Knocked-out Panther tanks inspected by NIIBT testing ground comission from 20th to 28th July, part. 1

First look


   31 knocked-out Panther tanks were inspected, Based on the findings, the report "Combat against the german heavy tank Panther" was compiled. It is the first document of its kind that contains some very interesting statistics.


   From 31 inspected Panthers, 22 were hit by gunfire, or 71%, 3 tanks, or 10% were destroyed by mines, one tank (3%) was hit directly by a bomb, one tank (3%) got stuck  in a trench and blown up and 4 tanks (13%) broke down and were subsequently either abandoned or blown-up.

Gunfire losses


   Out of 22 Panthers destroyed by gunfire:

- None were penetrated through the frontal armor
- 4 (18%) were hit and penetrated on the turret
- 13 (59%) were hit  on the side of the hull
- 5(23%)  were hit on the back of the hull

   Out of 22 Panther tanks penetrated by gunfire, 10, or 45% burned. In the report, it is particularly noted that : " If a projectile penetrates the engine compartment, regardless of the point of entry,  Panther will burn."

 58 hits were counted on 22 Panthers knocked-out by gunfire. They are distributed as follows:

- 10 hits on the front of the tank (all ricochets)
- 16 hits on the turret, all penetrations
- 24 hits on the side, all penetrations
- 7 hits on the rear, all penetrations
- 1 hit on the gun, barrel penetrated

" As can be seen, the high number of hits (47) on sides, rear and turret shows a corrrect course of action taken by Red Army's anti-tank units and rapid adoption of new tactics in fighting with the new "panther tank."

   One panther, turret number No. 441, was subjected to a firing trial against 76,2 mm gun on T-34. 30 shots were fired, 20 on the upper frontal armor, and 10 on the lower frontal armor from the distance of 100 meters. There were no penetrations of the upper frontal armor, and only one on the lower frontal armor.   


   Based on the inspection of knocked-out Panthers, it was concluded that the new tank can be penetrated by:

a.) Anti-tank rifles - on the lower side armor from a distance of 100 meters and less (at 90 degrees angle)
b.) 45 mm sub-caliber rounds (except the frontal armor)
c.) 76 mm armor-piercing rounds (except the frontal armor)
d.) 85 mm armor-piercing rounds
e.) Anti-tank mines (suspension)


Panther tank, turret No. 551, stuck in a trench and later blown-up by retreating germans.


Information taken from The Panther encyclopedia by Maxim Kolomiets, pages 182-184.


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