Hello me262. This Panther with a turret of Panzer IV belongs to SchwereJagpanzerabteilung 653 in late June 1944. In this unit had also a Tiger VK 4501 and one or more T-34 armed with Flakvierling 38.
Any idea why? I do not know, but I'd imagine that the turret ring for the Pz IV & Panther would be different sizes, so surely such a conversion would take a lot of effort. Not to mention being a slight waste of a Panther hull! What is a a Tiger VK 4501?
I believe there were two different VK 45.01 chassis, the VK 45.01 (P) designed by Porsche and the VK 45.01 (H) by Henschel, both designed for the Tiger I. I guess he means the VK 45.01 (P), since the Henschel chassis was the one used for producing the Tiger I.
Hello. Yes Skua I mean VK 45.01 (P), an other photo of this Unit in July 44. Yes Ricky a very strange unit,it is more readable like this; schwere Heeres Panzerjager Abteilung 653
Were they combat-testing designs, or just using whatever they could, or both? (great photos all round, btw!)
Hello Ricky. These vehicles (T-34 with Flakvierling and the Panther with PZ IV)were field conversion.Like some T-34 used as ammunition carrier. Here the flow chart of the schw.Pz.Jäg.Abt 653 in July 1944 (scan from the French magazine 39/45 Magazine)In the document of origin have to also read a Panther with a flakvierling ?. Patrice.
I once read that they made the Flakvierling turret for the T-34 out of the steel plates (eg. doors,sides) of a destroyed Hanomag vehicle. Quite lovely use of material, ain't it? And furthermore I believe that Panther with Pz 4 turret was an original design of some sort. Could be wrong there though. It might have been a situation like the Pz 4 F1 and the Elephant: cases wherein old materials were used before new was fitted.
