It would just add to the massive headache of the Germans. More different types of vehicles=more differernt spare parts needed.

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http://jagdpanther.myminicity.com/
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http://jagdpanther.myminicity.com/ind
OR
http://jagdpanther.myminicity.com/tra

The intention was the opposite Joe.
By the time the Schmalturm Panther II was being considered (very/surprisingly early in Panther development) one of the main considerations was cutting down on rare materials and heading towards a greater standardisation on a family of vehicles that could take on different roles.

One of the rarest and luckiest survivors in the ww2 AFV world must be the prototype Panther II turret at Bovington, recovered from Larkhill ranges in the 80's after some three decades as a range target, some damage from postwar armament but a surprising artifact. Nothing is known of the one that went to the states as far as I know.

The Tank Museum - Bovington - Latest News and Press_Schmalturm.

Cheers,
Adam.

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Looks like it would have been an awfully crowded turret, given the dimensions.

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The Panther II (or Ausf F) would have made absolutely no difference in the outcome of the war. It was at best an incremental improvement in a vehicle that was too complex and expensive to produce to begin with.

This might be the same one,Adam.

I scanned the photo so the text is small. It reads....."Four views of a Schmalturm picked up
at the Daimler-Benz assembly plant in Berlin and shipped to England for study.Remnants retrieved from a firing range are located at the Tank Museum in Bovington,England."

Ooh, nice book to have Framer , Must be it, only two were completed if I remember right (??).
That and the Jagdpanther they dragged off the ranges a few years ago (Now restored & running) make you wonder what else is still out there on the ranges, buried or being hammered by depleted uranium.

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I know what you mean mate but outside of external shape similarities I'd say they're rather different vehicles. Mechanically the Tiger II has it's roots in the late 30's whereas Panther formed part of the next generation of Technology.

Cheers,
Adam.

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If I'm not mistaken, the Panther 2[as mentioned] was to use some of the Tiger 2's running gear, like the Tiger's smaller rail transport tracks. But the Panther always used the same main gun.

Few more shots of the Schmalturm.
Quite funny watching armour fanatics finding the urge to touch it irresistable. :









Cheers,
Adam.

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Actually, with the advent of the Schmall turret, the Krupp engeniers design a way to fit the 88 L71 in there. They had to widen the turret ring by 100mm but it was feaseble. It appeares the only problem was for the loader to load the HE round... Also, with the advent of the newer gun in an uparmored panther, the role of the Tiger II was kinda redundant no?



Cheers...

I pity the poor loader

From our distinguished colleague Tony Williams' website, the one on the right:

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No, they didn't. Per Jentz' book Germany's Panther Tank this was studied but it was found that the gun was limited in elevation and depression, could only be loaded at full elevation (meaning a re-lay after each shot) and that the ammunition supply would be very limited. There were also stress issues involved.

Also, from the same book, the first proposal by krup was turned down. However a new proposal was issued with a turret developed by daimler and a gun by Krupp. Wa Pruef 6 was pleased by this proposal and when the building of this new Panther started, all the older Panthers were to be refited.


Cheers...