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Germany's Panzerkampfwagen IV, SdKfz 161 medium tank¹⁴:

PzKpfw IV medium tank captured by the allies in North Africa: United States Army in World War II, Pictorial Record, The War Against Germany and Italy: Mediterranean and Adjacent Areas, 1951, pg 50	PzKpfw IV:	PzKpfw IV:	PzKpfw IV with the Hitlerjugend Division possibly in Belgium or the Netherlands.
PzKpfw IV in the Hitlerjugend Division possibly in Belgium or the Netherlands.	PzKpfw IV in the Hitlerjugend Division possibly in Belgium or the Netherlands.	PzKpfw IV:	PzKpfw IV:
Knocked out PzKpfw IV in Russia.	PzKpfw IV:	PzKpfw IV:	PzKpfw IV:
PzKpfw IV:	PzKpfw IV in North Africa:	PzKpfw IV destroyed:

Design

On January 11, 1934, the Army Weapons Department drew up specifications for a mitteren Traktor (medium tractor).^14,15 It was to be a maximum of 24,000 kg⁸ / 24 tons¹⁵ as it had to be able to cross most of the bridges in Europe. These were to equip the 4th company of each battalion. Its roll was originally intended to be artillery support and was designed with a low velocity, large caliber gun for HE.⁸

To disguise their development they were given the code name Battalionsführerwagen/BW (battalion commander's vehicles).^8,15 It's original designation was Begleitwagen (BW) (escort tank).¹²

On May 26, 1941, in a conference with Hitler at the Berghof, it was decided to investigate the possibility of up gunning the PzKpfw IVs with 50 mm PaK 38s. They were wanting about 20 tanks per armored division to act as a spearhead with better guns to penetrate enemy tanks, have heavier armor, and have speeds no less than 40 kph. Krupp received a contract to introduce a prototype by November 15, 1941. The 50 mm L/42 gun was to go into proof testing on August 1, 1941. However, after the invasion of Russia, the plan was dropped as being unworkable as the 50 mm L/42 was useless against the heavier Russian tanks.

There were eight road wheels on each side suspended in pairs from leaf springs.⁹ The suspension was 4 pairs of bogies on each side⁸ that were size 470x75-660 and mounted on longitudinal twin quarter elliptic springs, with 4 return rollers^8,9. The sprocket wheel was in the front with the idler in the rear.⁹

The engine exhausts were fitted on the right side of the engine compartment which sucked in the air and this was expelled out the left side after passing through the radiator. The fans were driven by belts and double V-belts from the crankshaft.

A Wilson-Krupp type clutch and brake provided the steering.

The electricity to traverse the turret was provided by a shunt motor. This was a type P/6 DKW 2 cylinder, 2 stroke engine which produced 15 hp at 2,800 rpm, and had a capacity of 585 cc.

Turret

The welded turret had seats for the commander, gunner, and loader.¹⁵ The loader was on the left, and gunner on the right.^12,14

The cupola was towards the rear of the turret and had 5 ports. The commander's cupola was centered in the rear of the turret.^12,14

Hull

The joints were austenitic steel welds and the plates were made of chromium-molybdenum steel.¹⁵ The hull was separated by 2 bulkheads into the driving, fighting, and engine compartment.¹⁵

The transmission and the final drive assemblies were housed in the driving compartment.¹⁵ The driver and hull gunner / radio operator had their seats located in the front.¹⁵ The driver was on the left and the radio operator/machine gunner was on the right.¹⁴

Superstructure

The welded superstructure was bolted to the top of the hull.¹⁵ The superstructure extended out over the sides of the hull to make room for a large turret.^8,15

Hatches for the driver and hull gunner were in the roof.¹⁵

Prototype

During 1934, Rheinmetall-Borsig, Krupp, and MAN each submitted a prototype design.^8,12,13,16 Rheinmetall-Borsig had created a wooden mock up by the end of 1934.¹⁵ These were designated the VK 2001(Rh), VK 2002 (MAN), and VK 2001(K).¹⁴ The first prototype was sent to Kummersdorf for trials in 1935.¹⁵ The Weapons Department thought they were all unsuitable and rejected them.⁸ MAN in 1935 developed a prototype that had interleaved suspension.⁸ Krupp designed a vehicle that had interleaved bogie suspension.⁸ After intensive trials the Krupp design was accepted in 1936.¹⁵

Production

Krupp-Grusonwerk received the contract.^12,14,16 Production started at the Krupp-Grusonwerke plant in Magdeburg.^14,15 At this point it was designated the Versuchskraftfahrzeug 622 (VsKfz 622).¹⁵

Krupp's Heerlein division was given the responsibility for designing the turret and further development. New prototypes were thoroughly tested during 1935-1936.

