This Panther variant was developed in 1944 with only one prototype vehicle ever produced. The Pz Kpfw IV turret with its 75mm KwK 40 L/48 gun was added to a Bergepanther as a field modification. In the prototype, the turret was fixed and could not rotate. Other than canibalising damaged tanks into working vehicles, there seems to be little operational benefit from down-gunning the Panther with a less powerful gun.