Panther Classification

[silent assassin]

Does the panther class as a medium or heavy tank?

 

[Shurek]

It's a heavy medium tank

Seriously though, the Germans considered it a medium tank.

 

[Tomcat_ha]

eh.

its the first mbt imho.

the panther incoperates features from medium and heavy tanks.

the germans called it a medium tank though.

 

[TT33]

Medium tank Allies called it a heavy because of their classification system that was based on weight rather than gun power (obviously the German classification is a bit more exact). Although the Panther's 75 mmL/70 was a bit better than the 88mmL/56 at some ranges (the 88mm becomes better a longer range) it was considered a medium tank caliber by the Germans ( it was even planned to replace the Pz Iv's shorter 75mmL/48).

 

[silent assassin]

i got mixed up, i always thought of hit as a medium, but heard it being called heavy many times.

 

[Tomcat_ha]

The panthers gun is better than the 88/56 up to 1.5 km iirc which is basically where all fighting takes place.

 

[dogbadger]

But it was very close to the weight of the Is2 i believe, which was considered a heavy.
But it was pretty medium - like by virtue of it's balance of mobility, armour and armament.