Germany's BW/6; Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf E; PzKpfw IV Ausf E; SdKfz 161 medium tank
Photos
PzKpfw IV Ausf E medium tank of the 12th Panzer Division in Russia on July 9, 1941 |
PzKpfw IV Ausf E medium tank: |
Design
Appeared late in 1939. New cupola1, segmental shutters, new driver visor1, new simpler sprocket, exhaust fan installed in turret roof, and the turret rear was made from one bent piece of armor. Based on the battle experience in Poland additional armor was added to the front and sides of the hull.1 On late production models access flaps were fitted with a single hinge instead of two.
Prototype
Production
Variants
Usage
40 PzKpfw IV Ausf Ds & PzKpfw IV Ausf Es were sent to North Africa with the 5th and 8th Panzer Regiments.
Specifications
| Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf E | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator 52,4 |
| Radio | FuG54 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 46,297 lb 21 tons3,4, 22 tons2,5 |
| Length w/gun | 19' 5.25" 5.92 m2,4, 5.91 m |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 8' 8.5" 2.68 m2,4 |
| Width | 9' 4" 2.83 m2, 2.84 m4, 2.86 m |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 0.4 m2 |
| Ground contact length | 3.52 m |
| Ground pressure | 0.91 (kg/cm2)2 11.81 psi |
| Turret ring diameter | 1.65 m |
| Armament | |
| Main | 75 mm KwK 37 L/244 75 mm L/242 75 mm KwK L/243 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2: MGs2 2: 7.92 mm MG344 |
| MG - coaxial | 7.92 mm MG343 |
| MG - hull | 7.92 mm MG343 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 802 80 Pzgr, Sprgr+Nebel4 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2,700, 3,1502, 2,400 Patr SmK4 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | Front: 303, 505 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 502 30+30@7°4 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 50@15°4 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 20+202 20+20@0°4 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 20+20@0°4 |
| Hull Rear | 202 20@15°4 & 10°4 |
| Hull Top | 10-112 12@84°-90°4 |
| Hull Bottom | 102 10@90°4 |
| Turret Front | 35-302 30@10°4 mantlet: 30@round Mantlet: 35@0°-29°4 |
| Turret Sides | 202 20@24°4 |
| Turret Rear | 202 20@14°4 |
| Turret Top | 102 10@83°-90°4 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 120 TRM2,3 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water |
| Cylinders | |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | Synchromesh, ZF SSG 76 6 forward2, 1 reverse2 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 105 gallons 470 liters2 |
| Road consumption | 100 km/235 liters |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, electric.4 |
| Speed - Road | 40 kph, 42 kph2 21 mph5, 25 mph |
| Speed - Cross Country | 20 kph |
| Range - Road | 200 km, 210 km2 125 miles3 |
| Range - Cross Country | 130 km2 |
| Turning radius | 5.92 m |
| Elevation limits | -11° to +21° -8° to +20°4 |
| Fording depth | 0.8 m2, 1 m 2' 7.5" |
| Trench crossing | 7' 7" 2.3 m |
| Vertical obstacle | 60 cm 2' |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | Leaf springs2 |
| Wheels each side | 8x22 |
| Return rollers each side | 4x2 |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | 15.75" 380 mm2 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 2.39 m |
Sources:
- German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- Panzers At War, Michael and Gladys Green, 2005
