Technical description
Panzerjäger für 8,8 cm StuK 43 auf Fahrgestell Panther I was based on the chassis of the medium tank Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf. A and Ausf. G with characteristic interleaved suspension system formed by eight pairs of double, large-diameter wheels on each side, suspended on torque shafts. It was powered by V-12 Maybach HL230 P30 petrol engine with the power output of 700 hp at 3,000 rpm. Reinforced Zahnradfabrik AK 7-200 transmission had seven gears forward and one reverse. It is worthy of mention that there were also attempts to adapt the Maybach Olvar transmission, which was a standard in heavy Panzerkampfwagen VI tanks. The top speed was 46 km/h, while the range was 160 km.
The armour was formed by plates ranging in thickness from 16 (hull bottom) to 80mm (glacis plate), but at the same time, the large mantlet shield (Saukopfsblende – the so-called boar’s head) was 100mm thick. The glacis of the superstructure was angled at 55°, the rear plate at 40°, while the side ones at 60°.
The element which would give the vehicle its advantage over the vehicles of the Panzerwaffe‘s enemies was its main armament in form of the 8,8 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 43/3 anti-tank gun with a 71-calibre-long barrel (almost 6.3 m long) with twin-buffle muzzle break. There were plans to remove that feature in August 1944, to facilitate production, as had been done two months earlier in the case of 75mm guns by Altmärkische Kettenfabrik GmBH at Berlinie-Spandau. Finally, the idea was dropped, but it returned briefly in mid February 1945, this time in co-operation with the Stahlwerk Mark factory in Wengern. The gun was trained manually. Its horizontal field of fire was 26°, while the elevation was between -8° to 14°. Targeting was facilitated by SflZF 5 sight (in the final months of the war there were plans to incorporate a night-vision equipment). The 88mm ammunition storage contained 80 rounds.
Protection of the Jagdpanther’s five-person complement against infantry attacks was provided by the 7,92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 machine gun equipped with KgZF 2 sight and 1,200 rounds of ammunition in 50-round belts installed in characteristic ball mount on the right side of the glacis plate. Apart from that, since 1944, the Nahvereteidigungsgerät direct defence weapon system was also being installed. Its launchers were mounted at the left edge of the superstructure’s top plate. It could fire various ammunition assortment and signal rounds. Additionally, there were two 9 mm Maschinenpistole 40 machine guns carried inside and personal handguns carried by each crewman. The vehicle could be entered by one of the two two-part hatches in the roof or by large escape/loading hatch located in the middle of the superstructure’s back plate (the spent case ejector’s hatch was on its right side).
The vehicle’s standard radio equipment comprised the Funkgeräsatz 5 and the Funkgerätsatz 2 with a single rod antenna (Stabantenne) installed in a socket located in the rear right side corner of the superstructure (in the first few vehicles it was mounted on the engine compartment plate). In the battery command vehicles the long range Funkgerätsatz 8 radio station was installed with additional star antenna (Sternantenne) installed on the other side of the rear plate. Its base was additionally protected by a metal flange.
Essential engineering equipment including shovel, axe, heavy clamps, etc. was carried outside on frames made of metal flats attached to the armour plates. The steel towing cable was also there, along with folding ramrod stored in a characteristic metal tube container. That piece of equipment was initially mounted on the left side of the armour, but in the late production Jagdpanther vehicles it was moved to the top of the engine plate (it had already been done in spring of 1944, at the workshops of the 654. Heavy Tank Destroyer Battalion). Apart from that, in the rear section of the chassis there were two containers for additional equipment.
During the 15-month-long production, the machine was modified numerous times. Although the vehicles are usually divided into the early (produced until autumn 1944) and late variants, the changes in their appearance were introduced almost every few weeks. Detail range of those modifications along with the estimated timeframe in which they were being made is presented in Table No. 1. It must be stressed that the most important ones were: removal of the pistol portholes in the sides of the superstructure (initially five, later only two) in the preliminary stage of production, replacement of the dual driver-mechanic periscope with a single one (equipped with a rain screen for a few months), replacement of one-piece barrel characteristic of 8,8 cm PaK 43/2 with two-piece one (8,8 cm PaK 43/3) or the installation of gun mantlet collar fastened with 8 large hexagonal bolts (4 at the top and 4 at the bottom) instead of the entirely welded, more rounded one. Apart from that, there were visible alterations of the exhaust system covers – the late version exhaust pipes were fitted with large metal flame traps – Flammvernichter.
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