Gaijin's Fake Panther Tank

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The German Panther II tank has become an increasingly rare sight in War Thunder ground battles. It shouldn't be much of a surprise, since Gaijin removed it from the tech tree in 2019. Seeing as new players weren't around at that time, I figured I would explain why it was hidden and what its gameplay is like.
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Gaijin's Fake Panther Tank

[@CheezeSpartan]

“Most people who play that game now probably don’t know what the Panther II even is.” I shouldn’t feel this old.

[@MJRSoap]

Really making us feel old. Can't believe he'd call us out like that.

[@NMJZ]

None of us are actually old. We're all young 'uns. But at the same time we chose to play this game, so I guess that makes us old in spirit. 🧓

[@thisisthestuffgaming8202]

pisses me off cuz i was ~2k research away from being able to grab the panther II before they yoinked it >:(

[@Dregomz02]

@@thisisthestuffgaming8202 i regret i was playing all nations at the same time (with long breaks) so i haven't reached panther ii, they should bring it back like maus

[@ghostmw8]

@@thisisthestuffgaming8202 if you got research point in the panther II it won’t disappear from the tech tree, I only finished researching it a few months ago

[@CobraDBlade]

I recently made my main German 6.7 lineup as many of the "Lost Boys" as I could, and actually got asked by another player what event the Panther II was from. His mind was absolutely blown when I told them it used to be a tech tree tank. I also agree that a more realistic version of the Panther II would be a great addition to the game, especially if it got to keep it's useful reverse gear. I think the P2 chassis coupled with the gun and turret from the Panther F would fit in perfectly at 6.0 or 6.3.

[@trathanstargazer6421]

Fully agree. I think the 'actual' Panther 2 would be a good segue tank from the Panther to the Leopard.

[@Oddball_E8]

I too have a 6.7 lineup with the Panther II, King Tiger 105 and Coelian. I also have the premium King Tiger Sla 16 in the lineup, which is *almost* a paper tank. Oh and as an airplane, I have the Me 262 A-1/U4 which was *also* a one-off prototype. Hell, the only real vehicle in the entire lineup is my regular King Tiger (H). The rest are just prototypes and paper tanks. As someone who's vehemently against paper tanks in WarThunder, it still tickles me to bring that particular lineup out from time to time. (Also, before an argument starts, my definition of paper tank is a tank that only ever existed in drawings or at most as a wooden mockup. Which, incidentally, is the definition most of the world shares, but some people think prototypes are "paper tanks" too.)

[@themigmadmarine]

The actual panther II was never intended to have the Schmalturm. There was a requirement for a narrower gun mantlet, but this was to go onto a standard Panther turret otherwise, it's difficult to find drawings of it.

[@STHV_]

It would not have the Schmalturm of the Ausf F as Panther II was cancelled long before it was designed. It would have a much earlier design with no rangefinder called the Schmale Blendenausführung and would also lose all night vision equipment for the same reason.

[@gabrielhenrique3547]

@@Oddball_E8 Same as You, except i have the Aced Jagdtiger and a rare Me 262A-2 (500KG bomb) at 6.7 - If most people dont know what Panther II is they will surely remember after encounter it once.

[@FatherGrigori]

I swear, everytime you make a new one of these videos you sound like you're having more and more fun

[@ryeo9907]

Fun? War Thunder? NAHHH can't be.

[@sebas.tian.]

wait you guys have fun?

[@jackmehauf8664]

Its because he isnt making a 10th video about the HSTVL

[@gwonk8722]

ikr it's so cute

[@TheKaMeLRo]

Yes, Warthunder is fun, and I keep playing it for 10 years now. 💀

[@MrTrool323]

I remember back in the day Panther II being fairly popular because of the 88 which rarely failed Fortunately i was able to research it before the tank was removed,same with Coelian and Maus..and the big 105 tiger

[@emib6599]

I got the Mars this anniversary. I hope they put other secret vehicles in the next.

[@orin-ix3do]

I sadly wasn't able to

[@Its_Katyusha232]

I got all 4 I just can’t afford the 105mm tiger and I’m close to finishing research on the mouse

[@Lobos222]

@@Its_Katyusha232 I have all 3 of the German tanks just before I stopped playing a long time ago. When I came back I didnt know about it. So I was wondering why so many of my tanks was like, not in the tech tree. LoL

[@TheAmazingCowpig]

The 105 Tiger is probably the least interesting out of the removed vehicles. The Coelian though... I'm super bummed that, out of all of the removed vehicles, that's the one I'm missing, since it's actually a good AA.

