RakJPz Panther

[Rayman]

Im just wondering has anyone out there found any info on this tank? Its supposedly a "crane tank" with a mast mounted weapons system that has 4 (ive read somewhere Trigat) ATGM's. Apparently it either hides at the bottom of hills and in tree lines and is a tank killer. However all the info ive found is in German and just one page stating that the Trigat missle will be used with it. Can anyone point me towards some more info if it at all exists?

http://members.fortunecity.de/flecktarn2/flecktarn-heer161.htm

 

[Dariusz]

Hey!
I can`t find anything about this tank, except chats (in german) from 2002...no relevant information. I know it stands for Rakentjagtpanzer 
If you post the german link, I can translate some of the stuff for you.
Cheers!

 

[Rayman]

Im looking. I found that page as well. Found something about in Norwegian and another chat where its mentioned briefly. The quote here I got is from a site that was talking about different AT missles.

http://www.whq-forum.de/invisionboard/lofiversion/index.php/t14451.html

Trigat LR

Notes: This is a longer-ranged, heavier warhead version of the Trigat MR, primarily used as helicopter armament, but also fired from mast-mounted launchers on vehicles such as the Panther. The missile is able to make a top attack by climbing above the target or being launched from above it, then diving downwards. Budget difficulties are still delaying full deployment of the Trigat LR

 

[Rayman]

Ive actually hit pay dirt and have an answer to my question.

http://pmulcahy.100megs3.com/best_stuff_that_never_was/best_atgm_vehicles_that_never_were.htm

Panther

Nation of Manufacture: Germany

Notes: This is a tank destroyer based on the hull of the Leopard 1 chassis. They were converted by removing the turret and fitting an elevating arm with a 3-round pod firing Trigat ATGM. The arm can be raised to a height of 5 meters and contains all the sensors needed to target and guide the missiles. The sight is downlinked to a gunner's position in the hull, which guides the missiles via a TV monitor. There is a hatch on the center front deck for the driver, one on the right deck behind the driver for the commander, and a large hatch behind the elevating arm for reloading of missiles. This program was cancelled in the early 1990s after only one prototype was built.

Fictional Notes: In the Twilight 2000 timeline, a few of these conversions were done before the war, but the program was actually cancelled for a short time; more were done after the war commenced.  In the Merc 2000 timeline, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy use this vehicle.

 

[Mackie]

The Panther Project was cancelled in 2002.
The Panther was a classical IFV based on a old design.
The war in Afghanistan showed the need for an modular IFV, armoured against IEDs and RPGs.
The result is the Puma IFV.
In the "light" Level A Protection in weights about 30 tons. Air transportable in an A400M.
With the Level C Kit it weights over 40 tons, protected against 30mm guns.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puma_%28IFV%29