Hi all,
Considering the Cobra operation by the end of July 1944, can someone please point out which types of Panthers the Panzer Lehr division have ? As, Ds, Gs ?
Did they all sport Zimmerit ?
Which 1/72nd kit would suit better / is the best ? Dragon ? Revell ?
Thanks for your help
Regards,
Richard
I don’t know what precise types they would have, but all of them would have Zimmerite. The Germans started applying it to new vehicles in about August/September '43, and stopped in September '44.
Despite being pretty much up to strength at the beginning of the Normandy Campaign, Panzer Lehr had only 16 Panthers operational at the start of Operation Cobra, having suffered heavy losses in previous engagements and the preliminary bombardment of Operation Cobra. These would be mainly Panther Ausf As, though early Ausf Gs were supposed to be present in Normandy in roughly equal numbers. (Panzers in Normandy, Then and Now, page 31.) I’m having a hard time finding a photo of a Panzer Lehr Panther Ausf G. I do have a photo of a hybrid Panzer Lehr Panther, a late Ausf D hull with a Ausf A turret. The Zimmerit was in at least three patterns, two with either horizontal or vertical grooves, cut by square cross-hatching, the other was a rough, smeared-on pattern without grooves, also with square cross-hatching.