Panzerkampfwagen V Ausf A
The initial design of the Panzer V dated from 1937, but the requirements listed by the army were constantly evolving, thus it was not until 1941 that Henschel and Porsche were to provide prototypes for testing. Late in 1941 the requirements were changed again with the new vehicle being required to mount a long barreled 75mm gun with sloped armor akin to the Russian T-34. Daimler-Benz and MAN both submitted prototype vehicles for testing, with the Daimler-Benz design being almost a copy of the T-34. Instead the MAN design was selected for further development. In September 1942 the first Panthers trundled out of the MAN tank factories, but production was soon expended to Daimler-Benz, Henschel, and Niedersachen.
The Panther was large, heavy, and very complex which hampered its performance. The initial Ausf A model vehicles (the Ausf A sometimes called the Ausf D and a second Ausf A model) were plagued with mechanical problems resulting from the rushed production and limited field testing carried out. Thus various faults were discovered in the field to the dissatisfaction of the Panthers crew. This resulted in many Panthers being lost to mechanical failure even before they reached the battlefield.
Propulsion
Range: 110 miles.
Fuel: 160 gal.
Fording: 5 ft, 7 in.
Trench: 6 ft, 3 in.
Step: 3 ft.
Mechanical Problems: During any period where the vehicle is driven for a long distance, it has a 20% chance of suffering an engine failure during the trip. If the driver attempts to perform a stunt that would stress the engine there is a 40% chance the vehicle may suffer an engine failure. If the engine fails the vehicle suffers 3d12 points of damage, plus the engine stops functioning and cannot be restarted until the damage is repaired.
Engine Fire: Insufficient cooling caused engine fires, and the engines commonly belched fire from their exhaust ports. Any time the vehicle changes speed categories it has a 20% chance of suffering an engine fire. This fire will cause 2d8 points of damage to the vehicle each turn, after 20 points of damage are caused the engine will malfunction and shut down. The fire will spread to the crew compartment after 2d4 rounds, each round after this there is a 10% accumulative chance of the fuel tanks exploding, plus a 5% accumulative chance per round of the ammunition exploding. If the vehicle is buttoned up the crew must pass a spot check of DC18, with –2 per round DC modifier since the start of the fire to notice that the engine is on fire (automatic pass if not buttoned up). Once the fire spreads to the crew compartment the crew each are considered to be on fire and will suffer 2d6 burns damage per round until they extinguish the flames upon their body (see the Flamethrower keyword for details about extinguishing the flames).
Weapons & Armament
Armament, Turret (Main): 75mm KwK 42 L/70.
Armament, Turret (Coaxial): MG34
Armament, Hull (Radio Operator): MG34
Stowage, 75mm Ammunition: 79 shells.
Stowage, MG34 Ammunition: 30 belt bags (150-rounds each).
Turret Traverse: 6 (360-degrees), Powered.
Communication Tools & Systems
Radio: FuG5
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