The panther was probably the best medium tank of the Second world war. The gear problem was due to the fact that it was made for much lighter tanks, and many times the slave laborers would chicle things out in the gears. This cause many problems, the battle of Kursk didn't do justice to the Tigers of panthers destructive possibilities because they were rushed into battle, later models were very affective defensive weapons, the had the movement to attack the allies in one part of Normandy and go to another to make the impression of more tanks. One other problem that panthers had were the gas tanks being mounted on the back of the tank, easily exploded to the enemy at the rear.