History and detailed description. Medium German tank Tiger Panzerkampfwagen IV. History and detailed description Design description Pz.VI
Medium tank Pz Kpfw IV
and its modifications
The most massive tank of the III Reich. Produced from October 1937 until the end of the war. A total of 8,519 tanks were produced Pz Kpfw IV Ausf A, B, C, D, E, F1, F2, G, H, J, of which - 1100 with a short-barreled gun 7.5cm KwK37 L / 24, 7,419 tanks - with a long-barreled gun 7.5cm KwK40 L / 43 or L / 48).
Pz IV Ausf A Pz IV Ausf B Pz IV Ausf C
Pz IV Ausf D Pz IV Ausf E
Pz IV Ausf F1 Pz IV Ausf F2
Pz IV Ausf G Pz IV Ausf H
Pz IV Ausf J
Crew - 5 people.
Engine - "Maybach" HL 120TR or TRM (Ausf A - HL 108TR).
The Maybach HL 120TR 12-cylinder carburetor engine (3000 rpm) had a power of 300 hp. from. and allowed the tank to develop a maximum speed on the highway up to 40 - 42 km / h.
All Pz Kpfw IV tanks had a tank gun with a caliber of 75 mm (7.5 cm in German terminology). In the series from modification A to F1, short-barreled 7.5cm KwK37 L / 24 guns with an initial armor-piercing projectile velocity of 385 m / s were installed, which were powerless against the armor of Soviet T-34 and KV tanks, as well as against most British and American tanks. From March 1942, the last F vehicles (175 vehicles designated F2), as well as all G, H and J tanks, were armed with long-barreled 7.5cm KwK40 L/43 or L/48 guns. (The KwK 40 L / 48 cannon was installed on parts of the G series vehicles, and then on the H and J modifications.) The Pz Kpfw IV tanks, armed with the KwK40 cannons with an armor-piercing projectile muzzle velocity of 770 m / s, received fire superiority over the T-34 for some time (2nd half of 1942 - 1943)
tanks Pz Kpfw IVs were also armed with two MG 34 machine guns. In modifications B and C, there was no radio operator machine gun; instead of it - a viewing slot and a pistol embrasure.
All tanks have FuG 5 radios.
Medium support tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf A(Sd Kfz 161)
35 tanks were produced from October 1937 to March 1938 by Krupp-Guson.
Combat weight - 18.4 tons. Length - 5.6 m. Width - 2.9 m. Height - 2.65 m.
Armor 15 mm.
Engine - "Maybach" HL 108TR. Speed - 31 km / h. Power reserve - 150 km.
Combat use: they fought in Poland, Norway, France; were withdrawn from service in the spring of 1941.
Medium support tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf B, Ausf C(Sd Kfz 161)
42 Pz Kpfw IV Ausf B tanks were produced (from April to September 1938) and 134 Pz Kpfw IV Ausf C tanks (from September 1938 to August 1939).
Pz Kpfw IV Ausf B
Pz Kpfw IV Ausf C
Installed a different engine, a new 6-speed gearbox. The speed increased to 40 km/h. The thickness of the frontal armor has been increased to 30 mm. A new commander's cupola has been installed. In the modification of Ausf C, the installation of the motor was changed and the turret swivel ring was improved.
Combat weight - 18.8 tons (Ausf B) and 19 tons (Ausf C). Length - 5.92 m. Width - 2.83 m. Height - 2.68 m.
Armor: forehead of the hull and turret - 30 mm, side and stern - 15 mm.
In modifications B and C, there was no radio operator machine gun; instead of it - a viewing slot and a pistol embrasure.
Combat use: tanks Pz Kpfw IV Ausf B, Ausf C fought in Poland, France, the Balkans and the Eastern Front. Pz Kpfw IV Ausf C remained in service until 1943. Pz Kpfw IV Ausf B were gradually out of service by the end of 1944.
Medium support tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf D(Sd Kfz 161)
229 tanks produced from October 1939 to May 1941
The main difference between the Ausf D modification was the increase in the thickness of the armor of the sides and stern to 20 mm.
Combat weight - 20 tons. Length - 5.92 m. Width - 2.84 m. Height - 2.68 m.
Armor: forehead of the hull and turret - 30 mm, side and stern - 20 mm.
Speed - 40 km / h. Power reserve - 200 km.
Combat use: fought in France, the Balkans, North Africa and on the Eastern Front until early 1944.
Medium support tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf E(Sd Kfz 161)
223 tanks produced from September 1940 to April 1941
On the Ausf E increased the thickness of the frontal armor of the hull to 50 mm; a new type of commander's cupola appeared. Armor plates were used on the forehead of the superstructure (30 mm) and on the sides of the hull and superstructure (20 mm).
Combat weight - 21 tons. Length - 5.92 m. Width - 2.84 m. Height - 2.68 m.
Armor: forehead of the hull - 50 mm, forehead of the superstructure and turret - 30 mm, side and stern - 20 mm.
Combat use: tanks Pz Kpfw IV Ausf E took part in the battles in the Balkans, North Africa and on the Eastern Front.
Medium support tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F1(Sd Kfz 161)
462 tanks were produced from April 1941 to March 1942, of which 25 vehicles were converted into Ausf F2.
On the The armor of the Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F was increased again: the forehead of the hull and turret was up to 50 mm, the sides of the turret and hull were up to 30 mm. Single doors in the sides of the turret were replaced with double doors, the track width increased from 360 to 400 mm. Tanks of modifications Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F, G, H were produced at the factories of three companies: Krupp-Gruson, Fomag, and Nibelungenwerke.
Combat weight - 22.3 tons. Length - 5.92 m. Width - 2.84 m. Height - 2.68 m.
Speed - 42 km / h. Power reserve - 200 km.
Combat use: tanks Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F1 fought on all sectors of the Eastern Front in 1941-44, participated in. They entered service in and.
medium tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F2(Sd Kfz 161/1)
Produced from March to July 1942. 175 tanks and 25 vehicles converted from Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F1.
Starting with this model, all subsequent models were equipped with a long-barreled gun 7.5cm KwK 40 L/43 (48). The ammunition load of the gun was increased from 80 to 87 rounds.
Combat weight - 23 tons. Length - 5.92 m. Width - 2.84 m. Height - 2.68 m.
Armor: forehead of the hull, superstructure and turret - 50 mm, side - 30 mm, feed - 20 mm.
Speed - 40 km / h. Power reserve - 200 km.
They entered service with new tank regiments and motorized divisions, as well as to replenish losses. In the summer of 1942, the Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F2 tanks could withstand the Soviet T-34s and KVs, comparable to the latter in terms of firepower, and surpassed the British and American tanks of that period.
medium tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf G(Sd Kfz 161/2)
1687 vehicles were produced from May 1942 to July 1943.
A new gun muzzle brake has been introduced. Smoke grenade launchers were installed on the sides of the tower. Reduced the number of viewing slots in the tower. About 700 Pz Kpfw IV Ausf G tanks received additional 30 mm frontal armor. On the latest machines, armored screens made of thin steel (5 mm) were installed along the sides of the hull and around the turret. Tanks of modifications Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F, G, H were produced at the factories of three companies: Krupp-Gruson, Fomag and Nibelungenwerke.
Combat weight - 23.5 tons. Length - 6.62 m. Width - 2.88 m. Height - 2.68 m.
Armor: forehead of the hull, superstructure and turret - 50 mm, side - 30 mm, feed - 20 mm.
Speed - 40 km / h. Power reserve - 210 km.
medium tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf N(Sd Kfz 161/2)
3774 vehicles were produced from April 1943 to July 1944.
The Ausf H modification series - the most massive - received 80 mm frontal hull armor (the thickness of the turret armor remained the same - 50 mm); armor protection of the turret roof increased from 10 to 15 mm. An external air filter has been installed. The radio station antenna was moved to the rear of the hull. A mount for an anti-aircraft machine gun is mounted on the commander's cupola. 5-mm side screens were installed on the hull and turret, protecting them from cumulative projectiles. Some of the tanks had non-rubberized (steel) support rollers. The tanks of the Ausf H modification were produced at the factories of three companies: Nibelungenwerke, Krupp-Gruson (Magdeburg) and Fomag in Plauen. A total of 3,774 Pz Kpfw IV Ausf H and another 121 chassis for self-propelled and assault guns were produced.
Combat weight - 25 tons. Length - 7.02 m. Width - 2.88 m. Height - 2.68 m.
