Sd.Kfz. 171 Panther

The main tank of the Wehrmacht was developed by the Man company in 1942, and on January 1, 1943, the Panther entered mass production.

Compared with its predecessor, it possessed a more streamlined body, largely borrowed from the Soviet T-34 tank. According to many military experts, the Panther is the finest tank of the Second World War in terms of its overall combat capability.

The tank entered active service at the Kursk Bulge, where it proved its excellence. From July 5, 1943 to May 11, 1945, across all the Wehrmacht theatres, 5629 Panther tanks were reported lost in combat, although the official records indicate that 5976 units of this type were produced.

Curiously, by Soviet classification the Sd.Kfz. 171 Panther was considered a heavy tank.