Medium German tank Tiger Panzerkampfwagen IV. History and detailed description

Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G

Main characteristics

Briefly

Details

4.0 / 4.0 / 4.3 BR

5 people Crew

99% Visibility

forehead / side / stern Booking

50 / 30 / 10 housings

50 / 30 / 30 towers

Mobility

23.7 tons Weight

572 l/s 300 l/s Engine power

24 hp/t 13 hp/t specific

44 km/h forward
8 km/h back39 km/h forward
7 km/h back Speed

Armament

87 rounds of ammunition

5.9 / 7.6 sec recharge

10° / 20° UVN

3,000 rounds of ammunition

8.0 / 10.4 sec recharge

150 shells clip size

900 rounds/min rate of fire

Economy

Description

Panzerkampfwagen IV (7.5 cm) Ausführung G or Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G - medium German tank of the seventh production series. It was not particularly different from the previous Ausf.F series, the main difference being only a new two-chamber muzzle brake, however, the last few hundred tanks of this series received a new KwK 40 gun and enhanced armor protection. From the late spring of 1942 until the spring of 1943, it remained the best and most dangerous tank of the Wehrmacht, not counting the small (at that time) new heavy Tiger tanks. It could compete equally with any tank of the USSR and allies at the time of its release, for which it earned the love of German tankers, and the praise of mechanics for its simplicity and ease of maintenance in the field and good reliability on the battlefield. But by the summer of 1943 it gave way to the next modification of the Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H and more advanced German tanks. A total of 1,687 vehicles of this series were built from May 1942 to April 1943.

Main characteristics

Armor protection and survivability

The section of the frontal armor in which the Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G can penetrate even light tanks

Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G has average armor protection and survivability. The frontal armor of the hull with a thickness of 80 mm is easily hit by most enemies, however, on the VLD there are additional 20 mm tracks that cover a large area of ​​​​the armor and increase the armor protection to 100 mm, in addition, having studied the “Applied Armor” modification, on the area with a mechanic’s viewing slot - The driver will also receive additional tracks 20 mm thick, this will significantly increase the resistance of the frontal armor of the hull to penetration. Of course, there will be open areas not covered by tracks, but opponents with low armor penetration of guns will no longer be able to easily hit the Pz.IV G head-on. In addition to the areas not covered by additional armor, there is an unpleasant bevel of 20 mm armor above the VLD and although it is located at an angle of 73°, the reduced thickness of its armor still does not exceed 55 mm and is easily damaged even by light tanks. The sides and rear of the hull are protected by 30 mm and 20 mm armor, respectively, and are easily penetrated even by self-propelled guns. Due to the weak armor protection of the sides of the vehicle, setting up the hull in a “diamond” shape on this tank is useless, because even at good angles, the sides are easily hit by enemy shells.

Most often Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G will pierce the forehead of the turret, because, unlike the hull, there is only 50 mm of armor and 30 mm on the sides and rear of the turret. The crew of the turret and hull are located at a considerable distance from each other and, often, if the turret is hit, the crew in the hull will not be harmed. But between the three crew members in the turret and the two in the hull there is a whole row of ammunition that often detonates when hit by shrapnel. In addition, if you take a full load of ammunition with you into battle, then the shells will be placed literally all over the body of the vehicle, which will lead to an even more frequent explosion of the ammunition when shells hit the body. Apart from the gap between the crew of the turret and the hull, the modules in the tank are located quite tightly, therefore, if the armor is penetrated, the vehicle will receive serious damage. Six 66-mm grenade launchers are installed on the tank's turret, which fire smoke grenades in a semicircle in the direction where the gun barrel is pointed at the time the smoke grenades are launched. More than once, a well-timed wall of smoke will protect the player from enemies, thereby saving the Pz.IV G from destruction.

Mobility

Location of the crew and modules inside the Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G

Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G has average mobility and maneuverability. The tank's maximum speed of 44 km/h is reached relatively quickly, but when maneuvering and overcoming terrain, it will be difficult to maintain a speed above 25-38 km/h. The reverse speed of 8 km/h is enough to roll back in time in case of trouble during the battle. Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G turns slowly on the spot, but while moving it performs maneuvers much faster, while significantly losing speed. The vehicle's cross-country ability is average, although the Pz.IV G confidently overcomes even difficult terrain, while it noticeably loses speed, although on steep slopes and sticky soils it will be noticeably faster than British and American tanks of its combat rating. The main obstacles that will slow the tank down to 5-12 km/h will be destructible objects such as fences, trees, cars, etc.

Armament

Main weapon

Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G is armed with a 75 mm KwK40 L43 gun with 87 rounds of ammunition. Without exaggeration, the main advantage of this tank is its excellent weapon, which can penetrate the frontal armor of almost any enemy it encounters. Difficulties may arise, perhaps, with the heavy American tank M4A3E2, but its frontal armor also has weak spots where the Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G can hit it. The gun has excellent projectile flight ballistics, good armor penetration and high accuracy, even at long distances. In addition, chamber shells have a good armor protection effect, due to which, often, one shell is enough to destroy an enemy vehicle. The gun reloads at an average speed.

There are five types of shells available for the tank:

• PzGr 39- an armor-piercing projectile with an armor-piercing tip and a ballistic cap. It has good armor penetration and excellent armor protection. Effective against all enemies encountered. Recommended as the main projectile for this tank.

• Hl.Gr 38B- cumulative projectile. It has average armor penetration and average armor impact. Effective against medium and light tanks enemy. Unlike other shells, it retains its armor penetration at any distance. Recommended for shooting at particularly long distances.

• PzGr 40- armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile. It has the highest armor penetration among all presented shells, but has a weak armor protection effect. It is ineffective when firing at inclined armor, from which it will simply ricochet. Effective against all enemies encountered in battle. Recommended for targeted strikes against the crew and modules of well-armored opponents.

• Sprgr. 34- high-explosive fragmentation projectile. It has the lowest armor penetration among all presented shells, but has a large number of explosive. Useless against armored vehicles, it can only be effective against self-propelled guns on truck chassis.

