[Matt Stephenson]

Interesting thread,

From my interest in the Panther, over the years I have found some (anecdotal) information as to what happened to the Panthers used by the French after the 2nd World War.

There are a number of Panthers still held by the French, as to the exact numbers - that I don't know. The Panther at the Samur museum in Paris is one of those Panthers, having been restored back to something it may have looked like in German service during the war. Also in Samur is a Bergepanther Armored Recovery Vehicle, although the winch and tow gear from the fighting compartment has been removed and is on display on a separate stand . I also believe that there is at least one (possibly more) Panthers still kept in storage away from the general public sporting their markings from their time in French service. A Google search will reveal some contemporary pics of these. I recall that the French inventory for Panther's still held by them in the 1990's was given as 6, ranging from restored and running to empty hulks. I don't believe this number has been independently verified.

I have also found pics of a post war, sold off Panther hull used as the base/platform for a large mobile crane, also used in France. Again, the exact time and location are uncertain, but the pic definitely shows the Panther hull, running gear and tracks.

Finally, only a few years ago there was a lot of talk on the internet, and more than a few articles about how France had come to some arrangement with the King of Jordan, and that a Panther was sent to Jordan, to be part of the King's private collection. Apparently this Panther was reasonably complete and still in French service colors etc, but not running, and that King Hussein was spending some of his massive wealth on a full restoration of the vehicle, including a complete rebuild of the power train. This Panther has been described as being both a ausf A and an ausf G. As both types of ausfuhrungs were used by the French post war, it is difficult to tell which type went to Jordan as no pictures from there of the tank have come to the surface as far as I know.

Ahhh, to be the insanely wealthy king of an oil rich nation, and to be make to make deals with other nations regarding rare and highly desirable pieces of vintage military hardware......

Hope this sheds some light on the topic.

Matt.