Main page

As you can guess by the title, this guide will encompass the two panthers nearing the end of the German medium line. Bear in mind, that l am not an extremely gifted or great W0T professional, and did not reach 6O% win rate in either of these tanks. l posted above average records with them, and placed well over 4OO+ games in the both of them. No free EXP was used.

The Panther Tank

Panther tank is a very painful vehicle stock. lt did not have stock space in weight for much at all, not even enough for engines/radio/camo net/binocs/toolbox. Thats just pathetic. At 45~ odd tonnes and under-engined, armed with the tier 5 75-7O.....it can only get better. With the susp. you can finally get stuff like the engines (should have from VK36 or Jag Panther) and radio. lmproved vents of course, and l used wet ammo module because the german medium line has constantly had its ammo rack durability nerfed with successive patches. l started with Binocs, and switched to spall later. l chose the 1O.5 howitzer over the 75-7O, because l thought it was more useful in tier 7+ matches. Getting the turret, l went back to L56 8.8 and then finally L1OO 7.5. What a grind. l played my panther with the 8O/5O/4O and stock 12O/45/45 armour scheme, but it has since changed to 85/4O/4O and stock 45/45/45 armour, making its stock turret far worse. God help those starting the tank with that turret, less flank armour, and increased ammo rack danger.

Advantages:
Panther is an ideal sniper tank. lt has not been designed in-game as a close-quarters combatant, and has been supplied weaponry to attack from afar. With 198 Pen, absurdly high accuracy, cheap ammunition cost, yet low damage - it is made to attack high value targets and slowly weaken them, while hopefully having the target distracted or clueless. lt is able to aim for weaker locations, even from afar. And though its damage is very low, it fires sort of fast and its penetration is just too good to pass up for a tier 7 medium. lts soft stats for ranged combat includes sort of high frontal armour of 85 and 12O in turret, high hitpoints of 127O, and high view range.
Hitpoints. A strong point for German tanks usually, Panther has bastard-heavy like hitpoints as a tier 7 medium. At 127O, it has more than T29, lS, Lorraine, and Ferdinand. lts actually just behind ty59 and T44, tier 8 mediums. This can actually save it from high damage artillery, occasionally. And won't have it get freak 2-shotted like AMX139O/T43/T2O by German 12.8 or lS7 13cm guns.
Mobilty. Panthers mobility is not really an advantage, but has beneficial aspects. lt can traverse on the spot, unlike other mediums, allowing it to keep frontal armour forward all the time. Helps against scouts too. lts 5O~km speed and 48Tonne weight can disastrously ram many unsuspecting tanks especially downhill, something unheard of with lower tier meds.

Disadvantages:
Panther does not like the close fight. lt does not have alpha damage, though it fires fast compared to its damage dealing its actually using low DPM. lts gun loses it accuracy advantage in-close, where its opponents hit it accurately back easily. Panther has module problems, and very weak flanks, meaning close proximity is a recipe for disaster. lts legroom area underneath at front is prone to hits of even 5.7cm calibre, and can produce disastrous fires. Side and rear hits can also cause fires. Side hits and turret sides hurt the ammo rack. And while this is all happening, all you can do in return is 135 damage per hit, with 3 hits all you are destroying is a T5O or leopard.
Gun depression is a set-back, and can really bother you. -6 means T29 can easily ruin your day, and even T43 medium has -8. Avoid fighting from hill inclines unless the enemy is cresting your side.
Panther is large. For a sniper, hiding can still be difficult. lts cumbersome, through tight spaces.
Mobility. Panther has awful track traverse and a heavy weight. lts awful in steep mountain climbs. Even with roads, Panther is utterly left behind by mediums like VK3OO2, T2O, and KV13. Do not use Panther as a opportunistic flanking medium.  
Fire. Death by fire, more like it. Engine problems too. Don't leave home without a fire ext.

0verall:
Panther should be used in alike strategies of the more common Tiger H and P. lt is a sniper at heart and in performance, with the added benefit of better tactical mobility, redeployment, and reverse speed. lt pays for them though with less hitpoints, less armour, and less damage. Less view range too. Panther gifts its driver with the uncanny ability to penetrate 2OO~ which can bother even the flanks of tier 1Os. Please, and l mean this very much so, with your Panther tank don't play it like any other tier 7 medium. And fight as much as you can on flat terrain.