• K.Gr.Rot Nb.- smoke shell. Does not have armor penetration or armor protection. Releases a large cloud of smoke for a short time, hiding the player from enemy sight. In arcade battle mode, behind a cloud of smoke, markers of opponents and the player themselves disappear and are not displayed until the smoke clears.

Machine gun weapons

Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G is armed with a 7.92mm MG34 machine gun with 3,000 rounds of ammunition. The machine gun is coaxial in the turret with the main gun and is useless against armored vehicles. It can be effective, perhaps, when firing at an enemy crew not covered by armor.

Use in combat

Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G is almost universal in its combat use, but with some reservations. First of all, you need to know what you shouldn’t do with this tank, namely: go among the first to capture points and follow in the vanguard of the attack. With the first aforementioned tactic, being among the first to capture a point will not work and it is quite possible to run into a whole crowd of enemy tanks; in the second case, one should remember the insufficient security of the vehicle, which is why, in the vanguard of attacks, the tank will be quickly lost. If the player is used to breaking through enemy positions, then the tank will prove itself much more productive as a support vehicle for more protected allies, following them and covering them with accurate fire, staying slightly behind them. Defending positions is also not alien to the Pz.IV G, but even here we should not forget that the vehicle does not withstand the blows of enemy shells, therefore, a competently occupied position that will completely cover the vehicle during reloading or repair is the key to a long and effective defense of the chosen plot. The gun's high accuracy and good armor penetration make it possible to use the Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G as a sniper, picking off enemies from a distance while remaining undetected or hiding behind cover after each shot. Good cross-country ability and good mobility make it possible to bypass opponents from the flanks and rear, arranging unpleasant surprises for them from where they least expect the enemy to appear, but it is not worth staying in one place for a long time, because one enemy shell hit on the side or stern of a Pz.Kpfw. IV could be fatal for him.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• Accurate and powerful weapon
• Not bad frontal armor housing
• Good maneuverability

Flaws:

• High vulnerability of the turret and ammunition
• Weak armor protection of the sides and stern
• Dense layout
• Thin roof

Historical reference

Two Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G lead the offensive on the Eastern Front

When announcing a competition for the project of an 18-ton tank in the mid-30s, the German command initially assigned the role of a support tank to the future project and assumed that the Pz.Kpfw.III tanks would become the main “workhorses” of the Panzerwaffe. Four submitted their projects to the competition German companies: Rheinmetall-Borsig AG, Friedrich Krupp AG, Daimler-Benz and MAN. After the military commission got acquainted with all the projects, their choice fell on the Krupp project, but with a number of changes made to it, for example, the chassis was borrowed from the Rheinmetall project. This was mainly due to the fact that Rheinmetall based the chassis of the Nb.Fz. tanks, which was very similar to the chassis of the Pz.Kpfw.III tanks, while the other three companies provided the suspension with staggered rollers. The rest of the Krupp project was completed in classic style German tank building with a transmission and control compartment located at the front, a fighting compartment and turret in the center of the hull and an engine located at the rear. Externally, the tank was very similar to the Pz.Kpfw.III, only the hull was wider and longer, thanks to which the vehicle had great potential for future modernization. In April 1936, the vehicle received its final name - Panzerkampfwagen IV or Sd.Kfz.161, according to the end-to-end designation system. From October 1937, the tank was launched into mass production.

Damaged Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G on the street of a Soviet city

The first Pz.Kpfw tanks. IV entered service with the Wehrmacht in early January 1938 and participated in the Anschluss of Austria and the Czech Sudetenland. The Pz.Kpfw's baptism of fire. IV received during the Polish campaign, however, the number of Polish armored vehicles was so small that German tanks practically did not encounter decent resistance. The finest hour for the Pz.Kpfw. IV became the French campaign of the Wehrmacht, where the tank, despite the qualitative and quantitative superiority of the Anglo-French tank troops, showed greater effectiveness than Allied armored vehicles, this is mainly due to the inept and improper use of tanks by the Allied command, which dispersed tanks across all infantry units, using them as a means of supporting the infantry, rather than concentrating them into separate tank units. The war with the USSR showed that the Pz.Kpfw.III medium tanks could no longer compete with enemy armored vehicles either in terms of armor or firepower and, since the fall of 1941, it was the Pz.Kpfw. IV became the main tank of the Panzerwaffe and the emphasis was placed on the mass production of this particular vehicle.

From the end of 1939 to the beginning of 1942, Pz.Kpfw tanks. IV were constantly modernized to suit the conditions of combat operations. Both armor protection and firepower cars So, by May 1942, production of the Ausf installation series began. G, which was almost no different from the previous Ausf series. F. Tanks of this series received a new two-chamber muzzle brake and minor design changes. Only the last 700 tanks received additional armor screens on the sides and hull front armor reinforced by 30 mm, which made them similar to the next Ausf.H series, and the last 412 Ausf. G, a new KwK 40 gun with a barrel length of 48 calibers was installed.

Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G was very popular among German tankers, because until 1943 it remained almost the only German armored vehicle capable of equal resistance to Soviet heavy and medium tanks. The machine was also very reliable and easy to operate, easy to maintain and repair even in the field. The main theater of operations for the Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G became the Eastern Front, although some of the vehicles also fought in North Africa, but their number there was extremely small, and due to the poor supply of ammunition and spare parts for the Pz.IV G, the role was generally assigned to more support tanks than the main striking force. On the Eastern Front, these tanks became the backbone of the Wehrmacht's armored forces until the summer of 1943, remaining a formidable and dangerous opponent for Soviet tank crews and their combat vehicles, whose armor was based on Pz.Kpfw guns. IV Ausf. G was hit without difficulty, even at long distances. In addition, ambush tactics were often used, in which the Germans hid their vehicles on the ground, allowing Soviet armored vehicles and soldiers as close as possible and destroying them with sudden fire that left no chance of reaction.

Media

Review of Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G from Omero

Review of Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G from BMB89

Medium tank Pz Kpfw IV
and its modifications

The most popular tank of the III Reich. Produced from October 1937 until the end of the war. A total of 8,519 tanks were produced Pz Kpfw IV Ausf A, B, C, D, E, F1, F2, G, H, J, of which - 1100 with a short-barreled 7.5cm KwK37 L/24 gun, 7,419 tanks with a long-barreled 7.5cm KwK40 L/43 or L/48 gun).

