Variants of the Panther

The Panther was perhaps the best tank of World War II. It offered an excellent balance between agility, firepower, and armor. Some have called it the world's first main battle tank. Originally developed as a response to the Soviet T-34, the Panther was produced in three marks (D, A, and G). The Panther also served as the basis for a tank destroyer (the Jagdpanther) and a recovery vehicle (the Bergenpanther). As the Panther offered an excellent platform, several other variants were proposed.