Hello all,
This is the famous picture taken in Budapest in 1945.
https://fortepan.download/file/fortepan-eu/1600/fortepan_217754.jpg
What kind of Bergepanther is in the background? I suppose it’s an Ausf A with the wooden structure missing. But what can that two things, each with two handles? Some kind of boxes?
Thank you for the answers.
What are you looking at particularly? I see what appears to be a small metal box resting on the righthand track next to the tow hook (left side of photo). I don’t see any other boxes but I do see one of the timbers used for getting vehicles unstuck on the left-hand side of the superstructure ending just above the headlight.
Somehow I cannot attach pictures… 
So, next to the timber, looking at the picture, under the barrel of the other Panther, there is the metal superstructure without the wooden upper part. On this, right under the barrel there are two metal slates with four square holes in them. One of the holes is at the tree. That’s the thing I cannot recognize.
From my research, over 40 years or so. What we ARE PROBABLY looking at is a Demag EARLY Ausf D. without the tool house. It may or may not have a spade or even winch.
Thanks @Whitney_Foreman. But then what can this thing be? Some kind of a field modification?
(Finally I was able to attach the picture)So, many Berge’s had accommodations to protect the crew from the weather. Officially there were about 12 variants that were produced. UNOFFICALLY there were dozens of field modifications. Ranging from an raised armoured cab, to simple ones like the one in your photograph.
Actually, once you recognize the features it’s pretty easy to spot.
Here is my WIP 1/25 Berge
So I thought I would follow up with you. First, I was wrong… let the universe know 
The Berge in your picture is PROBABLY a Henschel mid to late war variant.
Also, try these book(etes) for reference.
Cheers
Thanks @Whitney_Foreman. I think in the picture two vision ports are visible on the structure, and to be symmetrical there should be a third one. This feature is not visible in the Henschel variant structure, which also looks to be circular while the one in question for me looks to be straight by the light greyish thing on the top of it.
In this thread https://www.track-link.com/blogs/37028/4 the log is written to be on the right hand side as in the picture you sent. While in the Budapest photo the log is on the left.
I would say you were right in the first research and it might be a field modified Ausf D.
What I see in the picture as to those two “ports” is the support system for a canvas covering for the open drivers compartment. Again I could be wrong, but that’s what I am seeing.
Cheers
You are right about the canvas covering. Upon surfing the net I found a photo I had never seen. According to the text in the post the photo was taken in Budafok-Háros in 1945. It says the Bergepanther was taken there from the Krisztina boulevard (where the other photo was taken).
I think it is the same Bergepanther. I circled all the details I had found:
a weird dent on the right side of the hull
the mudguard holder has the same angle on the right
the Zimmerit has at least two identical damages
the driver’s port has the same angle (okay that’s not a strong evidence)
the lamp is dent backwards in both cases
the mudguard on the left has the same dents and cracks
something is stuck behind the left mudguard leaving a hole at the mudguard in the Budafok photos
Otherwise the Budafok photo shows significant changes - no tracks, the drive wheel misses the outer ring, missing towing hook on the left, etc.
The same details are visible on the canvas opening - the double holes and those “vision port” looking somethings. Still I have no idea how to recreate the canvas cover structure and those plates with holes if I try to build a Bergepanther model.
So to me it appears to be the top of one variant. The variant I am referring to had a wooden covering, much like the initial variant. Like I mentioned, there were dozens of field modifications made. PLEASE try and pick up any one of the books listed previously.
Cheers
