Panther Versus Pershing in Cologne.

Not sure If this famous bit of footage of a Panther being finished off by a Pershing in Cologne has been on here before... so I thought I'd add it:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0NF30nbEJUU&search=WW2%20Panther%20Pershing%20Germany%20USA
Strong Stuff.
consider that this Panther had been believed knocked out and then hit 2 unsuspecting Shermans before it and it's crew's final destruction.

It seems there is a longer version out there somewhere, can anyone find it on the web?

Good frame by frame analysis here:
http://www.3ad.com/history/wwll/feature.pages/bates.index.htm

And an excellent addition to the story here:
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165131

Must be one of the most photographed German Tanks of the war.

Pic From:http://www.ww2incolor.com/panther-color.jpg

Cheers,
Adam

I have some footage of the fight but the system does not allow me to upload it!

 

Pretty impressive vid. See the ammo cooking off, really starts to brew up after the second hit. very lucky to get out of that.

Does look like the pershing gun is able to penerate the panthers side armour there. Seems to be little explosin is this cos the shell is penetrating and exploding inside the panther?

Kev

 

Yep it says the AP round was solid shot, seems to have the desired effect.

I often find its the small stories like this that really bring it home.

 

Was the track idler wheel allready shot off?

None of the Pershing shots are in this area (good shooting BTW, right inot the crew cabin, with every shot) but afterward pics clearly show the wheel missing and track loose. Maybe it was imobilised and not knocked out to begin with. Also why didnt they move to more defensibe postion instead of allowing themselves to get flanked if the tank was mobile. This might have tricked the Shermans into thinking it was knocked out.

The driver was still in there, I guess the driver wouldnt be sitting in his seat if he had nothing to do...... MAybe the track was damaged in the subsquent ammo cooking off explosions.

Kev

 

Some more pictures of the Koln cathedral Panther. It was not however the first tank in that square. My search was triggered off by the discovery of the last photo of that pair of Mk.V's from 'The complete guide to Tanks and AFV's' by Forty & LiveseyBritish Army of Occupation in Germany. Taken in 1919, these two Mark V tanks of of 12th Battalion Tank Corps are seen outside Cologne Cathedral, on their way to the station to welcome General Petain who was visiting that day.




Cologne pictures

 

I humbly ask the Lords of the Iron Coffins: Which of this two behemoths was better one on one?

My small but ever-developing knowledge of WW2 tells me that the M26, 90mm included, was at least equal to the german heavy hardware, but, is it true?

 

Why is this so famous? Is it the first Tank to Tank engagement of the M26???

 

I humbly ask the Lords of the Iron Coffins: Which of this two behemoths was better one on one?

My small but ever-developing knowledge of WW2 tells me that the M26, 90mm included, was at least equal to the german heavy hardware, but, is it true?


Better at what? As a WW2 tank then the Pershiing is pretty much at a disadvantage of being too late. All things being equal my own gut feeling is that the Panther is probably the better prospect, its more than capable gun and amrour, allied with its impressive speed and mobility a distinct advantage over the US machine.

In Urban fighting like this, Its pretty much down to luck, whats round the next corner. Good Infantry support is the key, not the extra 15mm of calibre

Kev

 

So, not even the Pershing could compete with Nazi heavies? What about the Centurion?

 

Here is video of Smoyer. Heartbreaking story for him and Katharina Esser's family.

 

Clarence Smoyer (top middle, no helmet)

 

The entire shootout most detailled researched:
Panzerduell am Dom - 6. März 1945