Speed - 38 km / h. Power reserve - 210 km.
medium tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf J(Sd Kfz 161/2)
1758 cars were produced from June 1944 to March 1945 at the Nibelungenwerke plant.
The turret's electrical traverse was replaced with a dual mechanical traverse. An additional fuel tank was installed in the vacant seat. Cruising range increased to 320 km. For close combat, a mortar was installed in the roof of the tower, firing fragmentation or smoke grenades to defeat enemy soldiers who had climbed onto the tank. Viewing slots and pistol loopholes in the side doors and behind the turret have been removed.
Combat weight - 25 tons. Length - 7.02 m. Width - 2.88 m. Height - 2.68 m.
Armor: forehead of the hull and superstructure - 80 mm, forehead of the tower - 50 mm, side - 30 mm, feed - 20 mm.
Speed - 38 km / h. Power reserve - 320 km.
Combat use of medium tanks Pz Kpfw IV
Before the invasion of France, the troops had 280 tanks Pz Kpfw IV Ausf A, B, C, D.
Before the beginning Operation Barbarossa Germany had 3,582 combat-ready tanks. The 17 tank divisions deployed against the Soviet Union included 438 Pz IV Ausf B, C, D, E, F tanks. Soviet tanks KV and T-34 had an advantage over the German Pz Kpfw IV. The shells of the KV and T-34 tanks pierced the armor of the Pz Kpfw IV at considerable distances. The armor of the Pz Kpfw IV was also penetrated by 45-mm Soviet anti-tank guns and 45-mm guns of T-26 and BT light tanks. And the short-barreled German tank gun could only effectively deal with light tanks. Therefore, during 1941, 348 Pz Kpfw IVs were destroyed on the Eastern Front.
Tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F1 of the 5th Panzer Division in November 1941 near Moscow
In June 1942 years on the Eastern Front, there were 208 tanks Pz Kpfw IV Ausf B, C, D, E, F1 and about 170 Pz Kpfw IV Ausf F2 and Ausf G tanks with a long-barreled gun.
In 1942 Pz Kpfw IV tank battalion was to consist of four tank companies of 22 Pz Kpfw IV plus eight tanks in the headquarters company of the regiment.
Tank Pz Kpfw IV Ausf C and panzergrenadiers
Spring 1943
". Heavy, with powerful armor and a deadly 88 mm cannon, this tank was distinguished by perfect, truly Gothic beauty. However, the most important role in the history of World War II was played by a completely different machine - Panzerkampfwagen IV (or PzKpfw IV, as well as Pz.IV). In Russian historiography, it is usually called T IV.
Panzerkampfwagen IV is the most massive German tank of World War II. The combat path of this machine began in 1938 in Czechoslovakia, then there was Poland, France, the Balkans and Scandinavia. In 1941, it was the PzKpfw IV tank that was the only worthy opponent of the Soviet T-34s and KVs. Paradox: although, according to the main characteristics, the T IV was significantly inferior to the Tiger, but this particular vehicle can be called a symbol of the blitzkrieg, the main victories of German weapons are associated with it.
The biographies of this vehicle can only be envied: this tank fought in the African sands, in the snows of Stalingrad, and was preparing to land in England. The active development of the T IV medium tank began immediately after the Nazis came to power, and the T IV took its last battle in 1967 as part of the Syrian army, repelling the attacks of Israeli tanks on the Dutch heights.
A bit of history
After the end of the First World War, the Allies did everything possible to ensure that Germany would never again become a powerful military power. She was forbidden not only to have tanks, but even to engage in work in this area.
However, these restrictions could not prevent the German military from working on the theoretical aspects of the use of armored forces. The concept of blitzkrieg, developed by Alfred von Schlieffen at the beginning of the 20th century, was finalized and supplemented by a number of talented German officers. Tanks not only found their place in it, they became one of its main elements.
Despite the restrictions imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles, practical work on the creation of new models of tanks continued. Work was also underway on the organizational structure of tank units. All this took place in an atmosphere of strict secrecy. After the Nationalists came to power, Germany abandoned the prohibitions and quickly began to create a new army.
The first German tanks put into serial production were the Pz.Kpfw.I and Pz.Kpfw.II light vehicles. "Edinichka", in fact, was a training vehicle, and Pz.Kpfw.II was intended for reconnaissance and was armed with a 20-mm cannon. The Pz.Kpfw.III was already considered a medium tank; it was armed with a 37 mm gun and three machine guns.
The decision to develop a new tank (Panzerkampfwagen IV), armed with a short-barreled 75 mm gun, was made in 1934. The main task of the vehicle was to be the direct support of infantry units, this tank was supposed to suppress enemy firing points (primarily anti-tank artillery). In terms of its design and layout, the new vehicle largely repeated the Pz.Kpfw.III.
In January 1934, three companies at once received the terms of reference for the development of the tank: AG Krupp, MAN and Rheinmetall. At that moment, Germany was still trying not to advertise the work on the types of weapons prohibited by the Versailles agreements. Therefore, the car was given the name Bataillonsführerwagen or B.W., which translates as "battalion commander's car."
The project developed by AG Krupp, VK 2001(K), was recognized as the best. The military was not satisfied with its spring suspension, they demanded to replace it with a more advanced one - a torsion bar, which provides the tank with a smoother ride. However, the designers managed to insist on their own. The German army was in dire need of a tank, and it could take a lot of time to develop a new suspension, it was decided to leave the suspension the same, only to seriously modify it.
Tank production and modifications
In 1936, mass production of new machines began. The first modification of the tank was the Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. A. The first samples of this tank had anti-bullet armor (15-20 mm) and poor protection for surveillance devices. Modification of the Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. A can be called pre-production. After the release of several dozen tanks PzKpfw IV Ausf. A, AG Krupp immediately received an order for the production of an improved Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. IN.
Model B had a hull of a different shape, it did not have a course machine gun, and viewing devices were improved (especially the commander's cupola). The front armor of the tank was increased to 30 mm. PzKpfw IV Ausf. B received a more powerful engine, a new gearbox, and its ammunition load was reduced. The mass of the tank increased to 17.7 tons, while its speed, thanks to the new power plant, increased to 40 km / h. A total of 42 Ausf tanks left the assembly line. IN.
The first modification of the T IV, which can be called truly massive, was the Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. S. She appeared in 1938. Outwardly, this car differed little from the previous model, a new engine was installed on it, some more minor changes were made. In total, about 140 Ausf. FROM.
In 1939, the production of the following tank model began: Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. D. Its main difference was the appearance of the outer mask of the tower. In this modification, the thickness of the side armor was increased (20 mm), and several more improvements were also made. Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. D is the latest model of a peacetime tank, before the start of the war the Germans managed to make 45 Ausf.D tanks.
By September 1, 1939, the German army had 211 units of the T-IV tank of various modifications. These vehicles performed well during the Polish campaign and became the main tanks of the German army. Combat experience showed that the weak point of the T-IV was its armor protection. Polish anti-tank guns easily pierced both the armor of light tanks and heavier "fours".
Taking into account the experience gained in the first years of the war, a new modification of the machine was developed - Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. E. On this model, the frontal armor was reinforced with hinged plates 30 mm thick, and the side armor was 20 mm thick. The tank received a commander's turret of a new design, the shape of the turret was changed. Minor changes were made to the undercarriage of the tank, the design of hatches and viewing devices was improved. The mass of the machine has increased to 21 tons.
The installation of hinged armor screens was irrational and could only be considered as a necessary measure and a way to improve the protection of the first T-IV models. Therefore, the creation of a new modification, the design of which would take into account all the comments, was only a matter of time.
In 1941, the production of the Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.F model began, in which the hinged screens were replaced with integral armor. The thickness of the frontal armor was 50 mm, and the sides - 30 mm. As a result of these changes, the weight of the machine increased to 22.3 tons, which led to a significant increase in the specific load on the ground.
To eliminate this problem, the designers had to increase the width of the tracks and make changes to the undercarriage of the tank.
Initially, the T-IV was not suitable for destroying enemy armored vehicles, the "four" was considered an infantry fire support tank. Although, the tank's ammunition included armor-piercing shells, which allowed it to fight enemy armored vehicles equipped with bulletproof armor.
However, the first encounters of German tanks with the T-34 and KV, which had powerful anti-shell armor, shocked the German tankers. The "Four" turned out to be absolutely ineffective against Soviet armored giants. The first wake-up call, which showed the futility of using the T-IV against powerful heavy tanks, was the combat clashes with the British Matilda tank in 1940-41.
Even then, it became clear that the PzKpfw IV should be equipped with another weapon that would be more suitable for destroying tanks.
