Germany's Jagdpanzer IV SdKfz 162, Jagdpanzer IV/70 SdKfz 162/1 tank hunters

Photos

Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer:	Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer:	Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F tank destroyer:	Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) tank destroyer:
Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) tank destroyer:	Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) tank destroyer:
1/72 Die Cast Models of Jagdpanzer
Dragon Armor
60181: 60225:	60226: 60231:	60232: 60239:	60240:

Design

Specifications for the Jagdpanzer IV originated in 1942 calling for a heavy assault gun with 100 mm armor.⁵ It was to replace the Sturmgeschütz in the tank destroyer role as it couldn't be upgunned.³ Initially it was to be armed with the 7.5 cm Pak 42 L/70 but the Panthers had priority and the 7.5 cm L/48 gun was used.³

Guderian was against the project as it took away from the PzKpfw IV tanks. A wooden model, made by Vomag Betriebs of Plauen/Vogtland, was shown to Hitler on May 14, 1943 and a soft steel model was presented to Hitler in September 1943⁵/ October 1943³. The final prototype was made in December 1943. In June 1944 Hitler ordered production of the PzKpfw IV should be abandoned to concentrate on the Jagdpanzer IV.⁵

Crews

The crews of the Jagdpanzer IV liked the thick armor and low silhouette.³

Chassis

The chassis chosen to be used was the one used for the PzKpfw IV.³

Suspension

Because of the long barreled gun it caused the Jagdpanzer IV to be nose heavy.³ The resulted in the front wheels being steel ringed instead of rubber.³

Main Armament

Gun	Ammunition Type	Weight	Velocity	Range
7.5 cm KwK 40 L/48	AP6	15 lb6	2,461'/s6
75 mm PaK 42 L/70	AP6	15 lb6	3,068'/s6
	HE6			10,776 yd6

Prototype

Production

• Stug Pzkpfw IV: 769^2,5, 26 chassis²
  • Production: January 1944 - November 1944^2,5
  • Manufacturer: Vomag², Alkett
• Jagdpanzer IV: 769
  • Production: 1944
  • Manufacturer: Krupp, Demag (in association with Alkett) M.I.A.G.⁶
• Jagdpanzer IV mit 7.5 cm Stuk 42:
  • Production:
  • Manufacturer: Krupp⁶
• Jagdpanzer IV/70(V): 900, 930^2,5
  • Production: August 1944 - March 1945^2,5
  • Manufacturer:
• Jagdpanzer IV/70(A): 278^2,5, 300
  • Production: August 1944 - March 1945^2,5
  • Manufacturer: Nibelungenwerke^2,5

