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Designed on the orders of Heinz Guderian as a response to the Soviet T-34. The Panzerkampfwagen V “Panther” was one of the most feared German weapons of World War II. It had frontal armor that could deflect shells from all but the very heaviest allied anti-tank weapons and a powerful gun that could tear through a Sherman or T-34 from over a mile away. Its speed and battlefield mobility were far superior to heavy tanks like the Tiger I or II, and it was almost as cheap to build as a Panzer IV. 

Despite this, the Panther's success as a weapon of war was mixed. Its impressive features were offset by chronic mechanical problems stemming from a troubled and mismanaged development period. It guzzled fuel at an unsustainable rate and couldn't be trusted to drive more than 30 miles, even on paved roads, without breaking down. 

This book looks at the design and development of the Panther, its strengths and weaknesses, and provides detailed information about selected Panther actions on both the eastern and western fronts.