Ok I have the Vespid 1/72 kit of the Panther G with options to build it as either a ‘steel wheel’ version or with the anti air armour.
Now my questions are when was the anti air armour introduced and was a steel wheel Panther fitted with anti air?
Lastly were any steel wheel Panthers used in the Ardennes offensive?
I’ve checked some books but they don’t give a date for the anti air nor say if both were ever on the same tank.
As far as I know, the anti-aircraft armor on Panthers was only done by a single unit on the Italian front. The only photograph I’ve ever seen of them had it done to earlier Panthers, so no steel wheels or chin mantlets.
Apparently Kampfgruppe Peiper had steel-wheeled Panthers during the Ardennes Offensive, at least.
Thanks Tommi, the kit does come with markings for a 2nd SS steel wheel Panther in Dec 44 in Belgium plus the anti air in Italy.
Looks like it will be the 2nd SS for this build.