Variants

• Sturmgeschütz neuer Art mit 7.5 cm PaK L/48 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen IV (SdKfz 162):
• Jagdpanzer IV, SdKfz 162: Due to delays in getting the L/70 gun fitted, Vomag was asked to start production with the 7.5 cm KwK 40 L/48 gun.⁵
  Entered production in January 1944.⁵ The armor was supplied by Witkowiter Bergbau un Eisenhütten. The gun was made by Rheinmetall-Borsig and Seitz of Kreuznach.
  Early vehicles had muzzle brake, but as the gun was only 1.4 m (4' 7") above the ground a lot of dust was kicked up when fired, they were later deleted.⁵
  Had Schürzen and Zimmerit anti-magnetic mine paste installed at the factory.⁵ The 75 mm gun was offset 200 mm (8") to the right of center.⁵
  Were issued to tank hunter detachments of Panzer divisions from March 1944. They were first used by the Hermann Göring Division in Italy, then with the 4th and 5th Panzer Divisions in Russia, and then with the Panzerlehr, 9th Panzer, and 12th SS Panzer Divisions in France.
• Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F. (7.5cm Pak 39 L/48) SdKfz 162; Panzerjäger 39:
• Jagdpanzer IV/70(V); Panzerjäger IV für 7.5 cm StuK 42 L/70 (SdKfz 162/1); 7.5 cm Stu. K. 42 L/70 auf Panzerjäger IV, SdKfz 162⁶; Panzer IV/70 SdKfz 162/1; Jagdpanzer IV mit 7.5cm StuK 42 L/70: Built by Vomag.⁴ A prototype with the longer L/70 gun was introduced in May 1944. The gun was made by Gustloff of Weimar and Skoda.
  Entered service in August 1944. Sometimes nicknamed "Guderian's Chicken." The longer gun made the tank nose heavy so the front wheels had to be made steel as it was wearing out the rubber quickly. Late models were to have a Vorsatz P mount for use with the MP44 with a curved barrel attachment.
  The front 3/4 of the vehicle was the crew compartment and the rear section contained the engine.⁵ The was mounted 200 mm (8") to the right of center, and had no muzzle brake.⁵ The gun overhung the front by 2.58 m (8' 6"), and made the vehicle nose heavy.⁵ The buffer and recuperator mechanisms had to be located above the barrel so that it would fit.⁵
  Some vehicles constructed in early 1945 were built on the Panzer III/IV chassis and had 3 return rollers.⁵
  The 105th and 106th Independent Panzer Brigades were issued them in August 1944⁵. 137 were used in the Ardennes offensive in December 1944.
• Jagdpanzer IV/70(A); Panzer IV/70 Zwischenlösung: Built by Alkett.⁴
  Mounted the 7.5cm StuK 42 L/70.⁵ Built on the PzKpfw IV Ausf J chassis.⁵
  The difference was that at the rear there was a vertical section in the superstructure instead of being sloped.⁵ It was nose heavy and had the first 4 sets of bogies fitted with steel rimmed wheels.
  Most were used on eastern front as replacements.

Usage

They replaced the Marder IIs and Marder IIIs in the panzer division's tank destroyer battalions.⁵

In The West

Partially equipped 6 mechanized divisions on June 6, 1944, in the West.⁵ Only 60 fought in Normandy.⁵