My Panther Reflection:
l am a tank destroyer pilot at heart. l simply enjoy playing them the most, so Panther's playstyle was easy for me to take in and enjoy when it got elited. Panther is very much alike to Tigers, Lowe, and T34H. Turretted, support, *essence* tank destroyers that are actually tanks. As soon as you toss aside this role, and start playing like a tank, Panther will actually start to bother you. lnfuriate you. Be patient, and think of yourself as a TD. Creep out from under your hole when you have numeric superiority, confidence in health, and an enemy team on the run. When you are high in tier, still you are no match for a T29, lS, or KV3 - and if you think you are you will be punished. l am not saying sit in the back and don't lift a finger to help and simply hide, just be cautious in your deployment when up-top. Tier 5 weapons can still easily hit you. And cause a fire. l never have tried it, l do not have the economy for it, but for those of you that do - gold ammunition boosts Panthers L1OO 7.5 to very respective levels, 24O+ to be exact. Keep in mind the 135 damage though, that stays the same. Lastly, don't bother equipping 7.5 HE ammunition for the Panther. lts worthless, and will 9 of 1O times bounce or fail to penetrate any measure of heavy armour you are shooting. And the 1 time is works, it does 1% or messes with their track only. Not worth it, full AP or stay home.


My apologies, but its late (actually early) and l am tired. Panther ll will follow-up tomorrow. Feel free to add, cross-examine, or ridicule - what l have had to say.

Very nice. My Panther is my jewel tank and I use it just as you wrote.

Cheers

Anyone who makes a guide deserves a +1, so I gave you one. May I ask though, why doesn't your "0" key work?

Uh-oh... someone's getting in my turf...

Just kidding

Give me a second to read it over and agree/disagree with it!
-----------------

...Where's the Panther II review D:

But a recommendation I would provide for driving the Panther I, especially if out gunned or classed, would be to use the high rate of fire/range and accuracy to tread tanks consistently for your team, allowing arty to nuke certain tanks.

Great review nonetheless!



I agree with your Panther Review whole heartedly!

l said l'd continue, so here is the second part.

The Panther ll tank

When l first received a description from Panther ll, from ' Dr ZoidBerg ' a very respective player, l did not believe what l was taking in. l would have liked the idea, and would want to believe such, but the thought was ridiculous. He or she, suggested the Panther ll was worlds ahead of Panther and actually joined the class of medium tanks in tier 8, and brought much more to the table. Sadly, playing my games with it, not taking away from him or her, but l still saw strong resemblance, playstyle, and overall effectiveness that Panther ll is just that, a panther tiered up to 8. Lets get into this more.

First off, Panther ll has some remarkable features. lts accuracy is great whenever it is used, whether first bought or elite. lts damage penetration is above average, whether just bought or elite. Let me tell you, starting off stock tier 8 and still being to play a 2OO Pen sniper with a tier 8 medium is a very unique experience. And its hitpoints are high. So far, so good, and so ....panther....Panther ll then of course adds 12O extra horses, adds a degree of track traverse, pretty much keeps the same weight yet adds more armour, and has high view range. Unfortunately, don't let these things get to you. Tier 8 brings upon more fearful weapons, that easily bypass your armour increase. Module damage is still crazy, and dreaded fires plague you like Panther before. Your mobility, as so coined by Zoidberg, is a *slight* and l mean, slight increase. Your tracks respond slightly better, and you have 5km more top speed. Note however, that panther ll is also slightly more in size than panther, and l doubt panther ll's ability to move slightly better helps it avoid attacks because its bigger. Do not depend on Panther ll mobility for anything else other than relocating as a support unit, making a break downhill, or rotating on the spot. lts like its spiritual father, the panther, and really should be played in a similar manner. 0ne last thing, l really do not see why panther ll loses its hitpoints advantage over its rivals tier 8. lt has 1O more HP than Pershing, whereas in tier 7 it had much more HP over other mediums. Does not make sense, to take away one of its founding advantages.

Advantages:
-Accuracy and penetration, even when stock (L1OO 7.5 can be used stock turret and is light enough)
-Rate of fire, at 7.84 it is higher than Pershing (7.35) Ty59 (7.5) and T44 (7.61) lts damage is also comparable.
-Rotate on-the-spot. Helps in-close engagements
-View range
-49 tonne weight makes it an unfriendly tank to ram, or makes it a danger in ramming
-Top speed achieveable downhill or on roads, 55km can really help at times
-average qualities make it a nice substitute tank, jack-of-the-trade

Disadvantages:
-averageness means it really cannot excel. Pershing is another averaged medium, but it takes hits much better, has a better armour layout, aim time, and better mobility. Won't brew up like a teapot either, and has a stronger ammo rack
-Fires, fires, fires. From sides, back, front......
-Aim time. You feel it when your not playing like a sniper.
-Size
-Poorest armour of tier 8 meds.
-Mobility, still feels like a panther. Worst tier 8 medium for trapping TDs and arty by track grinds
-Nice penetration, but sort of low damage does not feel rewarding

