Germany's Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf J; PzKpfw IV Ausf J; SdKfz 161/2 medium tank
Photos
PzKpfw IV Ausf J medium tank: |
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| 1/72 Diecast Armor | |||
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| Forces of Valor | |||
95051: |
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Design
142 of the chassis were used for the Brummbär and 278 for the Panzer IV/70(A). Auxiliary engine removed and (turret could only be hand cranked1) replaced by extra 44 gallon fuel tank. All vision ports deleted except gunners. Nähverteidigungswaffe was added as a smoke discharger and close defense. Steel road wheels, vertical exhaust mufflers, and hull sides extended beyond the front hull plate were changes made during production. Return rollers reduced to 3 on later models. Side skirt on many vehicles was heavy gauge steel mesh.1
Starting in the Summer of 1944 a new wider Ostkette (Eastern Track) was installed to allow for better performance in snow and ice.1 Other models were also retrofitted with them.1
Prototype
Production
Variants
Specifications
| Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf J | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator 54,5,6 |
| Radio | FuG54 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 25 tons4,5,6 |
| Length w/gun | 23'6, 23' 3", 23.33'5 7.02 m4,6 |
| Length w/o gun | 5.89 m 19' 4" |
| Height | 8.9'5, 8' 9.5"6 2.68 m4,12 |
| Width | 10' 9.5"6, 11'5 2.88 m4 |
| Width with skirts | 3.29 m6 |
| Ground clearance | 1' 3" |
| Ground contact length | 3.52 m |
| Ground pressure | 0.89 kg/cm2 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 75 mm KwK 40 L/484 75 mm5 75 mm L/489,12 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2: 7.92 mm MG6 2: 7.92 mm MG344 2: MG5 |
| MG - coaxial | 7.92 mm MG34 |
| MG - hull | 7.92 mm MG34 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 876; 87 HEAT, smoke, APCR, APCBC, HE; 87 Pzgr, Spgr + Nebel4 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 3,1506, 3,150 Patr SmK4 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 10 - 505 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 806, 80@8°4 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 25 80@15°4 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 30+56, 30@0°4 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 30@0°4 |
| Hull Rear | 20@10°4 |
| Hull Top | 12@85°-90°4, 166 |
| Hull Bottom | 10@90°4 |
| Turret Front | 506, 50@10°4 Mantlet: 50@0°-30°4 |
| Turret Sides | 30@25°4 |
| Turret Rear | 30@15°4 |
| Turret Top | 18@86°4 & 26@90°4 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 120 TRM1124 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Capacity | |
| Cylinders | |
| Net HP | |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | ZF SSG 77, Synchromesh 6 forward, 1 reverse.4 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 680 liters1,3 126 gallons, 150 gallons1 |
| Road consumption | 100 km/235 liters |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, hand.4 |
| Speed - Road | 23.5 mph5, 23.6 mph6, 25 mph 38 kph4,12 |
| Speed - Cross Country | 11 mph 16 kph |
| Range - Road | 186 miles6, 200 miles1 300 km6, 320 km3,4, 322 km1 |
| Range - Cross Country | 111.8 miles6, 131 miles1, 180 km6, 210 km3,8 |
| Turning radius | 5.92 m |
| Elevation limits | -11° to +21° -8° to +20°4 |
| Fording depth | 1.2 m 3' |
| Trench crossing | 2.35 m 9' |
| Vertical obstacle | 60 cm 2' 6" |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | Leaf springs |
| Wheels each side | 8x2 |
| Return rollers each side | 3x2 |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | 1' 3.75" 40 cm , 56 cm6 |
| Width - Ostketten | 1' 10"6 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 8' 9"6 2.62 m6 |
Sources:
- German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1943-1945, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- Airfix Magazine Guide #8 German Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gande and Peter Chamberlain, 1975