At The End

As of April 1, 1945, there were 275 still in use with the German Army.⁵

Specifications

	StuG PzKpfw IV	Jagdpanzer IV	Jagdpanzer IV mit 7.5 cm Stuk 42	Jagdpanzer IV/70(V)	Jagdpanzer IV/70(A)
Crew	42	41,4,6,7	43, 56	42, 55	42
Radio	FuG Spr f2			FuG Spr f2	FuG52
Physical Characteristics
Weight	24-25 tons2	23.6 tons4, 23.62 tons1,7, 24.1 tons5, 26.9 tons6 24,000 kg1,4	26.9 tons6 56,879 lb3 25,800 kg3	25.8 tons2,5	28 tons2,5
Length w/gun	6.85 m2	22' 5.7"1, 22' 6"4 6.85 m1,4	28' 1.8"3 8.58 m3	8.5 m2	8.44 m2
Length w/o gun		19' 4"'6, 19' 9"7	19.5'6
Height	1.85 m2	6'6, 6' 0.8"1, 6' 1"4,7 1.85 m1,4	5.9'6, 6' 5.2"3 1.96 m3	1.85 m2	2.35 m2
Width	3.17 m2	9.7'6, 10' 4.8"1, 10' 5"4,7 3.17 m1,4	9.5'6, 9' 7.4"3 2.93 m3	3.17 m2	2.88 m2
Width over tracks
Ground clearance		15.8"6	15.7"6
Ground contact length		138.5"6	150"6
Ground pressure		12.3 psi6	11.4 psi6
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	75 mm PaK39 L/482	75 mm1,4 75 mm Pak, L/483,6 7.5 cm Pak 39 L/487	75 mm PaK 39 L/703 75 mm StuK 42, L/706	75 mm PaK 42 L/702 7.5 cm L/705	75 mm PaK 42 L/702 7.5 cm StuK 42 L/705
Secondary
MG	2: 7.92 mm MG422 (1 in late production)2	1 or 2: 7.92 mm MG1,4 2: 7.92 mm MG34 or MG423	2: 7.92 mm MG34 or MG423 7.9 mm MG42, unmounted6	7.92 mm MG422	7.92 mm MG422
MG - coaxial
MG - hull				7.92 mm MG345
Side arms
Quantity
Main	792		556	552,5
Secondary
MG	6002			6002
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)		807, 1004 Front: 3.2"@45°6, 605 Side: 1.6"@30°6, 305	Front: 3.2"@45°6 Side: 1.6"@30°6		Mantlet: 1205
Hull Front, Upper	60@50°2 Mantlet: 802	45°5, 60@50° mantlet: 80 round		80@50°2, 80@45°5	80@50°2, 855
Hull Front, Lower	60@45°2 & 50@55°2	57°5, 50@55°		45@55°5, 80@45°2 & 50@55°2	80@10°2 & 80@14°2, 855
Hull Sides, Upper	30@30°2	30@30°		40@30°2	305, 40@30°2
Hull Sides, Lower	30@0°2			30@0°2	40@30°2 & 30@0°2
Hull Rear	20@35°2 & 20@11°2 & 20@9°2	20@35° & 20@11°		20@35°2& 20@11°2 & 20@9°2	20@35°2 & 20@10°2, 305
Hull Top	20@90°2 & 10@90°2			20@90°2 & 10@90°2	20@90°2 & 10@90°2
Hull Bottom	12+10 to 10@90°2			12+10 to 10@90°2	10@90°2
Turret Front
Turret Sides
Turret Rear
Turret Top
Engine (Make / Model)	Maybach HL 120 TRM2	Maybach7, Maybach HL 120 TRM1,4,5,6	Maybach HL 1203 Maybach HL 120 TRM6	Maybach HL 120 TRM2,5	Maybach HL 120 TRM & Maybach HL 120 TRM 1122
Bore / stroke
Cooling		Water6	Water6
Cylinders		V-124,6	V-126
Capacity
Net HP		3005,7, 300@3,000 rpm6, 7004	2653, 300@3,000 rpm6	3005
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio		6.5:16	6.5:16
Transmission (Type)	6 forward, 1 reverse.2	Synchromesh6 6 forward, 1 reverse6	Synchromesh6 6 forward, 1 reverse6	6 forward, 1 reverse.2	6 forward, 1 reverse.2
Steering		Clutch brake6	Clutch brake6
Steering ratio
Starter		Electric and inertia6	Electric and inertia6
Electrical system		Starting: 24-volt6 Running: 12-volt6	Starting: 24-volt6 Running: 12-volt6
Ignition		Mageneto6	Mageneto6
Fuel (Type)		Gasoline4,6	Gasoline3,6
Octane
Quantity		125 gallons6	125 gallons6
Road consumption		1 mpg6	1 mpg6
Cross country consumption		0.6 mpg6	0.6 mpg6
Performance
Traverse	10° left, 10° right2	20°6	20°6	10° left, 10° right2	10° left, 10° right2
Speed - Road	40 kph2	22 mph, 24 mph7, 24.8 mph1, 24.9 mph4, 25 mph6 40 kph1,4	22 mph3, 25 mph6 35 kph3	35 kph2	24 mph5 38 kph2,5
Speed - Cross Country		10 mph6	10 mph6
Range - Road	210 km2	124 miles6,7, 130.5 miles1,4 210 km1,4	124 miles6, 133 miles3 214 km3	133 miles 210 km2	200 miles5 320 km2, 322 km5
Range - Cross Country		78 miles6	78 miles6
Turning radius
Elevation limits	-5° to +15°2	-5° to +20°6	-8° to +20°6	-5° to +15°2	-5° to +15°2
Fording depth		47"6	3' 11"3,6 1.2 m3
Trench crossing			7.6'6, 7' 6.6"3 2.3 m3
Vertical obstacle		23.6"6	23"6, 23.6"3 0.6 m3
Climbing ability		30° (57%) slope6	30° (57%) slope6
Suspension (Type)		Sprung in pairs on 1/4 elliptic springs6	Sprung in pairs on 1/4 elliptic springs6
Wheels each side		86	86
Return rollers each side		46	46	45 Late production: 35
Tracks (Type)		Dry pin6	Dry pin6
Length
Width		15.75"6	15.75"6
Diameter
Number of links			996
Pitch		4.75"6	4.75"6
Tires
Track centers/tread			8.1'6