Tank of the Month: Jagdpanther

This month we focus on one of the Tank Destroyers of the Axis, the Tier VII Jagdpanther. In the following article, we will describe the origins and history of this tank and we will also provide some useful tips and information to help you to get the most out of this vehicle on the battlefield. But first things first, as usual:

You’ll be able to enjoy 30% extra credits with the German Tier VII tank destroyer Jagdpanther from 1^st of April at 06:10 CET (GMT+2) until 1^st May at 06:00 CET.

But that’s not it! In case you never had a chance to get this vehicle, you will be able to benefit from a 50% discount on its purchase, from 1^st of April at 06:10 CET (05:10 GMT) until 5^th April at 06:00 CET (07:00 GMT).

World War II’s Jagdpanther

The origin and purpose of this German Tank Destroyer can be easily explained with the following equation:

Chassis of the Panther tank + 8.8 cm PaK 43 cannon = Jagdpanther

The base is the Panther, a medium German tank produced from mid-1943 as a direct response to the Soviet T-34.  It was upgraded with a PaK 43 (Panzerabwehrkanone 43, ‘Anti-tank warfare 43’) 88 mm anti-tank gun developed by Krupp, that became the one of the most powerful anti-tank guns of the Wehrmacht, and was also installed in other tanks such as the well-known Tiger II (aka King Tiger).

PzKfw V Panther Medium Tank (with 7.5 cm KwK 45L/100)

Jagdpanther Tank Destroyer (with the 10.5 cm PaK 45 L/52)

In fact, the name Jagdpanther does not hold any mystery, since it literally means “hunting panther”. The output of this military project was a tank able to hunt down other tanks thanks to a great-performing gun. Production started in early 1944 and ended in March 1945. A total of 392 units were manufactured.

As you may know, Germans gave free reign to their imaginations, and began using a series of zoological names for their tanks. Their artillery includes the names of insects such as Wespe (wasp) and Grille (cricket), while for medium and heavy tanks it is common to find feline references such as Tiger and Löwe (lion), Elephant and even Mammut (mammoth). The last of these had its name changed to Maus (mouse) to disguise the project's intention from spies.

Tiger	Löwe (lion)	Grille (cricket)

Bison	Maus (mouse)

German zoo!

In the present day, it is possible to admire a Jagdpanther in the Imperial War Museum, London. You can also find one at the Panzer Museum of Munster in Germany.

In-Game Jagdpanther

Let’s get right to the core:

What should I expect from the Jagdpanther on the battlefield?  

There are many things can be said about this tank destroyer, but the obvious one is that when mounted with the 105mm gun, it is an exceptional stationary sniper, even at long range. If we add that this huge hitting power comes with the same armour as the PzKpfw V Panther, the result is a vehicle capable of posing a threat to most of the tanks you will encounter in the battle, even Tier VIII heavies.

Why should I research it (and spend 60,500 experience points and over one million credits)?

The first reason is that it is a stepping stone to two amazing tank destroyers: the Ferdinand and the Jagdpanther II. Another reason is that it isn’t mandatory to grind the tracks at all, whilst upgrading the engine and radio won't be a problem if you already did your homework with the Tiger and VKs, since they share all these modules.

However the ultimate reason is the hitting punch you will be able to surprise your enemies with: up to 320 hit points and 200 mm of penetration… not bad for a Tier VII!

Performance Overview

Given the module configuration of this vehicle, you’d be best off first starting with the gun, and then the engine. In other words, first explore the sniper role, and once you feel more confident, you can think of other uses for this vehicle.

Sniper Role

There four available guns ranging from Tier VI to Tier VIII for this vehicle.  The stock 75 mm gun provides just 135 hit points-worth of damage, but the rate of fire (15 rounds per minute) can clearly make up for the lack of damage, and even the penetration, which truth to be told, is not bad at all for a Tier VI gun. Don’t spend too much time with the 88 mm L/56.  Step up as soon as you can to the L71, and life will become easier for you.  This is due to a nice increase in the penetration and accuracy, albeit at cost of the aiming time. However, if you want to see the full potential of this tank destroyer, then don’t stop the grinding just yet. Go all the way up to the 105 mm. Its aiming time is only the tip of the iceberg: with a huge 320 hit points damage and 200 mm of penetration, it also comes with an acceptable firing rate of 7.32 rounds per minute.

Second Line Tank: Stay behind the fence

The Jagdpanther has no obvious weak points, but it is necessary to remember at all times that it has a large profile (good luck when hiding) and that we are dealing with a turret-less tank, so watch out for the flanks and nasty surprises. Researching the Maybach HL 230 P 45 engine will allow you to run if things turn for the worst. However, don’t rush to the front line. The highly sloped armour is still very thin and needs distance for bouncing shells. This means that close fighting and flanking are not recommended at all. Don’t try to poke heavier tanks with enough health to put up a decent fight. Ask for help – you will most likely need it to get out alive if things don’t turn out the way you were expecting.

Nothing comes for free

It should come as no surprise when we advise you to not fire at targets below 100 health points, unless they are a Tier IX or X (hoping XP will pay off), or there are no other targets nearby (and you can’t be bothered to wait for someone else to take it), due to the high shell cost.

To top it up: Suggested Equipment

That’s it kommandanten! Ready to hunt your enemies down?