On August 20, 1940, Hitler issued a Führerbefehl to make PzKpfw III and PzKpfw IV production a priority.¹⁵

When the tanks would come back to the factory for overhauls they usually had the latest improvements in armor, engines, turrets, installed.

The PzKpfw IV was the only German tank to be produced through the whole duration of World War II.⁸

Manufacturers

• Krupp-Gruson AG: main assembly¹⁵
  • Krupp of Essen: produced hulls and turrets¹⁵
  • Eisen-und-Huettenwerke of Bochum: produced hulls and turrets¹⁵
• Nibelungenwerke at St. Valentin: from 1943 most PzKpfw IVs were assembled here¹⁵
  • Hermann Goering steel mills at Linz: produced hulls and turrets¹⁵
  • Gebr. Koehler & Co of Kapfenberg: produced hulls and turrets¹⁵
  • Eisenwerke Oberdonau of Linz: produced hulls and turrets¹⁵
• Volkswagen produced bogies

Raw Materials

• Steel (Fe): 39,000 kg¹⁵
• Tin (Sn): 1.2 kg¹⁵
• Copper (Cu): 195.1 kg¹⁵
• Aluminum (Al): 238 kg¹⁵
• Lead (Pb): 63.3 kg¹⁵
• Zing (Zn): 66.4 kg¹⁵
• Magnesium (Mg): 0.15 kg¹⁵
• Rubber: 116.3 kg¹⁵

Variants

• PzKpfw IV Ausf A: Had short 7.5 cm gun.¹⁶
• PzKpfw IV Ausf B: Cupola was revised.¹⁶ The hull front was simplified.¹⁶
• PzKpfw IV Ausf C: The machine gun had a sleeve installed to protect it.¹⁶ Had a revised engine.¹⁶
• PzKpfw IV Ausf D: The roof on the front of the hull was sloped.¹⁶ The tracks were improved.¹⁶ A more powerful engine was installed.¹⁶
• PzKpfw IV Ausf E: Additional armor was added.¹⁶
• PzKpfw IV Ausf F1: Main production model.¹⁶ Had short 7.5 cm L/24 gun.¹⁶
• PzKpfw IV Ausf F2: Initially had 7.5 cm L/43 gun.¹⁶ Late models had 7.5 cm L/48.¹⁶
• PzKpfw IV Ausf G: Thicker armor.¹⁶ Some had Scheutzen side armor.¹⁶
• PzKpfw IV Ausf H: Had 7.5 cm KwK 40 L/48 installed.¹⁶ Scheutzen was standardized.¹⁶
• PzKpfw IV Ausf J: The Scheutzen was made from wire mesh instead of solid plate.¹⁶ Design was simplified due to raw material shortages.¹⁶
• PzKpfw IV Bruckenleger
• PzKpfw IV PzBefWg
• PzKpfw IV Tauchpanzer
• Infanterie Sturmsteg: "Infantry Assault Footbridge." 2 produced that had an infantry assault bridge mounted. Looked similar to a ladder on a fire truck having a telescopic catwalk.
• Bergepanzer IV: 36⁸ were converted from October to December 1944 the turret was removed⁸ and a wooden structure with a crane was added.
• Munitionsschlepper für Karlgerät: An Ausf D was used in October 1939 as the chassis for an ammunition carrier that could carry four 600 mm rounds for the Karl 600 mm mortar. A crane was installed for lifting these rounds.¹⁵ 13 Ausf F1s were converted in 1941.
  During 1941 eleven were produced.⁸ They were to carry the 2.2 ton / 2,200 kg¹⁵ shells for the Karl 600 mm mortar.⁸
• Flakpanzer fur Schwere Flak (8.8cm Flak 37)
  8.8cm Flak 37 auf Sonderfahrgestell,
  88 mm K (Pz Sf) auf Sonderfahrgestell¹³:
  
