Thanks Erich, I do dislike running around with awry perceptions. I was sure however I'd seen a photograph of a wrecked Panther at Kursk. I'll try to hunt it down. You're aware the Panther entered full production in November 1942? Of course it was stepped up when Henschel and Niedersachan were brought in during '43 and as Speer reorganised general production techniques that year.

I'll look up the reference, thanks for the heads up

It's hard not to be morbidly fascinated by the Panzergrenadiers, the way a poisonous snake is interesting. My own documentation is pretty explicit about serviceability rates and vehicle mobility among the Wehrmacht per se however. AFV strength from probably November '42 to February '43 which is a crucial period, and a little before and after then were largely carried by the SdKfz.231 (especially during the rains and mud) and StuG III where on strength, in the field (plus whatever Pz.III and IV models were still operating, very, very few by all accounts). Otherwise since the Soviet Winter Offensive outiside the gates of Moscow the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front until February '43 fought a classical style of virtual trench warfare, and with Hitler's insistence on Citadel after then it was too late. Hence OKH pleading for a withdrawl to the Wotan Line. His interference directly ruined the chances of successful invasion in 1941 too.

Any additional or more credible links/references on the Wehrmacht formations as mentioned would be gratefully received. I wouldn't like to be off about that too.