Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf F2, SdKfz 161/1:

Germany's PzKpfw IV

PzKpfw IV F2 (17K)

BW/7. As Ausf F1 was rolling off production lines, the T-34 was encountered on the Russian front. Hitler ordered the PaK 40 antitank gun fitted into all new PzKpfw IVs. Ammunition storage was altered to allow for the larger rounds. The gunner's and commander's seat was altered to allow more room. There was an auxiliary hand crank for traverse for the loader. The initial production models had a single-baffle, spherical muzzle brake.

In March 1942, factories started to put the 7.5 cm gun KwK 40 L/43.8 It's AP round weighed 15 lbs and had a muzzle velocity of 2,428'/sec.11

Used FuG5 radio.4

Were called the "Mark IV Special" by the British.9 First encountered at Alam Halfa and El Alamein in September and October 1942.9

75 mm KwK 40 had muzzle velocity of 2,428 ft/sec8 and could penetrate 89 mm @ 30°8. Early models had single baffle, but later models had double baffle muzzle brake.

  Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf F2
Crew Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator
51,4,5,11
Physical Characteristics  
Weight 50,706 lb, 52,000 lb
23 tons4, 23.6 tons5,8, 22 tons1, 25.8 tons11
22,350 kg1
Length w/gun 19.4'11, 20' 10", 21' 9"1, 18' 5.5", 22.08'5
5.62 m4, 6.63 m1
Length w/o gun 5.93 m
Height 8.53'11, 8' 6", 8' 9.5"1, 8.9'5
2.68 m1,4
Width 9.5'11, 9.6'5, 9' 7", 9' 3.75", 9' 5.5"1
2.84 m4, 2.88 m1
Width over tracks  
Ground clearance 15.75"11
40 cm
Ground contact length 138.5"11
3.52 m
Ground pressure 11.8 psi11
0.84 kg/cm2
Turret ring diameter 1.65 m
Armament  
Main 75 mm KwK 40 L/434,7,11
75 mm KwK L/4312
75 mm1,5
75 mm L/439
Secondary  
MG 2: 7.92 mm MG34 coaxial, hull11
2: 7.92 mm MG1,6, coaxial, hull6
2: 7.92 mm MG344
2: MG5
Side arms  
Quantity  
Main 87 HEAT, smoke, APCR, APCBC, HE
874,6,11
Secondary  
MG 3,0004, 3,15011, 3,1926, 3,200
Side arms  
Armor Thickness (mm) Front: 2"11
Side: 1.2"11
10 - 505
Hull: 6012
Turret: 5012
Hull Front, Upper 606
50@10°4
Hull Front, Lower 25
50@12°4
Hull Sides, Upper 30@0°4
Hull Sides, Lower 30@0°4
Hull Rear 20@0°4 & 20°4
Hull Top 12@85°-90°4
Hull Bottom 10@90°4
Turret Front 2"11
506
50@11°4
Mantlet: 50@0°-30°4
Turret Sides 0.8"11
30@26°4
Turret Rear 30@16°4
Turret Top 10@83°-90°4
Engine (Make / Model) Maybach HL 120 TRM1,4,11
Bore / stroke  
Cooling Water11
Capacity  
Cylinders V-1211
Net HP 300@3,000 rpm11
Power to weight ratio  
Compression ratio 6.5:111
Transmission (Type) ZF SSG 77, Synchromesh, 6 forward, 1 reverse
ZF SSG 76, Synchromesh, 6 forward, 1 reverse
Synchromesh11
6 forward, 1 reverse.4,11
Steering Clutch brake11
Steering ratio  
Starter Electric and inertia11
Electrical system Starting: 24-volt11
Running: 12-volt11
Ignition Magneto11
Fuel (Type) Gasoline11
Octane  
Quantity 105 gallons, 125 gallon11
470 liters
Road consumption 1 mpg11
100 km/235 liters
Cross country consumption 0.6 mpg11
Performance  
Traverse 360°, electric.4
Hand and electric.11
Max speed 24.8 mph1, 25 mph5,8,11
40 kph1,4,8
Cross country speed 10 mph11, 11 mph
16 kph
Road radius 124 miles11, 130 miles1
200 km4, 209 km1
Cross country radius 78 miles11
130 km
Turning radius 5.92 m
Elevation limits -11° to +21°
-8° to +20°4
Fording depth 39.4"11
1 m
Trench crossing 7.2'11
2.2 m
Vertical obstacle 23.6"11
60 cm
Climbing ability 30° (57%) slope11
Suspension (Type) Leaf springs
Quarter elliptic springs11
Wheels each side 811, 8x2
Return rollers each side 411, 4x2
Tracks (Type) Dry pin11
Length  
Width 15.75"11
40 cm
Diameter  
Number of links 9911
Pitch 4.9"11
Tire tread  
Track centers/tread 8.1'11
2.45 m

Sources:

  1. 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
  2. Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
  3. Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1943-1945, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
  4. Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
  5. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
  6. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
  7. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
  8. German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
  9. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
  10. Battle Winning Tanks, Aircraft & Warships of World War II, David Miller, 2000
  11. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
  12. Tanks - Over 250 of the World's Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles, Chris Chant, 2004
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