Pz IV Ausf A Pz IV Ausf B Pz IV Ausf C

Pz IV Ausf D Pz IV Ausf E

Pz IV Ausf F1 Pz IV Ausf F2

Pz IV Ausf G Pz IV Ausf H

Pz IV Ausf J

Crew - 5 people.
Engine - Maybach HL 120TR or TRM (Ausf A - HL 108TR).

The Maybach HL 120TR 12-cylinder carburetor engine (3000 rpm) had a power of 300 hp. With. and allowed the tank to reach a maximum speed on the highway of up to 40 - 42 km/h.

All Pz Kpfw IV tanks had a 75 mm caliber tank gun (7.5 cm in German terminology). In the series from modification A to F1, short-barreled 7.5cm KwK37 L/24 guns with an initial armor-piercing projectile speed of 385 m/s were installed, which were powerless against armor Soviet tanks T-34 and KV, as well as against most British and American tanks. Since March 1942, the last vehicles of modification F (175 vehicles designated F2), as well as all tanks of modifications G, H and J, began to be armed with long-barreled 7.5cm KwK40 L/43 or L/48 guns. (The KwK 40 L/48 gun was installed on parts of the G series vehicles, and then on modifications H and J.) Pz Kpfw IV tanks, armed with KwK40 guns with an initial armor-piercing projectile speed of 770 m/s, gained some fire superiority over the T-34 time (2nd half of 1942 - 1943)

Tanks Pz Kpfw IV were also armed with two MG 34 machine guns. In modifications B and C there was no radio operator's machine gun; instead there is a viewing slot and a pistol embrasure.

All tanks have FuG 5 radios.

Medium support tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf A(Sd Kfz 161)

35 tanks were produced from October 1937 to March 1938 by Krupp-Guzon.

Combat weight - 18.4 tons. Length - 5.6 m. Width - 2.9 m. Height - 2.65 m.
Armor 15 mm.
Engine - Maybach HL 108TR. Speed ​​- 31 km/h. Power reserve - 150 km.

Combat use: they fought in Poland, Norway, France; were withdrawn from service in the spring of 1941.

Medium support tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf B, Ausf C(Sd Kfz 161)

42 Pz Kpfw IV Ausf B tanks were produced (from April to September 1938) and 134 Pz Kpfw IV Ausf C tanks (from September 1938 to August 1939).

Pz Kpfw IV Ausf B

Pz Kpfw IV Ausf C

A different engine and a new 6-speed gearbox were installed. The speed increased to 40 km/h. The thickness of the frontal armor has been increased to 30 mm. A new commander's cupola has been installed. In the Ausf C modification, the motor installation was changed and the turret rotating ring was improved.

Combat weight - 18.8 tons (Ausf B) and 19 tons (Ausf C). Length - 5.92 m. Width - 2.83 m. Height - 2.68 m.
Armor: front of the hull and turret - 30 mm, side and rear - 15 mm.

In modifications B and C there was no radio operator's machine gun; instead there is a viewing slot and a pistol embrasure.

Combat use: Pz Kpfw IV Ausf B and Ausf C tanks fought in Poland, France, the Balkans and on the Eastern Front. Pz Kpfw IV Ausf C remained in service until 1943. Pz Kpfw IV Ausf B gradually fell out of service by the end of 1944.

Medium support tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf D(Sd Kfz 161)

229 tanks were produced from October 1939 to May 1941.

The main difference of the Ausf D modification was the increase in the thickness of the armor on the sides and stern to 20 mm.

Combat weight - 20 tons. Length - 5.92 m. Width - 2.84 m. Height - 2.68 m.
Armor: hull and turret front - 30 mm, side and rear - 20 mm.
Speed ​​- 40 km/h. Power reserve - 200 km.

Combat use: fought in France, the Balkans, North Africa and on the Eastern Front until early 1944.

Medium support tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf E(Sd Kfz 161)

223 tanks were produced from September 1940 to April 1941.

On Ausf E increased the thickness of the frontal armor of the hull to 50 mm; A new type of commander's cupola appeared. Armor linings were used on the forehead of the superstructure (30 mm) and on the sides of the hull and superstructure (20 mm).

Combat weight - 21 tons. Length - 5.92 m. Width - 2.84 m. Height - 2.68 m.
Armor: hull front - 50 mm, superstructure and turret front - 30 mm, side and rear - 20 mm.

Combat use: Pz Kpfw IV Ausf E tanks took part in battles in the Balkans, North Africa and on the Eastern Front.

Medium support tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F1(Sd Kfz 161)

462 tanks were produced from April 1941 to March 1942, of which 25 were converted into Ausf F2.

On Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F's armor was again increased: the front of the hull and turret was up to 50 mm, the sides of the turret and hull were up to 30 mm. The single-leaf doors on the sides of the turret were replaced with double-leaf ones, and the track width increased from 360 to 400 mm. Tanks of modifications Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F, G, H were produced at the factories of three companies: Krupp-Gruson, Fomag and Nibelungenwerke.

Combat weight - 22.3 tons. Length - 5.92 m. Width - 2.84 m. Height - 2.68 m.

Speed ​​- 42 km/h. Power reserve - 200 km.

Combat use: Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F1 tanks fought on all sectors of the Eastern Front in 1941-44 and participated in . Entered service in and.

Medium tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F2(Sd Kfz 161/1)

Produced from March to July 1942, 175 tanks and 25 vehicles converted from Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F1.

Starting with this model, all subsequent ones were equipped with a long-barreled 7.5cm KwK 40 L/43 (48) gun. The gun's ammunition load was increased from 80 to 87 rounds.

Combat weight - 23 tons. Length - 5.92 m. Width - 2.84 m. Height - 2.68 m.
Armor: hull front, superstructure and turret - 50 mm, side - 30 mm, rear - 20 mm.
Speed ​​- 40 km/h. Power reserve - 200 km.

They entered service with new tank regiments and motorized divisions, as well as to make up for losses. In the summer of 1942, Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F2 tanks could withstand the Soviet T-34 and KV, equaling the latter in firepower, and surpassing the British and American tanks that period.