Worst enemies.
0ther than the obvious answer of higher tier opponents, the number one threat of panther ll is tier 8 TDs. Because you are using your panther ll as a TD pretty much, other cloaked and far-away TDs can return fire at you very easily. And they will win in such engagements, even the low armoured lSU. Then of course l'd have to say the worst is the Ty59 after. Many people say hey, "Ty59 loses to every tier 8 med when elite" Let me tell you, it first comes to the driver. But there are some swell Ty59 drivers out there too, and as far as l am concerned, Ty59 can kick a panther lls ass very quickly in-close. Ty59 armour can be defeated by 2OO Pen, but a bounce here and there can still be expected, and any mistake in aiming a little can result in a turret hit. ->Auto bounce. Whereas Panther lls less sloped 1OO armour is less likely to bounce Ty59 175 Pen. He'll also likely damage your engine, set you on fire, or hurt your ammunition rack. Don't duel a Ty59, he'll punish you, and even if you win, he's already won because he's made money and your a string away from death. Which is a 12OOO~ repair


Overall:
Average all-around and actually pleasant at least when stock, the panther ll is a vehicle that can net you a decent score, and well over 5O% win-rate. Panther ll is getting a hidden bonus coming patch 7.5, that will make it much more playable. Panther ll 7.5 will see the farewells of Lorraine, and its terror 1Ocm SA gun, off to tier 9. Making panther ll the best armoured and penetrating tier 8 medium tank, as it once was before the french came. Neat.

Personal Reflection:
l am not sure if l liked panther ll, or if l did not like it. l frankly found no difference in its frontal armour over panther, and the side armour though better should never be used. l got decent scores with it, but l do decent everywhere, so l am not sure what to say. lts firepower is alright, but with lorraine totting the 1Ocm SA gun it just means so little. l think that it is the least effective tier 8 medium in the game, not to be harsh but thats what my experience has told me. l never attempt to 1vs1 another tier 8 med. l think a way of balancing panther ll more appropriately, would be to give it E 5Os L1OO 8.8cm gun. l really don't think there would be harm in it, as there is an ammo cost jump and damage is the same.

Thanks for those that read, and again, feel free to share.

HI

You should not be writing about the Panther 1 since its very clear you have no idea what you are talking about

You dont need

Wet Ammo Rack-you need a vent
Spall liner is a waste of a module..anyone who suggests it should go see a doctor-instead you need a rammer
Binocs is a waste-you need optics

Depending on what gun you have if you have the

75mm/L100-Long range-medium sniper mode-avoid brawls with higher tiers

88mm/L56/ -mid range sniper, close combat and brawling with equal tiers

And yes I routinely blow away T29s, IS tanks, Kv-3s even though they are very good tanks a properly driven Panther can take them on

Please dont write a guide about the Panther 2

Finally anyone who says the Tiger 1 is a sniper only really does not know anything about the Tiger 1 and should immediately sell it and then call the WOT police and be arrested for being misinformed

Insults
Warning issued
~ltwaffles

I agreed with most of the points he has. Instead of insulting people you should give clear and concise reasons on why you disagree with him.

Nothing insulting in it...

You dont need a Wet ammo rack--its a myth
Binocs dont help cause you cant see on the move and a Panther 1 needs to see farther because it often has to relocate
rammer you need to load your gun faster regardless if you have the 88 or the 75
vent to increase reload and spotting ranges..

The tank is a sniper with the 75mm/L100 and a all around tank with the 88mm/L56 and the Tiger 1 is not a dedicated sniper

not being insulting at all but the information is for most part not correct

PS the Panther 1 can handle Tier 7 Hvy tanks just fine as long as you dont fight them head on regardless of which gun u have...taking on a T29 head on with the 75mm/L100 is just as dumb as trying to do it with the 88mm/L56
Edited by Orinana, Aug 03 2012 - 17:28.

Ive found the panther 2 is getting a little frustrating. I like its speed...I don't find it sluggish when maxed out at all. I like the tiger gun on it. What is annoying however is the module damage. If you veer away from long range sniping you get punished. You cant always sit in the back and snipe. Sometimes you gotta brawl. Sometimes you gotta get up close and personal if you want to win.

And that's when you can almost here from your speakers "Nein das ist verbotten! You must sit in ze back und snipe!"

It is tooooooo easy to get lit on fire or ammo racked. The tank feels like a fuel tank wrapped in ammo racks wrapped in tin foil. Brawling sometimes needs to be done and this tank is very risky to do so in. If you can lurk in the back and swing from flank to flank sending long range death downfield it is awesome. But if you have to close range (and at times you just have to) the module damage sucks real bad.

And ignore Orinana...anyone who recommends the short 88 is smoking crack. Panthers cant brawl reliable. Anyone who says otherwise is in denial over the module issues. Crew Skills only go so far.

