Germany's Panzerkampfwagen IV als Tauchpanzer
Photos
Design
42 (402) PzKpfw IV Ausf Ds converted for underwater operations in Operation Sealion.3 The engine air intakes and the exhaust were fitted with non-return valves in place of the mufflers. The cupola, mantlet, and MG mountings were covered by waterproof fabric. The driver's visor was altered by using a metal cover with a vision block that was water tight. A rubber tube that was inflated went around the turret ring.
With the modifications the Tauchpanzers could operate in water up to 13' in depth.3
Prototype
Production
Variants
Usage
Used by the 18th Panzer Regiment at River Bug in 19412,3. Also issued to the 6th Panzer Regiment of the 3rd Panzer Division.
Specifications
| Tauchpanzer | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 51 |
| Radio | FuG51 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 20 tons1 |
| Length w/gun | 5.92 m1 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 2.68 m1 |
| Width | 2.84 m1 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 75 mm KwK37 L/241 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2: 7.92 mm MG341 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 801 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2,7001 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 30@7°1 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 30@12°1 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 20@0°1 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 20@0°1 |
| Hull Rear | 20@9°1 & 20@10°1 |
| Hull Top | 12@84-90°1 |
| Hull Bottom | 10@90°1 |
| Turret Front | 30@10°1 Mantlet: 35@0-29°1 |
| Turret Sides | 20@25°1 |
| Turret Rear | 20@0-24°1 |
| Turret Top | 10@83-90°1 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL120TRM1 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | |
| Net HP | |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | 6 forward, 1 reverse.1 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, electric.1 |
| Speed - Road | 40 kph1 |
| Speed - Cross Country | |
| Range - Road | 200 km1 |
| Range - Cross Country | |
| Turning radius | |
| Elevation limits | -8° to +20°1 |
| Fording depth | |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical obstacle | |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | |
| Wheels each side | |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Tracks centers/tread |
Sources:
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
- German Tanks and Armoured Vehicles 1914 - 1945, B. T. White, 1966
