The T-34-85, by contrast, was the culmination of a long process of incremental improvement designed with high-volume production in mind. The Panther was an all-new design that incorporated many technologies that had never been seen before in German tanks. The Panther and the T-34-85 represented fundamentally different approaches to wartime production.

This tank, known by the designation ‘ T-34-85’, became the Panther’s primary opponent for the rest of the war. The T-34 would be modified to accept the T-43’s enlarged turret and an 85mm gun that was based on the 52-K anti-aircraft weapon. A compromise was reached between the advocates of mass production and those who pushed for new, more powerful tanks. With the arrival of the Panther, however, it was clear that something had to be done to improve the effectiveness of the Soviet tank corps. Furthermore, many within the Stavka (Soviet High Command) believed the war effort would be better served by simply making more T-34s they argued against even minor modifications in case they slowed production. F, it did not have enough firepower or armour protection to go up against the Panther. They had a new medium tank in development (the T-43) but, having been commissioned in 1942 to counter the Panzer IV ausf. WHEN THE PANTHER TANK first appeared on the battlefields of the Eastern Front, the Soviets did not have an effective weapon to counter it. But which was the better tank? Find out below.

Panther predator? The Soviet T-34-85 hunted Panzer “Mark Vs” all along the Eastern Front during World War Two.

Soviet t-39 tanks battle of kursk