This pure academia here, but what is the story on Grau Panthers? Any see combat? Got in a discussion about this. My thoughts are ... the two prototypes were most likely grau. Production began in Jan. 43. Change to Dunkelgeld was Feb. 43. AVERAGE production rate for all 43 was 148/month, first month or two was probably way below that. So, in theory there may have been about 100 painted Dunkelgrau. Most of those going to School and development units?? Does this sound about right?

You're a lucky man. My reference site of choice says there have been exactly 4 Panthers painted in Dunkelgrau:

http://panther1944.de/index.php/de/sdkfz-171-pzkpfwg-panther/technik/technischen-veraenderungen

For some reasons, the English version of this very page is not working. Let me know if you need help with translations.

Whether any of them saw combat, I don't know. If so, I doubt they would have been sporting their grey livery, since AFAIK Panthers first saw combat at the Kursk battle, by which time the dunkelgelb camouflage was widespread.

Danke sehr. Like I said, my suspicion is the first at least 50 or so went to Schools and development units. Have to train crews and mechanics before you can put them in service. I'll let you know if I need any translation. (See how good my high school Deutch is after near 40 years. )

Don't mean to be the bearer of bad news, but you crashed and burnt on "Deutsch".

I can't spell in english either. (Yeah! I know we Americans don't speak ENGLISH.... )

The first four Ausf. D's were delivered in January 1943. So, 100% they were RAL7021 Dunkelgrau.

In February 1943, 18 Ausf. D's were handed over to the German Army. The color change was made by H.M. 1943 No. 181, issued on 18 February, 1943, changed the base color to RAL 840 R, later reidentified as RAL7028.

More than likely, some of those 18 tanks were delivered before 18 February. Those tanks would have been still been painted in Dunkelgrau.

So, while four can be confirmed, the number is most likely slightly more.

However, after all the Ausf. D's (early built tanks) went through the rebuild program at Grafenwoehr, April/May 1943, they would have been repainted to the new scheme.

So where are the photos?

People tend to photograph new things...

Check this book out for info about these real early Panthers-
https://www.panzerwrecks.com/product/panther-external-appearance-design-changes/
Dan

RAL 840 R is the number for the reference chart that contained color chips, not an identification number for a specific color. "Dunkelgelb Nach Muster"/"Dark Yellow according to standard" was the original designation in Feb '43. In April, it was given the reference number 7028.

Thanks for the correction.

Here is a picture of an early production Ausf. D in Dunkelgrau. The picture is from Panther: External Appearance & Design Changes, page 39.



The text indicates that at least the first 8 vehicles were painted Dunkelgrau.

Mark,
But I imagine that these did not see long-term service in gray.
Dan