Medium tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf G(Sd Kfz 161/2)

1,687 vehicles were produced from May 1942 to July 1943.

A new gun muzzle brake has been introduced. Smoke grenade launchers were installed on the sides of the tower. The number of viewing slots in the tower has been reduced. About 700 Pz Kpfw IV Ausf G tanks received additional 30 mm frontal armor. On the latest vehicles, armor screens made of thin steel (5 mm) were installed along the sides of the hull and around the turret. Tanks of modifications Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F, G, H were produced at the factories of three companies: Krupp-Gruson, Fomag and Nibelungenwerke.

Combat weight - 23.5 tons. Length - 6.62 m. Width - 2.88 m. Height - 2.68 m.
Armor: hull front, superstructure and turret - 50 mm, side - 30 mm, rear - 20 mm.
Speed ​​- 40 km/h. Power reserve - 210 km.

Medium tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf N(Sd Kfz 161/2)

3,774 vehicles were produced from April 1943 to July 1944.

The Ausf H modification series - the most widespread - received 80 mm frontal hull armor (the thickness of the turret armor remained the same - 50 mm); armor protection of the turret roof increased from 10 to 15 mm. An external air filter was installed. The radio antenna was moved to the rear of the hull. A mount for an anti-aircraft machine gun is mounted on the commander's cupola. 5-mm side screens were installed on the hull and turret, protecting against cumulative shells. Some tanks had non-rubber-coated (steel) support rollers. Tanks of the Ausf H modification were produced at the factories of three companies: Nibelungenwerke, Krupp-Gruson (Magdeburg) and Fomag in Plauen. A total of 3,774 Pz Kpfw IV Ausf H and another 121 chassis for self-propelled and assault guns were produced.

Combat weight - 25 tons. Length - 7.02 m. Width - 2.88 m. Height - 2.68 m.

Speed ​​– 38 km/h. Power reserve - 210 km.

Medium tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf J(Sd Kfz 161/2)

1,758 vehicles were produced from June 1944 to March 1945 at the Nibelungenwerke plant.

The electrical horizontal aiming system of the turret has been replaced with a double one mechanical system manual aiming. An additional fuel tank was installed in the vacant space. The power reserve has been increased to 320 km. For close combat, a mortar was installed in the roof of the tower, firing fragmentation or smoke grenades to defeat enemy soldiers who had climbed onto the tank. The viewing slots and pistol embrasures in the side doors and rear of the turret have been removed.

Combat weight - 25 tons. Length - 7.02 m. Width - 2.88 m. Height - 2.68 m.
Armor: front of the hull and superstructure - 80 mm, front of the turret - 50 mm, side - 30 mm, rear - 20 mm.
Speed ​​– 38 km/h. Power reserve - 320 km.

Combat use of medium tanks Pz Kpfw IV

Before the invasion of France, the troops had 280 Pz Kpfw IV Ausf A, B, C, D tanks.

Before the beginning Operation Barbarossa Germany had 3,582 combat-ready tanks. Consisting of 17 tank divisions deployed against Soviet Union, there were 438 tanks Pz IV Ausf B, C, D, E, F. Soviet KV and T-34 tanks had an advantage over the German Pz Kpfw IV. Shells from KV and T-34 tanks penetrated the armor of the Pz Kpfw IV at considerable distances. The armor of the Pz Kpfw IV was also penetrated by 45 mm Soviet anti-tank guns and 45 mm guns of the T-26 and BT light tanks. And the short-barreled German tank gun could only effectively fight light tanks. Therefore, during 1941, 348 Pz Kpfw IVs were destroyed on the Eastern Front.

Tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F1 5th tank division in November 1941 near Moscow

In June 1942 years there were 208 tanks on the Eastern Front Pz Kpfw IV Ausf B, C, D, E, F1 and about 170 Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F2 and Ausf G tanks with a long-barreled gun.

In 1942 tank battalion Pz Kpfw IV was to consist of four tank companies of 22 Pz Kpfw IV each, plus eight tanks in the regiment's headquarters company.

Tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf C and panzergrenadiers

Spring 1943

Panzer IV - that's what this one is called fighting machine was almost unknown to the soldiers and commanders of the Red Army. And even now, 60 years after the end of the Great Patriotic War, the combination of the German words “Panzer Fir” causes confusion among many. Both then and now, this tank is better known under the “Russified” name T-IV, which is not used anywhere outside our country.

Pz. IV is the only German tank in mass production throughout the Second World War. world war and became the most popular tank of the Wehrmacht. Its popularity among German tankers was comparable to the popularity of the T-34 among ours and the Sherman among the allies. Well-designed and extremely reliable in operation, this combat vehicle was, in the full sense of the word, the “workhorse” of the Panzerwaffe.

DESIGN DESCRIPTION

DESIGN DESCRIPTION

TANK LAYOUT- classic, with front transmission.

The control compartment was located in front of the combat vehicle. It housed the main clutch, gearbox, turning mechanism, controls, control instruments, a forward machine gun (with the exception of modifications B and C), a radio station and workplaces for two crew members - the driver and the gunner-radio operator.

The fighting compartment was located in the middle part of the tank. Here (in the turret) there was a cannon and a machine gun, observation and aiming devices, vertical and horizontal aiming mechanisms and seats for the tank commander, gunner and loader. The ammunition was placed partly in the turret and partly in the hull.

In the engine compartment, at the rear of the tank, there was an engine and all its systems, as well as an auxiliary engine for the turret rotation mechanism.

FRAME The tank was welded from rolled armor plates with surface cementation, generally located at right angles to each other.

In the front part of the roof of the turret box there were manholes for the driver and gunner-radio operator, which were closed with rectangular covers that hinged. Modification A has double-leaf lids, while the others have single-leaf lids. Each cover had a hatch for launching signal flares (with the exception of options H and J).

In the frontal plate of the hull on the left there was a driver's viewing device, which included a triplex glass block, closed by a massive armored sliding or folding shutter Sehklappe 30 or 50 (depending on the thickness of the frontal armor), and a binocular periscope observation device KFF2 (y Ausf.A - KFF1). The latter, when there was no need for it, moved to the right, and the driver could observe through the glass block. Modifications B, C, D, H and J did not have a periscope device.

