PANZER IV
>Type Medium tank
>Place of origin Nazi Germany
>In service 1939–(1945 Germany)–1967
>Used by Nazi Germany Romania Turkey Hungary Bulgaria Finland Spain Croatia Syria
>Wars World War II, 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Six-Day War
>Produced 1936–45
>Number built 8,800 (estimate)–9,870
>Specifications (Pz IV Ausf H, 1943)
>Weight 25.0 tonnes (27.6 short tons; 24.6 long tons)
>Length 5.92 metres (19 ft 5 in) 7.02 metres (23 ft 0 in) gun forward
>Width 2.88 m (9 ft 5 in)
>Height 2.68 m (8 ft 10 in)
>Crew 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator/bow machine-gunner)
>Armour 10–88 mm (0.39–3.5 in) (w/ armour skirts)
>Main armament 7.5 cm (2.95 in) KwK 40 L/48 main gun (87 rds.)
>Secondary armament 2 × 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 Panzerlauf (3,150 rds.)
>Engine 12-cylinder Maybach HL 120 TRM V12 300 PS (296 hp, 220 kW)
>Power/weight 12 PS/t
>Transmission (Synchromesh ZF SSG 77) 6 forward and 1 reverse ratios
>Suspension Leaf spring
>Fuel capacity 470 l (120 US gal)
>range 200 km (120 mi)
>Speed 42 km/h (26 mph) road, 16 km/h (9.9 mph) off road
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The Panzerkampfwagen IV (Pz.Kpfw. IV) commonly known as the Panzer IV was a medium tank developed in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz. 161.
Designed as an infantry-support tank, the Panzer IV was not originally intended to engage enemy armor—that function was performed by the lighter Panzer III. However, with the flaws of pre-war doctrine becoming apparent and in the face of Soviet T-34 tanks, the Panzer IV soon assumed the tank-fighting role of its increasingly obsolete cousin. The most widely manufactured and deployed German tank of the Second World War, the Panzer IV was used as the base for many other fighting vehicles, including the Sturmgeschütz IV assault gun, Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer, the Wirbelwind self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon, and the Brummbär self-propelled gun.
Robust and reliable, it saw service in all combat theaters involving Germany and has the distinction of being the only German tank to remain in continuous production throughout the war, with over 8,800 produced between 1936 and 1945. Upgrades and design modifications, often made in response to the appearance of new Allied tanks, extended its service life. Generally these involved increasing the Panzer IV's armor protection or upgrading its weapons, although during the last months of the war with Germany's pressing need for rapid replacement of losses, design changes also included retrograde measures to simplify and speed manufacture.
The Panzer IV was the most widely exported tank in German service, with around 300 sold to partners such as, Finland, Romania, Spain and Bulgaria. After the war, the French and Spanish sold dozens of Panzer IVs to Syria, where they saw combat in the 1967 Six-Day War.
Designed as an infantry-support tank, the Panzer IV was not originally intended to engage enemy armor—that function was performed by the lighter Panzer III. However, with the flaws of pre-war doctrine becoming apparent and in the face of Soviet T-34 tanks, the Panzer IV soon assumed the tank-fighting role of its increasingly obsolete cousin. The most widely manufactured and deployed German tank of the Second World War, the Panzer IV was used as the base for many other fighting vehicles, including the Sturmgeschütz IV assault gun, Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer, the Wirbelwind self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon, and the Brummbär self-propelled gun.
Robust and reliable, it saw service in all combat theaters involving Germany and has the distinction of being the only German tank to remain in continuous production throughout the war, with over 8,800 produced between 1936 and 1945. Upgrades and design modifications, often made in response to the appearance of new Allied tanks, extended its service life. Generally these involved increasing the Panzer IV's armor protection or upgrading its weapons, although during the last months of the war with Germany's pressing need for rapid replacement of losses, design changes also included retrograde measures to simplify and speed manufacture.
The Panzer IV was the most widely exported tank in German service, with around 300 sold to partners such as, Finland, Romania, Spain and Bulgaria. After the war, the French and Spanish sold dozens of Panzer IVs to Syria, where they saw combat in the 1967 Six-Day War.
Panzerkampfwagen IV was the main German tank of World War II, in action from September 1st of 1939 to May 9th of 1945. Its long combat service was result of its excellent design and upgradeability allowing it to meet the changing requirements of the battlefield. It was present on all fronts, where German army fought from France to Russia and from Norway to Libya.
Panzerkampfwagen IVs, which were sent to North Africa (1941-43), were equipped with additional tropical filters (Tp) and improved ventilation system. Only 200 Ausf F2s (including 25 converted Ausf F1s) and 1275 Ausf G were produced by Krupp-Gruson, Vomag and Nibelungenwerke. Both variants were designated Sd.Kfz.161/1. Since March of 1943, additional 412 Ausf Gs were produced armed with newer 75mm KwK 40 L/48 gun and were designated Sd.Kfz.161/2. Ausf G’s new 75mm gun was mounted with double baffle muzzle brakeLate models Ausf Gs were fitted with steel armor skirts and resembled early models of Ausf H. Ausf G featured new simplified design turret mounted with smoke grenade launchers.