[@muhammadusmanrafique3517]

A new tech tree should be added of only fictional vehicles

[@snaketanker]

That’s most of mid to high tier Russia lmao

[@blu5021]

@@snaketanker yeah

[@andrewmacias-brown1818]

Uh no

[@mr.marauder2982]

THAT WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE 😅

[@Tigershark_3082]

Can't wait to see the Kfir with 6x Phoenixes added to it

[@foo-foocuddlypoops5694]

Love taking my "Removed Germany Lineup" out every now and then to see the reactions from newbies wondering wtf these tanks are

[@TheGrace020]

me an old guard knower but not haver 😔

[@nandolazuardiburhan1826]

Yess i love it when someone asking in chat "where did you get that tank?"

[@lector-dogmatixsicarii1537]

@@TheGrace020 Current account, the situation... :qqqqqqqq

[@sethdaboss245]

@@TheGrace020 Pain...

[@RaptorJesusHimself]

I love all the comments I get! I also love taking the P59A out in air RB and seeing my console teammates freak out on the runway going "WHY IS THERE A JET AT 4.7"

[@Shxlbyyy]

Spookston always catches me off guard with his comedy, he's actually quite funny I just never expect it so it makes it significantly better

[@anthonyberger810]

I see these things every game when I’m playing the M-51. They already always driven by absolute gods with insane aim and the best map knowledge I’ve ever seen.

[@mobilememes1313]

That's cause only old players have this tank, and that goes for any tank that used to be in any tech tree, or old event vehicles, if you see one, run tf the other way because your not gonna survive for long against them

[@Jebotito]

@@mobilememes1313 I'm playing since 2013 and have them but don't play them. I love to play against them though. Most 10.5cm Kingtiger or pantherii players are confident (as they can be, most are good players) but it seems like i can outsmart them still 9/10 lol What's also funny, if i manage to bs-kill a pantherii in the beginning of the match most just leave lol As if they only have this tank for their lineup. Most that leave are level 100 like me

[@mobilememes1313]

@@Jebotito yea, there has been a couple times where I have been able to beat them, but that's mostly cause I have three level 100 friends, so it's nice when they can teach yah the tricks of the game

[@thomaskositzki9424]

@@Jebotito I love those Lvl 100 crybabies that leave after becoming the first casualty of their team - as equally leveled players are roughly matched up by the MM, my most capable opponent thus just left the game. ^^ I am guilty of overconfidence myslef, BTW. :D But instead of leaving I just go back, but a little more humble.

[@bastionn_3053]

I'd love to see a video where you play some of the Russian Multiturreted tanks, like the T-28 or T-35

[@AlterExo_]

T-35 op as hell lmao

[@liamhayes23]

I second this

[@andrewmacias-brown1818]

Agreed

[@theoneandonlyartyom]

28mm stock pen >:)

[@AAthlete34]

I have the panther 2 and I have been surprised over the years of how many people don’t know what it is and that it’s a removed tank. A lot more new players play this game than I realized

[@sovietmusiclover8466]

How I think warthunder is supposed to work from a business stand point is to sorta behave like a ram jet intake, it brings in a massive amount of air (air being players in this comparison), and then use it very rapidly (aka draining the wallets of the newbies using premium vehicles), and then that fuels the jet engine that is gaijen or however you are supposed to spell it.

[@xavier4519]

@@sovietmusiclover8466 not enough retention is what kills a game though, gaijin needs to sort their shit out asap

[@vortex6818]

@@xavier4519 eh, gaijin's minetization scheme is still fine. WG is older by a year and their monetization scheme is far greedier (gamble to gamble) yet they still exist today.

[@sovietmusiclover8466]

@@xavier4519 I think I know why gaijins logo is a snail, it’s because they move at a snails pace when it comes to improving their game.

[@SeanCampbell_iRacing]

Honestly the panther 2 in war thunder feels like a very early MBT to me in the way that it plays.

[@David32134]

It really does

[@Lobos222]

Try the Maus with just smoke rounds in the secondary gun. Smoke everything and get strange situations when people dont really know what to do or think you are mortally wounded or something before you main gun shoot them. Had some strange multi shot survivable rounds using such tactics even when facing an uptier.

[@blitzkrieg8776]

Smoke rounds are underrated with the Maus, thought regular ones are handy in taking out barrels and even gunners if you can lob it right into the commander viewport.

[@CrazyDutchguys]

While the smoke rounds can be very useful, the utility of the HEAT shell i will not give up, so i bring both, the reload is fast enough that you can just send a HEAT out and reload smoke without any issues

[@TheDgamesD]

Regardless of its fakeness I still think and hoped it was going to be researchable during the 10th anniversary event.

