Guys
I picked up the Chamberlain & Doyle "Encyclopedia of German tanks from World War Two" yesterday at a very good price. On the cover is a Panther with a hose leading to and from a valve(?) mounted on the side of the turret. Can anyone please tell me what this is for?

Pete

I think they jsut put it there for easy storage, Not enough room in the tank.

Its actually a Gas hose to fill the tank up, another words a gas pump

There was no Panther flame-thrower. ...Jim

Certainly there were field modifications but this is one that would have little logic. As many engineer battalions were equipped with 251/16s, it would be unlikely (to put it mildly), to equip a Panther in this manner. Put it another way, would You want to be inside the fighting compartment of a tank with flame thrower tanks?...Jim

Either way, its a gas pump :-)

I take it that you are refering to a petrol pumping devise? :-) :-) :-) :-)

Not all that familiar with flamethrower tanks, but didn't the sherman pull a trailer behind it with the napalm in it? If not where was the mixture stored?

The fuel tanks for the panther are mounted alongside the engine. The filling valve is on the back deck. Now not having access to this picture the statement read "a valve on the side of the turret". Why would there be a valve with a hose sticking out connected to the turret?

Its not connect to the tank, Its tied up to the tracks so it doesnt fly around when the tank is moving.
Easy Storage,
Its not a flame thrower simple as that

The crew would stick the head of the pump into the Jerry can or barrel and the crew would flip the switch and gas would be pumped out