On the sides of the control compartment, to the left of the driver and to the right of the gunner-radio operator, there were triplex viewing devices, covered with hinged armored covers.

There was a partition between the rear of the hull and the fighting compartment. There were two hatches in the roof of the engine compartment, closed with hinged covers. Starting from Ausf.Fl, the covers were equipped with blinds. In the reverse bevel of the left side there was an air inlet window to the radiator, and in the reverse bevel of the right side there was an air outflow window from the fans.

TOWER- welded, hexagonal, mounted on a ball bearing on the turret plate of the hull. In its front part, in the mask, there was a cannon, a coaxial machine gun and a sight. To the left and right of the mask there were observation hatches with triplex glass. The hatches were closed with external armored flaps from inside the turret. Starting with modification G, the hatch to the right of the gun was missing.

The tower was rotated by an electromechanical turning mechanism with maximum speed 14 deg/s. A full revolution of the tower was carried out in 26 s. The flywheels of the turret's manual drive were located at the gunner's and loader's workstations.

At the rear of the tower roof there was a commander's cupola with five viewing slots with triplex glass. From the outside, the viewing slots were closed with sliding armor flaps, and the hatch in the turret roof, intended for the tank commander to enter and exit, was closed with a double-leaf lid (later - single-leaf).

The turret had a dial-hour type device for determining the target location. A second similar device was at the gunner’s disposal and, having received an order, he could quickly turn the turret towards the target. At the driver's seat there was a turret position indicator with two lights (except for Ausf.J tanks), thanks to which he knew what position the turret and gun were in (this is especially important when driving through wooded areas and populated areas).

For boarding and disembarking crew members, there were hatches on the sides of the turret with single-leaf and double-leaf (starting with version F1) covers. Inspection devices were installed in the hatch covers and sides of the tower. The turret's rear plate was equipped with two hatches for firing personal weapons. On some vehicles of modifications H and J, due to the installation of screens, inspection devices and hatches were missing.

WEAPONS. The main armament of tanks of modifications A - F1 is a 7.5 cm KwK 37 cannon of 75 mm caliber from Rheinmetall-Borsig. The length of the gun barrel is 24 caliber (1765.3 mm). Gun weight - 490 kg. Vertical aiming - ranging from -10° to +20°. The gun had a vertical wedge breech and an electric trigger. Its ammunition included shots with smoke (weight 6.21 kg, initial speed 455 m/s), high-explosive fragmentation (5.73 kg, 450 m/s), armor-piercing (6.8 kg, 385 m/s) and cumulative (4.44 kg, 450...485 m/s) projectiles.

Ausf.F2 tanks and some Ausf.G tanks were armed with a 7.5 cm KwK 40 cannon with a barrel length of 43 calibers (3473 mm), weighing 670 kg. Some Ausf.G tanks and Ausf.H and J vehicles were equipped with a 7.5 cm KwK 40 cannon with a barrel length of 48 calibers (3855 mm) and a weight of 750 kg.

Vertical aiming -8°… +20°. The maximum rollback length is 520 mm. During the march, the gun was fixed at an elevation angle of +16°.

A 7.92-mm MG 34 machine gun was paired with the cannon. The forward machine gun was placed in the front plate of the turret box in a ball mount (except for modifications B and C). On the commander's cupola of the later type, an MG 34 anti-aircraft machine gun could be mounted on a special device Fliegerbeschutzgerat 41 or 42.

Pz.IV tanks were initially equipped with the TZF 5b monocular telescopic sight, and starting with the Ausf.E - TZF 5f or TZF 5f/l. These scopes had 2.5x magnification. The MG 34 course machine gun was equipped with a 1.8x KZF 2 telescopic sight.

Depending on the modification of the tank, the gun's ammunition ranged from 80 to 122 rounds. For command tanks and forward artillery observer vehicles it was 64 rounds. Machine gun ammunition - 2700...3150 rounds.

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. The tank was equipped with Maybach HL 108TR, HL 120TR and HL 120TRM engines, 12-cylinder, V-shaped (cylinder camber - 60°), carburetor, four-stroke, with a power of 250 hp. (HL108) and 300 hp (Hb 120) at 3000 rpm. Cylinder diameters are 100 and 105 mm. Piston stroke 115 mm. Compression ratio 6.5. Working volume 10,838 cm3 and 11,867 cm3. It should be emphasized that both engines were of a similar design.

Fuel - leaded gasoline with an octane rating of at least 74. The capacity of three gas tanks is 420 l (140+110+170). Ausf.J tanks had a fourth fuel tank with a capacity of 189 liters. Fuel consumption per 100 km when driving on the highway is 330 liters, off-road - 500 liters. The fuel supply is forced, using two Solex fuel pumps. There are two carburetors, Solex 40 JFFII.

The cooling system is liquid, with one radiator located obliquely on the left side of the engine. There were two fans on the right side of the engine.

On the right side of the engine, a DKW PZW 600 (Ausf.A - E) or ZW 500 (Ausf.E - H) engine for the turret rotation mechanism with a power of 11 hp was installed. and a working volume of 585 cm3. The fuel was a mixture of gasoline and oil, the fuel tank capacity was 18 liters.

The transmission consisted of a cardan drive, a three-disc main dry friction clutch, a gearbox, a planetary rotation mechanism, final drives and brakes.

The five-speed Zahnradfabrik SFG75 (Ausf.A) gearbox and the six-speed SSG76 (Ausf.B - G) and SSG77 (Ausf.H and J) are three-shaft, with coaxial drive and driven shafts, with spring disk synchronizers.

CHASSIS The tank, applied to one side, consisted of eight double rubber-coated road wheels with a diameter of 470 mm, interlocked in pairs into four balancing bogies, suspended on quarter-elliptical leaf springs; four (for part of Ausf.J - three) dual rubber-coated (except for Ausf. J and part of Ausf.H) support rollers.

The front drive wheels had two removable ring gears of 20 teeth each. Pin engagement.