[@sethdaboss245]

I was hoping for at least the Coelian because it's real enough for the game as other vehicles are similarly fake

[@ougioshino6940]

I like that in the case of the Maus instead of being humble and saying "We accept that we made a mistake and we are going to return the Maus to its original condition" they said "Since we feel kind we are going to make the Maus researchable once a year, be grateful peasants And yes I wanted those vehicles too. But noooo I guess making them available just for one occasion would break the game

[@PotatoeJoe69]

I found out the Panther II was being removed like ~5 minutes before it was gone, and put less than 500rp into it. It just sat there like that for the last few years, and I finally fully researched it last month lmao

[@Rosenrot_raccoon]

The problem is that they removed only German fictional vehicles, they should just remove all fictional vehicles (poor Japanese tree) or don't remove any. This removed German 6.7 lineup is my most favourite to play in the game, imo all those vehicles are straight up quite OP, its really sad that new players wont be ale to experience all this fun, with range finders etc.

[@Pioneer_DE]

As a german main im most upset about the warcrime Panther T~T

[@bracsols]

@@Pioneer_DE What is the Warcrime Panther?

[@alexxu6138]

I really want that Flak341

[@skipslash7367]

part of the reason they removed it was that it was too op, wasn't it?

[@ricardolarios2518]

Wow a more op German 4.3-6.7... just what we need

[@LivingLeaf]

Another thing about the Panther II is that when aced with a decked out crew, it becomes one of the most versatile and oppressive frontline tanks for the BR. In all of my 2,000 hours of playing War Thunder, I have gotten 3 nukes, and all of them were due to the Panther II (I even got one nuke one day, and then another the day after). It's probably just me, but I feel like one of Gaijin's motives to remove the Panther II was due to its versatility and highest potential.

[@robertharris6092]

Its absolutly one of the strongest vehicles in the game. Mainly due to how insanly fast it is. With wuch a good APHE gun. And the armor really helps save you if you fuck up.

[@uthopia27]

Why it sounds like how mbt should behave in this game ?

[@agustinmendoza7968]

Gaijin's panther 2 is just a WW2 mbt

[@gabrielhenrique3547]

I got one nuke yesterday with Panther II, due holding caps, its halfway to ace.

[@danb4900]

I dont remember having much trouble facing them, but as Spookston suggested, it is a pretty cringe fantasy tank regarding that tiny turret and huge gun that doesnt look like a possible combination. Kinda glad it was removed. Havent seen one in ages.

[@rahjah6958]

2:20 special marine operations

[@Aegisgaming6652]

The sound of that 88 firing from inside the turret is just so satisfying

[@Sif_77]

We're seeing spookston reaching his final form of just being himself and it's beautiful.

[@theroyalaustralian]

5:40 Not going to lie, that flash bang smoke grenade shot was awesome, and very f***ing smart.

[@neutr4l1zer]

If the regular panther 2 is re added I think the most useful feature would be having a working reverse

[@blugastidiofable9517]

Your videos always make me smile, congrats on the 200k

[@lt.lettuce2023]

The panther 2 is actually the tutorial tank, so most new players have actually played it.

[@seagull2786]

Man I hope you keep adding these memes into the gameplay the cat at the start of the vid really got me. Love your vids

[@William_Bryant]

That "Csh-Chunk" sound when firing is the cannon breech slamming into the back of the turret.

[@BrickWar]

4:55 Welcome to WT Ghostshell

[@nicholasleon7819]

love seeing more of spookston's personality come out with each one of these

[@meesdoetregie]

You sound very happy in this video, its actually making me happy. Keep it up!!

[@stev579]

I don't even play War Thunder anymore but I still enjoy your content Spookston!

[@scharnhorst3233]

Man spookston just seems like a fun guy to play with. His brand of comedy is spot on and he has the right mindset to play this game without getting wildly tilted

[@elexx1568]

I really enjoy these type of gameplay / commentary videos. Please keep doing them 😂❤

[@calum1277]

Congrats on 200K!!! Keep up the great content

[@furious-ninja3324]

I don't know if Spookston has the South African tree fully researched but I would love to see him try the TTD , its my favourite tank and personally it feels like a low budget Leopar 2a4 but at in 9.7 :D.

[@BladezAndrew]

low budget 2a4 at 9.7? isn't that just the leopard 2AV?

[@furious-ninja3324]

@@BladezAndrew I meant based on looks, its like a 2a4 but from wish, think of it like that.

