In accordance with Adolf Hitler's Order No. 10 on the construction of the "Ostwall" (Eastern Wall), Army Groups Nord and Mitte began building a long line of defense on the Eastern Front. Due to the urgent need to solve fortification work, the use of prefabricated steel bunkers was required, which was a suitable solution due to the rapid installation of such fortifications. Another factor for the use of such structures was that the use of concrete in the construction of conventional reinforced concrete structures would be quite problematic in cold climatic conditions.
Various types of O.T.Stahlunterstände (Organization Todt steel bunkers) were created, such as Type A and Type Z designed for infantry units.
Several constructions were gradually created:
O.T.Stahlunterstand mit aufgesetze Pantherturm (F.Pz.DT 4341 Pz.Kw.-Turm Panther auf Stahlbunker, Pantherturm I (Stahluntersatz)) - Panther tank tower stored on an armored box
Stahlbeton-Unterstand mit aufgesetzen Pantherturm nach Regelbau 687 (Pantherturm II (Betonsockel) - Panther tank tower placed on a reinforced concrete bunker
Quick construction of Pz.Kpfw. Turm Panther auf Holzstand (according to drawing WaPrüf Fest. Nr.827 dated 1.12.1944)
- quick installation of the Panther tank turret on a wooden base
Fundament und Holzstand fur Pantherturm A (Schnelleinbau) (according to drawing In West Nr.1315) (Pantherturm II (Holzunterbau)
Panthertürme with Oberteil des OT-Stahlunterstandes auf Holz-Unterbau (according to the drawing Fest.Pi.Kdr.XIX Nr.104)
Panthertürme mit Oberteil des OT-Stahlunterstandes (Stahlbetonunterteil) (according to drawing Fest.Pi.Kdr.XIX Nr.105)
The objects used either new towers from the normal production of the tank Pz.Kpfw.V Panther Ausf.A, refurbished towers from repaired tanks Pz. Kpfw.V Ausf.D Panther, or the new specially developed tower "Panther-Ostwallturm".
O.T.Stahlunterstand mit aufgesetze Pantherturm (F.Pz.DT 4341 Pz.Kw.-Turm Panther auf Stahlbunker, Pantherturm I (Stahluntersatz))
"O.T.Stahlunterstand Type D" was the design of a steel box with a mounted medium tank turret Panther. The proposal was presented to Hitler at the Speer Conference on September 11, 1943. He was very interested in the design and immediately decided on accelerated production.
The construction of this steel bunker consisted of a pair of differently sized box cells. On the outer sides of both box constructions were welded handles, by means of which they were transferred by crane.
Tower:
The standard tank tower Panther was placed on a 40 mm armored base plate, which in turn was placed on the ceiling of the upper steel box. The weight of the tower was about 8,800 kg. The armament consisted of a tank cannon 7.5 cm Kw.K.42 L/70 and a coaxial machine gun MG 34. In the case of using a later tower from Panther Ausf.A, or a specially designed tower for this use "Panther-Ostwallturm" was on the ceiling of the tower grenade launcher Nahverteidigungswaffe.
Upper dungeon:
Ceiling armor thickness | 100 mm |
Side Armor Thickness | 80 mm |
Weight | approx. 13,500 kg |
Height | 965 mm |
Width | 2858 mm |
Length | 3385 mm |
Lower dungeon:
The lower box structure was placed under the upper combat part. The two components were connected to each other by means of screw connections. There was a space for the crew to rest (three wooden beds), a place for a stove and a motor driving a generator supplying electricity for a fan that sucked the gases generated during the shooting, there was also a warehouse for ammunition and personal equipment and crew equipment. In the side walls was the entrance to the bunker, on the opposite side was an emergency exit. The interior was lined with wood.In this space there was an internal combustion engine with a 150Ah battery driving an electric generator (600 W) and a compressor with a pressure vessel with a capacity of 20 liters. Only this space (not the tower) provided protection from annoying gases. Ventilation was provided by a manually operated Schutzluefter HJS 1.3. The crew compartment was heated by a Bunkerofen Wt 80 K oven, from which a chimney led, which could be tilted in the event of an alarm, freeing up space for full rotation of the tower.
Side Armor Thickness | 70 mm |
Floor armor thickness | 40 mm |
Weight | approx. 15,500 kg (+ 1,000 kg interior equipment) |
Height | 2006 mm |
Width | 2858 mm |
Length | 3385 mm |
Pantherturm II
Version where the Panthera tower is placed on a wooden beam structure. This set could have turned into a kind of peasant bunker. In this case, the ammunition should be loaded with 162 rounds.
The entrances to the sets (bunkers) were solved in several ways. If it was part of a classic cell, then the entrance was solved by a door and a small staircase. In another version, a trench tunnel led a few meters from the palpost.
These "Pantherstellung" were part of the fortifications in Italy on the Gothic and Hitler lines, part of the Atlantic Wall, later they were installed directly in the streets of some Polish and German cities ( Vratislav, Szczecin, Berlin etc.). Decommissioned Panther tanks were also used as hotbeds of resistance, which were buried or lined with soil and concrete slabs to increase passive defense. They are best known from the streets of Berlin.
The effectiveness of such fortifications is also evidenced by the example of three such posts at Monte Casino. On 22.24.5.1944, they destroyed a total of 20 tanks.
-building "Markl" destroyed 24.5.1944 7 tanks at a distance of 1400-1700m
-The position of "Schlafmütze" destroyed 22.5.1944 6 tanks (crew-Fries, Brandmeier, Schirra, Emmrich. Fries received in the fall of 1944 " Ritterkreuz")
-building "Schmittsberger" 24.5.1944 destroyed 7 tanks
Thomas L.Jentz, Hilary Louise Doyle - Panzer Tracts No.21-2, Pantherturm I und II (Panther Turrets on Steel, Concrete, and Wood Stands, year of publication 2005, ISBN: 0-9744862-8- 0
Waldemar Trojca - PzKpfw.V Panther vol.6, Tankpower edition, AJ PRESS publishing house, ISBN 83-7237-121-0
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Piedimonte-Monte Casino,Taliansko máj/květen 1944