Inside The Chieftain's Hatch: Panther II

Join us for another episode of Inside The Chieftain's Hatch!🎞️🎬 In this episode, The Chieftain has some very insightful information about the history of the Panther II.
00:00 Intro & History
01:26 Front of Tank
03:41 Turret
04:49 Armor & Tracks
09:36 Engine & Rear
13:12 Front Hull
14:00 Radioman's Position
17:15 Driving Position
21:00 Outro
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[@WorldOfTanksOfficialChannel]

As mentioned apologies for the mistake of the dubbing initially. The video by default should now be in English, some were saying that it was initially in Polish but to confirm this is not a teaser for a Panther II version of the "Pudel" 😁-Ser_Remseldorf

[@ryanvanloh7590]

Mines dubbed in german and I cant change it to english

[@engineeronabicycle178]

@worldoftanksofficialchannel it is now in German

[@MrTdg2112]

Mine is in German with Polish and Russian the only other choices.

[@liamcooper5202]

​@@MrTdg2112yeah same here. My German is too rusty to keep up.

[@TurkeyJoe]

Yep same issue here hehe, oops.

[@SPSteve]

I'm glad someone had the foresight to save the Panther II. Too bad the same isn't true for the E-100.

[@Tirpitz-lv2kt]

Some people say (and there is a video about it) that it's buried somewhere in England in a scrap yard.

[@SPSteve]

They should dig it up!@@Tirpitz-lv2kt

[@TheT-90thatstaresintoyoursoul]

@@spe-notapopularytbersus1237 to be fair, you never know. Could be possible, who knows.

[@Jacky-zt5ch]

@@Tirpitz-lv2ktthat would be a T95 moment for sure if true

[@stevegt2682]

E100 wasn't complete anyway. No turret.

[@tannerjones9687]

I really hope they will (Fully) open this beautiful collection to the public someday.

[@prvtnewbie]

its open a couple times a year. I was there last week. well worth the trip.

[@jaselang2187]

Just went through tanker OSUT, you go twice as part of training. They have some amazing things there. King Tiger, the Panther 2, (I nerded out so hard) and THE m18 black cat

[@russwoodward8251]

Woot! New Chieftain tank review. Thanks, great choice. I hope to see more from the Armor and Cavalry Museum.

[@WorldOfTanksOfficialChannel]

Glad you enjoyed it ! - Ser_Remseldorf

[@fishingthelist4017]

It would be a decent museum if it had a Goliath.

[@CAPDude44]

​@@fishingthelist4017decent? It's fantastic

[@fishingthelist4017]

@@CAPDude44 that was a nod to The Chieftain and his comments in his high speed tours of various armor museums and how every museum seemed to have a Goliath. Surprisingly, this great armor museum doesn't have one. When I asked the curator where the Goliath was, he laughed like he knew why I was asking because I am sure he is familiar with The Chieftain's videos.

[@Leatherface123.]

T95

[@yarost12]

I love this, thank you Chief, the random sidetrack moments are hilarious

[@mauriciomorais7818]

The Chieftain with a Panther II. Christmas came early this year🎄

[@robinusher5707]

Not a dead-end prototype though, as it did influence the side hull geometry of Panther Ausf G, which also had slightly thickened upper hull armour too.

[@DenKHK]

As the Cheiftan mentioned the Panther II was a testbed for improvements, and some of those optimisations went into Ausf G (like the rearragement of stuff on the engine deck). I think the biggest improvement that didn't make it, however, was the commonality of components between the Panther and Tiger II ... at that stage of the war Germany could ill-afford a myriad of parts for its various - and various *models* of - war machines (Messerschmitt was also under orders around the same time to rationalise the Me109 to fix this problem) but as always it's a balance of evils. In this case, minimising disruption to production trumped the longer-term gain of simpler logistics.

