D.B. FACTORY PAINT

Thank you everyone

We know for certain that Ausf F hulls were in the production line at DB at the end of the war. Photos of the ruined factory show the hulls with the guide rails for the newly-designed sliding driver's hatch plainly visible.

Although, as Jentz has stated, all Panthers issued to the last unit were still Ausf G. However, he continues;

"Therefore, if a few Panther Ausf F had been successfully completed, they would have been issued on 20 through 23 April 1945 to the II./ Panzer-Regiment 2 for the immediate employment in defense of the Berlin area."

Personally, I doubt this happened, for if any Ausf F actually made it into combat, there would certainly be one sitting in Kubinka today, or at least a record of one. There is no way the Soviets would have passed up examining the final culmination of German tank design.

Here is the publisher's review of Duel in the Mist, the book includes color profiles of the various factory applied color schemes.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/78968/message/1172813397/Duel+in+the+Mist

Additional information;

http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/thread/1233789169/Dragon+Panther+F+question

Thank you!  I was thinking that as Daimler Benz had the Panther F turrets, possible hulls, that early production would have been painted as those vehicles they were transitioning from.  Duel in the Mist Vol 1.  deals mainly with Army Group Peiper correct?  As my last name is Piper, I should probably have that anyway :)

Daimler-Benz Panther G's had a distinct, hard-edged, factory-applied camouflage from Sept. 1944 until the end of the war. Here is an example; 

I don't have an 4-view color plate, although some sources indicate the best available color plates of late DB Panthers is found in Duel in the Mist, Vol I.  The position of the Balkenkreuz behind the wire-cutter / fire extinguisher mounts and the barely visible spare road wheel bracket on the turret side, along with the distinct (albeit with some variation) camouflage, are identifying marks of a late DB Panther G.

What's DB?