The German Panther is arguably the finest medium tank of the Second World War and one of the greatest ever built. Combining unmatched firepower, armour protection and mobility it was the primary nemesis of the Russian T-34 tank on the Eastern Front. Mark Healy looks at its combat record and what it was like to operate and maintain.

Mark Healy is the author of the Haynes T-34 Tank Manual as well as Panther Tank Manual. Midway 1942, The Tiger Tank Story and Zitadelle: The German Offensive against the Kursk Salient 14–17 July 1943. He also produced the best-selling video series Die Deutschen Panzer. He lives in Dorset.