PANTHER G ZU-FUSS

[billpe]

One way you might be able to take some leads from is how were they fired from sdkfz251's? There might be documentation somewhere on how these were remotely fired and the same mechanism could be replicated on a Panther.

I can't only hypothesize, but modern, post war and later tanks with powered external fittings like dozer blades, TOWs, remote weapon stations etc usually have an external power/fuse box which it all plugs into.

[edpanzer]

However you wire it it looks good can't wait to start on mine...got an idea now just need the cash

[HERMAN BIX]

I was just thinking about your conundrum on a through-the-hull electrical connection for the rockets. Couldn't something have been rigged to connect through the already-existing antennae mount? (Or maybe, they installed a second mount, like the command tanks with the extra antennae. Only, this one would be dedicated to the rockets and have an internal cable running through the firewall to somewhere inside the turret - with a hand-held control box at the end of a wire, like the towed Nebelwerfer used). Then, the only thing you'd see on the outside of the tank is the six wires all strung to one point. Just a thought.

I am really enjoying the effort you're putting into this build. Thank you very much for sharing it! -Mike

Thats a good idea mate, I was thinking about Mr Wobblys hard point penetration, like the headlight cables etc.
I guess a hull penetration near the aerial would be a good compromise, keeping in mind this tank is a Nov '45 build.

[Abe Froman]

Wouldn't they be wired like the Tiger S mines i.e a short cable going through the hull in a specially made hole?

Sound the easiest solution to me.

[PainlessWolf]

Herman,
The work is really coming along. I have a little advice about the rocket wiring. Listen to your gut instinct. No pictures are there to verify correctly but you do know a few things. The late war Panthers used factory hulls. These rockets seem like a field modification for a specific battle type thing. Any wiring would probably be temporary, using existing hull apertures. Following along, my friend.
regards,
painless

[HERMAN BIX]

Herman,
The work is really coming along. I have a little advice about the rocket wiring. Listen to your gut instinct. No pictures are there to verify correctly but you do know a few things. The late war Panthers used factory hulls. These rockets seem like a field modification for a specific battle type thing. Any wiring would probably be temporary, using existing hull apertures. Following along, my friend.
regards,
painless

Yep, going by the single remaining mystery mount on the Littlefield 'A' it seemed to be a field addition.
Hypothesising (is that a real word ?) that these field trial machines were adopted as factory mounts for the rockets, any issue with the temporary firing cables routing or integrity would have been sorted out I'm punting.
Mine is a very theoretical production version of the "bugs ironed out" 'G' made in Nov '45
I am kicking myself for not thinking of the firing cables until now.
Assuming hull penetrations were a compromise on armour integrity and weather proofing, the less-the better.
I am getting the feeling that the cables will need to be the last addition, across each mount, back to some form of junction box where the connection into the firing mechanism was made.
Each rocket crate was mounted & plugged into each cable respectively near each mount.

Going by simple electrical circuits in place on these machines like headlights, taillights, etc and the method of installation , I'm leaning towards fine solder as conduits - X-6, back to the engine deck, where some form of armoured penetration(Tiger 1 late headlight deck cable cap) would be.
With the anti aircraft armour, and late Panther/Jagdpanther tool location, and the like, I'm left with very little space to place a suitable juntion box/armoured hull penetration
(kick, kick,kick)

[HERMAN BIX]

G'day lads, been a while since I've had the time to get on with things.
The mystery mounts are now well under way.
Used a few options to test the waters, but nothing seemed to gel.
I was ginning around in the garage sorting out some gear for a work trip & found an old brass punch that I used to knock bearing races on with.
BING
Needed something I could easily solder, and would be the right diameter.
Off to my caring hydraulics shop to the lathe.
Parted off discs, 1mm thick X 16mm D.
Left the central 'tit' on each disc so as to preserve the parting tip, and give me an anchor to set the brass central support onto.
Hand cut & shaped the angled face of some brass fuel tube thats normally used in nitro RC cars, cut to length just below flush with the Schurzen plates.
The brass tube went over the 'T' on each disc which made it consitent for centre, and added support to each tube.
Out with the trusty brulee burner & on with the solder.
Used a small washer on the end of ech(same size as a roadwheel spacer) to represent the outer flange.

Now have the gussets to do on each.
The scale is bang on from the drawings Ive got, and the actual visual scale seems right.
The rocket baskets are quite heavy being pot metal, so these mounts will need to be strong.
Once the basic mounts are done, I can make the plates & swivel system for each.

Its good to have some progress

[Dietrich]

Very nice work there !
The photos make the design much easier to understand....

Just as a thought with the wiring for firing the rockets..might they have been fired from Outside of the tank by an infantry / artillery man using a hand held remote control like the Nebelwerfer ?
The " firer" could communicate with the Panzer crew either by Verbal communication, or by use of a radio to aim the Panzer (and so the rockets) at the target.

These rocket firing tanks are highly unlikely to be in a direct combat situation when loaded with the rockets, because even a stray bullet could spell disaster for the Panther in a massive explosion!
It makes sense and solves the wiring through the hull problem.

[HERMAN BIX]

Well now thats sure an option
I'm just leaning towards a tank-fire control system as the most likely due to nothing else than the independence of the Panther rocket system from support infantry. They have radios on board(comms for fire missions) to effect co-ordinated weapons deployment, protection from most battlefield events apart from air or artillery attack, and can move quicker & further despite lacking infantry protection.
I totally agree that these systems would have been used in a similar manor to the conventional launching systems already in service (Maultiers, N-Werfers, 251's etc) behind the line sufficiently to afford self-preservation. But close enough to launch perhaps a second salvo then prepare to meet the enemy tanks when they presented.

Tell you what, if I dont locate the set of three night fighting scope hardware, I will use the box on the back as the infantry served fire control box !!
There is a small spot on each side just in front or the forward engine vent armour plates that I could use as the hull penetration point for the cables if need be.
Might just suss this out as an option & see how a mock up looks.

[PainlessWolf]

Good morning, Herman,
I think you're on to something there. I vote for the Scope hardware tho' ( mainly because I want to see the mount process from a steady hand such as yourself ) Following along.
regards,
Painless