PANTHER G ZU-FUSS

[edpanzer]

Excuse the newbie question but I've been wondering for a while now what the C hooks are for? Is it for the tracks?

[HERMAN BIX]

They go into the tow cables on one end & into the D-shackle on the other. The centre twists like a key to allow quick hitching.
I will try to find a period picture.
Please hold

[HERMAN BIX]

Here is one of a Tiger with the C-hook in place lower right.

[edpanzer]

Thanks for that Herman all is clear now and thank you for taking the time much appreciated my friend

[HERMAN BIX]

Sweet as , any time mate.

[HERMAN BIX]

Forgot the C hook retainers. Used the now all to reliable medium paper clip and chain from a costume jewelery shop.
Drilled the mounting pegs with a 1mm drill & set thye chain links on to each pin. Locked on with a spot of super glue & placed on the rear plate.
Once the welds are on in each respective position, that will bloody well do

[billpe]

I was reading a build thread on Armorama last night with a guy building an E50 and he's putting those same side mounts which no one knows what they do on his as well. Turns out that no one on Armorama or network54 knows what they're used for either. Best guess is the same as here: either a mount for some kind of weapon system or a more robust way of mounting side skirts.

[HERMAN BIX]

Well, only God will really know eh !!
I just get the feeling that ANY method of offensive capability would be better than a specific vehicle defensive only type system...

Tiger 1 (pictured with one of the mystery fittings) has better side armour than the Panther, AND there was already a King Tiger in production that beat them both in that area , with a series of even heavier vehicles in the pipe line

Im going with an area saturation weapon.................simple, cheap to make, uses existing systems in manufacturing,launching & supply, and turns each vehicle into a more versatile delivery system. Like a '251 but tougher.
The Panther '75 had slightly better armour penetration specs than the Tiger 1 '88............was lighter(bridges, just!) and had the bugs smoothed out.

Here is a 'punt' ;

- Late war, very late. Things are blatantly obvious that the elusive 'final Victory' will not come.
- BUT, what if there was some form of 11th hour settlement between Germany & the Western Allies
The German remnants supplied with fuel & basics, covered by the very Jabo's that terrorised them , turned East against the common threat that was indeed to become the single most serious threat to life and liberty that the world had known..........
That used massed infantry and towed artillery in swarms............

If I was on Myth Busters, I would go Plausible.

I hope to finish this theoretical build to maybe bring to life what could have been a very very powerful attack platform given the right circumstances.

Its a dagg to think that of all the wonders & mysteries of conflict, these simple fabrications on only two tanks either photographed or found since, can create such discussion on "what might have been "

[billpe]

There is always the option of writing to Hilary Doyle and asking, probably the greatest living expert on German armour (his co-author Thomas Jentz having sadly died in 2012). I understand he responds to requests like that.

[HERMAN BIX]

Wow !!
I am not really the type to ask an accepted expert to comment on theoretical feasibility issues
Based on what is available to us all for analysis, the question will remain.................

What were the fittings actually for ?

Plus, I dont have any contact details by which to direct any smoke & mirrors concepts to the man
Imagine living with the possibility that the last passing thought in that mans expert head was "I told that Kiwi wanker living in Aussie they were armour mounts, but he still didnt get the message ".......... !!

Really, my biggest pressing need right now is to secure a set of Schurzen & mounts so I can carry on with mounting the rocket system to the hull without having to gin around.
Sure, I could make them, but the stuff available to you guys up there makes me cry !!