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In August of 1944, two new versions of Jagdpanzer IV armed with the
long 75 mm gun (L/70) were create Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (Sd.Kfz.162/1)
and Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) (Sd.Kfz.162/1). The so known first as Panzer
IV/70(A) (A=Alkett) was produced only to 278 specimens. Panzer IV/70(A)
product by Nibelungenwerke at St.Valentin (Austria) known only one monthly
rate of 34 vehicles per month. In December of 1944, the new versions
had completely eliminated their predecessor armed with the short 75
mm L/48. Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) was equipped with a slightly modified superstructure
compared to Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (Ubergangsaufbau - transitory superstructure)
directly assembled on the chassis not modified of Panzer IV Ausf H/J.
The lower part on the sides of the superstructure made up of a vertical
section, the sides did not consist any more of walls perfectly plane
and inclined. If it was easier to manufacture, the model of Alkett was
also higher of 50 cm (2.35m).
As for Panzer IV/70(V), the 75 mm Pak 42 L/70 of Panzer IV/70(A) had
a limited traverse of 12° on each side. It had vertical field of
fire included between -6° and +15°. Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) transported
90 rounds of 75 mm and 1200 rounds of 7.92 mm (MG 34). This model was
also called Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) "Zwischenlosung" (solution
of interim). As for Panzer IV/70(V), the number of return rollers was
decreased to three per side.
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| Jagdpanzer
IV/70 (A). |
| src:
"Les Blindés de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale" / Ed.
Atlas |
Many vehicles were equipped with the shields out of mesh wire and covered
with the antimagnetic paste Zimmerit until September 1944. Suffering
of the same problem of weight as Panzer IV/70(V) on nose, Panzer IV/70(A)
was equipped with four front pairs of any steel road wheels. Panzer
IV/70(A) weighed 28 tons what allowed it a speed on road of only 35
km/h. As for Jagdpanzer IV HL 120 TRM were Maybach though some were
equipped with the HL 120 TRM 112 assembled on Panzer IV Ausf.J. Panzer
IV/70(A) was also transformed into command vehicle (Befehlswagen) equipped
with additional radio equipment actuated by a fifth crewman. In November
1944, Krupp proposed to modify Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) (Sd.Kfz.162/1) with
the 88 mm Pak 43/3 L/71, but this conversion proved to be impossible.
| @
75 mm Pak 42 L/70 @
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 |
925 m/s |
138 |
124 |
111 |
99 |
89 |
| PzGr 40 |
4.75 kg |
1120 m/s |
194 |
174 |
149 |
127 |
106 |
Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) entered in service in September of 1944 will be
versed as a regular tank of replacement in Panzer Abteilungen or like
assault gun of replacement within Panzer and StuG brigades. It was also
used as auxiliary anti-tank vehicle for the regular tanks. Panzer IV/70(A)
was useful mainly on the Eastern ffront. Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) with its
low profiles was an adversary difficult to reach and its anti-tank gun
of 75 mm L/70 (particularly in ambush) made of it a frightening adversary
for any Allied tank even at good distance (with share Stalin). This
tank was mainly a defensive weapon.
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