracts 09-3] Jagdpanther - Panzerjaeger Panther (8.8 em) (Sd.Kfz.173).pdf

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