  It was to mount a 8.8-cm FlaK 36 L/56 gun.¹³ By August 1942 there were three prototypes but by this time tank production had priority.¹³
  The prototypes partook in field trials in October1943 at Ostseebad-Kuhlingsborn.¹³ These prototypes worked very well, but with it's weight of 26 tons it was quite heavy for a self-propelled gun.¹³ The length was 7 m and the width 3 m which would have been problematic when moving by rail.¹³
  The project was finally was cancelled by Albert Speer on January 13, 1945.¹³
• Wirbelwind: Had Quad 2 cm AA FlaK 38 guns mounted. About 90 made in 1944.
• Möbelwagen: 3.7 cm Flak 43 L/60 mounted. The 4 sides could be let down horizontally. 240 made from 1944-45.
• Ostwind: 3.7 cm Flak 43/1 L/60 mounted. Had 6 sides to the turret. 45 made from 1944-45.
• Kugelblitz: Twin 3 cm MK 103/38 mounted in a low rounded open topped turret. Only 2 made in early 1945.
• StuG IV (SdKfz 163) : Superstructure of StuG III put onto PzKpfw IV chassis.¹⁶ 1,100 made from Dec. 1943 to March 1945.
• Sturmpanzer IV Brummbär (SdKfz 166): Mounted a 15 cm StuH43 L/12.¹⁶ Built from PzKpfw III Ausf F, PzKpfw III Ausf G, PzKpfw III Ausf H, and PzKpfw III Ausf J chassis.¹⁶
• Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (SdKfz 162): Wooden mockup shown on May 14, 1943.¹⁵ Mounted 7.5 cm Pak 39 L/48 with 79 rounds.¹⁵ 800 built in 1944. Built by Vomag.¹⁵ Entered service in 1944.¹⁵ Weighed 24 tons.¹⁵ Crew of four.¹⁵
  Mounted 7.5 cm StuK L/48.¹⁶
• Panzer IV/70(V): Mounted 7.5 cm Pak 42 L/70.¹⁴ 900 built by Vomag from August 1944 to March 1945.
• Panzer IV/70(A): Mounted 7.5 cm Pak 42 L/70.¹⁴ 300 built by Alkett from August 1944 to March 1945.
• Zwischenlosung¹⁶: Had Jagdpanzer IV superstructure mounted directly onto a PzKpfw IV chassis.¹⁶
• Nashorn (SdKfz 164): 8.8 cm Pak 43/1 L/71 mounted on lengthened hull.¹⁶ 473 built by Deutsche Eisenwerke and Teplitz-Schoenau.¹⁵
• Hummel (SdKfz 165): Had 15 cm howitzer 18/1.¹⁵ 666 built from 1943 - 1944.¹⁵
• 10.5 cm K18 auf Panzer Selbstfahrlafette IVa: Two prototypes were built for the purpose of destroying fortified bunkers. These were presented to Hitler on March 31, 1941. On May 26, 1941, Hitler decided that these would be developed as a heavy Panzerjäger so that it would be able to engage any heavy tanks from Britain or other countries. Production was to start in the spring 1942, but requirements changed and production didn't take place.
  They were issued to the 521st Panzerjäger Detachment for the proposed attach on Gibraltar. There were then used in Russia with the 3rd Panzer Division.
• 10.5 cm leFH18/1 (Sf) auf Geschützwagen IVb (SdKfz 165/1): Krupp-Gruson produced 8 prototypes for troop trials in November 1942. Had only 3 double bogies and 3 return rollers on each side. Had a Maybach HL 66 P engine installed. The turret could be moved 70° each way. It was to carry 5 crew members and 60 rounds of ammunition. The project was canceled in favor of full traversing turrets and the ability to dismount the main gun.
• 10.5 cm leFH18/1 L/28 auf Waffenträger GW IVb: Krupp built 3 prototypes in 1943. The turret fully rotated and a lifting gantry was carried on the vehicle.
• Leiche PzH18/40/2 auf Geschützwagen III/IV (Sf): Prototype built by Rheinmetall-Borsig. Had a 105 mm leFH18/40/2 L/28 gun in a rotating turret.⁴ Only prototypes built.⁴

Usage

Poland

211 PzKpfw IVs saw action in Poland¹⁵, of which 19 were lost.

Due to the success of the PzKpfw IV it was accepted as standard issue on September 27, 1939.¹⁵ It now received its ordnance number Sonderkraftfahrzeug 161 (SdKfz).¹⁵

France

278 PzKpfw IVs were available for the invasion of France.¹⁵

Russia

548 PzKpfw IVs were available for the invasion of Russia.⁸

During the invasion of Russia, many of the tanks had two wheeled trailers that had two 200 liter gas tanks. Some also had a supply of 20 liter gas cans on the turret roof. Many vehicles carried twice the normal ammunition supply inside their tanks. This helped them be relatively independent from the trailing supply columns early on in the invasion.

From 1943, it was intended to have Panzer regiments to be equipped with one battalion of PzKpfw III Ausf Hs and one of PzKpfw V.⁸

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. -
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. Panzers At War, Michael and Gladys Green, 2005
13. New Vanguard 88 mm FlaK 18/36/37/41 and PaK 43 1936-45, John Norris, 2002
14. Tanks - Over 250 of the World's Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles, Chris Chant, 2004
15. Armour in Profile #8: PanzerKampfwagen IV (F2), Walter Spielberger, 1967
16. Airfix Magazine Guide #8 German Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gande and Peter Chamberlain, 1975

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