French Panthers & Spanish '88's

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by von Poop, Mar 2, 2006.

  1. Bodston

    Bodston Little Willy

  2. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Great stuff mate.
    (And I see WW2IC seems to be having the same 're-skinning' hiatus that WW2F is enduring under the new VBulletin - got quite confused there.)

    Not exactly a well-covered subject is it. Almost as if De Gaulle wasn't making these chaps #1 priority for the photographers, unsurprisingly.
     
  3. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Anybody know more about this postwar Panther Crane, said to have been in France?
    Maybe whether it made it into restoration eventually? (It'd probably have paid for a rather shiny modern replacement, possibly even from Krupp...)
    Panthercrane.jpg

    From here:
    PANZERNET
    (Great site, by the way.)
     
  4. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    A Sword into a Ploughshare? :D
     
  5. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    german tank with french sign.jpg I think this is a Ex German ww2 tank with a French sign on it [map of France on side] must be post war, did the French use many wartime German tanks. Photo from my collection.
    Keith
     
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2021
    von Poop likes this.
  6. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    Yep you are right Morris. Not sure of the exact variant but the French used German "Panther" tanks post war. Nice shot of the tank. I take it that isnt the crew? ;)
     
  7. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    I think this is a Ex German ww2 tank with a French sign on it [map of France on side] must be post war, did the French use many wartime German tanks. Photo from my collection.
    Keith
    Very nice shot, Keith.
    I've merged your thread in with this existing one, which you might find interesting.

    ~A
     
  8. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Sorry, forgot to say - quite possible that your Panther is one that ended up at Saumur:
    https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=saumur+panther&hl=en&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=hJ5sT_mRBoW28QPi0OzGDg&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CBsQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=871#hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=saumur+panther+french+markings&oq=saumur+panther+french+markings&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_l=img.3...19671l23436l0l23616l16l16l0l15l0l0l61l61l1l1l0.frgbld.&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=a198ee6dd5bfc729&biw=1280&bih=871
    Have a look there, at least one more shot of early tourists visiting what may well be it.

    Preserved Tanks .Com | Tank Profile seems likely.
    This Ausf G was built by MAN in July 1944 and has the chassis number 120790. It carries Free French markings and was one of the two Panthers previously on display at Les Invalides, Paris. [Preserved Tanks in France: Number 176].
    Paris 7e, jardin des Invalides. Char allemand Panther. 1

    (Caveat - I really haven't looked at the photo too deeply yet, just connected the marking with a familiar old dear.)
     
  9. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Thanks Von Poop,
    Think you have ID the tank.
    Keith
     
  10. sebfrench76

    sebfrench76 Senior Member

    In our french slang,a panther is like a cougar,hehe..
     
  11. Welbike

    Welbike Junior Member

    Hi All, to add to the Spanish 88's, I found 4 of them in the now closed, (everything was sold in 2009) museum near Avranches, right off the N175, there was also a "real" German 88, with the transport bogies, and a Portugese 105.

    To cut a long story short, we, a friend and I bought the 4 Spanish 88's and the Portugese 105, and were duly transported to Holland, this was 15-20 years ago, so no problems with customs or deactivation certificats etc.

    Must have many pictures, but being pre-digital times, I have no clue as to where to look for them?

    And where they all went?? the 105 is in a museum in the Ardennes, one 88 can be viewed outside the Memory International War Museum in Nijverdal Holland, the rest I have no idea. Current owners will probably not readily admit they have something Spanish!

    I did search for info back then, but did not come up with much info, will look for the pictures, but could take considerable time.

    Cheers,

    Lex
     
    von Poop likes this.
  12. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Not primarily French, nor Spanish, but a very interesting article on Czech uses of Panthers long postwar, so this seems a good place to put it.

    >> Pz.Kpfw. V Panther - ve službách cizích armád :: Germany (DEU) :: Tanks

    There is a bit more on French use, among other nations.

    (Also includes this Bench, said to be in Bulgaria... Which I want)
    t_obr7_174.jpg

    Bit of a Twatter enquiry re. this bench.
    Site above used to say Bulgaria, now Romania.
    Detektorweb says Hungary:
    Detektory kovù - Zajímavosti II. – Detektor web.cz

    Does anybody know for sure?
     
    Dave55 likes this.
  13. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Stuff like that is what makes this the best WWII site on the net!

    Thanks!
     
  14. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

  15. 509thPIB

    509thPIB Well-Known Member

  16. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Some good stuff here on where the French sent Panzer IVs they never found much use for.
    Spoiler: The article might also have to go in one of the threads mentioning Golan Heights wrecks...
    Panzers in the Golan Heights
     
    Tolbooth, Owen and canuck like this.

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