|
Sturmgeschütz neuer Art mit 7,5cm PaK L/48 auf Fahrgestell Panzer IV "Jagdpanzer
IV"
History: The Jagdpanzer IV was developed as an improved version of
the StuG III and eventually, was to take its place. A soft steel model was
represented to Hitler in October 1943, and a final prototype in December 1943. Vomag
produced the Jagdpanzer IV alongside their Panzer IV until May 1944 when the Panzer
was completely replaced by Jagdpanzer production. Twenty-six chassis were issued as
Bergegerät.
Specific features: The Jagdpanzer chassis had the same basic hull suspension and
drive train as the Panzer chassis from which it was designed. However, the front
hull had been altered by replacing the vertical front plate with a sharp-nosed front
consisting of two plates. The superstructure was built up from sloping plates.
The gun was mounted in the superstructure fronta accompanied by two machine-gun ports and
the driver's periscope. In May 1944, the armour thickness of the upper hull front
and superstructure front was increased to 80mm and the side superstructure armour was
increased from 30mm to 40mm.
The 0-Serie had utilized a front superstructure plate with rounded sides, but this was
dropped for production and ballistic reasons.
Combat service: The Jadpanzer IV were issued to tank-hunter detachments of Panzer
divisions from March 1944. They first engaged enemy armour in Italy with the Hermann
Göring Division, then in Russia with the 4th and 5th Panzer Divisions, and finally in
France in June 1944, with the Panzerlehr Division, the 9th Panzer Division and the 12th SS
Panzer Division, when 62 tanks awaited the Allied thrust from the beaches of Normandy.
Go back
|
