This book deals with the development of the Panzerkampfwagen V "Panther" from the original desire to replace the ageing Pz. III/IV family with a tank more equipped to deal with all the enemy weapon systems encountered since September 1939 to the 45 ton response to Russia's T-34 tank. The book focuses solely on the development of the "Panther" medium tank, including the Ausf. D, A, G and F and the "Panther II", it does not deal with the Jagdpanther, Bergepanther or any other non-battle tank derivatives.

This book chronicles the development of the Panther from it's predecessor the VK 20.01, a 20 ton replacement for the Pz. III and Pz. IV to the VK 30.01 a 30 ton response to the newly encountered T-34 and KV-I tanks to the Panther tank as we have come to know it. The reader is given a carefully researched tour of the various design proposals from Daimler-Benz and M.A.N. and how and why in the end the M.A.N. proposal was accepted. The author takes a great deal of care to establish the time lines for the institution of each Ausf. or version and how, where and why each version fits into the overall scheme.

The book is logically broken down into chapters covering each Ausf., the differences in each as compared to the previous version, its production and all the modifications that were effected both during production and subsequently authorised as field improvements or retro-fitted during major overhauls. Each chapter has a good number of photographs showing details of these modifications as well as good overall views of each version "factory fresh" with a good sprinkling of combat photos as well. While there are only a few previously unreleased items here these photographs are all of excellent quality and speak volumes on their own. Each chapter also has excellent 1/35 scale line drawings by H.L. Doyle as seen from the front, rear, top and side. Of particular interest is the planning that was being undertaken in the first few months of 1945! The timelines for the production of the Ausf. F and the Panther II to begin, expected production quotas, etc. This at a time when the factories were unable to meet their current quotas due to the incessant bombing and interruptions in supply of critical components!

There is a separate chapter to deal with the specific issue of the 8.8cm Kw.K. 43 L/71 in a Panther-Schmalturm, a redesigned turret similar to the one proposed for the Ausf. F, as well as a few other flights of fancy.

The last three chapters deal with the production history, operational characteristics and operational history of the Panther, chock full of charts and graphs - this is the icing on the cake. Some of the most valuable information about the units that received Panthers, when and how many, is contained in this section. Insightful reports from front-line units evaluating the new tank, its strengths and weaknesses, teething problems and the troops impressions. The book concludes with a number of insights from allied tankers who encountered and in some cases barely survived engagements with Panthers.

While not as technical as Walter Spielberger's "Panther and its Variants" this book is as complete as need be, covering every modification authorised for the Panther tank. This is the best Panther book there is, and the one to get if you only buy one Panther book.