At first, the idea was born to install a 50-mm gun with a length of 42 calibers on the T-IV, but the experience of the first battles on the Eastern Front showed that this gun was significantly inferior to the Soviet 76-mm gun, which was installed on the KV and T-34. The total superiority of Soviet armored vehicles over Wehrmacht tanks was a very unpleasant discovery for German soldiers and officers.
Already in November 1941, work began on the creation of a new 75-mm gun for the T-IV. Vehicles with the new gun received the abbreviation Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.F2. However, the armor protection of these vehicles was still inferior to Soviet tanks.
It was this problem that German designers wanted to solve by developing a new modification of the tank at the end of 1942: Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.G. In the frontal part of this tank, additional armor screens 30 mm thick were installed. A 75-mm cannon with a length of 48 calibers was installed on some of these machines.
The Ausf.H became the most mass-produced model of the T-IV; it first rolled off the assembly line in the spring of 1943. This modification practically did not differ from the Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.G. A new transmission was installed on it and the roof of the tower was thickened.
Design description Pz.VI
The T-IV tank is made according to the classical scheme, with the power plant located in the rear of the hull, and the control compartment in the front.
The hull of the tank is welded, the slope of the armor plates is less rational than that of the T-34, but it provides more interior space for the vehicle. The tank had three compartments separated by bulkheads: a control compartment, a combat compartment and a power compartment.
In the department of management there was a place for a driver and a gunner-radio operator. It also contained a transmission, instruments and controls, a walkie-talkie and a course machine gun (not on all models).
In the fighting compartment, located in the center of the tank, there were three crew members: commander, gunner and loader. A cannon and a machine gun, observation and aiming devices, as well as ammunition were installed in the tower. The commander's cupola provided excellent visibility for the crew. The tower was turned by an electric drive. The gunner had a telescopic sight.
In the stern of the tank was the power plant. The T-IV was equipped with a 12-cylinder water-cooled carburetor engine of various models, developed by the Maybach company.
The "Four" had a large number of hatches, which made life easier for the crew and technical staff, but reduced the security of the car.
Suspension - spring, chassis consisted of 8 rubber-coated road wheels and 4 support rollers and a drive wheel.
Combat use
The first serious campaign in which the Pz.IV took part was the war against Poland. Early modifications of the tank had weak armor and became easy prey for the Polish gunners. During this conflict, the Germans lost 76 Pz.IV units, 19 of which were irretrievable.
In the fighting against France, the opponents of the "fours" were not only anti-tank guns, but also tanks. The French Somua S35 and the English Matildas showed themselves worthy.
In the German army, tank classification was based on the caliber of the gun, so the Pz.IV was considered a heavy tank. However, with the outbreak of war on the Eastern Front, the Germans saw what a real heavy tank was. The USSR also had an overwhelming advantage in the number of combat vehicles: at the beginning of the war, there were more than 500 KV tanks in the western districts. The short-barreled gun Pz.IV could not cause any harm to these giants even at close range.
It should be noted that the German command very quickly drew conclusions and began modifying the "fours". Already at the beginning of 1942, modifications of the Pz.IV with a long gun began to appear on the Eastern Front. The armor protection of the vehicle was also increased. All this made it possible for German tankers to fight the T-34 and KV on an equal footing. Given the best ergonomics of German vehicles, excellent sights, Pz.IV has become a very dangerous opponent.
After installing a long-barreled gun (48 calibers) on the T-IV, its combat characteristics increased even more. After that, the German tank could hit both Soviet and American vehicles without entering the range of their guns.
It should be noted the speed with which changes were made to the design of the Pz.IV. If we take the Soviet "thirty-four", then many of its shortcomings were revealed even at the stage of factory testing. It took the leadership of the USSR several years of war and huge losses to start modernizing the T-34.
The German T-IV tank can be called a very balanced and versatile vehicle. In later heavy German vehicles, there is a clear bias towards security. The "Four" can be called a unique machine in terms of the reserve for modernization inherent in it.
It cannot be said that the Pz.IV was an ideal tank. He had flaws, the main of which can be called insufficient engine power and an outdated suspension. The power plant clearly did not match the mass of later models. The use of a rigid leaf spring suspension reduced the maneuverability of the vehicle and its cross-country ability. The installation of a long gun significantly increased the combat characteristics of the tank, but it created an additional load on the front rollers of the tank, which led to its significant rocking of the vehicle.
Equipping the Pz.IV with anti-cumulative screens was also not a very good decision. Cumulative ammunition was rarely used, the screens only increased the weight of the vehicle, its dimensions and worsened the visibility of the crew. It was also a very expensive idea to paint the tanks with zimmerite, a special anti-magnetic paint against magnetic mines.
However, many historians consider the start of production of heavy Panther and Tiger tanks to be the biggest miscalculation of the German leadership. Almost the entire war, Germany was limited in resources. The "Tiger" was a really great tank: powerful, comfortable, with a deadly weapon. But also very expensive. In addition, both the "Tiger" and "Panther" were able to get rid of many "childhood" diseases that are inherent in any new technology until the end of the war.
There is an opinion that if the resources spent on the production of "Panthers" were used to produce additional "fours", then this would create much more problems for the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition.
Specifications
Video about the tank Panzerkampfwagen IV
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On January 11, 1934, at a meeting of the Wehrmacht's Armaments Department, the basic principles for arming tank divisions were approved. Shortly thereafter, a prototype of the future PzKpfw IV tank was born, which, for the sake of secrecy, was called the definition of a “medium tractor” already familiar to us - the Mittleren Tractor. When the need for conspiracy disappeared and the combat vehicle began to be openly called the tank of the battalion commander - Batail-lonfuhrerswagen (BW).
This name lasted until the introduction of a unified designation system for German tanks, when the BW finally turned into a medium tank PzKpfw IV. Medium tanks were supposed to serve to support the infantry. The weight of the vehicle was not to exceed 24 tons, it was supposed to be armed with a short-barreled 75-mm cannon. It was decided to borrow the general layout scheme, the thickness of the armor plates, the principle of crew placement and other characteristics from the previous tank, the PzKpfw III. Work on the creation of a new tank began in 1934. The Rheinmetall-Borsig company was the first to present a plywood model of the future machine, and the following year a real prototype appeared, designated VK 2001 / Rh.
The prototype was made of mild weldable steel and weighed approximately 18 tons. He did not have time to leave the walls of the manufacturer, as he was immediately sent for testing in Kummersdorf. (It was in Kummersdorf that Adolf Hitler first became acquainted with Wehrmacht tanks. During this study tour, Hitler showed great interest in the motorization of the army and the creation of armored forces. Guderian, Chief of Staff of the Armored Forces Directorate, arranged demonstration tests of motorized forces for the Reich Chancellor. Hitler was shown a motorcycle and anti-tank platoons , as well as platoons of light and heavy armored vehicles. According to Guderian, the Fuhrer was very pleased with the visit.)
Tanks PzKpfw IV and PzKpfw III at "Tankfest" in Bovington
Daimler-Benz, Krupp and MAN also built their prototypes of the new tank. "Krupp" presented a combat vehicle, almost similar to the prototype of the platoon commander's vehicle that they had previously proposed and rejected. After the tests, the technical department of the tank troops chose the VK 2001 / K variant for mass production, proposed by Krupp, making minor changes to its design. In 1936, the first prototype of the 7.5 cm Geschiitz-Panzerwagen (VsKfz 618) tank was built, an armored vehicle with a 75 mm gun (experimental model 618).
The initial order was 35 vehicles, which were produced by the factories of the Friedrich Krupp AG concern in Essen from October 1936 to March 1937. Thus began the production of the most massive German tank, which remained in service with the armored forces of the Third Reich until the very end of the war. The medium tank PzKpfw IV owes its high combat characteristics entirely to the designers, who brilliantly coped with the task of strengthening the armor and firepower of the tank without making significant changes to the basic design.
MODIFICATIONS OF THE PzKpfw IV TANK
Tank PzKpfw IV Ausf A became a model for the creation of all subsequent modifications. The armament of the new tank consisted of a 75mm KwK 37 L/24 cannon coaxial with a turret machine gun and a forward machine gun located in the hull. As a power plant, a 12-cylinder liquid-cooled Maybach HL 108TR carburetor engine was used, which developed a power of 250 hp. The hull also housed an additional engine that powered an electric generator that provided power to the turret's electric drive. The combat weight of the tank was 17.3 tons, the thickness of the frontal armor reached 20 mm.
