Does the “72” look like the usual white numbers applied by the Russians to KO’d German vehicles, or like German-applied turret numbers? Most Soviet markings on KO’d vehicles are bright white and sloppy. When they are somewhat well painted, it’s usually in the “swirly” Russian lettering style. Finally, the style of the lettering is very similar to that seen on King Tigers of the sPzAbt 501, and it’s either yellow or light blue, not white.
Watcha guys think? As is obvious, I think it’s a German turret number…but I don’t want to model this vehicle in a running state if those are Russian numbers.
It’s Russian. The practice of circling the shot holes and numbering the wrecks in white paint is common;
The use of 2-digit tactical numbers is not unheard of, but it is rather uncommon. 2-digit numbers on Panthers are rare. The only unit I can think of off-hand that used 2-digit numbers on Panthers is Grossdeutschland, they were in red and probably only on battalion command vehicles.
If you can find a photo without the white painted shot holes, then you might have something different, but this looks like SOP for the Russian officials in charge of inventorying knocked out German vehicles.
The photo you posted is also among the wrecks to to found on this page;
Have to admit, this statement made me curious…why would you find it chilling or shocking? Tanks of all types, on all sides, were knocked out in combat. None were invincible. Panthers and KTs were no different and, if hit by a large calibre shell in particular, could be destroyed violently and in some cases, totally.
What hits me is the recognition of just how frail life can really be–how we look at these huge steel beasts and can be so impressed and intimidated and awed by their seemingly invincible countenances–and then when you see this type of violent destruction, you realize that there were actual men inside of those tanks, and that they could have been any one of us at some point in History…feeling all safe and secure and haughty in our big powerful panzer one minute, and then–BOOM!–you’re just a hunk of rusting metal on a foreign field.
yes i realise casualties are part and parcel… what is chilling is looking at the turrent hits and some of the side hits, those men didn’t have a chance. they don’t even know what hit them in most cases. or even seeing your commander in a mush is enough to unsettle any experienced tanker. look at the panther that got hit on the forward right deck… that explosion sheared off the armour and opened up the hull… you always wonder what happened to the crew, but you already know the answer.
I guess with the KT u wouldn’t think they could take it down with just a few hits. I am not an armour expert but those calibers don’t look any bigger than the ones that took out the panthers, do correct me if i’m wrong
Just for some added interest, here is what tank to tank hits look like in real time. I took these shots years ago, from the cupola of my M60A1 at the moment of truth…impact , HEAT @ 1000 to 1200 meteres on a couple of Chaffee hulls used as hard targets on the range:
…I have several Polish publications (Trojca I thibnk) that have tons of these kinds of pics in them from battles around Danzig, East Prussia and the Baltic States…it was a virtual killing field for German armor apparently…I have some pics that show tanks as far as the eye can see knocked out with these errie white circles and numbers on them…the numbers seem to be in sequence…I have one pic where a Panther is #24 and then a Mk IV beside it is #25, for example…most of the numbers I have seen aren’t quite as large and neat as yours, but it looks like the same deal…another odd thing about the pics in my refs in that few of the German AFV’s have tactical turret numbers??? Most of the pics I have are from VERY late '44 and '45 where the German markings system all but broke down…
The fireball was impact of the projectile, there were Mogas drums dropped in all the hard targets for ‘drama’ effect, I assume this would be the signature of the death of a fueled AFV.
Very true, these weren’t just machines, they had living breathing crews in them…and many died in their machines, something we tend to forget when looking at the photos.
The diameter and nature of the penetration shots on the KT and the Panthers suggests 85mm AP rounds but hard to be sure, both of which could penetrate the areas in question at medium and short ranges depending. The KT looks like it burned, the penetrations are in the fuel/engine area and the suspension is partially collapsed, usually a sign of fire-induced damage to the torsion bars, and there’s substantial charring on the engine deck and rear turret.
…although there is no denying many a tank crew died or were wounded in their tanks during battle, just as many tanks (if not the majority) received the “attention” of enemy gunners AFTER they were abandoned, ran out of fuel or damaged…there are lots of documented cases (especially documented well on the Western front) of intact tanks getting shot up after the fighting moved on…
Thanks for the heads up. I’ve wanted that issue for a while, but it has been listed as sold out until now. I was surprised to see they have a few in stock. sweeeeeeeeeeet.
