A Second World War Panther tank will be appearing at TANKFEST 2019 for the first time, thanks to the French Tank Museum and World of Tanks.
The 50 ton German war machine is part of the collection at the Musée des Blindés in Saumur. The restoration of the Panther and its transportation across the Channel has been generously funded by TANKFEST sponsors World of Tanks.
It’s the second time The Tank Museum’s French counterparts have demonstrated a highlight from their collection at TANKFEST, following the appearance of the French Char B1 last year under a similar arrangement.
Museum Director Richard Smith said; “The Panther is an exceptionally important vehicle from the Second World War and it will make a fantastic addition to our arena displays at TANKFEST.
“This will be the first time a Panther has run at TANKFEST and there are currently no other running examples in the UK, so this presents enthusiasts with a fantastic opportunity to see one in action.
“Transporting such a large vehicle this distance is quite an undertaking, so we would like to thank our French counter parts and our sponsors World of Tanks for making this possible.”
The Panther is to be joined by The Tank Museum’s own running armour and other guest vehicles at the spectacular June 2019 event. These will include a T34 and Sherman Firefly – the Panthers key Allied adversaries.
TANKFEST 2019 tickets are on sale now. Visit The Tank Museum’s website for more information and to buy tickets online Tankfest.