The Panther (German: Panzerkampfwagen V Panther, abbreviated PzKpfw V Panther) is a German medium tank of the Second World War period.

The tank was developed by MAN in 1941-1942 as a response to the appearance of the Soviet T-34 tank on the fronts. The Panther was armed with a smaller caliber gun than the Tiger, and was considered a medium tank according to the German classification. In Soviet documents, the Panther, according to its combat and technical data, was classified as a heavy tank[2][3]. The Panther's 75-mm cannon in terms of armor-piercing action was superior to the main armament of the Tiger tank - the 8.8 cm KwK 36 L / 56 cannon [4]. In the departmental end-to-end system of designations for military equipment of Nazi Germany, the Panther had the Sd.Kfz index. 171. Since February 27, 1944 known under the designation Panzerkampfwagen V Panther.

The combat debut of the Panther was the Battle of Kursk. Subsequently, tanks of this type were actively used by the Wehrmacht and the SS troops in all European theaters of war. The tank had a number of shortcomings, was difficult to manufacture and operate. On the basis of the Panther, anti-tank self-propelled artillery mounts Jagdpanther, an engineering tank Bergepanther and a number of specialized vehicles for engineering and artillery units of the German armed forces were produced.