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Panzer IV Ausf. G (Breda-SAFAT)
The Panzer IV Ausf. G (Breda-SAFAT) is a unique post-war modification of the classic German Panzer IV, operated by the Syrian Arab Army during the 1950s–70s. Retrofitted with a roof-mounted 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT heavy machine gun on a Czech-fabricated mount, this variant served during conflicts such as the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War.
Panzer IV History
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The Panzerkampfwagen IV, commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a German medium tank that served as one of the most important armored vehicles in the Wehrmacht during World War II. Originally developed in the 1930s, it was initially designed as an infantry support tank, intended to operate alongside the Panzer III, which was tasked with engaging enemy armor. Early versions were armed with a short-barreled 75 mm gun that was effective for high-explosive rounds against soft targets.
As the war evolved, so too did the role of the Panzer IV. The Panzer IV Ausf. G, introduced in 1942, marked a major leap in combat effectiveness for the Panzer IV line. Its most notable upgrade was the replacement of the short 75 mm gun with the long-barreled 75 mm KwK 40 L/43, later L/48, giving it the firepower to engage modern enemy tanks like the T-34 and Sherman. It also featured improved frontal armor, increasing protection to 80 mm, and saw minor updates to the suspension and turret design. With around 1,700 units produced, the Ausf. G was the first variant truly capable of going toe-to-toe with frontline Allied armor. The Panzer IV became the most widely produced German tank of the war, with over 8,500 units built. It was valued for its balance of firepower, armor protection, and mechanical reliability.
Design-wise, it had a five-man crew and featured a large turret that allowed for incremental upgrades in firepower. Over the course of the war, its armor was thickened, particularly in the later variants, which saw frontal armor reach up to 80 mm. Powered by a Maybach V-12 engine, the Panzer IV had a top road speed of approximately 40 km/h. Its chassis was also the basis for a range of specialized vehicles, including tank destroyers and anti-aircraft platforms, reflecting its adaptability.
Toward the latter half of World War II, the Panzer IV began to show its age in the face of more advanced Allied tanks. Germany introduced newer models, such as the Panther and the Tiger, which were more heavily armed and armored. Though the Panther was meant to replace the Panzer IV, ongoing mechanical issues and production limitations meant the Panzer IV remained in frontline service through to the end of the war.
By 1944, most of the Panzer IV production had been consolidated to a single factory, and even this facility was under constant threat from Allied bombing. To conserve resources and simplify manufacturing, the final model, the Ausf. J, was stripped of powered turret traverse and other non-essential features. As Germany’s industrial capacity crumbled, production of the Panzer IV dwindled, ceasing altogether in early 1945. After the war, it was no longer used by either East or West Germany, and the platform was considered outdated, having been surpassed by more modern tank designs.
Syrian Service History of the Panzer IV
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Syria emerged as a major post-war user of the Panzer IV, acquiring tanks from France, Czechoslovakia, and later Spain. France supplied tanks it had captured during World War II, while Czechoslovakia delivered refurbished models along with spare parts. Then in the mid-1960s, Spain provided approximately 17 Panzer IVs in excellent condition, originally used by the Spanish Army.
Once in Syrian hands, some of these tanks were modified to suit their new role in desert warfare and regional conflicts. One notable adaptation involved mounting Italian or Soviet heavy machine guns on the turret roof for use against aircraft, using a Czech-origin anti-aircraft gun mount. This included weapons like the 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT or, reportedly, the Soviet DShK. While it’s commonly claimed that the DShK was used, no known photos currently confirm Syrian Panzer IVs with this machine gun installed. DShKs could’ve been also mounted in the hull, but there is yet again no photographic evidence. Armor skirts were often removed, while the turret ones were either also taken off or left untouched, and many tanks bore desert tan or olive drab paint schemes with Arabic markings placed on the sides of the turret.
Syria used the Panzer IVs primarily in defensive roles, positioning them along the Golan Heights in confrontations with Israel. By the mid-1960s, the tanks were already showing signs of obsolescence. During clashes like the “War over Water,” Israeli forces, equipped with more modern tanks, engaged Syrian Panzer IVs from distances at which the older German tanks were ineffective. Despite being dug into fortified positions, they were often destroyed or abandoned.
During the Six-Day War in 1967, the Panzer IVs again saw combat. They were deployed in static positions on the Golan Heights but suffered heavy losses against Israeli armor and air strikes. Some were destroyed, while others were left behind in retreat. A few were later turned into stationary gun bunkers, dug into the ground and repurposed as part of Syria’s fixed defenses. Remarkably, some of these static Panzer IVs continued to be used as late as the Yom Kippur War in 1973, although their combat value by then was negligible.
