I would like to ask about the engine power of Panther tanks (Ausf. A, G, F) in War Thunder. According to historical data, all production models of the Panther were equipped with the Maybach HL230 P30 engine, which had a rated power output of 700 horsepower. However, in the game, strong text this figure is reduced to 600 horsepower.
Sources confirming the historical engine power:
The Maybach HL230 P30 engine was rated at 700 horsepower according to multiple technical specifications. For example, this is documented in the book "Germany’s Panther Tank: The Quest for Combat Supremacy" by Thomas L. Jentz, which is considered a reliable source for historical accuracy.
Other historical sources and archives also state that the engine’s power was 700 horsepower.
I would like to understand:
Why has the engine power been reduced by 100 horsepower in the game?
Are there any plans to correct this value to reflect historical accuracy?
If this reduction was made for balance reasons, could alternative solutions be considered that would not compromise historical realism? The current model undermines the combat performance of the Panther based on inaccurate data.
The 700 horsepower figure is for when the engine is running at 3000 RPM.
However, in late 1943 the HL230 engine got limited to 2500 RPM, to reduce issues with it catching fire, which means 600 horsepower. All of the mentioned Panthers were either exclusively built after this change occured (Panther G and F), or in the case of the Panther A the in game tank has a later war model of a Panther built after the change happened. This is also why their top speed is 46 km/h rather than 55 km/h, as maximum engine RPM is one of the variables that directly determines the top speed of a tank.
TL;DR: The 600 horsepower figure is accurate for late war Panthers. I believe other tanks that use this engine should also have it, like the Tiger Is and Tiger IIs. In the end it also comes down to a matter of balancing.
This nerf was added back when Panthers stayed in 5.7 but after his BR change should be removed. Is very stupid add this kind of historycal nerfs when you are facing time travelers over and over again.
It also led to the absurdity that the two first TT Panthers are superior to the later models. Means I use to play the Panther pre serie and the Panther D. The others are just hangar objects.
Initially I thought the improvements Panthers A, G, F have over D make good for the nerfed engine…but even when you consider they removed the gun shield shoot trap, improved the sights and turret traverse etc… Its War Thunder and speed is one of the most important stats of any tank. It opens alot oportunities to be just fast. And so it is. The D and the pre serie are just better than A, G,F.
WT is missing the early Panther A with full power output and without bow MG port.
I think the issue with the Panther was probably the engine compartment space or how it’s mounted, which caused the engine to overheat more frequently. While on Tigers the engine had enough space to be cooled sufficiently.
My Theorey.
Chat GPT isn’t sure about the Tiger I but says that the Tiger II had the same RPM limiter.
Considering the weight of the Tiger II, I guess it makes sense to not strain the engine that much, which was already not super reliable.
The real question, in my opinion, is: Why does the Panther F has a slower turret traverse speed?
There’s like no documentation. So the 15°/s we have in-game is simply made up, but it should be identical to the Panther A and G.
Well of course, because there is none.
But the only thing that changed about the Panther F were some changes to the hull, turret and gun.
Therefore it should have the same turret traverse mechanism.
