I would like to suggest a late variant of the Panzer IV Ausf.J, as both the Ausf.J and premium Pz.Bef.Wg.IV Ausf.J are missing a bunch of features, that would give the Pz IV Ausf.J a some minor to major advantage. These are among other things such as Smoke grenade launcher and thicker roof armor due to the stronger armor of the new bigger ventilator, new commanders cupola hatch taken from the Panzer V Panthers cupola as well as 80mm armor for the turret front (excluding the mantlet).
In general, while the Pz IV Ausf.J was from a certain point of view a downgrade compared to the previous variants, it was still an update in terms of cost, reliability and quality of live as well as production streamline. What is relatively different from the previous variants is mainly, that almost every month a new addition / change was implemented into the production line of the Ausf.J, some major or minor changes, which befor that would even have been an own new letter designation.
If you find more photos of these very late Pz IVs, feel free to post them under the suggestion.
The Panzer IV Ausf.J was, as is well known, a streamlined variant. In general the German army wanted to fully replace the Pz IV with the Panther and stop production of the chassis in general, but until production was satisfactory and up to the required amount, the Pz IV was kept in production. While there were more upgrades planned for the Pz IV, such as angled frontal armor, periscopes in general for the places where the vision slits were removed as well as the StuG commanders cupola as was placed on the Pz.Artil.Beob.Wg. IV and more, which were then not taked into production, because it wasnt worth the effort to change production lines, to just stop it in general. However some other modificaitons, that could easily improve the performance as well as streamline production did see implementation.
The eletric turret drive was removed and later on the freed up space in the hull, where the aux engine for the turret drive was, was used for an addition fuel tank, increasing capacity by 200 Liters by July 1944. This modification is by far the most well known and impact full from the games perspective.
Among other changes through the month are the following, of which some are already in game on the TT and Premium Pz IV, such as the improved Fan and on the Prem. the T.S.R.1 Periscope, which however is not functional as a Commanders periscope. Which was also used for range finding
Starting in jannuary with the Nahverteidigungswaffe in the turret roof, behind the extration fan, which on the Premium variant is also the base for an atenna. Not all were mounted until July 1944, those that didnt recive them, instead had a plate bolted on the cut hole. In Feburary an improved oil filter, was mounted inside the egine compartment, replacing the Filzbalg filters, which can be seen on the left side hull of the Pz IV Ausf.H in game, tho many were still in use in the summer.
A small time jump, to mainly skip on the already present in game Pz IV Ausf.J in game brings us to October 1944, where instead of the bolt on tow hooks the side plates were extended and had a hole cut into them. Also the new one piece hatch, instead of mounted with a latch was pivoting, as also seen on the photos above, however also was only implemented slowly and not on all vehicles. With the introduction of both the Nahverteidingungswaffe and the bigger extraciton fan, to make them fit together, a section of the cover was cut off.
Skipping further changes already in game to February 1945, the air intakes on the inspection hatches for the breaks were removed, while some still saw use of old parts still with them, they werent really needed, as instead the air from inside the fighting compartment was suck in and used, extraction was still out the upper superstructure on the left side. Later on the return rollers, which were now fully steel were also just weldet on instead of bolted on. When exactly the increased turret front (excluding the mantlet) was implemented and how many really recived it, is unknown.
However in game, only really the periscope for the commander, the Nahverteidigungswaffe with smoke grenades and the increased turret frontal armor to 80mm, especially in combination with an increased amount of Track add on armor, as seen on the Pz IV Ausf.H would give germany a good medium tank, fitting in the 4.0/4.3 bracket, it could also recive the Gr.38 HL/C mit KLW. A HEAT-FS round with increased penetration, ballistics and velocity, could even make it 4.7, a BR Bracket pretty much missing from the german Tree, while other nations have quite potent tanks there such as the Sherman Firefly. With the only real downside being the slow speed, relatively weak engine for the weight and slow turret traverse speed.
