Jagdpanther zimmerit coating
Pictured: side detail on the Jagdpanther showing the 'zimmerit' anti-magnetic mine paste. This was applied with a ridged tool [like tile adhesive] and was intended to prevent magnetic mines being attached to the hull.
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Not a tank but a self-propelled anti-tank gun. The Jagdpanther [Hunting Panther] was a creditable attempt to marry the powerful 88mm L/71 anti-tank gun with the proven Panther tank chassis. Dispensing with a revolving turret, the gun was mounted in a box superstructure with frontal armour of 80mm sloped at 35 degrees - this slope effectively doubled the armour's horizontal thickness to 160mm and made the Jagdpanther a tough nut to knock out frontally. Most - including this one - were knocked out by flank shots.
A rare sight in Normandy [only schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 654 deployed a few in the Normandy campaign] they were increasing encountered in Holland and Germany. The largest collection were encountered in the Battle of the Bulge, the Ardennes Offensive, in December 1944. Weighing 46 tons with five crew, a total of 392 were produced in Germany between January 1944 and March 1945.
Jagdpanther zimmerit coating
Pictured: side detail on the Jagdpanther showing the 'zimmerit' anti-magnetic mine paste. This was applied with a ridged tool [like tile adhesive] and was intended to prevent magnetic mines being attached to the hull.
***
Not a tank but a self-propelled anti-tank gun. The Jagdpanther [Hunting Panther] was a creditable attempt to marry the powerful 88mm L/71 anti-tank gun with the proven Panther tank chassis. Dispensing with a revolving turret, the gun was mounted in a box superstructure with frontal armour of 80mm sloped at 35 degrees - this slope effectively doubled the armour's horizontal thickness to 160mm and made the Jagdpanther a tough nut to knock out frontally. Most - including this one - were knocked out by flank shots.
A rare sight in Normandy [only schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 654 deployed a few in the Normandy campaign] they were increasing encountered in Holland and Germany. The largest collection were encountered in the Battle of the Bulge, the Ardennes Offensive, in December 1944. Weighing 46 tons with five crew, a total of 392 were produced in Germany between January 1944 and March 1945.