During 1943 after the Battle of Kursk, the German high command ordered a new tank to replace the obsolete Panzer III and IV in tank combat. The design of the Panther is similar to the Soviet T-34 medium tank. It has a formidable sloping frontal armour, a long barreled 75mm gun and a fast but reliable maybach engine. Thus making it a hard opponent in the front lines. It fought in almost every battlefront. Earning its legendary status in the Battle of the bulge alongside the Panzer IV, Tiger, and StuG III. It is best medium tank in German service until the end of the war.