Panzer IV

The Panzerkampfwagen IV (Pz.Kpfw. IV), commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a medium tank developed in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz. 161.

Designed as an infantry-support tank, the Panzer IV was not originally intended to engage enemy armor—that function was performed by the lighter Panzer III. However, with the flaws of pre-war doctrine becoming apparent and in the face of Soviet T-34 tanks, the Panzer IV soon assumed the tank-fighting role of its increasingly obsolete cousin.

Panzer IV in In the Presence of Mine Enemies

The Panzer IV was critical to Germany's victory over the Soviet Union during the Second World War.

The first Panzer IV to enter the Kremlin was on display in the Soldier's Hall in 2010.

Panzer IV in "The Last Article"

The Panzer IV was the main battle tank of the German Wehrmact when they stormed into India. Like it had in Russia, the Panzer IV smashed all opposition in its path.

Panzer IV in The War That Came Early

The Panzer IV was beginning to make its way onto the battlefield in 1939, over six months after the outbreak of a second World War. During the initial fighting, the German military had relied heavily on Panzer Is and IIs, with some Panzer IIIs in the mix.

Tank crews looked at the Panzer IV as a "real fighting" tank. However, its short, low velocity 75mm main gun made it ineffective against other tanks since it was intended to fire HE rounds against infantry rather than AP against armor. However, by 1942, a new version with a longer, high velocity 75mm gun entered service against the Red Army. When Adalbert Stoss first saw one, he quipped that it had a hard-on, a big one.^[1] In addition to the new gun, the panzer was also uparmored making it a match for the T-34.^[2]

Panzer IV in Worldwar

When the Race's Conquest Fleet arrived in 1942, their Landcruisers outmatched all of humanity's tanks, including those of Germany. However, German tank commanders used experience and tactics to make up for their vehicles' technological disadvantage.

Colonel Heinrich Jäger commanded a tank regiment comprised of Panthers, Tigers and Panzer IVs. The Panzer IVs were fitted with very long guns and some added extras, but they were still vulnerable to the Landcruisers.