During the invasion of Russia, German armor increasingly had to battle with Russia's superb new T34 medium tanks and the excellent KV1 heavy tank, both of which had better armor and armament than the Panzer III and Panzer IV. The Germans urgently initiated the design of an entirely new medium/heavy tank Project VK3002. A contract to build the Panther was awarded to MAN. It soon gained a reputation as an all-round excellent tank, with over 6,000 being built.

Designed with the modeler, preservationist and the warmer in mind, Ian Allan Publishing's new 'in Detail' series is intended to provide the reader with a comprehensive history of the type of tank, self-propelled propelled gun and military transport featured.