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WWII Tech Pubs Briefing
Written by
Daren Beazley
May 22nd 1940: A Pzkpfz IV Ausf D of
2. Panzer Division advances against small pockets of French opposition
in woodland to the east of Amiens.
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Country of Origin:
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Germany
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Manufacturer:
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Krupp, Vomag, Nibelungenwerke
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Major Variants:
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Ausführung A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and J
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Role:
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Medium tank
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Operated by:
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Germany, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, Italy, Spain, Rumania, Turkey,
Hungary
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In Service:
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March 1939
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Number Built:
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8,579
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Overview
Colonel-General Heinz Guderian is
generally considered by most to be the architect of the modern day German
Panzertruppe (Tank Forces). The Panzerkampfwagen IV, could
be said to be Guderian’s ‘brain child’ of the mid 1930’s for it incorporated
and balanced fairly well the three main qualities needed for a tank to
be successful on a modern 1940’s battlefield. The PzKpfw IV was to become
the most numerous of German World War II tanks. In all, over 8500 examples
were produced.
The PzKpfw IV was borne of a requirement
instigated by the Heereswaffenamt (Army Weapons Branch) during
1934/35. It called for the design of a medium support tank for PzKpfw
III units and infantry, to have an overall weight of some 18 tons, a top
speed of 35km/h and a 75mm KwK 37 L/24 gun as main armament.
Krupp, Rheinmetall-Borsig and Maschinenfabrik-Augsburg-Neurnberg
AG (MAN) were involved in the initial design. Krupp’s design was selected
for full-scale production after testing at Kummersdorf and Ulm during
1935/36 but it wasn’t until October of 1937, after extensive testing of
various prototypes that the first of 35 PzKpfw IV Ausf A’s rolled off
of Krupp’s production line at Gruson. Between April and September of 1938
Krupp produced 42 PzKpfw IV Ausf B’s at its Gruson plant. The Ausf B incorporated
a slightly different, but same horse-power, Maybach HL 120 TR, 12 cylinder
engine.
Carrying on from Ausf B, PzKpfw
IV Ausf C production ran to 134 examples and were built between October
1938 and August 1939. 229 of the PzKpfw IV Ausf D variant were manufactured
between October 1939 and May of 1941. The PzKpfw IV Ausf D was considered
to be the first ‘true’ production model of the Panzer IV series. Ausf
A, B & C variants were considered as development models, most of which,
nonetheless ended up with front line combat units. They were to see extensive
use, albeit in limited numbers, during the Polish and French campaigns.
Some 233 examples of the Ausf E
variant were produced between September 1940 and April 1941 and 487 examples
were manufactured of the Ausf F1 (F) version between April 1941 and March
1942. The Ausf F1 variant was the last version of the PzKpfw IV series
to use the ‘short’ chassis and to be armed with the 75mm KwK 37 L/24 cannon.
All later variants, Ausf F2 onwards,
were based on the ‘longer’ version PzKpfw IV chassis and were armed with
either a 75mm KwK 40 L/43 or a 75mm KwK 40 L/48 cannon. Ausf F2 production
or ‘Mark IV Special’, as the British called them in North Africa, ran
to 200 examples along with 1275 Ausf G’s. The Ausf F2 and G were superior
to any British or American tank design at the time and were generally
treated with a great deal of respect on the battlefield. From March of
1943 onwards an additional 412 PzKpfw IV Ausf G’s were produced. These
were manufactured with the much newer and improved 75mm KwK 40 L/48 cannon.
Between April of 1943 and July of
1944 no fewer than 3774 examples of the PzKpfw IV Ausf H were produced.
Ausf H was armed exclusively with the 75mm KwK 40 L/48 cannon and was
fitted with steel armour skirts or ‘Schurzen’ for added protection against
hollow charged projectiles. From June 1944 until the end of hostilities
in Europe, 1758 PzKpfw IV Ausf J’s were produced by Nibelungenwerke. This
variant was similar to Ausf H but the design was rationalised to simplify
production.
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Variants
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Type
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Number Built
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Remarks
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PzKpfw IV Ausf A
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35
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The suspension consisted of a forward drive sprocket, four pairs
of road wheels with leaf springs and a rear idler with four return
rollers. A 12-cylinder petrol gasoline engine drove the forward
drive sprockets through a five speed transmission with an epicyclic
clutch. An auxiliary generator was provided to power the turret
traverse. The commander’s cupola was supplied with eight vision
slits. The crew was provided with numerous vision slits and pistol
ports and the driver was situated forward of the radio operator
and could therefore see to his right.