The caterpillars are steel, fine-linked, made of 101 (starting from variant F1 - 99) single-ridge tracks each. The track width is 360 mm (up to option E), and then 400 mm.

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT was performed using a single-wire circuit. Voltage 12 V. Sources: Bosch GTLN 600/12-1500 generator with a power of 0.6 kW (Ausf.A has two Bosch GQL300/12 generators with a power of 300 kW each), four Bosch batteries with a capacity of 105 Ah. Consumers: Bosch BPD 4/24 electric starter with a power of 2.9 kW (Ausf.A has two starters), ignition system, tower fan, control devices, sight illumination, sound and light signaling devices, internal and external lighting equipment, sound signal, descents of cannon and machine guns.

MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. All Pz.IV tanks were equipped with a Fu 5 radio station, with a range of 6.4 km for telephone and 9.4 km for telegraph.

" Heavy, with powerful armor and a deadly 88-mm cannon, this tank was distinguished by its perfect, truly Gothic beauty. However, the most important role in the history of World War II was played by a completely different vehicle - the Panzerkampfwagen IV (or PzKpfw IV, as well as Pz.IV). In Russian historiography it is usually called T IV.

Panzerkampfwagen IV is the most produced German tank of the Second World War. The combat path of this vehicle began in 1938 in Czechoslovakia, then Poland, France, the Balkans and Scandinavia. In 1941, it was the PzKpfw IV tank that was the only worthy opponent of the Soviet T-34 and KV. Paradox: although, in terms of its main characteristics, the T IV was significantly inferior to the Tiger, this particular vehicle can be called a symbol of the blitzkrieg; the main victories of German weapons are associated with it.

The biography of this vehicle can only be envied: this tank fought in the African sands, in the snows of Stalingrad, and was preparing to land in England. Active development of the T IV medium tank began immediately after the Nazis came to power, and the T IV fought its last battle in 1967 as part of the Syrian army, repelling attacks by Israeli tanks on the Dutch Heights.

A little history

After the end of World War I, the Allies did everything possible to ensure that Germany would never again become a powerful military power. She was forbidden not only to have tanks, but even to engage in work in this area.

However, these restrictions could not prevent the German military from working on the theoretical aspects of the use of armored forces. The concept of blitzkrieg, developed by Alfred von Schlieffen at the beginning of the 20th century, was refined and supplemented by a number of talented German officers. Tanks not only found their place in it, they became one of its main elements.

Despite the restrictions imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles, practical work The creation of new tank models continued. Work was also underway on organizational structure tank units. All this took place in an atmosphere of strict secrecy. After the nationalists came to power, Germany threw away prohibitions and quickly began to create a new army.

The first German tanks put into mass production were the light Pz.Kpfw.I and Pz.Kpfw.II vehicles. The One was essentially a training vehicle, while the Pz.Kpfw.II was intended for reconnaissance and was armed with a 20-mm cannon. The Pz.Kpfw.III was already considered a medium tank; it was armed with a 37 mm gun and three machine guns.

The decision to develop a new tank (Panzerkampfwagen IV), armed with a short-barreled 75 mm cannon, was made in 1934. The main task of the vehicle was to be direct support for infantry units; this tank was supposed to suppress enemy firing points (primarily anti-tank artillery). In its design and layout, the new vehicle was largely the same as the Pz.Kpfw.III.

In January 1934, three companies received technical specifications for the development of the tank: AG Krupp, MAN and Rheinmetall. At that moment, Germany was still trying not to advertise its work on types of weapons prohibited by the Versailles agreements. Therefore, the vehicle was given the name Bataillonsführerwagen or B.W., which translates as “battalion commander’s vehicle.”

The project developed by AG Krupp, VK 2001(K), was recognized as the best. The military was not satisfied with its spring suspension; they demanded that it be replaced with a more advanced torsion bar suspension, which provides the tank with a smoother ride. However, the designers managed to insist on their own. The German army was in dire need of a tank, and the development of a new chassis could take a lot of time, so it was decided to leave the suspension the same, just seriously modify it.

Production of the tank and its modifications

In 1936, mass production of new machines began. The first modification of the tank was the Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. A. The first samples of this tank had bulletproof armor (15-20 mm) and poor protection for surveillance devices. Modification of Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. A can be called pre-production. After the release of several dozen PzKpfw IV Ausf. A, AG Krupp immediately received an order for the production of an improved model of the Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. IN.

Model B had a different hull shape, it did not have a front-mounted machine gun, and the viewing devices (especially the commander's cupola) were improved. The frontal armor of the tank was strengthened to 30 mm. PzKpfw IV Ausf. It received a more powerful engine, a new gearbox, and its ammunition load was reduced. The tank's weight increased to 17.7 tons, while its speed, thanks to the new power plant, increased to 40 km/h. A total of 42 rolled off the assembly line. Ausf tank. IN.

The first modification of the T IV, which can be called truly widespread, was the Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. S. It appeared in 1938. Externally, this car was slightly different from the previous model; it was equipped with new engine, some other minor changes have been made. In total, about 140 Ausf units were produced. WITH.

In 1939, production of the next tank model began: Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. D. Its main difference was the appearance of the external mask of the tower. In this modification, the thickness of the side armor was increased (20 mm), and several other improvements were made. Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. D is latest model peacetime tank, before the start of the war the Germans managed to make 45 Ausf.D tanks.

By September 1, 1939, the German army had 211 units of the T-IV tank of various modifications. These vehicles performed well during the Polish campaign and became the main tanks of the German army. Combat experience has shown that weak point T-IV was its armor protection. Polish anti-tank guns easily penetrated both the armor of light tanks and heavier “fours”.

Taking into account the experience gained in the first years of the war, a new modification of the vehicle was developed - Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. E. On this model, the frontal armor was reinforced with 30 mm thick hinged plates, and 20 mm thick on the side. The tank received a commander's cupola of a new design, and the shape of the tower was changed. Minor changes were made to the tank's chassis, and the design of the hatches and inspection devices was improved. The weight of the vehicle increased to 21 tons.

The installation of mounted armor screens was irrational and could only be considered as a necessary measure and a way to improve the protection of the first T-IV models. Therefore, the creation of a new modification, the design of which would take into account all the comments, was only a matter of time.

