Originally uploaded on 10 oct. 2021.
Footage is all AI colorized by computers and actual color footage was extremely rare in 1940-45.
0:17 is actuall real color footage filmed by a civilian.
0:45 ia actuall real color footage filmed by the Germans in a rare color training film.
The Panzerkampfwagen IV was designed as the Versuchs-Kraftfahrzeug 622 in 1934 and went into production in 1937, and would fit the the short barrel 75 mm gun, and this would stay the same for the Ausf. A to F.
It would be a a support tank to be used to handle anti-tank guns and fortifications, it would work alongside the more numerable Panzer III in Panzer Divisions, but would changes it's roll in the later part of the war.
The Panzer IV Ausf.A production started in 1937 and ended in June 1938, it was similar to the B.W.I Prototype and production would stop after 35 vehicles had been completed, the Ausf.B went into production 1938 which had several changes to the A, with more frontal armour without a ball mount for the MG-34 machine gun, a new 300hp Maybach HL-120TR engine, transmission, single-piece hatches and commander’s cupola.
The A and B almost didn't have any external differences and it only had a improved modified engine, engine mounts, new turret ring and armored sleeve mount around the machine gun barrel.
The Ausf.D had numerous changes made to the front hull armour, and looked more like the Ausf.A, the ball mounted MG-34 machine gun was reintroduced and the driver’s front was fitted forwards again.
The Ausf.F or F1, first called the F at an early stage, was the last of the Panzer IV that fitted the short 75 mm gun, it would again see changes in it's suspension, with larger track links, with new idler wheels and front drive sprockets to reduce ground pressure, this was done because of the new additional armour increase.
The Ausf.F2 or the early Ausf.G started it's production in February 1942, after development started in 1941 to mount the Pak 38 L/60 into the turret of the Panzer IV, and a prototype was ready in November, but with new Russian tanks like KV-1s and T-34s, the 38 was dropped in favor of the new Pak 40 L/46 and a new gun was produced, the KwK 40 L/43 was fitted with a muzzle-brake and the first prototype was ready in 1942.
But in June 1942, the F2 was renamed Ausf.G, and this would pretty much make every long barreled Panzer IV, the Ausf.G.
The Ausf.G had numerous changes, like the elimination of the turret vision ports, the cupola was up-armored and modified, additional racks and brackets for spare road wheels and track links were added, the engine ventilation was improved. and some changes made to the armour, with an additional 30 mm to the frontal-glacis and changes to the armour to make the tank lighter, but it wasn't enough for the limited capacity of the chassis and transmission.
The late production introduced in March-April 1943, had the new side skirt armor fitted (Schürzen) to the sides and turret, and would also receive the new KwK 40 L/48, and smoke grenade launchers to the side of the turret.
From 1942 until 1943 1275 early Ausf.G tanks were produced and 412 later types.
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■ Information obtained from several sites.
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■ tanks-encyclopedia
■ the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Panzers
■ preservedtanks
■ pantser.net
■ the.shadock.free.fr/Tanks_in_France
■ Some music is from the KZfaq Audio Library.
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