Bergepanther with Panzer IV turret. 1/35 ICM-35360

The Pz.Kpfw.V Panther tank is considered by many specialists as one of the best tanks of World War II. His reliable armor and powerful firepower made him a formidable opponent on the battlefield. Several combat vehicles were produced based on its chassis, including the armored recovery vehicle (ARV*) Sd.Kfz. 179 Bergepanther. One of the most unusual modifications of this vehicle was made to the 653rd Heavy Tank Battalion (Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 653). A turret from another tank, the Pz.Kpfw.IV, was installed on the ARV chassis, thus converting the Bergepanther into a command vehicle.

According to some researchers, this turret was fixed and, instead of a gun, a replica was installed, allowing the space inside the armored hull, free of the gun, to be used for additional radio stations and combat map work. It is likely that this modification was made on only one specimen. This vehicle was part of the combat force of the Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 653, and was used in the spring of 1944 in the area of Ternopil, Ukraine.