The "black panther". Inspired by the unofficial insignia, this Panther Ausf.A also has LSSAH etched in the Zimmerit on the turret. R02 identifies it as belonging to Hauptsturmfuehrer Gruhle, adjudant to Obersturmbannfuehrer Peiper who would have used Panther R01.

Panther Ausf.A RO2 - LSSAH

In May 1943 the German High Command requested MAN (Maschinenfabrik Augsberg-Nuremburg) to design a variant of the Panther after postponing the production of the proposed Panther II. The design developed by MAN became known as the Model G and would incorporate some of the features of the Panther II.

The design mounted a Panther A turret on modified chassis that lacked the downwards angled section the featured prominently on the rear sides of the Panther D and A chassis. The angle of the hull sides was also decreased from 40° to 29° (this was done in order for chassis to be used to create the Jadgpanther) and the thickness of armour increased from 40mm to 50mm.

Other visible modifications were the removal of the driver’s visor in the glacis plate in favour of the rotating periscope and a redesign of the Driver’s and Radio Operator’s hatches in the top front of the hull.  The engine deck was also modified as was the exhaust system. Despite these modifications, the overall performance of the Panther G was very similar to both the model D and A.

Production of the Panther G begun in early 1944 and continued till the end of the war, by this time the German war machine had cranked out a total of 2943 model G variants of the Panther despite the heavy bombing experience by the industrial sectors.

Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Ausf G

Panther Ausf.A of 5.&quot;SS&quot; Panzer Division &quot;Wiking&quot; in 1944