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PzKpfw IV Ausf B
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42
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A larger engine was introduced along with a six-speed transmission.
Armour thickness was increased and a new commander’s cupola was
fitted. The superstructure reverted to a straight front.
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PzKpfw IV Ausf C
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134
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Incorporated a redesigned gun mantlet with an armoured sleeve for
the coaxial mounted machine gun. The engine was modified to improve
the carburetor.
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PzKpfw IV Ausf D
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229
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Incorporated increased armour thickness along with an external
mantlet for the 7.5cm KwK37 L/24 gun. The superstructure front reverted
to Ausf A to allow the driver increased visibility to the right
and the hull-mounted machine gun was reintroduced.
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PzKpfw IV Ausf E
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233
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Incorporated increased armour protection along with a new redesigned
commander’s cupola. Turret rear was manufactured from a single curved
piece of armour plate with an exhaust fan to expel ammunition fumes.
The superstructure reverted to a straight front.
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PzKpfw IV Ausf F
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487
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Incorporated increased armour throughout with wider 40cm tracks.
Vision ports, turret doors, pistol ports and machine gun mounts
were all redesigned due to the increased armour thickness. Last
of the 7.5cm KwK37 L/24 cannon equipped PzKpfw IV’s.
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PzKpfw IV Ausf F2
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200
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The first PzKpfw IV to be manufactured with a long barreled cannon.
This was armed exclusively with the 7.5cm KwK40 L/43 cannon which
necessitated the inclusion of a coil spring counter balance because
of the long barrel and associated weight.
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PzKpfw IV Ausf G
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1687
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Thin steel plates or Schürtzen were introduced to provide
protection against hollow charged projectiles. Other minor modifications
included the elimination of vision ports from the turret sides and
the loaders front and the inclusion of a new muzzle brake.
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PzKpfw IV Ausf H
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3774
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SSG transmission included for the first time. Increased armour
up to 80mm. External air filters were provided along with a turret
mount for an anti-aircraft machine gun. The side vision ports for
the driver and radio operator were deleted. New thicker armoured
cupola with single piece hatch.
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PzKpfw IV Ausf J
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1758
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Electric turret traverse along with associated auxiliary engine
were removed. A manual turret traverse mechanism was substituted
and fuel capacity increased. Turret roof armour thickness was increased.
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Specifications
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Model
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PzKpfw IV Ausf A
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PzKpfw IV Ausf B
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PzKpfw IV Ausf C
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PzKpfw IV Ausf D
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PzKpfw IV Ausf E
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Crew
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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Weight
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18400 kg
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18800 kg
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19000 kg
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20000 kg
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21000 kg
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Length
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5.60 m
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5.92 m
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5.92 m
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5.92 m
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5.92 m
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Width
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2.90 m
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2.83 m
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2.83 m
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2.84 m
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2.84 m
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Height
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2.65 m
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2.68 m
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2.68 m
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2.68 m
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2.68 m
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Engine
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Maybach HL108TR
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Maybach HL120TR
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Maybach HL120TR
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Maybach HL120TRM
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Maybach HL120TRM
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Gasoline Capacity
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470 l
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470 l
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470 l
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470 l
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470 l
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Speed
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31 km/h
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40 km/h
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40 km/h
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40 km/h
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42 km/h
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Armament
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Turret mounted 7.5cm KwK 37 L/24 cannon with 7.92mm MG34 machine
gun.
Hull mounted 7.92mm MG34 machine gun.
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Turret mounted 7.5cm KwK 37 L/24 cannon with 7.92mm MG34 machine
gun.
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Turret mounted 7.5cm KwK 37 L/24 cannon with 7.92mm MG34 machine
gun.
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Turret mounted 7.5cm KwK 37 L/24 cannon with 7.92mm MG34 machine
gun.
Hull mounted 7.92mm MG34 machine gun.
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Turret mounted 7.5cm KwK 37 L/24 cannon with 7.92mm MG34 machine
gun.
Hull mounted 7.92mm MG34 machine gun.