[@neurofiedyamato8763]

@@DenKHK Also keep in mind its not just disrupting production but that you have to REPLACE all the old vehicles to simplify the logistics. Having a new Panther using Tiger II parts does not mean the old Panthers also switch, they still use old parts and still need those produced to sustain operations. This was a problem the Germans faced with halftracks. They tried to reduce the amount of halftracks types but they only doubled it instead as the new ones were never in enough supply to replace the old ones. This would be especially bad with panthers because Panthers went to normal panzer divisions. Tiger IIs went to independent heavy tank battalions. Their logistic lines are largely separate on the lower echelon levels. If the panthers were a mixed of new and old, suddenly the logistics of the panzer divisions gets complicated with two different spare parts requirement. Lastly, Germany may simply not be able to produce enough of a single component to sustain more than one or two tank types. This is seen with engines. Specific engines were strictly allowed for only bombers or fighters, or tanks. It would seem logical for every vehicle to use the same engine for a common component but the production for any of the single engines simply could not meet the demand. The alternative would require retooling and completely new factories. It simply wasn't black-and-white situation. Parts commonality isn't always better, its very circumstantial and nuanced. Ideally parts commonality are established BEFORE the design enters service and not during war. So that the supply chain and manufacturing base establishes itself to meet the increased demand, and that all vehicles are uniform from the start and do not need to replace non-standardized vehicles from the fleet(which require sustainment)

[@DenKHK]

@@neurofiedyamato8763 Very valid points and makes perfect sense. Although I was aware of some of the facts you mentioned - particularly the separate assignments between SPzAbt and panzer divisions and the aircraft engines - I failed to put 2 and 2 together to realise how the circumstances which these facts illustrate would also cause major problems in the case of Panther II. Thank you for the enlightenment!

[@thesleepyweasel3775]

I was hoping for an, "Oh, bugger! The tank is on fire!" demonstration.

[@Jargolf86]

In most German Tanks, getting out was no Problem. Tank Crews were highly Trained, and keeping them alive was prefered.

[@drewschumann1]

@@Jargolf86 The Panther in particular, was a death trap. "Maybe" the tank commander could get out. Everyone else inside was screwed. There's actually some video of a Panther tank crew burning alive as they fight to get out of the single turret hatch (and failing) that is pretty famous.

[@mikereger1186]

Remembering the M3 Stuart, and was it the Cromwell he tried that in?

[@Jargolf86]

Comet best Cooker, Hands down. No Way out for the Driver.@@mikereger1186

[@allendail9562]

video of Pnther crew in Cologne getting out pretty quickly.

[@BangOlafson]

as a German speaker I salute you for trying to pronounce the German words :D And yes.. I rely on the subtitles :)

[@ThumperE23]

I remember see this vehicle in the collection when it was at Fort Knox. Great video as always.

[@simonkevnorris]

I saw the tank during a visit to the states in 2000. I also managed to take in the Air Force Museum and Wright Pattinson(?) Museum on the same trip. I was also close to the twister that hit Xenia so the trip was quite eventful (also went to the F1 race at the Indy track).

[@drewschumann1]

That panther ii used to run. I helped crew it back in 1988.

[@_ArsNova]

Really? What's your story?

[@rolofox7283]

Amazing!!! Could you do an Inside the hatch of King Tiger? Specifically 332 at the Army Armor & Cavalry Collection? I've been dying for an episode with the Tiger ii!

[@WorldOfTanksOfficialChannel]

Same! One of the King Tiger (Captured) - Ser_Remseldorf

[@rolofox7283]

@@WorldOfTanksOfficialChannel yeah that would be awesome!

[@_ArsNova]

Glad to finally get a full rundown of Panther II. Always remember there being scant information on it in what books I had.

[@IrishTechnicalThinker]

I'm praying that the Chieftain does "OMG the Tank is on fire simulator."

[@shaider1982]

Interesting that the Germans in WW2 might have been inspired by the wedge to keep the track pins in place from the Soviets but did not try to use the compressed air starter.

