Panzerkampfwagen VI

The Wehrmacht's Workhorse

The Panzer IV was the backbone of German armored forces during World War II, similar to what the M4 Sherman did for the Allies. While the earlier Panzer I and II were for training and testing, the Panzer III and IV were designed as the core of the German tank force. The plan was for the faster Panzer III to take on enemy tanks, while the heavier Panzer IV used its short 7,5cm gun for infantry support. This strategy worked well initially, but as the Panzer III couldn't defeat the new Soviet tanks, Panzer IV was up-gunned and forced into an anti-tank role. Back then, tank design often separated anti-tank (AP) and explosive (HE) rounds into different guns, for example with French Char B1b or US M3 Lee. On the surface, this seemed practical: AP uses a high velocity, small diameter round and HE the complete opposite. These designs proved infexible and were abandoned in favour of larger, multipurpose guns like the excellent 7.5 cm KwK 40 L/48 on a Panzer IV G. And there's a couple of those on display in Israel, at the Yad La-Shiryon museum in Latrun. Those were captured when the Syrians used them in the 1967 Six Day War. That does show it's a reliable machine, doesn't it?

However, to be honest, I don't like the Panzer 4 that much. I'm not sure why, but the rear sprocket looks weird and the air intakes are in the wrong place. I know it's a good tank, but for purely recreational purposes I'd buy a Panzer 3 instead (and paint a Hello Kitty mascot on its turret).

VsKfz 622 / PzKpfw IV Ausf. A

The Germans were not allowed to develop tanks after the first World War, but secretly, ofcourse they did. Their WW1-attempts had been horrible, which is a good thing because it forced them to think about their warfare concepts, and about what equipment was needed. In this area, their initial idea was that in an armoured unit, the Zugführerwagen (or platoon leader's vehicle) would fight other tanks while the Begleitwagen (this Panzer IV) would support both it, and local infantry. This approach worked in the early fases of the war, but broke down when fighting became chaotic and a vehicle of one type met the other type of target. (Imagine a lone Panzer III, using solid Panzergranate 38, trying to engage an entrenched QF 2-pounder...)

RAL 7016
7,5cm KwK37 L/24
Maybach HL108TR

SdKfz 161 / PzKpfw IV Ausf. D & E

"We need more support tanks! And while you're at it, here's a list of improvements we thought up."As the Wehrmacht was happy with the vehicle's performance during Fall Weiss, a new production batch was started. With this Ausführung D, the Panzer IV was leaving the prototype stage and driving into combat.

New cupola
Ball mounted MG34
Optional bolt-on armour on turret and hull front
Different track links
Maybach HL120TRM

PzKpfw IV Ausf. F(1)

"We need more support tanks!", they said - again. Production was extended to Vomag and Nibelungenwerke, and again some upgrades were applied. The most visiblke one is probably the new turret bustle (storage bin, or box as in "Life is like a box of chocolates"), but it also had extra armour plate and some other bits.

Single piece front armour plate
Turret bustle
Turret doors off a Panzer III
40cm tracks and updated rear idler wheel

PzKpfw II Ausf. F2 & G

The only real change is when thgey stuck a 7,5ck PAK on an F model and called it F2. Because they liked the idea, some guys at Krupp installed an even bigger gun and called it Ausf. G. It was an excellent idea, because the vehicle could now attack both soft and hard targets, and be a true multipurpose tank. Huzzah!

F2: 7,5cm KwK L/43
G: 7,5cm KwK L/48
G: finally, they removed the antenna deflector!