Com-Central.net

Here you will find some photos of the Panther tank exposed at Mourmelon le Grand, in France. It's exposed in the french military camp, where is based the 501st /503rd Combat Tanks Regiment (Régiment de Chars de Combat).

www.military-kits.com/...hp?sid=155





According to what I know ,this panther doesn't seems to be one of the Panther tanks belonging to the Saumur Tank museum, neither the 211, nor the 256, the 201 or the FFI painted wreck. The Panther 256 seems to be exposed at Saumur, I've found a photography showing it in the Tank Museum in april 2006. This tank was previously exposed at the Caen memorial. The tank in Mourmelon also have a layer of zimmerit with a different pattern of the other Saumur Tanks. It also have a impact on the right side just over the tracks and no mudguard. Last but not the least, this tank is very complete with the gearboxes, the exhausts and some tools and extra tracks on both sides (maybe is it running?).

Do somebody know where does this tank comes from? Is it a 5th tank coming from the Saumur Tank Museum reserve.. I am looking forward for any information about this tank.

Cheers from France

Pierre-Olivier

It may indeed "come from" the 503 RCC, it was equipped with Panthers through the early 1950s. According to Spielberger's "The Panther & Its Variants," they started out with 50 Panthers.

Here's a classic pic of the 503 RCC equipped with Panthers & half-tracks.



This picture can be found in Jean-Gabriel Jeudy's "Chars de France", p.205. A rough translation of the caption would be:

"Because of the lack of available "Panther" tanks, the regiment was only able to field 17 of them, which were all allocted to its 4th squadron in 1951."

You can find some info on this at: www.chars-francais.net...nther.htm.

I'm actually a little disapointed the 503 RCC didnt paint this one in French colors (just to see something different).

Neil

Yes Neil you are totally right. I've found this photo on the Antoine Misner's website www.chars-francais.net :



I have to admit that I didn't think to go on this website to look for more information... It is 100% the same, with the impact on the right side. So in France we have 6 Panthers.

Thanks again Neil

Pierre-Olivier

what a wonderful find,its funny how every so often something new turns up thanks a million

dennis

Bravo!

Another one down, this one has never been in the books as far as I know. Pains me to see it stored outdoors though. I hope they have fans installed to keep the moisture away.

Makes me wonder how many other Panzers that are stored away and forgotten around France ... a Tiger or 2 maybe ...

Cheers,
Rik

Hello...........

so this must be the same Panther A? Look at the impact on the right front over the tracks.

Andreas

- the_shadock

Do somebody know from where does this tank comes? Is it a 5th tank coming from the Saumur Tank Museum reserve.. I am looking forward for any information about this tank.

Cheers from France

Pierre-Olivier

This Panther did indeed (at least initially) come from the Saumur storage facility, as evident by Dennis Trowbridge's photos from Saumur in the 70's.

See album at the link below:
community.webshots.com...4650KdqwaH



It has obviously been carefully restored since (at least externally).

Cheers,
Rik

- the_shadock

Yes Neil you are totally right. I've found this photo on the Antoine Misner's website www.chars-francais.net.

...

Pierre-Olivier

J'ai bien compris ton expression en anglais. Bien fait.

(Translation - I understood your writing in English. Well done.)