A characteristic feature of the Pz IV Ausf A tank was a cylindrical commander's cupola with eight viewing slots covered with armored glass blocks.
German medium tank PzKpfw IV Ausf A
The undercarriage for one side consisted of eight road wheels, interlocked in pairs in four bogies, suspended on quarter-elliptical leaf springs. Four small road wheels were provided on top. Drive wheel - front location. The idler wheel (sloth) had a track tensioning mechanism. It should be noted that this design of the undercarriage of the PzKpfw IV Ausf A tank was practically not subjected to significant changes in the future. Tank PzKpfw IV Ausf A - the first production tank of this type.
The performance characteristics of the medium tank PzKpfw IV Ausf A (SdKfz 161)
Creation date ....................... 1935 (the first tank appeared in 1937)
Combat weight (t) .........................18.4
Dimensions (m):
length.........................5.0
width.........................2.9
height.........................2.65
Armament: ............ main 1 x 75 mm KwK 37 L/24 cannon secondary 2 x 7.92 mm MG 13 machine guns
Ammunition-main .............................. 122 shots
Reservation (mm): ..................... maximum 15 minimum 5
Engine type..............Maybach HL 108 TR (3000 rpm)
Maximum power (hp) .................250
Crew...................5 people
Maximum speed (km/h) .................32
Cruising range (km) ............... 150
Next modification of the tank: PzKpfw IV Ausf B- featured an improved Maybach HL 120TRM engine with 300 hp. at 3000 rpm and a new six-speed gearbox ZFSSG 76 instead of a five-speed SSG 75. The main difference between the PzKpfw FV Ausf B was the use of a straight hull plate instead of the broken one of its predecessor. At the same time, the course machine gun was dismantled. In its place was a radio operator's viewing device, which could fire from personal weapons through the loophole. Frontal armor increased to 30 mm, due to which the combat weight increased to 17.7 tons. The commander's turret was also changed, whose viewing slots were closed with removable covers. The order for the new "four" (still called 2 / BW) was 45 cars, however, due to a lack of necessary parts and materials, Krupp was able to produce only 42.
German medium tank PzKpfw IV Ausf B
tanks PzKpfw IV version Ausf C appeared in 1938 and differed very little from the Ausf B vehicles. Outwardly, these tanks are so similar that it can be very difficult to distinguish them. An additional similarity with the previous version is given by a straight frontal plate without the MG machine gun, instead of which an additional viewing device appeared. Minor changes affected the introduction of an armored casing for the MG-34 machine gun barrel, as well as the installation of a special bumper under the gun, which bent the antenna when the turret turned, preventing it from breaking. In total, approximately 140 units of 19-ton Ausf C tanks were produced.
German medium tank PzKpfw IV Ausf C
Tanks of the next model - PzKpfw IVD- received an improved design of the gun mask. The practice of using tanks forced us to return to the original design of a broken frontal plate (as on the PzKpfw IV Ausf A tanks). The installation of the front machine gun was protected by a square armor casing, and side and aft armor increased from 15 to 20 mm. After the new tanks were tested, the following entry appeared in the military circular (No. 685 of September 27, 1939): "PzKpfw IV (with a 75-mm cannon) SdKfz 161 from this moment is declared suitable for successful use and military formations" "" .
German medium tank PzKpfw IV Ausf D
A total of 222 Ausf D tanks were produced, with which Germany entered World War II. During the Polish campaign, several "fours" ingloriously returned from the battlefields to their homeland for repairs and improvements. It turned out that the thickness of the armor of the new tanks was insufficient to ensure their safety, so additional armor plates were urgently needed to protect the most important nodes. It is curious that the reports of the British military intelligence of that time contain the assumption that the strengthening of the combat armor of tanks often took place “illegally”, without an appropriate order from above, and sometimes even despite it. So, in the order of the German military command intercepted by the British, unauthorized welding of additional armor plates on the hulls of German tanks was strictly prohibited. The order explained that “handicraft* fastening of armor plates does not increase, but reduces the protection of the tank, so the Wehrmacht command ordered the commanders to strictly follow the instructions governing the work to strengthen the armor protection of combat vehicles.
German medium tank PzKpfw IV Ausf E
Soon the long-awaited "four" was born PzKpfw IV Ausf E, in the design of which all the previously identified shortcomings of the PzKpfw IV Ausf D were taken into account. First of all, this referred to the strengthening of armor protection. Now the 30 mm frontal armor of the hull was protected by additional 30 mm plates, and the sides were covered with 20 mm sheets. All these changes led to the fact that the combat weight increased to 21 tons. In addition, a new commander's cupola appeared on the Pz-4 Ausf E tanks, which now almost did not go beyond the tower. The course machine gun received a Kugelblende 30 ball mount. A box for spare parts and equipment was mounted on the rear wall of the turret. The undercarriage used new simplified drive wheels and wider tracks of a new type with a width of 400 mm instead of the old ones, with a width of 360 mm.
German medium tank PzKpfw IV Ausf F1
Tank was the next option. PzKpfw IV Ausf F1. These tanks had a one-piece frontal plate 50 mm thick and 30 mm sides. The forehead of the tower also received 50 mm armor. This tank was the last model armed with a short-barreled 75-mm cannon with a low muzzle velocity.
German medium tank PzKpfw IV Ausf F2
Soon, Hitler personally ordered that this ineffective gun be replaced with a long-barreled 75-mm KwK 40 L / 43 - this is how the medium tank was born PzKpfw IV F2. The new weapon required changes to the design of the turret's combat compartment in order to accommodate the increased ammunition load. 32 shots out of 87 were now placed in the tower. The initial speed of a conventional armor-piercing projectile has now increased to 740 m/s (against 385 m/s for the previous gun), and armor penetration has increased by 48 mm and amounted to 89 mm against the previous 41 mm (an armor-piercing projectile at a distance of 460 meters at a meeting angle of 30 °) . The new powerful gun immediately and forever changed the role and place of the new tank in the German armored forces. In addition, the PzKpfw IV received a new Turmzielfernrohr TZF Sf sight and a different shaped cannon mask. From now on, the medium tank PzKpfw III fades into the background, being content with the role of a support tank and infantry escort, and the PzKpfw IV becomes the main "assault" tank of the Wehrmacht for a long time. In addition to Krupp-Gruson AG, two more enterprises joined the production of PzKpfw IV tanks: VOMAG and Nibelungenwerke. The appearance on the stage of the theater of operations of the modernized "fours" Pz IV significantly complicated the position of the allies, since the new gun allowed the German tank to successfully fight against most of the armored vehicles of the USSR and coalition member countries. In total, for the period up to March 1942, 1,300 "fours" of early Ausfs (from A to F2) were produced.
PzKpfw IV is called the main tank of the Wehrmacht. More than 8,500 "fours" formed the basis of the Wehrmacht's tank forces, its main striking force.
The next large-scale version was the tank PzKpfw IV Ausf G. From May 1942 to June 1943, they were created much more than the machines of previous modifications, more than 1600 units.
German medium tank PzKpfw IV Ausf G
The very first Pz IV Ausf G practically did not differ from the PzKpfw IV F2, however, during the production process, numerous changes were made to the basic design. First of all, this concerns the installation of a 75-mm gun KwK 40 L / 48 with a two-chamber muzzle brake. The upgraded version of the KwK 40 tank gun had a muzzle velocity of 750 m/s. The new model of the "four" tank was equipped with additional protective 5-mm screens to protect the turret and sides of the hull, which received the joking nickname "apron" in the troops. The Pz Kpfw IV Aufs G tank, produced since March 1943, was armed with a 75-mm cannon with a barrel length of L / 48 instead of the previous one with a barrel length of 43 caliber. A total of 1700 machines of this modification were produced. Despite the enhanced armament, the PZ-4s still could not compete with the Russian T-34s.
Weak armor protection made them too vulnerable. In this photo you can see how the Pz Kpfw IV Ausf G tank uses sandbags as additional protection. Of course, such measures could not substantially improve the situation.
Tank became the most massive series PzKpfw IV Ausf N, more than 4,000 units were produced, including various self-propelled guns created on the T-4 ("four") chassis.