[@sinisatrlin840]

Diesels can be started simply with high pressure air by altering valvetrain and applying pressure on 2 or 4 cylinders. Otto (petrol) engine would explode, carburator would pop off. They need starter with vane air motor and gearbox and clutch, expensive and complicated for 1940s.

[@michaelpielorz9283]

air starter sounds nice but how long does T34 needs to pump up both bottles ?

[@sinisatrlin840]

@@michaelpielorz9283 They are pumped to medium pressure in few minutes while engine is running. If for some reason start fails, 3-4 startings are possible with one charge. Normal electric starter is also present and seldom used on cold engines. Pressure transfer from tank to tank is also possible if for some reason air cylinders are empty. T72 also continues these features till today.

[@gsyt2356]

That T-34 was not a war production model. War models did not have the wedge

[@hybridwolf66]

The Tank Museum is 1 of the things I would love to visit. I would want a week there though to make sure I got to see and study all of them. A little beyond my budget at,. Thanks for letting me be there through you Chieftain!

[@Farkmetal]

wow this is one of the best inside the hatch videos yet!

[@pacificostudios]

Thank you for explaining this fascinating piece of history.

[@gusgone4527]

I second that.

[@ericbergfield6451]

I really enjoyed Nick's presenting style, thanks for sharing your knowledge with your own flare to the genre

[@20chocsaday]

He is making that vehicle quite roomy.

[@Blockio1999]

Oh wow, never thought I'd see the day. What a gift, to get a look inside this thing!

[@PitFriend1]

They upgraded the engine so I would assume they upgraded the transmission and final drives to be stronger as well. That seemed to be one of the problems with the service Panthers so that would be a big improvement.

[@mbr5742]

Some sources (Jensen/Doyle ie) say the final drives and steering brakes from Tiger II would have been used.

[@dronn_]

@@mbr5742 Correct, Doyle mostly stated this method was used to fasten and ease the production. This also birth the E series

[@WorldOfTanksOfficialChannel]

We learn something everyday 😁- Ser_Renmseldorf

[@peasant8246]

@@dronn_ -fasten- speed up FTFY

[@dronn_]

@@peasant8246 Thanks a lot for the grammar correction!

[@wwiiinplastic4712]

I missed it in the beginning but I just noticed the Tiger II behind the Chieftain is the one I built my Dragon kit to represent. I was just picking one of the schemes on the paint guide and had no idea the vehicle still survived and was here.

[@justforever96]

Or just as likely, they painted that Tiger in the colors of a famous Tiger from the war, and you also chose that scheme for your model. You think most of these vehicles are just wearing the paint they actually wore in service?

[@larryjohnson7591]

I love this series Chieftain. I would have never known that there even was a Panther II if you hadn't show me. No mention of any tank like this from the books German tankers wrote.

[@zanaduz2018]

It wouldn't have made it into a book written by German tankers because it never made it into production (and thus, never made it into combat service): the sole existant Panther II hull is the lone prototype made.

[@LeutnantJoker]

@@zanaduz2018Most tankers probably never even knew this existed as a concept

[@justforever96]

Because it wasn't used in combat, why are they going to write about it?

[@larryjohnson7591]

Because the writers of some books had talked about some of the new tanks that were being developed for the Eastern Front but had not been delivered yet? @@justforever96

[@marksalvio5644]

Never stop making these vids, always informative and entertaining

[@2009Berghof]

