- Yes
- No
I would like to suggest this Bergepanzer IV Ausf.D armed with a Pak 38.
This would not be the fastest Pak 38 platform that i suggested, not the smallest, not the most armored, but a iconic and certainly stable one. Good enove to get into most positions, with a good crew amount and enove space for a good amount of ammo.
It could offer a duo together with its brother the Bergepanzer III Ausf.J which has more armor but weaker firepower (relatively). And maybe they could get a extra buff for reparing other tanks.
The Gun at the lower Brs (1.7-2.3 or so) would also give it an advantage as longer range sniper, with a relatively lower height than normal Pz IVs.
Pictures:(Click to show)
Bergepanzer III were build from refurbished Pz IIIs, as hulls of them came free after the normal Pz III Production was also halted, as for every combat vehicle adequat recovery vehicles were needed, however the main recovery vehicles were different Halftracks from Sd.Kfz.6 to 9, while these were usable, they were completly unarmored, resulting in casulties if they had to recover vehicles on the battlefield, as they were easy targets for artillery. Further problems were, that with tanks becoming heavyer and heavyer 2 or more (6 for Tiger I) Halftracks (Sd.Kfz.9) were needed to pull these, as such Tanks with itself strong engines and some armor as well as firepower to defend themself were appreciated. These were simple Pz III (some few IV) hulls where the turret was removed and a wooden superstructure was placed atop, with tools, spare parts and cables as well as wooden logs to make makeshift roads.
While the Bergepanzer IVs were overall rare, as only older damaged ones would be reused as such, tho most go to training crews, they were not too rare, as they had a slight size advantage over the Pz III.
This example is also armed with a Pak 38 and a Hull MG 34, overall identified as an Pz IV Ausf.D, by the Step in the Front plate as well as earlyer 2 part Fahrersehklappe 30. This example also has a Snow/rubbish Plow at the front, visible on the pictures as well as the mounting points, maybe it could be implemented also as the working plow from the higher tiers, even tho its shape would not be the most ideal for such.
The Gun:
5 cm Pak 38 L/60
-8° to +27° Elevation 65° Traverse, unknown ammo storage, but space for quite a lot.
Hull MG 34
More info regarding the Gun and Ammo in the Spoiler below.
5 cm Pak 38 L/60 / KwK 39 L/60
The 5 cm Pak 38 L/60 was the result and redevlopment after new requirements were set after the 5 cm Pak 37 L/42. For its Class (47-50mm) it was if not the most powerfull and universal gun having both great Firepower and He power, enove to penetrate the Kw-1 and Kw-2 tanks as well as the T-34 (with exception to the angled hull front). Overall it was very good for its time, only overtaken by the bigger more powerfull Pak 40, however because of its size and availability it was till used in great numbers and mounted on different vehicles as well as further developed into the KwK 39 L/60, which was mounted into the Pz III and Sd.Kfz.234/2 beeing the best known. And even further developed into the Bk 5 and Mk 214A.
Caliber: 50mm
Ammo: 50x420mmR
Fire Rate: 20 rpm
Single Shot, Vertical Breechblock
Muzzle velocity: (160) 550 - 1180 m/s
Weight: 540 kg (Bk 5)
Mounting: Tank Maingun, Sockellafette II
Ammo Types: Apc, Apcr, He and Supercaliber Heat-FS (Only open compartment)
Ap:
Pzgr.40 (Apcr) 0,925 kg 21x75mm 335g core 1180-1200m/s 139-142mm/10m
(Yes the drawing sayes 0,9kg, however pretty much all captured stock and other german sources say 0,925kg with 1180m/s. And British, USA and Russian Source shows 1200m/s, German velocitys are for mid life barrles.)
Pzgr.40/1 (Apcr) 1,07 kg 21x75mm 335g core 1130m/s 130mm/10m
A Different design, longer and heavyer, to increase range, in flight stability and to use standart Casings.
(The shorter Pzgr.40 required a case with a long neck to sit properly.)
He:
Sprgr.38 (He (No Tracer)) 1,82 kg 200g Fp.02 und Np.10 (256g TNTa) 550-870m/s
(Only for open compartment guns)
15 cm Steilgranate 42 (Supercaliber Heat-FS) 8,5 kg 2,42 kg Füller 95 (Hexagon/TnT 60/40) Filler 110 m/s 180mm/30°/all distances effective range up to 300m, max range 700m
(Adapted 3,7 cm Stielgranate 41)
The Hull is the Pz IV Ausf.D, not in game, but similar to the Ausf.E, difference are the armor thickness, the lower plate is only 30mm thick and the earlyer 2 part Fahrersehklappe 30 is used. No Add on armor is found on it.
Survivability and armour:
Armour
front / side / back
Hull
30 / 20 / 20 mm
Turret
2x 6 / 0 / 0 mm
Crew: 5 persons
Max speed: Forward 43 km/h Backward 8 km/h
Engine power: 300 hp
Weight: ~17 t (the early turret (F1) is 3050 kg, no extra armor)
Source:
Geschossringbuch I
Pz IV Ausf.D Manual
Warthunder Wiki Pz IV Ausf.E
Ebay (Pictures)
Taptalk (Picture)