Full Name Sonderkraftfahrzeug 161 Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausführung F2-J
Class Heavy Vehicle
Movement 5
Armor Value 4
Vs Infantry (RNG / FPR) 5/6
Vs Vehicle (RNG / FPR) 8/10
Traits
Period Late 1943-1945
Theaters of Service
  • Eastern Europe
  • Southern Europe
  • Western Europe

German designers intended the Panzer IV to be a support tank for use against anti-tank guns and fortifications. Its basic design, however, allowed for increases in both armor and armament, and the type saw service in all theaters. It was the only German tank to remain in continuous production throughout the war, and remained in front-line service throughout. It carried a crew of five and had a top speed of 25 mph. With the Krupp, Vomag, and Nibelungenwerk companies building 8,553 units in many variants between 1936 and 1945, it was the most numerous German tank and the second-most numerous German armored fighting vehicle of the war. The Panzer IV was also the basis for a other vehicles, most notably the Sturmpanzer IV and Sturmgeschütz IV assault guns and Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer. Pz. IV Ausf. F2-J variants carried higher-velocity main guns than earlier variants: the 7.5 cm KwK 40 L/43 or 7.5 cm KwK 40 L/48, which were much more effective against armor. They also carried one 7.92 mm MG 34 machine mounted coaxially in the turret, and another in the front hull. The Ausf. F2-J models had thicker armor than the Ausf. A-C, often including the application of Schürzen side plates. These stats reflect the ToI base Pz IV unit.

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