I can say that as a young man, I witnessed the Panther II being restored-in bits and pieces in the old wooden Patton Museum building well inside Fort Knox. A decade later, I found myself participating in the museum's annual July 4 "Living History" programs. As luck would have it, I was there the only time they had the Panther II running-sort of. It was not running well, but it did move. After that day, they decided, having spent years to get it that far, to put it aside and concentrate on other vehicles. As an aside, I got promoted to being the loader and then the driver of the ex-Swiss Hetzer. It too suffered problems as did the one that I later acquired from the Swiss Army. After years, I discovered the problem. (Both mine at the museum's still had the petrol Czech engine.) The wire to the kill switch, from the magneto was the problem. Additionally, the Swiss liked the German method of using a collar and tension pin connecting their steel track links that, after the war the Swiss bought a large number of US built T16 Universal Carriers. Originally the tracks ends were welded except for a few links that had a cotter pin and washer. The Swiss went to such extreme that almost all the T16s had there tracks modified ala German collar style. Even the Hetzer had this arrangement. Consider securing a copy of the founder of the WWII Historical Re-enactment Society's book, A BRIDGE TO TIME, A Re-enactor's Journey.

[@chromiumphotography5138]

The return of Superstorm - what a throwback! Thanks for another great educational video.

[@juancortapan7845]

Honestly, for being one-of-a-kind vehicle, the interior is nicely preserved

[@TheM4Sherman]

Big fan of you btw. Hoping to see a lot of videos from the Calverly and armor collection!

[@JessWLStuart]

Well presented, as usual!

[@Mornomgir]

Excellent. Now i can forward everyone here that keeps on going on and on about the tank.

[@yiyo2711]

Gracias por volver !!! ❤

[@Madcap247]

Thanks for the video. I've never seen the inside of the Panther II before. Keep up the awesome work!

[@AdamMann3D]

Panzer IV, StuG, and Tiger all had plates for knocking the pin back in. In Tigers case as early as late 42.

[@mikereger1186]

It's not a Chieftain video until Nick's covered track tensioning :)

[@roho10011]

As always informative and very entertaining! Thank you

[@andrewcoffman2213]

The video quality of these has really matured. Looks great!

[@ArnoSchmidt70]

Fort Moore = the old Fort Benning

[@homesbymatt8053]

Love the new location! Such an awesome facility!

[@Gurtanic_1912]

As a german i still could understand you very well so congrats that u even can speak it out😊

[@wyskass861]

I always enjoy the part in every video, where Nick has to find new ways to contort himself into position.

[@mikejungferman4744]

Really interesting stuff buddy, I wish my Dad was around to watch this, keep em coming, I'm watching

[@polheg1]

Thanks Chieftain. After deciding to have a break from building model tanks, as i lack storage, you've just got me to find and purchase a model of this. Thanks a lot! 😂

[@I_hunt_lolis]

Oh damn it's a lot more complete on the inside than I expected

[@jroch41]

The "inaudible" word at 0:49 is "Versuchs-Panther Zwei hull was completed". "Versuchs" means "experimental" or "test" Panther Zwei (2) hull. Great info on a vehicle I never knew existed - Panther 2. And you did mention track tension - I was beginning to worry.

[@sjoormen1]

I really like relaxed approach. Well done.

[@koenvangeleuken2853]

the track pin -pushing system is usually called the Skoda plate, so i guess its a Skoda invention!

[@jimmylight4866]

Interesting i was wondering if it was a Walter Christie invention

[@bill_heywood]

Really interesting. Amazing that 5mm of skirt armour saved the need for 7 tons of extra armour

[@Falkriim]

Such a cool looking vehicle

[@DecoratedSPLATTER]

the amount of knowledge about tanks in this man's head is insane

[@chopper7352]

She was in a whole lot better condition on the inside than I was expecting her to be.

[@drewschumann1]

It ran as recently as 1988

[@fishingthelist4017]

I know that getting tanks to run is not high on the list of priorities for the collection, but it would be fun to see runners at their open houses. Maybe a runner or two would be good for community outreach, especially if they had veteran tankers or interested civilians helping to get the tanks into running condition.

[@drewschumann1]

@@fishingthelist4017 Most of the Patton museum's inside vehicles were runners/drivers and they used to put them on parade during Patton Days in June.

[@fishingthelist4017]

@@drewschumann1 there are a lot of retired Army veterans in and around Columbus. Finding some who will want to start getting those runners back into shape wouldn't be too hard. Money would be an issue, but fundraising could cover that. Start with that obnoxious duck on Wynnton Road.

