PANTHER AUSF. A, 503e REGIMENT DE CHARS DE COMBAT, MOURMELON,
FRANCE 1951
The French Army captured a number of German Panther tanks in 1944–45. At least two served
with the Escadron Besnier in the siege of Saint-Nazaire in 1945. By the end of the war, 59 Panther
Ausf. A and Ausf. G had been located around France, of which about 49 were made operational.
They were issued to 6e Régiment de Cuirassiers and the 503e Regiment de Chars de Combat as
heavy tanks, aside from a few tanks reserved for French arsenals for developmental purposes.
They were difficult to keep operational due to a lack of spare parts and they were gradually retired
by 1953 with the arrival of the ARL 44 and the M47 tanks. This particular tank, named “Auvergne”,
was stationed with the 503e RCC. It was repainted in US olive drab or French vert armée (army
green). The French color was slightly lighter and greener than the US FS24087 olive drab.