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Armour
Hull Front :
Hull Sides :
Hull Rear :
Hull Top :
Superstructure Front :
Superstructure Sides :
Superstructure Rear :
Superstructure Top :
Turret Front :
Turret Sides :
Turret Rear :
Turret Top :
Gun Mantlet :
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15@12°
15@0°
15@10°
5@90°
15@7°
15@0°
15@10°
12@85°-90°
15@10°
15@25°
15@0°-25°
10@83°-90°
15@round
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30@12°
15@0°
15@10°
5@90°
30@7°
15@0°
15@10°
12@85°-90°
30@10°
15@25°
15@0°-25°
10@83°-90°
30@round
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30@12°
15@0°
15@10°
5@90°
30@7°
15@0°
15@10°
12@85°-90°
30@10°
15@25°
15@0°-25°
10@83°-90°
30@round
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30@12°
20@0°
20@10°
10@90°
30@7°
20@0°
20@10°
12@85°-90°
30@10°
20@25°
20@0°-25°
10@83°-90°
35@0°-29°
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50@15°
20+20@0°
20@10°
10@90°
30+30@7°
20+20@0°
20@15°
12@85°-90°
30@10°
20@25°
20@14°
10@83°-90°
35@0°-29°
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Model
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PzKpfw IV Ausf F
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PzKpfw IV Ausf F2
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PzKpfw IV Ausf G
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PzKpfw IV Ausf H
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PzKpfw IV Ausf J
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Crew
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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Weight
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22300 kg
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23000 kg
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23500 kg
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25000 kg
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25000 kg
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Length
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5.92 m
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5.62 m
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6.62 m
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7.02 m
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7.02 m
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Width
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2.84 m
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2.84 m
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2.88 m
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2.88 m
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2.88 m
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Height
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2.68 m
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2.68 m
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2.68 m
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2.68 m
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2.68 m
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Engine
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Maybach HL108TR
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Maybach HL120TR
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Maybach HL120TR
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Maybach HL120TRM
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Maybach HL120TRM112
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Gasoline Capacity
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470 l
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470 l
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470 l
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470 l
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680 l
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Speed
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42 km/h
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40 km/h
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40 km/h
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38 km/h
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38 km/h
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Armament
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Turret mounted 7.5cm KwK 37 L/24 cannon with 7.92mm MG34 machine
gun.
Hull mounted 7.92mm MG34 machine gun.
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Turret mounted 7.5cm KwK 40 L/43 cannon with 7.92mm MG34 machine
gun.
Hull mounted 7.92mm MG34 machine gun.
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Turret mounted 7.5cm KwK 40 L/43 or L/48 cannon with 7.92mm MG34
machine gun.
Hull mounted 7.92mm MG34 machine gun.
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Turret mounted 7.5cm KwK 40 L/48 cannon with 7.92mm MG34 machine
gun.
Hull mounted 7.92mm MG34 machine gun.
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Turret mounted 7.5cm KwK 40 L/48 cannon with 7.92mm MG34 machine
gun.
Hull mounted 7.92mm MG34 machine gun.
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Armour
Hull Front :
Hull Sides :
Hull Rear :
Hull Top :
Superstructure Front :
Superstructure Sides :
Superstructure Rear :
Superstructure Top :
Turret Front :
Turret Sides :
Turret Rear :
Turret Top :
Gun Mantlet :
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50@12°
30@0°
20@10°
10@90°
50@10°
30@0°
20@12°
12@85°-90°
50@11°
30@26°
30@16°
10@83°-90°
50@0°-30°
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50@12°
30@0°
20@10°
10@90°
50@10°
30@0°
20@12°
12@85°-90°
50@11°
30@26°
30@16°
10@83°-90°
50@0°-30°
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50@12°
30@0°
20@10°
10@90°
50@10°
30@0°
20@12°
12@85°-90°
50@11°
30@26°
30@10°
10@83°-90°
50@0°-30°
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80@14°
30@0°
20@8°
10@90°
80@10°
30@0°
20@11°
12@85°-90°
50@10°
30@26°
30@15°
15@84°-90°
50@0°-30°
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80@15°
30@0°
20@10°
10@90°
80@8°
30@0°
20@10°
12@85°-90°
50@10°
30@25°
30@15°
18@86 &
26@90°
50@0°-30°
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