Overall performance:
The Gun:
Ammunition
87 rounds
Reload
basic crew → aces
7.6 → 5.9 s
Vertical guidance
-10 / 20°
Turret Rotation Speed
basic crew → aces
Horizontal
7 → 10 °/s
Vertical
2.8 → 4 °/s
7,5 cm KwK 40 L/43 / L/48 (And other versions)
Pictures:(Click to show)
The 7,5 cm KwK 40 L/43 and later L/48 (along its other models such as StuK 40, Pak 39 and K. 40) were created under the requirement to reform the Pak 40 into a Tank adapted version and was the successor to the K. L/41, by taking the Pak 40s Barrle and combinating it with a new breech based on the L/41s gun with a new 495mm cartrige. It was a very versitale and powerfull gun for its time and quite well known to history. Starting its life with the L/43 barrle (The length difference of L/46 → L/43 comes from the shorter breech as the casing was only 495mm instead of 714mm, the rifleled part is the same) and was later extended to L/48 improving performance while also reducing the constant pressure and thus extending barrle life. Through the years they have recived different loadings resulting in different velocitys for the same gun, as the charge was increased in the mid life and reduced again and kept a bit lower to further increase barrle life.
Caliber: 75mm
Ammo: 75x495mmR
Fire Rate: 15 rpm
Single Shot, Vertical Breechblock
Muzzle velocity: 450 - 750 / 770 - 930 / 950 m/s (L/43) and 450 - 770 / 792 - 990m/s (L/48)
Weight: 750 kg
Mounting: Main Tank gun, train turret
Ammo Types: Apcbc, Apcr, He, Smoke, Heat
Ap:
Pzgr.39 (Apcbc) 6,8kg 17g H.10 (28,9) 770/792m/s 137-152mm/10m
(British Tests showed for the L/48 Guns up to 2655 fps (809m/s))
L/43 is 750/770 m/s
Pzgr.40 (Apcr) 4,1kg 28x111mm 0,91kg Core 970/990m/s 172mm-192mm/10m
L/43 is 950/970 m/s
Pzgr.40(W) (Apbc) 4,1kg solid 970 / 990m/s 119-132mm/10m
(Used till 1000m as cheaper alternative to Pzgr.39 and Pzgr.40, better velocity made it easyer to aim, flat block face meant its a bit better against angle, its made from softsteel, deforms instead of penetrates armor, better against harder armor. There is a difference between Pzgr.40(W) and Pzgr.40 (Üb).)
L/43 is 950/970 m/s
Gr.38 Hl (Heat (No Tracer)) 4,4 kg 570,2g H.5+Fp.02 (969,34g TnTa) 450 m/s 52-55mm/10m
Gr.38 Hl/A (Heat (No Tracer)) 4,8 kg 399g H.5+Fp.02 (678,3g TnTa) 450 m/s 81mm/10m
Gr.38 Hl/C (Heat) 4,8 kg 515 g H.10 (875,5g TnTa) 450 m/s 115mm/all
(Early no tracer, implemented during production.)
He:
Sprgr.34 (He (No Tracer)) 5,74 kg 725g Fp.02 und Np.10 (928g TnTa) 550 m/s
Historic Penetration 52/10m and 47mm/500m
Utility:
K.Gr. Rot Nb (Smoke (No Tracer)) 6,2 kg 95g Pent 540 m/s
The Chassis:
Armour:
front / side / back
Hull
80 / 30 / 20 mm
Turret
80 / 30 / 30 mm
Engine: HL 120 TRM 265 PS/2600 RPM, 300 PS/3000 RPM
Top Speed: 38 km/h (theoretical top speed ~45 km/h, tho not reachable due to weight)
Crew: 5
Weight: 25 ton
- Yes
- No
Source:
Panzer IV manual
Panzer Tracts No.4
Panzer IV Medium Tank Dennis Oliver