Retirement
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Syria formally retired its Panzer IVs by the mid-1970s. Several factors contributed to this decision. First and foremost, the tank was no longer effective in modern combat scenarios. Its main gun, armor, and optics were no match for newer tanks or anti-tank weapons. Engagements with Israeli forces repeatedly highlighted its vulnerabilities.
Secondly, maintaining the aging Panzer IV fleet became increasingly difficult. Spare parts were hard to come by, and the supply of compatible ammunition was limited. Syria even resorted to purchasing additional hulls and engines just to keep the tanks running. As the years went on, more modern Soviet tanks like the T-34/85, T-54, and T-55 replaced the Panzer IVs in Syrian service.
Lastly, most of the remaining Panzer IVs were either lost in combat or repurposed into static defenses, rendering them obsolete as mobile fighting vehicles. By the time of their final use in the early 1970s, the Panzer IVs were essentially outdated relics of a past war, used more out of necessity than effectiveness. Today, the few surviving examples are preserved in museums, or left to rot where they were destroyed, serving as a grim reminder of the past battles.
Implementation
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In War Thunder, the Panzer IV Ausf. G (Breda-SAFAT) would essentially function as a standard Panzer IV G, but with the addition of a roof-mounted anti-aircraft machine gun, an interesting and historically accurate modification made by the Syrians using a Czech-origin mount. It would offer players a unique visual and tactical variation, especially in close-range encounters or against low-flying aircraft. It would also be interesting to see a speculated hull-mounted DShK modeled in-game, though no confirmed photographs exist. In the end, implementation details would, of course, be up to Gaijin’s discretion.
Specifications
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General:
- Designation: Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. G (Syrian modification)
- Origin: Germany (original)
- Operator: Syrian Arab Army
- Era: Post-WWII / Cold War
Armament:
- Primary Gun: 75 mm KwK 40 L/43 (some later Syrian Gs may have had L/48 guns)
- Ammunition types: AP, APCBC, HE, HEAT
- Reload Rate: ~5–6 seconds (crew-dependent)
- Coaxial MG: 7.92 mm MG34
- Hull MG: 7.92 mm MG34 (maybe sometimes DShK)
- Roof-mounted AA MG (Syrian modification):
- Type: 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT heavy machine gun
- Mount: Czech-fabricated anti-aircraft pintle mount on turret roof
- Purpose: Anti-aircraft and close-range anti-infantry
- Note: No photographic evidence exists of Syrian Panzer IVs with Soviet DShK, though it is commonly speculated
Breda-SAFAT Heavy Machine Gun
- Caliber: 12.7×81 mm SR
- Rate of Fire: ~700 rounds per minute
- Muzzle Velocity: ~765 m/s
- Ammunition Types: AP, HEI-T, tracer
- Mounting: Pintle-mounted on the turret roof using a fixed Czech-origin AA mount
- Estimated Ammo Load: 100 to 200 rounds (based on space limitations and ground-use practicality)
While the original aircraft configuration typically used 500-round belts, the likely adaptation for tank use would have required shorter belts for ease of handling and reloading under combat conditions.
Protection:
- Hull Front Armor: 80 mm (some with applied 30 mm plate over 50 mm base)
- Turret Front Armor: 50 mm
- Side Armor: 30 mm
- Rear Armor: 20 mm
- Roof/Floor: 10–15 mm
- Armor Skirts (Schürzen): Typically removed in Syrian service
Mobility:
- Engine: Maybach HL 120 TRM V-12 gasoline engine
- Power Output: 300 hp @ 3,000 rpm
- Top Speed: ~40 km/h (on road)
- Weight: ~25 tons (slightly more with AA MG and mount)
- Suspension: Leaf spring bogies
Crew:
- 5 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver, Radio Operator/Bow MG)
Optics & Equipment:
- WWII-era German optics (TZF 5f or 5d gunsight)
- No night vision or stabilizers
- Syrian modifications included:
- AA MG mount (Czech-origin)
- Extra track links sometimes added as improvised armor
Sources:
View
The German workhorse: Panzer IV | Newsletter Archive | History Tours
Panzers in the Golan Heights – wwiiafterwwii
Panzer IV - Wikipedia
https://prussia.online/Data/Book/t-/t-34-85-medium-tank-1944-94/Osprey%20NV%20020%20-%20[20c]%20-%20T-34-85%20Medium%20Tank%201944-94.pdf?utm_source
Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.G - Tank Encyclopedia
