Hi all.

Apologies for another question,but I'd like to find out if anyone knows whether the Panzer Lehr's Panther A Late tanks used Zimmerit on their side skirts during the June 1944 period in Normandy?

Looking at the few photos I could find,it is really difficult to tell as the picture quality is awful and I haven't seen any source that clarifies the question.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hey Mike,

Zimmerit was factory applied up until 9 September 1944 and field application until 7 October 1944. In addition my Panther Ausf A kit came with optional side skirts that had zimmerit. One final piece of evidence is this surviving Ausf A in France, the zimmerit was applied post restoration but I am willing to bet they researched to determine if it was accurate. I am no expert but it appears Ausf A would have zimmerit on the skirts in Normandy.



Also the tank in this link is from the panzer lehr and appears to have texture on the skirt

http://efour4ever.com/44thdivision/images/v3_panther.jpg

Thanks Matthew, that info makes a lot of sense...I appreciate your help!

If I may ask,which kit is it that has the side skirts with Zimmerit? I'm looking at getting Dragon's 6168 (Panther A late) which seems to include optional side skirts but minus the Zimmerit,so I'm trying to decide if I'll need to apply zimm to the skirts to accurately depict a Normandy period Panzer Lehr vehicle?

My kit is the old italeri Ausf A, kit no 270, I know this kit had some errors so I know it is not 100% accurate but this kit coupled with the other evidence tells me the Ausf A probably had side skirt zimmerit. Zimmerit as you know was used by the Germans to deter magnetic mines, the only issue being Germany was the only country that used magnetic mines in great numbers. This funny fact aside the Germans were very worried about the use of magnetic mines and most tanks made between mid 43' and late 44' had zimmerit applied. Here is my kit in progress.

I think you would be okay either way. I have seen a few photos of them with zim on the tank but not the skirts as well. Might depend on the factory, possibly?

Museum restorations are notoriously unreliable. I have never seen Zimmerit applied to side skirts in a period photo. The purpose of Zimmerit was to defeat magnetic mines, and attaching a magnetic mine to a piece of skirt armor would be pointless, anyway.

Indeed they are. Just think about the bizarre pattern on Saumur's Jagdpanther, which comprises alternating ridged squares that no wartime factory appears to have employed. Not that it stopped an aftermarket company reproducing it....

Personally I'd give zero credence to a museum-applied Zimmerit coating, whether in coverage, thickness, pattern or texture.