From the Vault: Panther Shot to Pieces

This British Armour Branch report was recently linked to over at the Tanknet forum. We thought it was worth posting here. The document is from 1945 and details British comprehensive firing trials against a German Pz V Panther tank.  A variety of weapons were tested against the Panther, including small arms, mines, the PIAT, and the common tank and anti-tank guns in service with the UK at that time (6pdr, 75mm, 17pdr, 25pdr.)  The results are not particularly surprising, but may be of value for those looking for specific information about vulnerabilities of the Panther.

We have transcribed the conclusions of the report below:

1. The vehicle is virtually immune to small arms fire from ground level.
2. Small arms attack directed downward at about 30 degrees into the inlet louvres of the engine compartment causes severe damage to radiators.
3. Even more severe damage to the radiators may result from 20mm attack from the air from from fragments of HE shell bursting in the air above the vehicle or against the turret above the engine compartment roof.
4. Projectiles of calibre 6 pdr and upwards, whether AP or HE, which strike below the horizontal centre line of the gun mantlet, are likely to penetrate or blow in the roof of the driving compartment and may jam the turret traverse.
5. Penetration through the sides of the vehicle will very probably cause cordite or petrol fires.
6. The rolled armour proved brittle and flaky.
7. The use of interlocked joints provides a structure which has considerable stability even when the main welds are fractured.
8. The brittle nature of the roof plates makes these vulnerable to attack from HE grenades or shell which burst in contact with or within a few inches of the plate.
9. Frontal attack with PIAT is unprofitable, flank attack against pannier (or turret) sides is effective.
10. Mine with explosive charges between 4 and 15 lbs are likely to break the track if detonated at the centre of its width, but may not do so if detonated by its edge.  Detonations under any part of the track are unlikely to affect the floor plates or their joints with the hull side.
11. It is probable that a combination of three No.75 grenade mines will have an effect on the track similar to that produced by a single Mk.V H.C. (standard) A.T. mine.  Either will break the track when detonated below the middle third of the track.

Further discussion of the above conclusion will be found in the various parts of this report.

The Trial has confirmed in general the assessment of vulnerability given in D.T.D. Report No. M.6815A/3 No.1, differences between certain predicted vulnerable ranges and actual results being due to the brittle nature of the armour.  Though evidence is available that many other Panther tanks damaged in battle have had armour which has shown similar defects, it should not be assumed that this form of weakness will always exist.

The design of the vehicle is such that its structural stability is considerable, the effective use of interlocking joints being chiefly responsible.

The Panther tank, judged on the results of this trail alone, remains a most formidable weapon with few weaknesses; and its value if used with adequate flank protection should not be underrated.

The full report can be viewed in this photo gallery.