INTRODUCTION

Main

Building

Painting

Colour Table

References

Technical report

Pzkpfw V Ausf. G was the final serie production model, made between March 1944 and April 1945. This model was a redesign of Panther Ausf. A. The principals changes were:

• Side plates of the hull redesigned and reinforced to 50 mm.
• Driver's and gunner's hatches were reshaped and hinged rather than pivoting.
• Driver's visor was replaced by a periscope.
• Headlight was repositioned to the left fender.
• Engine deck was redesigned and shortened
• Side skirts were reshaped and redimesioned and their support brackets were repositioned.
• Tool racks revised
• Towing cables were thicker (32 mm diameter) and longer (8,2 m).

LSSAH Panzer Division in summer 1944

After a short break in Italy (August-October 1943) and having returned to the Eastern Front, where it suffered heavy losses in the 43/44 winter, LSSAH Panzer Division was transferred to Belgium in 1944, for a much needed refit.

The first SS Panzer Regiment, the back bone of the division, was based in Belgium during the D-Day. On July the seventeenth the division, still uncompleted, was quickly loaded on trains at the following stations: Eeklo, Maldegem, St. Kruis and Moerbeke. But not all the units where ready to be transferred. Fifth SS Flak company had no vehicles and stayed to defend the Alberto Channel; while First SS recognisance company, Third SS Panzer Artillery Battalion and other units where not transferred.

After several air attacks the trains were forced to the East. Some units eventually arrived to the troop concentration area (around Reims, Château Thierry, Villers Cotteréels, Soissons and Laon), where the division continued by road at night to Dreux, Evreux and l'Aigle. By July the sixth the whole division reached the combat front lines. Theoretically the division had 182 tanks but in reality it only had a hundred, 30 Panthers and 70 Pzkpfw IVs. Other units with armoured fighting vehicles were: First SS Panzer Artillery Regiment (18 new Hummels and Wespes) and the corresponding Stumgeschütz and Panzerjäger Batallions.

The First SS Panzer Regiment reached the front between June seventeenth and June twenty-third. During the movement the division was photographed for German propaganda while crossing Paris, especially on the Champs Élysees, just under the Arc de Triumph.

During the last days of June, the division reached the outskirts of Caen, between Eterville and Mondeville, establishing its Head Quarters at Fresney-le-Puceux (North-West of Bretteville).

During the Goodwood Operation the division moved to the East, towards Cagny, where the first Abteiglum got into action, close to Bourguébus, with 46 tanks. It was able to stop the Allied advance, but suffered heavy losses.

On July the twentieth, First SS Panzer Regiment was able to gather 70 tanks (Panthers and Pzkpfw IVs) close to Veières. The fighting concentrated at the two main roads of the area (N158 Caen-Falise and N13 Caen-Lisseux). The divisions also took part in the Tilly-la-Campagne counter attack on the 25th.

On August the third the division was transferred to Avranches, suffering heavy losses because of air attacks. Four days later it took part in the Mortain offensive. On the 12th it had thirty tanks, and the next day only 19 (14 Pzkpfw IVs and 5 Panthers).

Three days later First SS Panzer Regiment was forced to retreat to the Dives river.

Heavily reduced its force, the division escaped from Gouffen Woods on August the 20th through the St. Lambert-sur-Dives Corridor.

My model

The photographs of German propaganda with several Panthers of First SS Panzer Regiment in Paris inspired me for this model. I liked the camouflage scheme and I liked the challenge of a non-operative tank in its way to the frontline. These photographs can be seen in several books (see References).