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In 1936, AEG was ordered to start the development of infrared night-vision devices and in 1939, first successful prototype unit for use with 37mm Pak 35/36 L/45 anti-tank gun was constructed. In autumn of 1942, an infrared headlamp with viewer (ZG 1221) was constucted to be used with 75mm PaK 40 L/46 anti-tank gun and was also mounted on Marder II.
In mid 1943, first tests with infrared night-vision (Nacht Jager) devices and telescopic rangefinders mounted on Panther started. IR solution for Panther tanks called “Sperber” (Sparrow Hawk) was made up of one 30cm infrared searchlight (with range of 600m) and image converter operated by the commander - FG 1250. Soon some Panthers Ausf G (and other variants) mounted with FG 1250, were succesfully tested.
The Sd.Kfz.251/20 “Uhu” (Owl) half-track with 60 cm. infra-red searchlight was constructed to be operated in IR-Panthers units. The range of it’s IR projector ligth was about 1.5 km. The range of the sight was about 1 km. Runways on the sides and front enable the crew to service the light. The driver has the small infrared light and sight in front of his normal sight, just like on “Falke” IR assistance halftrack ( Dragon’s donor model kit).
6 Panthers and a 251/20 work together. About 60 “Uhu”'s were built.
Various units received IR Panthers units including 116th Panzer Division (3rd company of 24th Panzer Regiment, Western Front, Summer of 1944), 6 SS Panzer Army (Hungary, early 1945), Panzer Division Muncheberg and Clausewitz. There is a report that IP-Panthers (possibly from 116th Panzer Division) were used in 1944/45 during the Ardennes Offensive. In April of 1945, IR-Panthers joined Panzer Division Clausewitz and near Uelzen destroyed entire platoon of British Comet cruiser tanks. Also on April 21st of 1945, same Panthers overran an American anti-tank position on the Weser-Elbe Canal. Most of those reports can't be confirmed and are questionable.
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