Panzerkampfwagen IV - (PzKpfw IV) is a German medium tank of World War II .
In late 1934 / early 1935, German companies Rheinmetall, Krupp AG and MAN embarked on the development of a design for a tank weighing up to 18 tons equipped with a 75mm caliber gun. In 1936, the design prepared by Krupp AG was selected for series production.
In April 1943, production of the PzKpfw IV Ausf. H began at Krupp-Grusonwerk. Primarily the gearboxes were modified (speed was reduced at the expense of more torque) due to the vehicle's weight increase from 18 to 25 tons. After June of that year, the side viewfinders in the fuselage were eliminated (they were covered up by armor plating), the support wheels with rubber bandages were changed to steel, and the front of the entire body was protected by 80 mm thick armor (without auxiliary plates). During production, the lower and side surfaces of the hull and turret began to be coated with a special substance called Zimmerite, which prevented the adhesion of magnetic anti-tank mines. After all these modifications, the weight of the tank increased to 26 tons, which affected the speed to 38 km/h. By June 1944, 3774 copies of this version were produced.
ThePanzer IV was produced between 1938 and 1945, and some 9173 copies in many versions rolled off the line.
Want to learn more about this tank and its versions ? See HERE.
Plastic model to be glued together by Academy. Does not include paint and glue.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer: Academy
- Scale: 1/35
- Catalog number: 13233
A little history about the Panzer IV on video:
A short presentation:
Panzer IV in the museum: