The Panther tank, officially designated ‘Panzerkampfwagen V Panther’, was designed in 1942 and intended to counter the new Soviet T-34 medium tank, which had caused such consternation among the German High Command when it was first encountered during Operation Barbarossa. It was also intended as a replacement for the Panzer III and Panzer IV. As such, it served alongside the Panzer IV and the heavier Tigers as a mainstay of the Panzerwaffe until the end of the war. Despite recurring problems with reliability, it had excellent firepower, armour protection and mobility, proving to be particularly effective in open country and long-range engagement.