The British captured an intact early model Panther Ausf. G near the Dutch village of Overloon. The tank was pressed into service with the 4th Armored Battalion of the British 6th Tank Brigade. The tank was nicknamed "Cuckoo" and served with the unit in late 1944 to early 1945. Without spares of any kind the British kept the Panther running and it proved a valuable asset in several battles. Cuckoo marched on its own tracks from Belgium through the Netherlands and into Germany, where its journey, and service to freedom ended.
Cuckoo first saw service helping the artillery barrage on the Gejsteren castle, north of Venlo, on the Meuse River. After an infantry attack on the castle failed, the decision was made to bombard the castle with artillery. During the artillery bombardment on the castle, they found Cuckoo to be a worthy newcomer with its ability to shoot 75mm shells through selected windows with extreme accuracy.
After the assault on the castle, during operation "Blackcock" Cuckoo was deployed again, now joining in on an attack on the German town named Waldenrath. Cuckoo was noted as performing very well again with its mobility being especially noticeable compared to the 4th Armored Battalion's Churchill tanks. A veteran remarked: "The road conditions were abominable all day, whereas the Churchill's and the Crocodiles, with no ice bars, slid into ditches at every possible opportunity, "Cuckoo" the Panther, eight tons heavier, trundled merrily along with no difficulty at all."
Cuckoo's career ended during operation "Varitable". When the tank was heading towards the east of Kleve in Germany the fuel pump broke down, lacking a replacement pump the crew sadly had no other choice than to abandon the tank.
"Cuckoo" and crew.