German medium tank PzKpfw IV Ausf H
This tank was distinguished by the most powerful frontal armor (up to 80 mm), the introduction of 5 mm side screens for the hull and turret, the MG-34 -Fliegerbeschussgerat 41/42 anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the commander's turret, a new, improved ZF SSG 77 gearbox and minor changes in the transmission. The combat weight of this modification Pz IV reached 25 tons. The last version of the "four" was the tank PzKpfw IV J, which continued to be produced until March 1945. From June 1944 to March 1945, more than 1,700 of these machines were produced. Tanks of this type were equipped with high-capacity fuel tanks, which made it possible to increase the cruising range to 320 km. However, in general, the latest “fours” have been significantly simplified compared to previous models.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DESIGN OF THE TANK PzKpfw IV
TOWER AND HULL OF TANK Pz IV
The hull and turret of the Pz-4 tank were welded. On each side of the tower for landing and disembarking crew members were evacuation hatches.
Tank Pz IV with protection against cumulative projectiles installed on it
The tower was equipped with a commander's cupola with five viewing slots equipped with armored glass blocks - triplex and protective armor covers, which were lowered and raised using a small lever located under each slot.
Inside the Pz IV Ausf G tank. The photo was taken from the side of the right hatch (loader).
The floor of the tower rotated with it. The armament consisted of a 75-mm (short-barreled KwK 37 or long-barreled KwK 40) cannon and a coaxial turret machine gun, as well as an MG machine gun mounted in the frontal armor of the hull in a ball mount and intended for the gunner-radio operator. This armament scheme is typical for all modifications of the "fours" with the exception of tanks of version C.
Inside the Pz IV Ausf G tank. The photo was taken from the side of the left hatch (gunner).
The layout of the tank PzKpfw IV- classic, with a front-mounted transmission. Inside the tank hull was divided by two bulkheads into three compartments. In the rear compartment was the engine compartment.
As in other German tanks, a cardan shaft was transferred from the engine to the gearbox and drive wheels, passed under the turret floor. An auxiliary engine for the turret rotation mechanism was located next to the motor. Because of this, the tower was shifted to the left along the axis of symmetry of the tank by 52 mm. On the floor of the central fighting compartment, under the floor of the tower, three fuel tanks with a total capacity of 477 liters were installed. The turret of the fighting compartment housed the remaining three crew members (commander, gunner and loader), weapons (cannon and coaxial machine gun), observation and aiming devices, vertical and horizontal guidance mechanisms. The driver and gunner-radio operator, firing from a machine gun mounted in a ball bearing, were located in the front compartment of the hull, on both sides of the gearbox.
German medium tank PzKpfw IV Ausf A. View of the driver's seat.
The thickness of the armor of the tank PzKpfw IV constantly increased. The frontal armor of the T-4 was welded from rolled armor plates with surface carburizing and was usually thicker and stronger than the side armor. Additional protection with the help of armor plates was not used until the creation of the Ausf D tank. To protect the tank from bullets and cumulative projectiles, a zimmerite coating was applied to the lower and side surfaces of the hull and the side surfaces of the turret. The British testing of the T-4 Ausf G using the Brinell method gave the following results: front end plate in an inclined plane (outer surface) - 460-490 HB; front vertical plate (outer surface) - 500-520 HB; inner surface -250-260 HB; tower forehead (outer surface) - 490-51 0 HB; hull sides (outer surface) - 500-520 HB; inner surface - 270-280 HB; sides of the tower (outer surface) -340-360 HB. As mentioned above, on the "fours" of the latest versions, additional armored "screens" were used, produced from steel sheets, 114 x 99 cm in size and mounted on the sides of the hull and turret, at a distance of 38 cm from the hull. The tower was protected by armor plates 6 mm thick, fixed around the rear and sides, and in the protective screen there were hatches located exactly in front of the tower hatches.
ARMAMENT OF THE TANK.
On the PzKpfw IV Ausf A - F1 tanks, a short-barreled 75-mm KwK 37 L / 24 gun with a barrel length of 24 calibers, a vertical shutter and an initial projectile velocity not exceeding 385 m / s was installed. The PzKpfw III Ausf N tanks and StuG III assault guns were equipped with exactly the same guns. The gun ammunition included almost all types of shells: armor-piercing tracer, armor-piercing tracer sub-caliber, cumulative, high-explosive fragmentation and smoke.
View of the double-leaf evacuation hatch in the turret of the Pz IV tank
To carry out the rotation of the gun at the prescribed 32 ° (from - 110 to + 21, 15 full revolutions were required. In the Pz IV tanks, both an electric drive and a manual drive for turning the turret were used. The electric drive was powered by a generator driven by a two-cylinder two-stroke water-cooled engine. For rough For this purpose, the angle of horizontal fire of the tank's turret gun, equal to 360 °, was divided into twelve divisions, and the division corresponding to the traditional position of the number 12 on the watch dial indicated the direction of movement of the tank. the notched ring in the commander's turret was set into motion.
View of the stern of the tank PZ IV
Thanks to this device, the commander could determine the approximate location of the target and give appropriate instructions to the gunner. The driver's seat was equipped with a turret position indicator (with two lights) on all models of the PzKpfw IV tank (except Ausf J). Thanks to this device, the driver knew the location of the turret and tank gun. This was especially important when driving through the forest and in settlements. The gun was mounted together with a coaxial machine gun and a TZF 5v telescopic sight (on tanks of early modifications); TZF 5f and TZF 5f/l (on tanks starting from PzKpfw IV Ausf E). The machine gun was powered by a flexible metal tape, the shooter fired using a special foot pedal. The telescopic 2.5-fold sight was supplied with scales of three ranges (for the main gun and machine gun).
View of the frontal part of the Pz IV tank turret
The MG-34 course machine gun was equipped with a KZF 2 telescopic sight. The full ammunition load consisted of 80-87 (depending on modification) artillery rounds and 2700 rounds for two 7.92-mm machine guns. Starting with the Ausf F2 modification, the short-barreled gun is replaced by a more powerful long-barreled 75-mm KwK 40 L / 43 cannon, and the latest modifications (starting with the Ausf H) receive an improved L / 48 gun with a barrel length of 48 calibers. Short-barreled guns had a single-chamber muzzle brake, long-barreled guns had to be equipped with two-chamber ones. The increase in barrel length required a counterweight. To do this, the latest modifications of the Pz-4 were equipped with a heavy pressure spring installed in a cylinder attached to the front of the turret rotary floor.
Engine and transmission
The first versions of the PzKpfw IV were equipped with the same engine as the tanks of the PzKpfw III series, the 12-cylinder Maybach HL 108 TR with a power of 250 hp, which required gasoline with an octane rating of 74. Subsequently, they began to use improved Maybach HL 120 TR and HL 120 TRM engines with 300 hp The engine as a whole was distinguished by high reliability and resistance to temperature extremes, but this did not apply to the conditions of the African heat and sultry regions of southern Russia. To avoid boiling the engine, the driver had to drive the tank with all possible caution. In winter conditions, a special installation was used, which made it possible to pump a heated liquid (ethylene glycol) from a running tank to a tank that needed to be started. Unlike the PzKpfw III tanks, the engine of the T-4 was located asymmetrically, on the right side of the hull. The small-sized tracks of the T-4 tank consisted of 101 or 99 links (starting with F1) with a width (options) of PzKpfw IV Ausf A -E 360 mm, and in Ausf FJ - 400 mm, their total weight approached 1300 kg. rear guide wheel mounted on an eccentric axle. The ratchet mechanism prevented the axle from turning back and the track from sagging.
REPAIR OF TRACKS.
Each crew of the Pz IV tank had at its disposal an industrial belt of the same width as the tracks. The edges of the belt were perforated so that the holes matched the teeth of the drive wheel. If the caterpillar failed, a belt was attached to the damaged area, passed over the support rollers and attached to the teeth of the drive wheel. After that, the engine and transmission were started. The drive wheel turned and pulled the caterpillar with the belt forward until the caterpillar did not cling to the wheel. Anyone who has ever pulled off a heavy long caterpillar in the “old-fashioned way” - with a piece of rope or fingers, will appreciate what a salvation this simple scheme has become for the crew.
BATTLE CHRONICLE OF TANKS Pz IV
The "four" began their combat path in Poland, where, despite a small number, they immediately became a noticeable strike force. On the eve of the invasion of Poland, there were almost twice as many "fours" in the Wehrmacht troops than "triples" - 211 against 98. The fighting qualities of the "fours" immediately attracted the attention of Heinz Guderian, who from now on will constantly insist on increasing their production. Of the 217 tanks lost by Germany during the 30-day war with Poland, there were only 19 "fours". In order to better imagine the Polish stage of the PzKpfw IV's combat path, let's turn to the documents. Here I want to acquaint readers with the history of the 35th Tank Regiment, which took part in the occupation of Warsaw. I present to your attention excerpts from the chapter on the assault on the Polish capital, written by Hans Schaufler.
