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Panzer IV / 70(V)

History: The Panzer IV / 70(V) was an improved version of the Jagdpanzer IV with the PaK42 L/70 mounted in place of the shorter PaK39 L/48.  It went into production along-with the Jagdpanzer IV which it replaced completely in December 1944.
Specific features: As for the Jagdpanzer IV.  The 7,5cm PaK was held at + 13° elevation by a travel lock when moving in non-combat areas.  Late models were to have the Vorsatz P mount (additional machine-pistol mount) in the roof over the gunner.  This was a mount for the 7.92mm MP44 with a curved barrel attachment.  The long gun and 80mm superstructure front made the Panzer IV / 70(V) nose heavy with resulant failures of the rubber-tyred wheels.  Later models, therefore, were fitted with steel-rimmed wheels at the first two wheel stations.  Late models also had only three return rollers.
Combat service: In August 1944, the Panzer IV / 70(V) was issued to the 105th and 106th independent panzer brigades.  Other tank brigades received these vehicles together with the independent Panzerjäger detachments, and the tank-hunter detachments of the Panzer divisions.  The Panzer IV / 70(V) was first used in numbers during the Ardennes offensive in December 1944, when approximately 137 were available.

Panzer IV / 70(V)

 

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