Panther Turret number 215
Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf.G Panther (Sd.Kfz.171) turret number 215 under the command of Unterscharführer Krüger attached to I./SS-Panzer-Regiment I (“Kampfgruppe Peiper”) was one of a small amount of Panthers actually to have seen combat in the battle at Stoumont, and like his Kameraden Rottenführer Franz Prahm, his Panther was eventually knocked out by a U.S. 90mm AA gun on the other end of Stoumont on N33.
One of the interesting things about being a history student (READ:history freak!) is the piecing together events, this is made even more attractive when one finds ‘Die Deutsche Wochenschau’ footage showing evidence to help piece together events, or other aspects of interest. This is compounded by the fact I am foremost a dyed in the wool “Tread-Head” more than anything else. My immense interest of WWII History, with my main focus on WWII Germany comes from my love of all things German armor. I’ve spent countless hours (and dollars) researching these vehicles and the events they were involved in.
Now that rant has come full-circle (jerk?) let us get on with the History crap as it were…
Panther 215 was attached to 1.Zug of II./SS-Pz.Rgt.I, which was one of the spearhead elements of Kampfgruppe Peiper, and in being so was used in a partially ‘prong’ role, as well as backing the Panzergrenadiers while going into U.S. controlled towns, such as Stoumont. This was the furthest point that K.G. Peiper would penetrate during that infamous and last concerted offensive effort of Germany in the West.
Picture one:
After the attack on Rouâ, the 1.Zug (platoon) returned to the entrance of Stoumont in order to continue the advance through “Rue du Village”. In the lead was the Panther of Unterscharführer Küger (Turret 215), which we see in this particular film still. Although hardly visible, one can make out the initial turret number.
Picture two:
Panther 215 still in its original position after being knocked out and before being rolled over to the left of N33 to clear the road. A serious fire which has caused the torsion-bar suspension to weaken to the point that the hull of the Panther is sitting on the road-wheels. The ferocity of the battle can be judged from the shell strikes to the turret side, a lucky hit to the barre that has rendered this Panther’s main armament unusable, significant damage to the cupola as well as damage to the tracks which are all visible.
There are several production features on this Panther which indicate that it was amongst the first batch of Panthers delivered to regiment at Grafebwöhr. It has the crew compartment heater (Kampfraumheizung) fitted, these started to appear on Panthers manufactured from the early to mid-September 1944 onwards and were standard piece of equipment by October of that year.
This vehicle also has attachment points for poison gas identification panels (Lost Erkennungstafein) visible on the turret roof which along with the standardized factory camouflage and absence of Zimmerit anti-magnetic paste indicates this Panther having been manufactured in September 1944 or shortly after.
Picture three:
Panther 215 shortly after being bulldozed off N33. The left-hand side drive sprocket has been badly damaged during the exchange of fire that would spell the end for Kampfgruppe Peiper’s progress west.
During the introduction of “Factory Applied Camouflage” efforts were made to increase effectiveness by applying small areas of contrasting paint to larger sections of the camouflage patter, this is often referred to as “Licht und Shattentarnung” or “Ambush” camouflage.
The Daimler-Benz plant have interpreted these instructions by applying small dots of contrasting color to the larger color-field giving a very distinctive spot pattern over the main color scheme which is very apparent in this and other photographs of Panther 215.
(inset)The distinctive tactical (turret) numbers used by Liebstandarte are also shown here to good effect, these consisted of a segmented white stencil outline with a black center applied in this case to the middle of turret side, no other tactical or regimental insignia were applied to this vehicle. The plate above the radio/driver has been buckled by a violent internal ammunition explosion which has caused a significant amount of kinetic energy within the homogenized German steel.
Picture four and five:
The latter type cast exhaust as seen in this photograph is another indication that Panther 215 was manufactured by Daimler-Benz. It is not until post December 1944 that Panthers can be identified as having been manufactured by M.A.N. have been photographed with this feature. This photograph is also interesting because it shows the right-hand side track is still in place despite of the damage caused to it during combat as seen in Picture two and the stress of a 45 tonne machine being bulldozed off the side of the road, the right hand side rear stowage box can be seen lying in the foreground having become detached during the process to clear the road.
Picture six:
Panther 215 has, by early spring 1945 become a tourist attraction, the wheels and tracks have not yet been removed and no damage to the lower glacis plate is visible.