In 1941, production of the Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.F model began, in which the hinged screens were replaced by integral armor. The thickness of the frontal armor was 50 mm, and the sides - 30 mm. As a result of these changes, the weight of the vehicle increased to 22.3 tons, which led to a significant increase in the specific load on the ground.

To eliminate this problem, the designers had to increase the width of the tracks and make changes to the chassis of the tank.

Initially, the T-IV was not suitable for destroying enemy armored vehicles; the “four” was considered an infantry fire support tank. Although, the tank's ammunition included armor-piercing shells, which allowed it to fight enemy armored vehicles equipped with bulletproof armor.

However, the first meetings of German tanks with the T-34 and KV, which had powerful anti-ballistic armor, plunged the German tank crews into shock. The Four turned out to be absolutely ineffective against the Soviet armored giants. The first alarm bell that showed the futility of using the T-IV against powerful heavy tanks was combat clashes with the English Matilda tank in 1940-41.

Even then it became clear that the PzKpfw IV should be equipped with a different weapon, which would be more suitable for destroying tanks.

At first, the idea was born to install a 50-mm gun with a length of 42 calibers on the T-IV, but the experience of the first battles on the Eastern Front showed that this gun was significantly inferior to the Soviet 76-mm, which was installed on the KV and T-34. The total superiority of Soviet armored vehicles over Wehrmacht tanks was a very unpleasant discovery for German soldiers and officers.

Already in November 1941, work began on the creation of a new 75-mm cannon for the T-IV. Vehicles with the new gun received the abbreviation Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.F2. However, the armor protection of these vehicles was still inferior to Soviet tanks.

It was this problem that German designers wanted to solve by developing a new modification of the tank at the end of 1942: Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.G. Additional armor screens 30 mm thick were installed in the frontal part of this tank. Some of these vehicles were equipped with a 75 mm cannon with a length of 48 calibers.

The most popular T-IV model was the Ausf.H, which first rolled off the assembly line in the spring of 1943. This modification was practically no different from the Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.G. A new transmission was installed on it and the turret roof was thickened.

Description of the Pz.VI design

The T-IV tank is made according to the classical design, with the power plant located in the rear of the hull, and the control compartment in the front.

The tank's hull is welded, the slope of the armor plates is less rational than that of the T-34, but it provides more internal space for the vehicle. The tank had three compartments, separated by bulkheads: a control compartment, a combat compartment and a power compartment.

The control compartment housed the driver and gunner-radio operator. It also housed the transmission, instruments and controls, a walkie-talkie and a machine gun (not on all models).

In the fighting compartment, located in the center of the tank, there were three crew members: a commander, a gunner and a loader. The turret was equipped with a cannon and a machine gun, observation and aiming devices, as well as ammunition. The commander's cupola provided excellent visibility for the crew. The tower was rotated by an electric drive. The gunner had a telescopic sight.

The power plant was located at the rear of the tank. The T-IV was equipped with a 12-cylinder water-cooled carburetor engine of various models, developed by the Maybach company.

The Four had a large number of hatches, which made life easier for the crew and technical personnel, but reduced the security of the vehicle.

The suspension was spring, the chassis consisted of 8 rubber-coated road wheels and 4 support rollers and a drive wheel.

Combat use

The first serious campaign in which the Pz.IV took part was the war against Poland. Early modifications of the tank had weak armor and became easy prey for Polish artillerymen. During this conflict, the Germans lost 76 Pz.IV units, 19 of which were irretrievable.

In the hostilities against France, the opponents of the “fours” were not only anti-tank guns, but also tanks. The French Somua S35 and the English Matildas performed well.

In the German army, tank classification was based on the caliber of the gun, so the Pz.IV was considered a heavy tank. However, with the outbreak of war on the Eastern Front, the Germans saw what a real heavy tank was. The USSR also had an overwhelming advantage in the number of combat vehicles: at the beginning of the war in western districts there were more than 500 KV tanks. The short-barreled Pz.IV cannon could not cause any harm to these giants even at close range.

It should be noted that the German command very quickly drew conclusions and began modifying the “fours”. Already at the beginning of 1942, modifications of the Pz.IV with a long gun began to appear on the Eastern Front. The armor protection of the vehicle was also increased. All this made it possible for German tankers to fight the T-34 and KV on equal terms. Considering the better ergonomics of German vehicles and excellent sighting devices, the Pz.IV became a very dangerous opponent.

After installing a long-barreled gun (48 calibers) on the T-IV, its combat characteristics increased even more. After this, the German tank could hit both Soviet and American vehicles without entering the range of their guns.

It should be noted the speed with which changes were made to the design of the Pz.IV. If we take the Soviet "thirty-four", then many of its shortcomings were revealed at the stage of factory testing. It took the leadership of the USSR several years of war and huge losses to begin modernizing the T-34.

The German T-IV tank can be called a very balanced and versatile vehicle. Later heavy German vehicles have a clear bias towards security. "Four" can be called unique car from the point of view of the reserve for modernization inherent in it.

This is not to say that the Pz.IV was an ideal tank. It had shortcomings, the main ones of which were insufficient engine power and outdated suspension. Power point clearly did not correspond to the mass of later models. The use of a rigid spring suspension reduced the maneuverability of the vehicle and its maneuverability. Installing a long gun significantly increased the combat characteristics of the tank, but it created additional load on the front rollers of the tank, which led to significant rocking of the vehicle.

Equipping the Pz.IV with anti-cumulative shields was also not a very good solution. Cumulative ammunition was rarely used; the screens only increased the weight of the vehicle, its dimensions and impaired the crew’s visibility. Also a very expensive idea was to paint the tanks with Zimmerit, a special anti-magnetic paint against magnetic mines.

However, many historians consider the biggest miscalculation of the German leadership to be the start of production of heavy tanks “Panther” and “Tiger”. For almost the entire war, Germany was limited in resources. The Tiger was a truly excellent tank: powerful, comfortable, and with a deadly weapon. But also very expensive. In addition, both the “Tiger” and the “Panther” were able to get rid of many “childhood” diseases that are inherent in any new technology until the end of the war.