“It was the ninth day of the war. I have just joined the brigade headquarters as a liaison officer. We were in the small suburb of Okhota, which lies on the Rawa-Russkaya-Warsaw road. Another attack on the Polish capitals was coming. The troops are on full alert. Tanks lined up in a column, behind - infantry and sappers. We are waiting for the order to advance. I remember the strange calm that reigned in the troops. Neither rifle shots nor machine-gun bursts were heard. Only occasionally the silence was broken by the rumble of a reconnaissance aircraft flying over the convoy. I was sitting in the command tank next to General von Hartlieb. To be honest, it was a bit crowded in the tank. The brigade adjutant, Captain von Harling, carefully studied the topographic map with the applied situation. Both radio operators clung to their radios. One listened to the message of the division headquarters, the second kept his hand on the key in order to immediately begin transmitting orders in parts. The engine rumbled loudly. Suddenly, a whistle cut through the silence, drowned out by a loud explosion the next second. First it exploded to the right, then to the left of our car, then to the rear. Artillery came into play. The first groans and cries of the wounded were heard. Everything is as usual - the Polish gunners send us their traditional "hello".
Finally received the order to go on the offensive. The engines roared, and the tanks moved to Warsaw. Quite quickly we reached the suburbs of the Polish capital. Sitting in the tank, I heard the chirping of machine gun bursts, the explosions of hand grenades and the clatter of bullets on the armored sides of our vehicle. Our radio operators received one message after another. “Forward - to the street barricade *,” he also transmitted from the headquarters of the 35th regiment. "Anti-tank gun - five tanks destroyed - a mined barricade ahead," the neighbors reported. "Order to the regiment! Turn straight south!" rumbled the general's bass. He had to yell over the infernal roar outside.
“Give a message to the division headquarters,” I ordered the radio operators. -Come to the outskirts of Warsaw. The streets are barricaded and mined. Turn right*. After some time, a short message comes from the headquarters of the regiment: -The barricades have been taken *.
And again the sound of bullets and loud explosions to the left and right of our tank ... I feel someone pushing me in the back. “The enemy positions are three hundred meters straight ahead,” the general shouted. - We turn right! * A terrible rattle of caterpillars on a cobblestone pavement - and we drive into a deserted square. - Faster, damn it! Even faster! * - the general shouts in a rage. He's right, you can't linger - the Poles shoot very accurately. “We came under heavy shelling,” reports from the 36th regiment. * 3rd regiment! the general replies immediately. “Request artillery cover immediately!” You can hear the drumming of stones and shell fragments on the armor. The blows are getting stronger. Suddenly, a monstrous explosion is heard very close by, and I smash my head into the radio with a swing. The tank throws up, throws to the side. Motor stalls.
Through the manhole cover I see a dazzling yellow flame.
Tank PzKpfw IV
In the fighting compartment, everything is turned upside down, gas masks, fire extinguishers, camping bowls, other trifles are scattered everywhere ... A few seconds of terrible stupor. Then everyone shakes themselves, looks at each other anxiously, quickly feels themselves. Thank God, alive and well! The driver turns on the third gear, we wait with bated breath for a familiar sound and take a breath with relief when the tank obediently moves off. True, there is a suspicious tapping from the right track, but we are too happy to take into account such trifles. However, as it turned out, our troubles were far from over. Before we had time to drive a few meters, a new strong push shook the tank and threw it to the right. From every house, from every window, we were showered with furious machine-gun fire. From rooftops and attics, the Poles threw hand grenades and incendiary bottles of condensed gasoline at us. There were probably a hundred times more enemies than we passed, but we did not turn back.
We stubbornly continued to move in a southerly direction and could not be stopped by a barricade of overturned trams, twisted barbed wire and rails dug into the ground. Every now and then our tanks came under fire from anti-tank guns. "God, make sure they don't knock out our tank!"- we silently prayed, perfectly aware that any forced stop would be the last in our life. Meanwhile, the sound of the caterpillar became louder and more menacing. Finally we drove into some kind of orchard and hid behind the trees. By this time, some units of our regiment managed to break through to the outskirts of Warsaw, but further advance became more and more difficult. Disappointing messages kept coming over the radio: "The offensive was stopped by heavy enemy artillery fire - the tank was blown up by a mine - the tank was hit by an anti-tank gun - artillery support is urgently required".
We also did not manage to take a breath under the canopy of fruit trees. The Polish gunners quickly took their bearings and unleashed a flurry of ferocious fire on us. Every second the situation became more and more frightening. We tried to leave the shelter, which had become dangerous, but then it turned out that the damaged caterpillar was completely out of order. Despite our best efforts, we couldn't even move. The situation seemed hopeless. It was necessary to repair the caterpillar on the spot. Our general could not even temporarily leave command of the operation, he dictated message after message, order after order. We sat idle ... When the Polish guns fell silent for a while, we decided to take advantage of this short respite to inspect the damaged undercarriage. However, as soon as we opened the hatch cover, the fire resumed. The Poles settled somewhere very close and, remaining invisible to us, turned our car into an excellent target. After several unsuccessful attempts, we nevertheless managed to get out of the tank and, hiding in thorny brambles, were finally able to inspect the damage. The results of the inspection were the most disappointing. The inclined frontal plate bent by the explosion turned out to be the most minor of all the damage. The undercarriage was in the most deplorable state. Several sections of the tracks fell apart, and small metal parts were confused along the way, the rest kept on parole. Damaged were not only the tracks themselves, but even the road wheels. With great difficulty, we somehow tightened the loose parts, removed the tracks, fastened the torn tracks with new fingers ... It was obvious that even with the most favorable outcome, these measures would give us the opportunity to go another couple of kilometers, but nothing else to do in such conditions was impossible. I had to climb back into the tank.
Even worse news awaited us there. From the headquarters of the division reported that air support was impossible, and the artillery was not able to cope with the superior forces of the enemy. Therefore, we were ordered to return immediately.
The general led the retreat of his units. Tank after tank, platoon after platoon, ours retreated, and the Poles rained down on them with the ferocious fire of their guns. In some sectors, the advance was so difficult that for some time we forgot about the deplorable state of our tank. Finally, when the last tank made it out of the suburbs that had become hell, it was time to think about yourself. After conferring, they decided to retreat along the same route they had come in. At first everything went quietly, but in this calmness some kind of hidden danger was felt. The ominous silence acted on the nerves much stronger than the familiar sounds of cannonade. None of us doubted that the Poles were hiding not by chance, that they were waiting for a convenient moment to finish us off. Slowly moving forward, we felt with our skin the hating glances of an invisible enemy directed at us ... Finally, we reached the place where we received the first damage. A few hundred meters away lay the highway leading to the location of the division. But another barricade blocked the path to the highway - abandoned and silent, like all the surroundings. We carefully overcame the last obstacle, entered the highway and crossed ourselves.
And then a terrible blow hit the weakly protected stern of our tank. It was followed by another and another ... Only four blows. The worst thing happened - we came under the aimed fire of an anti-tank gun. Roaring the engine, the tank made a desperate attempt to escape from the shelling, but the next second we were thrown aside by a strong explosion. Engine stalled.
The first thought was - it's all over, the Poles will destroy us with the next shot. What to do? Jumped out of the tank, rushed to the ground. We are waiting for what will happen ... A minute passes, then another ... But for some reason there is no shot and no. What's the matter? And suddenly we look - there is a column of black smoke above the stern of the tank. My first thought is that the engine is on fire. But where does this strange whistling sound come from? We took a closer look and couldn't believe our eyes - it turns out that a shell fired from the barricade hit the smoke bombs located at the stern of our car, and the breeze blew the smoke to the skies. We were saved by the fact that a black cloud of smoke hung just above the barricade and the Poles decided that the tank was on fire.
Animated tank PzKpfw IV
* The headquarters of the brigade - the headquarters of the division * - the general tried to get in touch, but the radio was silent. Our tank looked terrible - black, rumpled, with a mangled stern. The caterpillar, which had finally flown off, was lying nearby ... No matter how hard it was, you had to face the truth - you had to leave the car and try to get to your people on foot. We pulled out machine guns, took walkie-talkies and folders with documents and looked at the mutilated tank for the last time. My heart sank with pain... According to the instructions, the wrecked tank was supposed to be blown up so that the enemy would not get it, but none of us could decide on this... Instead, we masked the car with branches as best we could. Everyone hoped in their hearts that, if the circumstances were favorable, we would soon return and tow the car to our...
