Jagdpanther Tank Destroyer at Aberdeen Ordinance Museum

A Panzerjager (tank destroyer) V Jagdpanther SdKfz 173 at United States Army Ordinance Museum in Aberdeen, Maryland after World War II. This Jagdpanther, hull number 303018, was a late model manufactured by Maschinenfabrik-Niedersachsen-Hannover (MNH) in late November or early December 1944. The Jagdpanther is considered to be the best tank destroyer of World War II, with an 88mm (3.46 inch) Pak 43/3 L/71 gun (the same as on the Tiger II). The combination of firepower, low silhouette, slope armor, and the 100mm (almost 4 inches) of armor on the gun mantlet made for an effective armored fighting vehicle. Thankfully for the Allies, the Jagdpanther production at MNH and other factories was interrupted by bombing; only 400 units were completed by the ned of the war. 303018 was issued to a schwere heeres-panzerjaeger abteilung (army heavy tank destroyer unit) for the Ardennes Offensive in December 1944 and captured by American troops. In 1946 the vehicle was sent to Aberdeen, where despite several coats of paint, it has rusted in place ever since. This photo shows the Jagdpanther with its original color scheme.