Panzer IV G

German medium tank PzKpfw IV Ausf G.
History, development, service, specifications, pictures and 3D model of the mid-war Panzer IV G version.

PzKpfw IV Ausf G in Panzer Museum Munster
PzKpfw IV Ausf G in Panzer Museum Munster (Germany)

PzKpfw IV Ausf G (SdKfz 161/1 and SdKfz 161/2)
Type:
German medium tank

History

The 1,750 PzKpfw IV Ausf G were acquired by ten separate orders, issued to Krupp-Gruson, Vomag and Nibelungenwerke. Of this number, only 1,687 were completed as PzKpfw. The remainders were used as prototypes for the Hummel (bumble-bee) 10 chassis and the Brummbär (grizzly bear) 53 chassis.

From late March 1943, the 7.5cm KwK40 L/48 (SdKfz 161/2) was installed instead of the L/43, with a total of 1,275 Ausf G receiving the L/43. Delivery of Ausf G, with additional armor bolted or welded to the front of the hull and superstructure, began on 20 June 1942. Starting at 16 per month from July to November 1942, half of the Ausf G production were to be fitted with additional armor, from December 1942, resulting in approximately 700 Ausf G having the extra protection.

At the start of the summer offensive in Russia, late in June 1942, approximately 170 Ausf F2 and G were with units at the front. This number had increased to 841 PzKpfw IV (long) with Army Groups Center and South, at the start of the Kursk offensive. In 1943, the PzKpfw IV were extended from medium companies to every company in each detachment of Panzer regiments, each company having twenty-two PzKpfw IV.

Users: Germany, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, Italy, Spain, Romania, Turkey, Hungary (for all variants).


Pictures about Panzer IV Ausf G


Animated 3D model of Panzer IV G


Specifications for Panzer IV Ausf G

Specifications:

Panzer IV Ausf Gspecification
Typemedium tank
Engine Maybach HL120TRM with 300 hp at 3,000 rpm
Gearbox 6 forward, 1 reverse
Crew total5
Turret crew 3 (with 360° Commanders cupola)
Length 6.62 m
Width 2.88 m
Height 2.68 m
Weight 23.5 tons
Maximum speed 40 km/h (24.9 mph)
Cross-country speed 20 km/h (12.4 mph)
Fuel consumption per 100 km 240 litres on road, 360 litres cross-country
Fuel 470 litres
Road radius 190 km (118 miles)
Cross-country radius 130 km (81 miles)
Vertical obstacle 0.60 m
Trench crossing 2.30 m
Fording depth 0.80 m
Turning circle 6 m
Gradient 30 °

Armor:

Panzer IV Ausf Gmmangle
Turret front5011 °
Turret side3026 °
Turret rear3010 °
Turret top1083-90 °
Superstructure front8010 °
Superstructure side300 °
Superstructure rear2011 °
Superstructure top1285-90 °
Hull front8012 °
Hull side300 °
Hull rear209 °
Hull bottom1090 °
Gun mantle500-30 °

Armament and Equipment:

Panzer IV Ausf Gdata
Main armament 7.5cm KwK40 L/43
Rounds87
Traverse 360° (electric)
Elevation -8° to +20°
Muzzle velocity Pzgr 740 m/s
Muzzle velocity Pzgr40 (available only in limited numbers) 920 m/s
Shell weight Pzgr 6.8 kg
Shell weight Pzgr40 4.1 kg
Secondary armament one 7.92mm MG 34 coaxial to gun; one 7.92mm MG 34 in front hull; together 3,000 rounds
Radio FuG5 (4 km range)
Telescopic sight TZF5f/1 (4 km aiming)

Penetration mm at 30° armor plates of 7.5 cm KwK40 L/43:

RangePzgrPzgr40 (just limited numbers)
Penetration 100 meters98 mm126 mm
Penetration 500 meters91 mm108 mm
Penetration 1000 meters82 mm87 mm
Penetration 1500 meters72 mm69 mm
Penetration 2000 meters63 mm-


Production:

Panzer IV Ausf Gfigures
Production from May 1942 to June 1943 (half production with additional armour from December 1942, L/48 gun from March 1943)
Combat delivery immediately after production delivery
Price per tank RM 115,962 = $ 52,183 = £ 11,056
Total production figure 1,687 (412 as SdKfz 161/2 with longer L/48 gun, 700 with additional armour)

Service statistics of all Panzer IV variants:

YearAvailableProductionLosses
before 1939-115-
1939 211 (1.9.)141?
1940 280 (10.5.)278?
1941 517 (1.6.)467369
1942 513 (1.1.)994502
1943 1,077 (1.1.) 3,013 "2352"
1944 1,668 (1.1.) 3,126 2,643
1945 1,684 (1.1) 385 (Jan-March) 287 (Jan.)
Total- 7,419 6,153


References and literature

The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II (Chris Bishop)
Kraftfahrzeuge und Panzer der Reichswehr, Wehrmacht und Bundeswehr (Werner Oswald)
Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two (P.Chamberlain, H.L.Doyle)
Panzer und andere Kampffahrzeuge von 1916 bis heute (Christopher F. Foss, John F. Milsom, Colonel John Stafford Weeks, Captain Georffrey Tillotson, Richard M. Ogorkiewicz)
Panzerkampfwagen des 1. und 2. Weltkrieges (Andrew Kershaw)
Krieg der Panzer (Piekalkiewicz)
Fire and Movement (RAC Tank Museum)
Operation Barbarossa: the Complete Organisational and Statistical Analysis, and Military Simulation, Volume I – IIIB (Nigel Askey)


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2 thoughts on “Panzer IV G”

    1. Since the Battle of Kharkov ended on March 26, 1943, and the 7.5cm KwK40 L/48 was installed from late March in PzKpfw IV Ausf G there should only be vehicles with the L/43 during the fighting available.

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