Sd.Kfz. 173 Jagdpanther is a German tank destroyer developed by Krupp
and Daimler-Benz. The order was placed in August 1943 and the vehicle
entered service in the first months of 1944. It was armed with a very
effective antitank tank gun. PaK 43 cal. 88 mm. The destroyer's combat
compartment was armored with 40 to 100 mm thick (front plate) armor
plates. From January 1944, 415 pieces were produced (at the MIAG, MNH
and MBA factories).
The vehicle was based on the chassis of the Panther Ausf. G, but it
didn't have as many technical problems as the mentioned tank. Due to the
favorable power-to-weight ratio, Jagdpanther had good performance and
maneuverability. Together with a powerful cannon, which was able to
destroy any allied armored vehicle that time, it made it an extremely
effective and dangerous destroyer.
Vehicles were used by independent tank destroyer battalions.
Jagdpanthers debuted in Normandy in 1944 (within 555th and 654th
Panzerjagerabteilung), achieving great successes. Also during the
offensive in the Ardennes, the Allies took a toll on them. They appeared
on the Eastern Front in the autumn of 1944, effectively fighting all
Soviet armored guns and heavy tanks, including IS-2.
The vehicle was produced in two main variants. The early version -
designated as G1 - had a smaller yoke that was welded to the hull, a
modified engine compartment from the Panther Ausf. A and two driver's
visors. In the later version - G2 - the Panther Ausf. G engine
compartment was used, one driver's visor and a larger yoke which was
bolted to the front plate with screws. There were also many hybrid
variants combining the features of both versions. Until September 1944,
Jagdpanthers were covered with Zimmerit in the form of characteristic
squares, and not the more popular "snakes".
Jagdpanthers proved to be the most effective German tank destroyers, but
they appeared too late and in too few numbers to significantly influence
the course of the war.
