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Germany's Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf D, SdKfz 161:
PzKpfw IV Ausf D: |
PzKpfw IV Ausf D: |
BW/4, BW/5. First large scale production of this type. Wider tracks, larger sprockets, and hull stowage bin. Increase in side and rear armor from 15mm to 20mm.12 Late production vehicles had armor plate bolted and welded to turret and hull front. The front superstructure plate was stepped and the radio operator was moved back further than the driver. Hull MG was installed.
Some of the last produced had 30 mm plates bolted and welded onto the hull superstructure front and 20 mm to the sides.
Had external mantlet.12
In 1943 some were upgraded to 75 mm KwK L/48. 16 chassis were converted to bridge laying tanks, 2 chassis to self-propelled guns, and a Munitionsschlepper for the Karl.
Started production in the summer of 1939.8 45 were finished before the start of the invasion of Poland.8
Used FuG5 radio.4
Saw action in France, North Africa, Balkans, and Russia.
| Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf D | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator 52,4,10 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 43,431 lb10, 44,092 lb 20 tons2,4,8 19,700 kg10 |
| Length w/gun | 19.4'10, 19' 5.25" 5.9 m10, 5.91 m, 5.92 m2,4 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 8.5'10, 8' 8.5", 8.9'5 2.6 m10, 2.68 m2,4 |
| Width | 9' 4", 9.6'10 2.83 m2, 2.84 m4, 2.86 m, 2.9 m10 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 0.4 m2 |
| Ground contact length | 3.52 m |
| Ground pressure | 0.75 (kg/cm2)10, 0.83 (kg/cm2)2 10.6 psi10, 11.81 psi |
| Turret ring diameter | 1.65 m |
| Armament | |
| Main | 75 mm KwK 37 L/244 75 mm L/242 75 mm KwK L/249 75 mm KwK 39 L/2410 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2: MGs2 2: 7.92 mm MG344 |
| MG - coaxial | 7.92 mm MG349,10 |
| MG - hull | 7.92 mm MG349,10 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 802,4,10 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2,7004, 2,80010, 3,1502 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 20 - 9010 Front: 309 Side: 2012 Side, Rear: 208,12 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 302 30@7°4 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 30@12°4 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 202 20@0°4 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 20@0°4 |
| Hull Rear | 202 20@9°4 & 10°4 |
| Hull Top | 10-112 12@84°-90°4 |
| Hull Bottom | 112 10@90°4 |
| Turret Front | 35-302 30@10°4 mantlet: 30@round Mantlet: 35@0°-29°4 |
| Turret Sides | 202 20@25°4 |
| Turret Rear | 202 20@0°-24°4 |
| Turret Top | 102 10@83°-90°4 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 120 TRM2,4,9,10 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water10 |
| Cylinders | V-1210 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 300@3,000 rpm10 |
| Power to weight ratio | 15.5 hp/ton10 |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | Synchromesh, ZF SSG 76 6 forward, 1 reverse.2,4 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline10 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 105 gallons 470 liters2 |
| Road consumption | 100 km/235 liters |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, electric.4 |
| Max speed | 40 kph4,10, 42 kph2 25 mph10 |
| Cross country speed | 13 mph10 20 kph10 |
| Road radius | 200 km4,10, 210 km2 125 miles10 |
| Cross country radius | 130 km2 |
| Turning radius | 5.92 m |
| Elevation limits | -11° to +21° -8° to +20°4 |
| Fording depth | 0.8 m2, 1 m 2' 7.5" |
| Trench crossing | 7.5'10, 7' 7" 2.3 m10 |
| Vertical obstacle | 60 cm 2' |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | Leaf springs2 |
| Wheels each side | 8x22 |
| Return rollers each side | 4x2 |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | 15.75" 380 mm2 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 2.39 m |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1943-1945, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- -
- German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Battle Winning Tanks, Aircraft & Warships of World War II, David Miller, 2000
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
- Panzers At War, Michael and Gladys Green, 2005