There is an opinion that if the resources spent on the production of “Panthers” were used to produce additional “fours”, this would create much more problems for the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition.

Specifications

Video about the Panzerkampfwagen IV tank

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The Germans themselves did not have a high opinion of the fighting qualities of the Pz.lV. Here is what Major General von Mellenthin writes about this in his memoirs (in 1941, with the rank of major, he served on Rommel’s headquarters): “The T-IV tank gained a reputation among the British as a formidable enemy mainly because it was armed with a 75-mm cannon However, this gun had a low muzzle velocity and weak penetration, and although we used the T-IV in tank battles, they were much more useful as a means of fire support for infantry." The Pz.lV began to play a more significant role in all theaters of war only after acquiring the "long arm" - the 75-mm KwK 40 cannon (F2 series). On the Eastern Front, the Pz. lV Ausf.F2 also appeared in the summer of 1942 and took part in the attack on Stalingrad and North Caucasus. After production of the Pz.lll "four" ceased in 1943, it gradually became the main German tank in all theaters of combat. However, in connection with the start of production of the Panther, it was planned to stop production of the Pz.lV, however, thanks to the tough position of the Panzerwaffe Inspector General, General G. Guderian, this did not happen. Subsequent events showed that he was right.

The combat characteristics of the Pz.IV increased sharply after the installation of a long-barreled gun. Not inferior to enemy tanks in all other respects, the “four” turned out to be capable of hitting Soviet and American tanks beyond the range of their guns. We are not talking about English cars - for four years of the war the British were marking time. Until the end of 1943, the combat characteristics of the T-34 remained virtually unchanged, with the Pz.IV taking first place among medium tanks. Since 1942 performance characteristics Pz.IV did not change (except for the thickness of the armor) and during two years of the war remained unsurpassed by anyone! Only in 1944, having installed a 76-mm long-barreled gun on the Sherman, did the Americans catch up with the Pz.IV, and we, having launched the T-34-85 into production, overtook it. The Germans no longer had the time or opportunity to give a worthy response. Comparing the characteristics of WWII tanks, we can conclude that the Germans, earlier than others, began to consider the tank as the main and most effective anti-tank weapon, and this is the main trend in post-war tank building.

In general, it can be argued that of all the German tanks of the Second World War, the Pz.IV was the most balanced and versatile. In this car, various characteristics were harmoniously combined and complemented each other. The "Tiger" and "Panther", for example, had a clear bias towards protection, which led to their overweight and deterioration in dynamic characteristics. The Pz.III, with many other characteristics being equal to the Pz.IV, did not match it in armament and, having no reserves for modernization, left the stage. The Pz.IV, with a similar Pz.III, but a slightly more thoughtful layout, had such reserves in full least. This is the only wartime tank with a 75 mm cannon, whose main armament was significantly strengthened without changing the turret. The turret of the T-34-85 and Sherman had to be replaced, and, by and large, these were almost new vehicles. The British went their own way and, like a fashionista, changed not the towers, but the tanks! But “Cromwell,” which appeared in 1944, never reached the “four,” as did “Comet,” released in 1945. Only the post-war Centurion was able to bypass the German tank, created in 1937.

From the above, of course, it does not follow that the Pz.IV was an ideal tank. Let's say it had insufficient engine power and a rather rigid and outdated suspension, which negatively affected its maneuverability. To some extent, the latter was compensated for by the lowest L/B ratio of 1.43 among all medium tanks. The equipping of the Pz.lV (as well as other tanks) with anti-cumulative screens cannot be considered a successful move by German designers. IN en masse cumulative ammunition was rarely used, but the screens increased the dimensions of the vehicle, making it difficult to move in narrow passages, blocked most surveillance devices, and made it difficult for the crew to board and disembark.
However, an even more pointless and rather expensive measure was coating the tanks with Zimmerit (anti-magnetic painting, against magnetic mines). But perhaps the biggest mistake the Germans made was trying to switch to new type medium tank - "Panther". It did not take place as the latter, joining the Tiger in the class of heavy vehicles, but it played a fatal role in the fate of the Pz.lV. Having concentrated all their efforts on creating new tanks in 1942, the Germans stopped seriously modernizing the old ones. Let's try to imagine what would have happened if not for the Panther? The project of installing a “Panther” turret on the Pz.lV is well known, both standard and “close” (Schmall-turm). The project is quite realistic in size - the clear diameter of the turret ring for the Panther is 1650 mm, for the Pz.lV it is 1600 mm. The tower stood up without expanding the turret box. The situation with the weight characteristics was somewhat worse - due to the long reach of the gun barrel, the center of gravity shifted forward and the load on the front road wheels increased by 1.5 tons. However, it could be compensated for by strengthening their suspension. In addition, it must be taken into account that the KwK 42 cannon was created for the Panther, and not for the Pz.IV. For the "four" it was possible to limit ourselves to a gun with smaller weight and dimensions, with a barrel length of, say, not 70, but 55 or 60 calibers. Even if such a weapon would require replacing the turret, it would still make it possible to get by with a lighter design than the Panther one. The inevitably increasing (by the way, even without such a hypothetical rearmament) weight of the tank required replacing the Engine. For comparison: the dimensions of the HL 120TKRM engine installed on the Pz.IV were 1220x680x830 mm, and the Panther HL 230P30 - 1280x960x1090 mm. The clear dimensions of the engine compartments were almost identical for these two tanks. The Panther's was 480 mm longer, mainly due to the inclination of the rear hull plate. Consequently, equipping the Pz.lV with a higher power engine was not an insurmountable design task. The results of this, of course, far from complete, list of possible modernization measures would be very sad, since they would nullify the work on creating the T-34-85 for us and the Sherman with a 76-mm cannon for the Americans. In 1943-1945, the industry of the Third Reich produced about 6 thousand “Panthers” and almost 7 thousand Pz.IV. If we take into account that the labor intensity of manufacturing the "Panther" was almost twice as much as that of the Pz.lV, then we can assume that during the same time German factories could produce an additional 10-12 thousand modernized "fours", which would be delivered to the soldiers of the anti-Hitler coalition much more trouble than the Panthers.