[@maxwelltheluxray861]

Basically Gaijin dipped their foot into the WoT section for a moment before quickly pulling their foot out and realized they did a whoopsie about it

[@sethdaboss245]

Too bad Gaijin is too idiotic to embrace the WoT style of fake vehicles. Those are what are actually cool and interesting even if WiT sucks.

[@AllMightyKingBowser]

The only whoopsie they did is being too scared to dive even further

[@Mark3nd]

They fear of Wargaming's territory, cuz they know they create a tank that didn't exist and still out-match Gaijin. If Wargaming did bring back old events, chances for Gaijin to bring the old tanks back are high. Yet they wont. I played Console (dead) for alot of time since 2013, it was fun, but they were shit. I had the best experience there is along with many other fair and fun players. But as time progressed, those pkayers became extinct. Only a true few play the game still as newbies just .... came out of nowhere vile. All newbies did was yolo and don't even think. Hell, they're being fools as if they didn't care. They even sent threats to me like why are you wasting your time with me? Play the game damit

[@hl2bigboss]

Congrats on 200k my man!

[@massive_6562]

Happy 200k Love the content

[@bighobo7745]

remember when this tank was almost 9 tons lighter and was at the same BR as the M26? good times

[@cptlogger2948]

Would love to see you use the warrior ifv at top tier, due to the lack of any alternative ifv for Great Britain.

[@jettonial]

You seem really happy spook, honestly you made me smile trough the whole video, I like this kind of tone, happy and laughing, keep it up man. (Oh and obviously that didn't mean your "usual" tone is bad, it's more serious, which is on point)

[@bubby9175]

Congratulations on 200k🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@Michael_OBrian]

Any chance of a video on the history and design of the CV90 family?

[@gabrielmonte4545]

Could you play the M41 Walker Bulldog next?

[@flightmaster1213]

Dude this new video style is actually amazing! I love it.

[@devendoffing7004]

Congrats on 200k Spookston!!

[@emib6599]

With fictional vehicles they could expand the tree of minor nations. On an April fool event they could make a "quick" crafting event were you build your personalised tank choosing everything for the stabilisers to the transmissions

[@raheemal-taweel5325]

show love for the Italians , OF-40 i think its an underrated MBT

[@clunk_fest5326]

Yet another banger video. Thank you spook.

[@morgenzagaros6028]

Congratulations on hitting 200k!!

[@DovahFett]

Gaijin's Panther II design just seems to be Wargaming's Panther II from World of Tanks. Why they decided to lift a fictional design from them, I don't know.

[@wapniak666]

wot panther 2 turret actually make sense tho

[@Mark3nd]

Because they were scared of Wargaming's territory. So scared they don't wanna do it. And yet they want to be in their level

[@user-ky3ic4td4b]

Every German Tanker 1945: 6:30

[@ThyLegendaryV3]

Congrats on 200k! 🎉

[@cowboybiff6628]

love u spookston u make da best videos

[@TheArklyte]

It's not fictional, it's a kitbash:D It's just as if somebody mixed up T-43, T-44 and mock up model of T-34M and called it T-43. Ingame Panther II is a combination of Panther II hull, Panther G schmallturm turret, Panther 8.8(only concept, not even blueprint) with gun mounted in wrong way, normal Panther with NG equipment and apparently some other Panther variant with different engine. So, it's quite real... just by around 20% at a time;)

[@coolT21323]

Well, just the best of all Panthers slapped together lol Except for the long 88 which doesnt belong on the Panther at all.

[@FatherGrigori]

I wonder if they'll ever remove the ostwind 2, I don't think that was real at least

[@philipgregory8813]

its kinda iffy theres a few pictures of the ostwind 2 but no one is really sure if it was built or just a mockup

[@CobraDBlade]

It's mostly considered to be even more of a paper tank than the Coelion which is absolutely hilarious when you consider it was put in the game to fill the gap left by it's removal.

[@digitalfootprint9008]

Congrats on 200k Spookston!

[@pitivan3895]

the editing is getting better every video I love it 😂

[@swellcartoona8207]

2:06 average German main

[@Pain4547]

A little context on why it existed and why it was removed - it was originally put into the game to be the top tier medium tank to fight the T-54 and Patton tank onslaughts, as Germany didn't have any Cold War tanks to compete with. Once Germany finally started getting their own, the gameplay role the Panther II filled was no longer needed and it was taken out due to being a fake tank, though more likely because it messed with balance and that was an easy justification for Gaijin to rid themselves of it.

[@blockstacker5614]

Gaijin wouldn't know balance if they walked a tightrope.