[@timelliott8763]

Great episode!

[@DominicBHaven-qm6nx]

Great video!!! I think your accent is magnificent. Keep doing you my friend. Merry Christmas 🎄

[@ThorneyedWT]

Rubber layer under steel rims was one of defining features of T-64 and it actually saved a lot of weight (compared to T-62 or T-72). The secret was that with this trick you could make road wheels much smaller.

[@stigbang-mortensen383]

The inaudible at the start is "Versuchs". It is tremendous fun to hear german abbreviations pronounced

[@SindriTheReaper]

That's a good video. Thanks tall tank man

[@rodrigoquiroga8590]

Excellent program !!!!

[@lewiswestfall2687]

Thaks Nick

[@cheesenoodles8316]

Excellent

[@gameshistory5644]

Can you episodes on the T30, American T34, and T29.

[@WorldOfTanksOfficialChannel]

Someone loves stronk turrets 😃-Ser_Remseldorf

[@nubtube7313]

Nice review Nicholas. Thanks.

[@dustinshadle732]

My dad was there in 1969. He still says Benning, even though he met and really liked Hal Moore.

[@adriantowe278]

I did not know they was a panther 2 i happy it made it through the war

[@edwardstd52]

During one of my tours at the Armor School in the 1970s the Patton Museum had an operational Panther that was used in the battle for the airfield that was held every summer, I think over the Independence Day holiday weekend. It did have engine problems from time to time so it usually "died" early on during the battle. I'm wondering if one of the Panthers in the collection is still runnable and if it's this one. Just curious. 😀

[@qui-gon-jim8463]

They had to stop using it as the engine had caught fire. An old family friend, who was my godfather, got to crew it back then. He passed away in 2021 but I remember him and his pictures of him reenacting on the 4th of July shows.

[@edwardstd52]

@@qui-gon-jim8463 I do remember it having fires from time to time. I think the fuel system was pretty leaky.

[@drewschumann1]

The Panther II being reviewed is the running Panther. It caught fire because it had a positive displacement fuel pump that pumped fuel out of the exhaust during starting. I manned the fire extinguisher in 1988 in preparation for Patton days that year

[@STHV_]

@@drewschumann1 @qui-gon-jim8463 @edwardstd52 Do any of you have any images or video footage of it from these events or know where I can find any?

[@captiannemo1587]

There’s a few 1970s color photos online

[@romantoppel2330]

Love your videos! 👍

06:54 The "Gummisparenden Laufrollen" was quite good! :)

[@SARGE11963]

Good vid as usual Battle. When are you gonna do a vid on the inside of a Tiger II?

[@sammelplatzmilitaria]

Nice Video ! Greetings from Germany - Sammelplatz Militaria

[@JarvisMorrissey-dd7bq]

That thing is at fort benning in Georgia, they have the doom turtle there too! Cool!

[@colintwyning9614]

All steel wheels added 2 tons. its amazing how, say denying enemy a resource like rubber can make a difference to weapons effectiveness. Great video.

[@Getoffmycloud53]

17:41 The music reminds me of some early 80-ies adult video… …I like it, just unexpected 😂

[@bobhannah9944]

Great Videos! Have you reviewed any of the pacific theater tracked landing crafts?

[@johnmosser6695]

Maybe there is yet hope of seeing the Chieftain in a tiger! I know other videos exist, but no one else matches his insight because of his experience.

[@IceMarsoc77]

I would love to go to that tank museum

[@ianbell5611]

Thanks great video

[@MGB-learning]

Great video

[@user-es3zu5zd1g]

I remember seeing this on Fort Benning before they starting working on it. It had the red paint on it. 2014

[@tomppeli.]