Until now, I recall with horror the way back ... Covering each other with fire, short dashes, we moved from house to house, from garden to garden ... When we finally reached our own in the evening, we immediately fell down and fell asleep .
However, I never managed to get enough sleep. After some time, I opened my eyes in horror and turned cold, remembering that we had abandoned our tank ... I could see how it was standing, defenseless, with an open turret, directly opposite the Polish barricade ... When I woke up again from sleep, then I heard the hoarse voice of the driver above me: “Are you with us?” I didn’t understand waking up and asked: “Where?” "I found a repair vehicle," he explained curtly. I immediately jumped to my feet, and we went to rescue our tank. It will take a long time to tell how we got there, how we busied ourselves over the resuscitation of our mutilated car. The main thing is that on that night we still managed to put our commander’s “four” into motion (The author of the memoirs is most likely mistaken when he calls his tank “four”. The fact is that Pz. Kpfw. IV tanks began to convert commander’s vehicles only since 1944. Most likely, we are talking about a command tank based on the Pz.Kpfw.III version D.)
When the awakened Poles tried to stop us with fire, we had already finished the work, so we quickly climbed into the tower and left. We were happy in our hearts... Even though our tank was hit and badly damaged, we still could not leave it to the joy of the triumphant enemy! A month-long campaign in the conditions of bad Polish roads and loose marshy soil had the most unfavorable effect on the condition of German tanks. The cars were in urgent need of repair and restoration. This circumstance, among others, influenced the postponement of the Nazi invasion to Western Europe. The Wehrmacht command was able to learn from the experience of the war in Poland and made significant changes to the hitherto existing scheme for organizing the repair and maintenance of combat vehicles. The effectiveness of the new Wehrmacht tank repair and restoration system can be judged from a newspaper article published in one of the German newspapers and reprinted in England in May 1941. The article was called "The Secret of the Combat Power of German Tanks" and contained a detailed list of measures to organize the smooth operation of the repair service and restoration, which was part of each tank division.
“The secret of the success of German tanks is largely determined by the impeccably organized system of evacuation and repair of damaged tanks, which makes it possible to carry out all the necessary operations in the shortest possible time. The more distances that tanks have to cover during the march, the more important is the impeccably debugged mechanism for the repair and maintenance of failed vehicles.
1. Each tank battalion has at its disposal a special repair and restoration platoon for emergency assistance in case of minor damage. This platoon, being the smallest repair unit, is located in close proximity to the front line. The platoon consists of engine repair mechanics, radio mechanics and other specialists. The platoon has at its disposal light trucks for transporting the necessary spare parts and tools, as well as a special armored recovery vehicle, converted from a tank, to transport these parts to the failed tank. A platoon is commanded by an officer who, if necessary, can call for help from several such platoons and send them all together to the area where emergency assistance is required.
It should be emphasized that the efficiency of the repair and restoration platoon directly depends on the availability of the necessary spare parts, tools and appropriate vehicles. Since in combat conditions time is worth its weight in gold, the chief mechanic of a repair platoon always has at his disposal a supply of basic components, assemblies and parts. This allows him, without losing a second, to be the first to go to the damaged tank and get to work, while the rest of the supply of necessary materials is being transported by truck. If the damage received by the tank is so serious that it cannot be repaired on the spot, or repairs require long time, the machine is sent back to the factory.
2. Each tank regiment has at its disposal a repair and restoration company, which has all the necessary equipment and tools. In the mobile workshops of the repair company, experienced craftsmen carried out battery charging, welding work and complex engine repairs. Workshops are equipped with special cranes, milling, drilling and grinding machines, as well as special tools for metalwork, carpentry, painting and tin work. Each repair and restoration company includes two repair platoons, one of which can be assigned to a specific battalion of the regiment. In practice, both platoons are constantly moving around the regiment, ensuring the continuity of the recovery cycle. Each platoon had its own truck for the delivery of spare parts. In addition, a repair and recovery company necessarily included a platoon of emergency repair and recovery vehicles that deliver failed tanks to a repair shop or to a collection point, where a tank repair platoon or the entire company was then sent. In addition, the company also includes a weapons repair platoon and workshops for the repair of radio stations.
In practice, both platoons constantly move around the regiment, ensuring the continuity of the recovery cycle. Each platoon had its own truck for the delivery of spare parts. In addition, a repair and recovery company necessarily included a platoon of emergency repair and recovery vehicles that deliver failed tanks to a repair shop or to a collection point, where a tank repair platoon or the entire company was then sent. In addition, the company also includes a weapons repair platoon and workshops for the repair of radio stations.
3. In the event that well-equipped repair shops exist behind the front lines or in territory occupied by us, the troops often use them to save transport and reduce rail traffic. In such cases, all the necessary spare parts and equipment are ordered from Germany, and a staff of highly qualified craftsmen and mechanics is also issued.
It can be said with all certainty that without a well-thought-out and well-functioning scheme for the work of repair units, our valiant tankers would not have been able to cover such vast distances and win such brilliant victories in a real war*.
Before the invasion of Western Europe, the "fours" were still an absolute minority of Panzerwaffe tanks - only 278 out of 2574 combat vehicles. The Germans were opposed by more than 3,000 Allied vehicles, most of which were French. Moreover, many French tanks at that time significantly surpassed even the "four" so beloved by Guderian both in terms of armor protection and weapon efficiency. However, the Germans had an undeniable advantage in strategy. In my opinion, the essence of "blitzkrieg" is best expressed in a short phrase by Heinz Guderian: "Do not feel with your fingers, but beat with your fist!" Thanks to the brilliant implementation of the "blitzkrieg" strategy, Germany easily won the French campaign, in which the PzKpfw IV slippers operated very successfully. It was at this time that German tanks managed to create for themselves a formidable glory, many times greater than the real capabilities of these poorly armed and insufficiently well-armored vehicles. There were especially many PzKpfw IV tanks in Rommel's Afrika Korps, but in Africa they were assigned an auxiliary infantry support role for too long.
In February 1941, in a review of the German press, regularly published in the British press, a special selection was published dedicated to the new PzKpfw IV tanks. The articles indicate that each tank battalion of the Wehrmacht has at its disposal a company of ten PzKpfw IV tanks, which are used, firstly , as an assault artillery gun, and secondly, as the most important element of rapidly advancing tank columns. The first purpose of the PzKpfw IV tanks was explained simply. Since field artillery is not able to instantly support armored forces in one direction or another, the PzKpfw IV took over its role with its powerful 75-mm cannon. Other advantages of using the "four" stemmed from the fact that its 75-mm gun with a maximum range of more than 8100 m could dictate the time and place of the battle, and the speed and maneuverability of the tayk made it an extremely dangerous weapon.
The articles, in particular, contain examples of how six PzKpfw IV tanks were used as an artillery formation against an advancing Allied column, how they were also used as weapons for counter-battery combat, and also acted from an ambush into which British tanks were lured by several German armored vehicles. In addition, PzKpfw IVs were also used in defensive operations, an example of which may be the next episode of the African campaign. On June 16, 1941, the Germans surrounded the British troops in the Capuzzo area. This was preceded by an unsuccessful attempt by the British to break through to Tobruk and recapture the fortress besieged by Rommel's troops. On June 15 they rounded the mountain range southeast of the Halfaya pass and advanced northward through Ridot ta Capuzzo almost to Bardia. Here is how a direct participant in the events from the British side recalls this:
“Armored vehicles stretched out along a wide front. They moved two or three, and if they met serious resistance, they immediately turned back. The vehicles were followed by infantry on trucks. This was the beginning of a full scale attack. Tank crews fired to kill, the accuracy of fire was 80-90%. They positioned their tanks so that they looked in front and sides at our positions. This allowed the Germans to effectively hit our guns, while remaining motionless. On the move, they rarely fired. In some cases, PzKpfw IV tanks suddenly opened fire from their guns, and they did not shoot at any specific target, but simply, creating a wall of fire in the course of their movement at ranges of 2000-3600 m. All this was done in order to terrify the our defenders. To be honest, they succeeded quite well.”
The first clash between American and German troops in Tunisia took place on November 26, 1942, when the troops of the 190th tank battalion of the African Corps in the area of Mater came into contact with the 2nd battalion of the 13th regiment of the 1st tank division. The Germans in this area had about three PzKpfw III tanks and at least six new PzKpfw IV tanks with long-barreled 75-mm KwK 40 guns. This is how this episode is described in the book Old Ironsides.
