The Ausf.D was the first variant of the German WWII tank Panther. It was designed for performance with the L/70 7.5cm gun, excellent protection afforded by its sloped armor, and maneuverability thanks to a 700hp gasoline engine. Around 840 Ausf.D Panthers were produced between January and September of 1943, and the first time it appeared on the battlefield was in the Battle of Kursk in July of that year. Through the battle, Panthers were still able to take out some 140 Soviet tanks from a range of 1,500 to 2,000 meters, all while protected impeccably by their sloped plate. The Ausf.D was followed by improved Ausf.A and G variants, and while the Panther was unable to stop the tide from turning against Germany it nonetheless revolutionized German armored vehicle design and remained on the front line until the end of the war.