Would have been nice if there was an explanation on why specifically the electric starter wasn't used bar emergencies

[@libertycowboy2495]

Great video as usual. While not a tank, would you consider doing a video on sdkfz 222

[@THX11458]

The Germans first used the T-34 style pin ramp on mid-production Pzkpfw-III/IV chassis - Nashorn & Hummels. They differed from the Panther-II in having it mounted on the rear lower side hull, next to the rear idler.

[@thomasatteneder3953]

I am from Austria, your accent is just brilliant 😄 Nice Video!

[@Luca-gj4yi]

Muisch lai amo an Daitschn zuilousn wenna insra Werto sogg. xD

[@thomasatteneder3953]

😆@@Luca-gj4yi

[@yattaran1484]

Thank you for the Great walk around of the Panther 2. Although I'm not sure by watching this, the left out side trianguler shaped drive sprocket which was there when it arrived to US might have been swiched to the inside sprocket to look better. 🤔

[@davidkimmel4216]

Interesting. Thanks

[@robertgraham1511]

Chieftain please have a safe and happy holidays.

[@TallDude73]

I love these videos

[@PitchBlackYeti]

That's a nice weld there around the MG port...

[@Gamer_1745]

Thanks

[@jamesbednar8625]

Good informative video!!! I was stationed at Fort Knox, KY, from 1983-1985 and remember seeing this vehicle numerous times while visiting the Patton Museum. Too bad that entire collection was moved to Fort Benning...OOOPPPSS!!! I mean. Fort Moore for visited Fort Knox a few years ago and the Patton Museum just does not seem the same without all those vehicles on static outside the museum nor what was inside. Guess that is progress.

[@user-rv2ge7sv8g]

Sehr gut

[@user-vr7eh5zf9b]

Nicholas, I really like your show. I saw a video on vietnamese liking the war booty they got from America after capturing South Vietnam. In it they showed a warehouse with hundreds of captured m48s that look like they've been kept in brand new condition. Do you think you go to Vietnam and do a video showing these warehoused M48s inside and out to see what shape their in. I think it'd be interesting.

[@GenderSkins]

Danke.

[@nightshade4873]

One thing i noticed quite different for Panther II is that around 21:00 you could see the last roadwheel (to the left) has quite abit of gap between it and the 2nd to the last roadwheel, idk if it is some sort of feature or a broken arm, but kinda neat in the sense that because they likely couldn't get another roadwheel in-between them hence the gap, the last roadwheel torsion bar is likely heavier and might have heavier dampers too.

[@dougedsall3317]

It gets even more interesting - the pattern is different on the opposite side. The gap on the other side is between the third and second to last

[@brucewilliams1892]

Thank you for this. I am curious about the vulnerability to fire from diving ground attack planes, of both the front hatches and the engine ventilators. Perhaps the P1 design was revised?

[@bryanduncan1640]

I’m not sure which video that you did concerning the noise emanating from the late Panthers (due to lack of rubbers on the track wheels), but the Churchill must have been deafening! Not only did it have metal-on-metal for the many track to road wheels, but the track return was via a flat metal tray! You must have been able to hear a Churchill from the county?

[@007NateNasty]

I’ve been here in Columbus GA

[@ashleyupshall7641]

Interesting vid. Good presenter for the subject.😊

[@WorldOfTanksOfficialChannel]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@QALibrary]

I did not know they where this far into development of this tank

[@damianousley8833]

The scrap merchants cutting torches were busy when peace was declared. Scrap was needed to restart civil manufacture of things like cars and steel concrete reinforcing and building fasteners and bridging steel members.

[@korbell1089]

With those track pins scraping along the hull and the metal roadwheels, that tank would have been loud as it moved around.

[@TheMoistestNugget]

The contrast between the comfortable adjustable steering column and T-34 pin retention ramp is kindve funny. I assume it wouldve gotten clips if it went into production though right?

[@oleriis-vestergaard6844]

Rumors has it that somewhere in England the e-100 hull maybe lays buried at a site where the english man scrapped vehicles after testning like the Saukopf blende turret used on a shooting range and saved rather shot up