pziv

Pz. Kpfw. IV

From Handbook on German Military Forces:1 MARCH 1945 RESTRICTED TM-E 30-451

Pz. Kpfw. IV. (1) General. Of the four tank types with which the Germans started the war, only the Pz. Kpfw. IV
survives in service although its role has been changed and it now carries a main armament which resembles
the original gun only in caliber. It was armed originally with a short-barreled 75-mm gun (7.5 cm Kw.K.(L/24))
and a machine gun mounted coaxially in the turret. In later models a hu11 machine gun was added. With this
short low-velocity gun the tank was primarily a close-support weapon. In 1942 it was re-armed with a long-
barreled high velocity gun, the 7.5 cm Kw.K 40(L/43), And thus changed its role from a close-support vehicle
to a fighting tank and displaced the Pz.Kpw. III as the main armament of the Panzer regiment. At the present
time the Pz.Kpw. IV is only a stop-gap for the Panther. If enough Panther tanks become available, the
disappearance of the Pz.Kpfw. IV may be expected. The latest version of this tank to appear is the Model H,
which differs from the Model G, of which details are given, only in its 75-mm gun being 48 calibers long instead
of 43. There is no change in the ballistic characteristics. This tank also has appeared in a commander’s model,
as an observation-post tank as an ammunition tank, and as an armored antiaircraft vehicle. The hull and
suspension also have been employed for self-propelled guns.

(2) Specifications.

Model G
Specification number ..Sd. Kfz. 161/l. (Model H is Sd. Kfz. 161/2)
Weight in action ......26 tons.
Crew……………………………………………….5 men.
Armor,
Front nose plate. 60 mm
Front glacis plate .. .25 mm
Driver's front plate. .60 mm
Hull sides ..........30mm.
Hull rear............ 30 mm.
Turret front ........40 mm.
Turret sides ........30 mm.
Armament (coaxially mounted in turret) .. .One 7.5 cm Kw.K.40(L/43)
and one M.G.34.
In hull……………………………………….One M.G.34.

Dimensions, Length………………..19 feet 4 inches.
Width ..………………………………………. 9 feet 7 inches.
Height……………………………………………..8 feet 6 inches
Gun overhang ....…………….. 1 foot 6 inches. (In model H, 2 feet 9 inches).
Ground clearance ... 1 foot 3 inches.

Performance :
Trench crossing .... .9 feet
Step…………………………………………..2 feet 6 inches.
Gradient…………………………….. 30°.
Fording…………………………………..3 feet.
Road speed .......……..20 miles per hour.
Cross-country speed…..10 to 15 miles per hour
Maximum speed…………………..25 miles per hour.
Range on roads………………..130 miles.
Range cross country…..80 miles.

Engine, Type………………………………..Maybach HL 120 TRM.
Cylinders………………………………..V-12 at 60°.
Fuel……………………………………………..Gasoline.
Fuel capacity……………………..126 gallons.
Fuel consumption (per 100 miles)
0n roads .......…………..93.6 gallons.
Cross-country ..…………….153 gallons.
BHP…………………………………………………..295HP at 3,OOO rpm
Capacity……………………………………….11.9 liters (725.9 cubic inches)

Transmission: Manual synchromesh, sliding-dog
type; six forward speeds, one reverse.
Steering: Epicyclic clutch brake mechanism.

Suspension: Four bogie assemblies, each carrying two rubber-tired
bogie wheels. Quarter-elliptic springing.