1. German Mk. V Panther
The sloping armor of the German Panther tank was a response to a similar feature on the Russian T-34, although the basic Panther design traces its roots back to the pre-war years. Pursuing this process of one-upmanship, the Germans created the best tank of the Second World War when they introduced the Panther in January 1943. It was deployed in time for the battle of Kursk, its first major engagement.
The Panther was a medium tank with decent speed, satisfactory reliability, heavy German FHA 80-85mm sloped frontal armor and very good firepower. The Panther's high velocity 75mm gun could penetrate the armor of all Allied tanks, making it a lethal adversary. The tank's top speed was 28 MPH. The Panther's design featured a torsion bar suspension system and interleaved wheels, which allowed it to go practically anywhere. Some 4814 Panthers were produced before the end of the war.
It was a particularly dangerous foe for the American, Canadian and British Sherman tanks, which were simply no match for the Panther. The Panther was faster, more reliable, more maneuverable and could go more places than its larger running mate, the Tiger tank. Its sloped armor gave it nearly the immune zone of the heavier Tiger.
Had Germany won the war, I believe that the Panther would today have a service record and longevity comparable to that achieved by the Russian T-34. As they say, winning is everything.
