A German Panther Ausf G with the late ‘Chin’ Mantlet (Patreon)

The original Panther mantlet had a continuous curve from top to bottom. It was found that shots hitting the lower section could deflect downwards into the hull roof. This had very thin armour, and contained the driver, radios and transmission, so damage here could prove catastrophic.  (The hull roof plate has been removed from this tank).

This risk was countered with the new mantlet design. It was introduced from September 1944. As the Ausf G had entered production 6 months earlier in March, and even after its introduction existing parts had to be used up, not all Ausf Gs received the new mantlet. The Tank Museum’s, for example, doesn’t have it.