I am going to be building an Early Panther A from Panzergruppe Bake and have been looking for photos.

I've come across photos of one with the MG ring missing from the cupola. I'm thinking these photos are likely of the same tank.

Can anyone provide me with more info about this tank? Why the ring is missing? or anything else that would help in regards to Panthers from this unit?

PHOTOS FOR DISCUSSION ONLY

Tiger im Focus has some pictures of the Panzerfgruppe here

http://www.tiif.de/thread.php?threadid=230&sid=5c42ea25f1b66ef1c71b1a5420e585f3

The images of Panthers are tiny, but they all seem to lack glacis and cupola mg's. Your post made me curious, so I went looking around, and found lots of Panthers without the MG ring on the cupola. As to why...who knows.

Speculating, I imagine a tank commander would feel safer inside, than outside with bullets flying around.

Gaz

According to Panzertracts the AA ring was factory fitted from august 1st onward.

Garry, it was common practice (or so I'm led to believe) for german panzer commanders to often fight exposed.

The small square plate on each periscope guard Is a welding foundation for the machinegun rail.

So these cupolas are fitted for, but not with, the machine gun rail.

Thanks for the help.

Bart