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Jagdpanzer IV was studied in the beginning to replace Stug III. In
December 1942, a new hunter of tank having a frontal shielding of 100
mm, armed with the 75 mm Pak 42 L/70 (based on the gun of the Panther)
and was based on PzKpfw IV was required by Waffenamt. A low silhouette
and a superstructure with tilted walls were required for this machine
initially baptized StuG auf Fahrgestell PzKpfw IV (Sd.Kfz.162) mit 7.5
cm PaK L/48 or Jagdpanzer E. It will be finally indicated as Jagdpanzer
IV Its design took place at the beginning of 1943 and on May 13 Vomag
(Maschinenfabrik produced a model out of wooden, which was presented
to Hitler in September 1943. The first soft steel prototype was ready
in October 1943. In December, the final prototype of Jagdpanzer IV was
finally ready and it was requested from Vomag to begin the production
as soon as possible.
The first vehicles of pre-production had a superstructure withround
front corners (curved corners) and were armed with the 75 mm Pak 39
gun without muzzle brake. The first vehicle of production was produced
in January of 1944, on modified chassis of PzKpfw IV Ausf.F under the
designation of (leichter) Jagdpanzer IV Ausf.F (Sd.Kfz.162). It was
armed with the 75 mm Pak 39 L/48 (with muzzle brake with double deflector)
and with two machine-guns MG42 of 7.92 mm. As L/48 was easily available
on the contrary of L/70 it was the first which will be assembled on
Jagdpanzer IV.
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| Jagdpanzer
IV with 75 mm L/48. |
| src:
site "Germany's Vehicle History" |
The lower hull of Panzer IV had been maintained, only front had been
modified by the adoption of oblique walls forming a very pointed nose.
The shielding of the higher part of the nose was 60 mm whereas that
of the lower part was of 50 mm. A the interior the fuel tanks, the boxes
of ammunition were changed place, the hatch of help of the floor and
the engine of rotation of the turret was removed. Moreover one new system
of heating and ventilation was installed. The superstructure was composed
of tilted walls. All the walls of the superstructure were made up of
large armour plates being encased and welded between them, which facilitated
the manufacturing process. The side shielding of the superstructure
was thick 30 mm and the frontal of 60 mm. The tilted walls got a good
protection (proportioned) to the four members of the crew: the commander,
the gunner, the loader and the pilot. Moreover its low silhouette (1.85m)
made of it a not easy target. Many specimens were provided with Schürzen
and covered with Zimmerit paste from the factory (until September 1944).
| @
75 mm Pak 39 L/48 @
Penetration of a shielding plate (mm) under a plunging angle of
30° |
| Ammo |
Weight |
Velocity |
100m |
500m |
1000m |
1500m |
2000m |
| PzGr 39 |
6.8 kg |
790 m/s |
106 |
96 |
85 |
74 |
64 |
| PzGr 40 |
4.1 kg |
990 m/s |
143 |
120 |
97 |
77 |
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The short 75 mm anti-tank gun (L/48) was assembled (on a mantlet thick
of 80 mm) in the frontal plate, flanked of two ports of machine-gun
(with conical covers) and a visor of pilot. The gun was assembled with
a shift of 20 cm on the right and had a traverse limited to 12°
on the left like on the right. The vertical field of fire varied between
-8 and +15°. A total of 79 rounds of 75 were stored inside with
1200 rounds of 7.92 mm for the machine-guns. L/48 applied a muzzle brake
with double deflector.
On road Jagdpanzer IV could reach the 40 km/h in spite of its weight of
24.5 tons. As for Panzer IV the engine was the Maybach HL 120 TRM. A total
of 769 specimens will be produced from January 1944 to November 1944.
A version of command was created, equipped withadditional radio equipment
and a fifth crewman acting as radio operator. In September 1944, experimental
Jagdpanzer (neuer Art Starr) armed with one rigid 75 mm Pak 39 L/48 was
realized at two specimens. Meeting too much problem this model was abandoned
to the profit of Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer.
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| Jagdpanzer
IV had again 4 return rollers. |
src:
"Les blindés de la seconde guerre mondiale" /
Ed. Atlas |
Jagdpanzer IV was versed in Panzerjäger Abteilungen of Panzerdivisions
and Panzer Grenadier Divisions as from March 1944. It known the combat
within Division Hermann Goering in Italy, then with 4th and 5th Panzerdivisions
on the Eastern front. In June 1944, only 62 Jagdpanzer IV were still
service with Panzer Lehr, 9th Panzer and 12th SS-Panzer "Hitlerjugend"
(which in receipt 10 at mid the 1944) in Normandy. Jagdpanzer IV was
especially employed like support vehicle with the groups of infantry
and like tank destroyer.
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