I’m putting the final touches on my jagdpanther and wanted to show it with one of the stoage units on the rear of the hull open. does anyone know what was usually stored in there ive looked through books , websites, mags and havent found anything.
Hmmmm now there’s a good question[%-)]
I’ve seen a few pics of tools coming out of them but my best guess would be personal crew bits.
A good question indeed. My answer is complete speculation, but we carried our hand tools on U.S. tanks in a canvas bag. That bag is normally kept inside the tank to keep it handy, but the book says it goes in a sponson box outside. So, small hand tools come to mind, perhaps some small petroleum cans? I think I’ve seen a photo of a knocked out Panther with some sort of tarp or overcoat hanging out of one of those boxes as well. But once again, I’m just guessing.
How about putting some captured chocolate bars in there 
how about putting a nice Picnic in there [:D]
ive read that they used them for spare track pins and tools, but you can bet that anything would have been put in there by the crew so the jacket would look good
I saw a picture of a model that had what looked like tents, tarps, bed rolls, canvas bags, etc. But I’d guess that was all conjecture by the modele. I suppose you could put about anything in there. I’m sure the tank crews did.
Bill
Nathan, your question got me thinking and digging around until I found an old book by W.J. Spielberger and Uwe Feist on the Panther. It’s got a series of photos of a Panther “A” with a missing box and a left box with no lid. Of course it’s hard to tell what exactly is in it, but it looks like a canteen laying on top with a rag or tarp under it covering the other items. There’s another shot of Feist’s knocked out Jagdpanther with both boxes open. One is too dark to see anything and the other appears to have a long cylindrical tool sticking out. Of course this vehicle has been looted, so… Anyway, I’ve exhausted my meager resources and can find no definative answer. Good Luck.
thanks steve hope you didnt over exert yourself. yeah ill probably just throw some odds and ends in there maybe canteen, tools or have rag or air recognition flag?.