The Jagdpanther is a BR5 tank destroyer, and while it works fine enough there, I think it could be moved to BR4 without any real issue.
Presently the Jagdpanther is outclassed by the contemporary Ferdinand, due to the incredible survivability of its flat 200mm thick frontal armor despite other aspects it does better.
The armor of the Jagdpanther is 80mms sloped at an angle of 55°, which is around 130mms effectively from the front, depending on the angle of the shot. This is incredibly similar to the frontal armor value of a tank destroyer already on BR4, the Jagdpanzer IV/70 (V). The frontal plate is also 80mms thick with a 50° angle, which gives very similar values to the Jagdpanther in terms of effective armor, as seen in the images below.
Additionally, both tank destroyers share the weakspot of the LFP (Lower Front Plate), of which are 50mms thick @ a 55° angle, translating to around 100mms effectively for both. When these are penetrated, it always destroys the transmission, which renders the vehicle unable to move, which is a huge deal for casemate tank destroyers like these that have limited gun traverse.
Another reason I can imagine people using against the lowering of the Jagdpanther is it’s gun, the long 88m PaK 43, the same gun used in the Tiger 2. And while is a strong gun that the Jagdpanther uses, the Panther’s own long 75mm KwK 42 already does a fantastic job at anti-tank engagements. Comparing the Jagdpanther to it’s normal tank counterpart may seem illogical, but shows how it would perform if lowered to the same BR.
As was mentioned earlier, the Panther (and by extension the Panzer IV 70V)'s 75mm gun is very capable at penetrating enemy tanks (192mm penetration), to the point that the 88mm’s extra penetration is redundant most times (234mm penetration). The Panthers also have much more ammunition to use (79 for the ausf A, 82 for the ausf G) while the Jagdpanther only has 39 rounds. In being normal tanks, they also enjoy the free traverse of the main gun, coaxial machine guns, and roof machine guns.
So to simplify the tradeoffs into a more coherent way;
+ Better survivability in general
+ Better HE filler for both HE and AP rounds
+ Slightly more penetration (though only neccesary against limited vehicles)
- Casemate design limiting traverse for the main gun and hull MG
- Less total ammunition (39 rounds)
- Harder to use effectively
+ Main gun and coaxial machine gun have unhindered traverse, as well as having the roof MG
+ More total ammunition (79 or 82 rounds)
+ Easier to use effectively
- Less penetration, though still enough to deal with the vast majority of enemies you’ll face
- Shells have significantly less HE filler, both AP and HE shells
- Less survivable, turret cheek weakspots and shottrap mantlet on the ausf A
So, with the comparisons being made between the Jagdpanther and two other vehicles being made at BR4, I think it would be reasonable to transfer the Jagdpanther to BR4.
- Yes
- No
