The attempts that had been effectuated until that moment of installing the

formidable cannon Pak 43, of caliber 88 millimeters and 71 calibers in length, in a

mobile chassis had not had much success.

The Elefant was overly sized and the PzKpfw IV was excessively lightweight being
also poorly armored. Finally it was chosen the chassis of the Panther as the most
adequate one for the development

of the new tank destroyer that had to mount such large cannon, so a new
superstructure was added to the original chassis, transmission and lower hull. The
first model was shown to Hitler the 20th

October 1943, achieving immediate approval. The new tank destroyer had a well
profiled superstructure, inside of which the large cannon spanned across the
largest part of the combat room and

projected towards the frontal plate with a mantlet protecting the opening. The
horizontal firing angle was limited to 11 degrees at both sides from the centerline
and the elevation angle reached 14

degrees. Fortunately the utilization of the improved steering system used on the
original Panther allowed to turn the vehicle and recover the line of direction
quickly, so the limitation in the

angle of firing was not so important as it would have been otherwise. Besides, the
Jagdpanther had been projected to always face the enemy with its excellently
protected frontal part, and it

resulted very effective when used in this way.[p]

To simplify production, the frontal plate (glacis) of the Jagdpanther extended up
to the top of the superstructure, allowing to use the original hull of the Panther
with a minimum of modifications.

The side plates in the original Panther were excessively inclined as to leave
enough space in the combat room of the tank destroyer fitted with such large
cannon, so the inclination of the plates

was modified, and in that same angle they were incorporated to the Panther Ausf G
as well. To assimilate the additional weight on the Jagdpanther it was introduced a
later modification of the

gearbox, being installed the AK7-400, which was installed in the tank as well due
to the same reasons of weight. The first deliveries of Jagdpanther were made in
February 1944 and, albeit it was

expected to build 150 vehicles every month, no more than 382 exemplars were
produced, by MIAG and MNH. As the deliveries progressed, light modifications were
introduced in the project. The mantlet

of the cannon was changed at least three times and all of the exemplars, except the
ones of earlier production, had installed a cannon with the tube in two pieces,
which allowed that the section of

the bore that suffered from a rapid deterioration were easily changed.[p]
These vehicles were delivered to special units whose only mission was to destroy
tanks and which were kept under the command from higher formations. A battalion of
Jagdpanther should have 30

vehicles, but many had to be satisfied with less, due to the difficulties of
delivery. This came in handy for the Allied armies, for this one was maybe the most
effective tank destroyer produced

during the Second World War, and certainly the most powerful one deployed by
Germany, excellently armed and protected, built with an effective ballistic profile
and blessed with good mobility.

Extraordinarily effective in the battlefield, the Jagdpanther was very popular

among the crews to which it gave much morale and a more agressive attitude than it
could have been possible with less

powerful weapon. The weak point was the complex suspension system, for an impact in
the wheel arrangement could often immobilize the vehicle, which would then become
an easy target for any tank or

anti-tank weapon in general that could approach it from the flanks or the rear
without any danger.[p]
[aimg96]high_res/tanks_germany/
sdkfz_173_jagdpanther_tank_destroyer_01.jpg[*aimg96]low_res/tanks_germany/
sdkfz_173_jagdpanther_tank_destroyer_01.jpg[/aimg96][br]
[fs]This side view of the Jagdpanther shows clearly the fine design of its profile,
which as in the case of the Panther tank on whose chassis it was based, was very
influenced by the development of

the Soviet armored means.[/span][p]

[aimg96]high_res/tanks_germany/
sdkfz_173_jagdpanther_tank_destroyer_02.jpg[*aimg96]low_res/tanks_germany/
sdkfz_173_jagdpanther_tank_destroyer_02.jpg[/aimg96][br]
[fs]Jagdpanther from the 3rd Kompanie of the 1st Abteilung of the Panzer Lehr
Regiment 130. In February 1945, this unit used the Jagdpanther on its 3rd Kompanie,
whereas the 1st and 2nd Kompanie

had the Panther. Towards the end of the war the proportion between tank destroyers
(or assault cannons) and ordinary tanks became increasingly larger.[/span][p]
[box]
Crew: 5[p]
Armament: One Pak 43/3 71-caliber 88-millimeter cannon; one MG 34 7.92-millimeter
machine gun in the hull[p]
Ammunitions: 60 for 88-millimeter cannon; 600 for 7.92-millimeter machine gun[p]
Armor: 15-80 millimeters[p]
Length (total): 9.87 meters[p]
Length (hull): 6.92 meters[p]
Width: 3.27 meters[p]
Height: 2.72 meters[p]
Weight: 45.5 tonnes[p]
Ground pressure: 0.9 kilograms/square centimeter[p]
Engine: Maybach HL 230 P 30 gasoline engine with 12 cylinders in V, refrigerated by
water, developing 700 horsepower at 3000 revolutions per minute[p]
Power/weight ratio: 15.63 hp/tonne[p]
Maximum speed (in road): 46 kilometers/hour[p]
Maximum speed (in countryside): 24 kilometers/hour[p]
Maximum operational range: 160 kilometers[p]
Maximum surmountable trench: 2.45 meters[p]
Maximum surmountable step: 0.91 meters[p]
Maximum surmountable slope: 35 degrees[p]
Maximum fording: 1.55 meters[p]
[/div][p]