Jagdpanzer IV/70

This casemate-style turretless German tank destroyer with steeply-sloped armor and a low profile was based on the Panzer IV chassis and built in three main variants. The latter two variants were called the Jagdpanzer IV/70 and carried a longer version of the 7.5 cm main gun, the Pak 42 L/70. It was the same high-velocity main gun as the Panzer V Panther tank, and fired both anti-tank and anti-personnel rounds. This gun had longer effective range than opposing Allied tank units. Germany produced about 1,200 of these two variants between early 1944 and April 1945. Variants with the longer and heavier main gun were nose heavy, making them less mobile and more difficult to operate in rough terrain. The type was intended to replace the StuG III, but the latter vehicle remained in service until war's end. It could achieve a top speed of 16 mph. The Jagdpanzer (“hunting tank”) IV/70 fought against Western Allied forces in Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, and Soviet tanks and troops on the Eastern Front. It was very successful as a tank destroyer due to its low profile, accurate gun and good armour protection, but performed poorly when used out of role as a substitute for tanks or assault guns to support infantry. This was increasingly necessary in the later stages of the war from late 1944 to 1945, because there was often nothing else available to the badly depleted German armoured units. These stats reflect the ToI base Jagdpanzer IV unit.