PzKpfw V Panther Ausf. F

Plans to replace the original Panther design with a Panther II were underway before the first Panthers had even seen combat. But work on the Panther II ceased in 1943 as increasing production of the existing Panther design was given priority. It is not known if an official cancellation of the Panther II upgrade* was actually given but as the Panther II project died, a limited upgrade of the Panther was planned. This was the Ausf F, centered around a re-designed turret with production planned to start in April 1945. The redesign of a new turret started in November 1943. It featured a narrow gun mantlet behind a 120 mm thick turret front plate with further changes planned in 1944 to reduce the width of the turret front even further. These Schmaltürme ("narrow turrets") were built in 1944 and armed with a modified version of the 75 mm KwK 42 L/70, which were given the designation of KwK 44/1.** *One Panther II chassis was completed and captured by the Americans and is on display at the Patton Museum in Fort Knox with an Ausf G turret mounted on the chassis. ** A few Schmaltürme (narrow turrets) were captured and shipped back to both the UK and the U.S. with the only known existing sample, of a badly damaged turret, is on display at the RAC Bovington Tank Museum, England where it had been used as target practice until its historical significance was recognized.