Panther and Cologne Cathedral

NARA Pic that is very cool of KO'd Panther in front of Cologne Cathedral:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r197/mitzdawg/extratanks_0001.jpg

and official caption:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r197/mitzdawg/extratanks_0002.jpg

 

there is actually a film of that Panther being knocked out by an M26 Pershing tank in the battle for Cologne (on Youtube)
it is a well know film and it starts out rather badly for an American tank crew in a Sherman tank. The tanks are at a "T" intersection with the panther coming into view along the top left of the "T" and a Sherman at the top right of the "T", the Panther get's a shot off at the Sherman first causing it's crew to bail out.


the Panther, the Sherman it shot is in the rubble on the right bottom of this photo but is out of sight in the photo


the Sherman is hit and the commander bails out


the Pershing that kills that knocks out the Panther


The Panther is hit and the commander is climbing out of the turret

Then comes a Pershing on the base of the "T" that get's off a shot at the Panther and lights it up causing it's crew to bail out.
Originally the Panther shoots at the Sherman on one street causing the crew to bail and with major casualties, the American tank commander having his left leg shot off above the knee, he rolls onto the back deck of the Sherman while the gunner also bails out.

then a Pershing on another street starts shooting the Panther a few times and you can now see the German tank crew abandoning the tank as the Panther starts to go up in flames


view of the battle area from above

go to YOUTUBE and type in the search "Battle for Cologne-tank duel" it is a ten minute video with commentary about the action

the guy that made the Youtube video under the name anicursor also has a website you can go to for a ton of details about the shooting of that panther by the american Pershing tank go to anicursor.com (Dierk's page) and click on the fourth photo down on the right which is a photo of that Panther and you will get a lot of details about that Panther and it's battle with the Shermans and Pershing
very fascinating

regards

 

Death of a Panther I. JRR

 

Death of a Panther II. JRR View attachment 12092

 

There was only ONE Panther II Prototype, so what are you talking about 'Panther II' JRR?

Edit: oh you mean Part 2, please put Part for it, easier to understand.

 

Sorry. I meant "I" as "Part 1" & "II" as "Part 2." JRR