[@thomaskositzki9424]

I like your style and your humor veery much! Together with Odd, you are my most favourite WT KZbinr. :)

[@falfill2096]

Love your videos man!

[@unnamedzer0699]

GZ to 200k!

[@roycocup-a-soupgaming9823]

i want to see you playing the 100% psychology tank (Strv 74) cause to me it just breaks my brain looking directly at it. congrats on 200K btw :D

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Spookston that "flash bang" trick was just dirty but you did give me an idea :3

[@C10uD50]

I dunno what it is about this video, but I love it more then I usually love your videos. I think it's safe to say we all love seeing you having fun with WT.

[@Jeb724]

Great video! I think a video on the Churchill Crocodile could be cool!

[@Le_Flatfish]

congrats on 200k!

[@justinbriggs7560]

The halo 3 odst music at the end , such a mood change in a good way

[@Clementinewoofwoof]

I just want to say, I’m kind of glad that you seem to be in a much better state of mind, keep up the good work

[@rdraider11]

this has to be one of the most chaotic spookston videos in a while

[@cet8254]

Spookston having fun and enjoying the game arc

[@jonashauenstein6788]

Congrats on 200k subs

[@Bagheera2]

Love your montages. And is that a custom firing sound?

[@KecahirEdits]

congratulations for reaching 200k subs

[@newhonk]

I love it when Spookston is in a good mood

[@len.216]

2:40 Boss, you killed a child...

[@jimbainianmonkey182]

I love the cowbell noise whenever you fire

[@ChaosPootato]

Hey grats on 200k

[@connor22abrams4]

I think a video on the history of the SEP series for the M1 would put a lot of the debate surrounding the one in game to rest.

[@811brian]

Spookston: seal clubs an entire enemy team Me just trying to have fun after a bad day of work: 😢

[@jakelibbey4631]

your editing is getting funny as fuck please keep it up

[@dingoe8841]

this is the happiest ive herd spookston in a very long time. he must've had a full 10 hours of sleep last night

[@dominiccari1405]

the feeling of taking down a barrel without a stabilizer is just so satisfying

[@hellcat7880]

I am glad meeting you as that M60

[@user-vp9lc9up6v]

I recently returned to WT after a couple years now that my M.2 ran out of space for DCS and I knew something was missing but I couldn't place a finger on it until now, thank you for reassuring me that the dementia isn't kicking in yet

[@VaciliNikoMavich]

*You challenge ME mortal??* Brilliant video :)

[@smogstrike]

happy 200K!

[@zombiekinggamer6356]

Seeing how u react to tank rounds flying towards you, I feel like you would be pretty good at horror games.

[@sya_7489]

In terms of the average war thunder player stats at 6.0, yes spookston you are the best

[@dylancole3141]

Wow I love the gun sound on this tank

[@JustMinna]

Would be nice to see a video on the VCC 80/60 (Maybe along the Centauro/Dardo prototype thingy)

[@neku9837]

3:53 I don't know about adding yet another Panther to the lineup, buuut I can absolutely see it as a small modification you can research on the Panther G or whatever that gives you thicker armour on the sides at the cost of some mobility and maybe a tiny br increase, kinda like what some BMPs have.

[@Juhnaaa]

Yoo spookston! I saw you at the femboy hooters yesterday!!! That was amazing

[@ausburnesdumbaltaccount9676]

you sound so lively in this one, even by the live gameplay video standards

[@kurniawaniqbal2338]

Man,this video is satisfy to watch,as a panther main,I'm so jealous with the reverse speed

[@flyboymb]

I got 1 rp into all the lost vehicles and the Maus when it was announced that they were being taken out. I hadn't even started the German tank tree yet. I had to recuperate for awhile after that.

[@YouSietse]

the Panther 2 is such a comfortable tank to play, the 88 remains a reliable gun, its relatively speedy for its size and from time to time the armor does actually save you, but what puts it clearly above the other panthers is that reverse gear, being able to go at more than a crawl is so nice and has saved me numerous times. I'm really glad i managed to grind this tank before it was removed even though its such a hodgepodge of ideas strapped together by the devs. If we're on the subject of removed german wonder machines, maybe take the 10.5cm tiger for a ride as well, big boomstick is always funny and it keeps being hilarious seeing that tiny 88 breech with that big gun in X-ray

[@CreepSoldier]

I like the way that the gun sounds like a hammer hitting an envil every time it shots

[@Daedricbob]

Love the gun noise on this thing

[@iracarew5172]

you seem happy today, good for you spooky :D

[@Eunski]

Play the rooikat. Specifically the mk1d. I'm close to getting it. Might be nice to find some up to date videos on it.