With a whopping 1,170 pieces, the set is expected to depict an extensive diorama scene from the final phase of World War II. Among the announced features are:
- Rotating turret
- Movable, long gun barrel
- Hatches that open
- Functional tools
- Historical markings
- Newly developed components such as protective grilles and side panels for additional equipment
Important: According to COBI, the photos shown are explicitly of a prototype model—so the final prints and color scheme are not yet finalized.
The Historical Prototype
The Panzer V “Panther” (officially Sd.Kfz. 171) was one of the most important German battle tanks of World War II and saw frontline action from mid-1943 until the end of the war in 1945. Its development was a direct response to the Soviet T-34, whose design the Germans examined more closely after capturing such vehicles beginning in late 1941. Tank Encyclopedia
The catalyst was the outbreak of the German-Soviet War on June 22, 1941: At that time, the German armored forces were primarily equipped with the medium tanks III and IV, as well as the Panzer 38(t), with the Panzer III—equipped with a 5-cm cannon—intended for tank-to-tank combat and the Panzer IV—with a short 7.5-cm cannon—serving primarily as a support vehicle. In combat with the Soviet T-34, however, it quickly became apparent that this armament was hardly a match for the enemy’s armor—at best, the German tanks had a chance of penetrating the T-34 only at a dangerously close range. Wikipedia
The resulting pressure to develop the tank led to a relatively short design cycle. Weighing around 45 metric tons, the Panther was comparatively heavy for a medium tank, but still boasted very good mobility thanks to its suspension and a powerful engine. The rush to develop the tank, however, came at a price: The early vehicles exhibited significant technical flaws, some of which could not be fully resolved by the end of production, making the Panther high-maintenance and prone to breakdowns. Nevertheless, in retrospect, it is regarded as a well-balanced and groundbreaking design that had a lasting influence on tank development. WikipediaWikipedia
In addition to the standard version, numerous variants based on the Panther chassis were developed over the course of the war—including the “Jagdpanther” tank destroyer with an 8.8-cm gun and the Bergepanther, a recovery vehicle developed to rescue stranded or damaged heavy tanks, as lighter tow trucks were usually insufficient for the task.
With the Panther in a large 1:35 scale and paired with a 152-mm ML-20 howitzer, the new COBI set thus explores a pivotal chapter in World War II tank history.
If you’d like to pre-order the set or learn more about it, you can find the product page here:
👉 cobi.pl – Panzer V Panther vs. 152 mm ML-20, Limited Edition or on bloxxstar.de
Sources: COBI Facebook page, Wikipedia (Panzerkampfwagen V Panther)