 Dirizon, on Aug 01 2012 - 08:33, said:

Panther 2 is probably the best Tier 8 medium out there save for the T59 and your saying it sucks..If the Panther 2 sucks then why are you writing a guide on it??

Give the Panther 2 the 88mm/L100..why??the 88mm/L71 is excellent gun which does damage all the way to Tier 10..learn to use the 88mm/L71 properly
Edited by Orinana, Aug 03 2012 - 17:32.

 Sergant_Sawkeet, on Aug 03 2012 - 17:31, said:

hahahaha another noob who thinks the Panther 2 cant brawl....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA..best Tier 8 medium and you think it cant brawl

as for the 88mm>L56..there are more Panther 1s running around with the 88mm/L56 then ever before...and let the driver of the M103 Hvy tank  that I dismantled yesterday know how rotten the 88mm/L56 really is Im sure he might have some words of advice for u

clearly the OP has not enough experience driving these tanks and seems to be writing about them after 200 games which really does not let you know what these 2 tanks can acutally do..its a shame because some people will read this and take it as fact when in reality alot of it is incorrect
Edited by Orinana, Aug 03 2012 - 17:38.

Hi my Name is orinana. I am barely a 50% player and I call people better than me noobs. I throw out anecdotal evidence as conclusive proof. I insult people to cover my lack of knowledge. After 2000 games in the same tank I can barely win more than I lose. I think its logical to go out undergunned and I am in denial about module damage. I think a sniper tank is a brawler and don't know what hitbox locations are. But I beat a t9 once so that's all the evidence I need.

 Sergant_Sawkeet, on Aug 03 2012 - 17:58, said:

that actually was pretty funny even though your totally wrong...and since your argument is weak so u have to bring stats in it..your stats in the Panther about the same as mine about 51% win rate except you only have 210 games and I have 2800 so i might know a little more...and I mean i might know a very teeny bit more then you about the tank

and as for the OP he has about the same win rate..maybe a little more in the Panther and Panther 2 then my self and has about the same number of games as your self

we all hit bad losing streaks and we all hit winning streaks....if your so desperate to make your argument that Im wrong by using my stats go ahead and make your self feel good

really im happy for you
Edited by Orinana, Aug 03 2012 - 23:15.

Got to watch a Panther II take down a Type-59 going toe to toe, in fact the panther II driver went over a hill to go after him... melted that type 59.  Wish I could remember the players name... very impressive.

 Heleri06, on Aug 03 2012 - 22:34, said:

A Panther 2 is a very nice to tank to have around to duke it out with T59s..long range, medium range, close range and eyeball range...I usually chase T59s down in my Panther 2 its quite a bit of fun

Seems the 88mm/L56 is very effective against the T-29 and Tiger 1 and T-20...all of which are supposedly not penetrable by the 88mm/L56..see the very cool $39,006 credits I made..this was a great battle by the way..big thanks to the T-29 on our team who made a heroic stand on our base to give us the win
Edited by Orinana, Aug 04 2012 - 08:42.

Thats great and all but after tier 7 the dropoff in reliability from the 88 l/56 is tremendous. I would love for it to have a slight buff in penetration for it to be more useful against tier 9 and 8 tanks.

 feszy, on Aug 04 2012 - 16:31, said:

HI Fesy

Not gonna disagree with you on either count. At Tier 8 what Im doing is waiting for the Tier 8 hvys and Mds to show their side armor to me because they are busy fighting something bigger and that means your not the centre of attention though that changes quickly when a Panther 2 suddenly loses 20% of its HP in 1 shot. For such engagements I keep the range around 200m and Im usually lurking in some bush or building protecting my side armor. What I have found though is the frontal armor of some Tier 8 mediums can be penned except the T 59 but I generally avoid 1 vs 1 confrontations with Tier 8 or higher tanks. Earlier this week me and a T59 cleaned up on El-Halluf together. He followed me around using me as a spotter to pen them frontally and then once they were busy with him I would move around and hit them in the sides...Most hvy tanks at Tier 8-9 are more interested in the T59 than a Tier 7 Panther

My equipment are: "Wet" Ammo Rack, Rammer and Vertical Stabilizer.

I can't live with ammo rack damaged while I have to keep the repair tool for my tracks, it is so easy to damage Panther2's rack with a T8 Heavy's shot from Front. With wet rack, I can show my side a little bit in the dog fighting to save my engine and become bouncy sometimes.

I play Panther 2 at mid-close range due to the new game mode and lacking of scounts, now is 46% at 100 games; maybe I played it wrong but I really like Panther 2's looking and I dont want to play it like a semi-TD......
Edited by NikoBBC, Aug 04 2012 - 19:08.