“While the enemy forces were gathering from the north, the Waters battalion wasted no time in vain. By digging deep lines of defense, camouflaging their tanks, and doing other necessary work, they not only had time to prepare for a meeting with the enemy, but even carved out an extra day of respite for themselves. The next day, the head of the German column appeared. Siglin's company prepared to rush towards the enemy. A platoon of assault guns under the command of Lieutenant Ray Wasker moved forward to intercept and destroy the enemy. Three 75-mm howitzers on the chassis of half-track armored personnel carriers, located on the edge of a dense olive grove, let the Germans in at about 900 m and opened rapid fire. However, hitting the enemy tanks was not so easy. The Germans quickly withdrew and, almost completely hidden by clouds of sand and dust, responded with volleys of their powerful guns. The shells were bursting very close to our positions, but for the time being they did not cause any serious harm.
Wasker soon received an order from the battalion commander to set fire to smoke bombs and withdraw his self-propelled artillery to a safe distance. At this time, Siglin's company, consisting of 12 M3 General Stuart light tanks, attacked the enemy's western flank. The first platoon managed to break through closest to the enemy positions, but the Italo-German troops did not lose their heads, quickly found the target and brought down the full power of their guns on it. In a matter of minutes, Company A lost six of its tanks, but despite this, it still managed to push back the enemy vehicles, deploying them behind the positions of Company B. This played a decisive role in the battle. Company B brought down the fire of its guns on the most vulnerable places of German tanks and, without letting the enemy come to their senses, disabled six PzKpfw IVs, one PzKpfw III. The rest of the tanks retreated in disarray (In order for the reader to feel the urgency of the situation in which the Americans found themselves, it makes sense for comparison to cite the main performance characteristics of the M 3 Stuart light tank: combat weight - 12.4 tons; crew - 4 people; booking - from 10 to 45 mm; armament - 1 x 37-mm tank gun; 5 x 7.62-mm machine guns; engine "Continental" W 670-9A, 7-cylinder, carbureted power of 250 hp; speed - 48 km / h ; cruising range (on the highway) - 113 km.).
In fairness, it should be noted that the Americans did not always emerge victorious from duels with German tank forces. Much more often, the circumstances developed in the opposite way, and the Americans had to suffer serious losses in military equipment and in people. However, in this case, they really won a convincing victory.
Despite the fact that on the eve of the invasion of Russia, Germany significantly increased the production of PzKpfw IV tanks, they still accounted for no more than one sixth of all Wehrmacht combat vehicles (439 out of 3332). True, by that time the number of obsolete light tanks PzKpfw I and PzKpfw II had significantly decreased (thanks to the actions of the Red Army), and Czech LT-38s (PzKpfw 38 (1) and German “troikas” began to make up most of the Panzerwaffe. With such forces, the Germans began to implement The Soviet Union's slight superiority in military equipment did not confuse the OKW strategists too much, they had no doubt that German vehicles would quickly cope with this gigantic fleet of obsolete Russian tanks. At first it turned out that way, but the appearance of a new Soviet medium tank T-34 and heavy KV-1, changed the situation dramatically. Before the creation of the Panthers and Tigers, no German tank could withstand competition with these magnificent tanks. At close range, they literally shot down weakly armored German vehicles. changed somewhat with the appearance in 1942 of a new "four" armed with a long-barreled 75-mm KwK 40 gun. Now I want to introduce Here you are with an excerpt from the memoirs of a former tanker of the 24th Tank Regiment, "which describes the duel of the new "four" with a Soviet tank in the summer of 1942 near Voronezh.
“There were bloody street battles for Voronezh. Even by the evening of the second day, the valiant defenders of the city did not lay down their arms. Suddenly, Soviet tanks, which were the main defense force, made an attempt to break through the ring of troops that had closed around the city. A fierce tank battle ensued. The author then cites a detailed
Sergeant Freyer's report: “On July 7, 1942, on my PzKpfw IV, armed with a long-barreled gun, I took up a position at a strategically important crossroads of Voronezh. Well disguised, we hid in a dense garden near one of the houses. A wooden fence hid our tank from the side of the street. We received orders to support the advance of our light combat vehicles with fire, protecting them from enemy tanks and anti-tank guns. At first everything was relatively calm, except for a few clashes with scattered groups of Russians, nevertheless, the battle in the city kept us in constant tension.
The day was hot, but after sunset it seemed to get even hotter. At about eight o'clock in the evening, a Russian T-34 medium tank appeared to our left, clearly intending to cross the intersection guarded by us. Since the T-34 was followed by at least 30 other tanks, we could not allow such a maneuver. I had to open fire. At first luck was on our side, with the very first shots we managed to knock out three Russian tanks. But then our gunner, non-commissioned officer Fisher, radioed: “The gun is jammed!” here it must be clarified that our front sight was completely new, and there were often problems with it, which consisted in the fact that after shooting every second or third projectile, an empty sleeve stuck in the breech. At this time, another Russian tank ferociously poured fire all over the space around it. Our loader, Corporal Groll, was seriously wounded in the head. We pulled him out of the tank and laid him on the ground, and the radio operator took the vacant place of the loader. The gunner extracted the spent cartridge case and resumed firing... A few more times, NCO Schmidt and I had to feverishly pick at the barrel with an artillery banner under enemy fire in order to pull out the stuck cartridge cases. The fire of Russian tanks blew the wooden fence to pieces, but our tank still did not receive any damage.
In total, we knocked out 11 enemy vehicles, and the Russians managed to break through only once, at the moment when our gun jammed again. Almost 20 minutes passed from the beginning of the battle before the enemy was able to open aimed fire at us from their guns. In the descending twilight, shell explosions and a roaring flame gave the landscape some kind of eerie, supernatural look ... Apparently, it was from this flame that they found us. They helped us get to the location of the regiment stationed on the southern outskirts of Voronezh. I remember that, despite being tired, I could not sleep because of the exhausting heat and stuffiness ... The next day, Colonel Rigel noted our merits in the order for the regiment:
"The Fuhrer and the Supreme High Command award the Sergeant of the 4th Platoon Freyer with the Knight's Cross. In the battle near Voronezh, Sergeant Freyer, the commander of the PzKpfw IV tank, destroyed 9 medium Russian T-34 tanks and two T-60 light tanks. This happened at the moment when a column of 30 Russian tanks tried to break through to the city center.Despite the overwhelming majority of the enemy, Sergeant Freyer remained faithful to his military duty and did not leave his post.He allowed the enemy to approach and opened fire on him from his tank.As a result, the Russian tank column was scattered and In the meantime, our infantry, after heavy bloody battles, managed to occupy the city.
In front of the entire regiment, I would like to be the first to congratulate Sergeant Freyer on his high award. The entire 24th Panzer Regiment is proud of our Knight's Cross holder and wishes him continued success in future battles. I would also like to take this opportunity to express special thanks to the rest of the brave tank crew:
Gunner non-commissioned officer Fischer
To the driver, non-commissioned officer Schmidt
Charging Corporal Groll
Radio operator corporal Muller
and convey my admiration for their actions on July 7, 1942. Your feat will go down in the golden annals of the glory of our valiant regiment.
Modern battle tanks of Russia and the world photos, videos, pictures to watch online. This article gives an idea of the modern tank fleet. It is based on the classification principle used in the most authoritative reference book to date, but in a slightly modified and improved form. And if the latter in its original form can still be found in the armies of a number of countries, then others have already become a museum exhibit. And all for 10 years! To follow in the footsteps of the Jane's guide and not consider this combat vehicle (quite by the way, curious in design and fiercely discussed at the time), which formed the basis of the tank fleet of the last quarter of the 20th century, the authors considered it unfair.
Films about tanks where there is still no alternative to this type of armament of the ground forces. The tank was and probably will remain a modern weapon for a long time due to the ability to combine such seemingly contradictory qualities as high mobility, powerful weapons and reliable crew protection. These unique qualities of tanks continue to be constantly improved, and the experience and technologies accumulated over decades predetermine new frontiers of combat properties and achievements of the military-technical level. In the age-old confrontation "projectile - armor", as practice shows, protection from a projectile is being improved more and more, acquiring new qualities: activity, multi-layeredness, self-defense. At the same time, the projectile becomes more accurate and powerful.
Russian tanks are specific in that they allow you to destroy the enemy from a safe distance, have the ability to perform quick maneuvers on impassable roads, contaminated terrain, can “walk” through the territory occupied by the enemy, seize a decisive bridgehead, induce panic in the rear and suppress the enemy with fire and caterpillars . The war of 1939-1945 became the most difficult test for all mankind, since almost all countries of the world were involved in it. It was the battle of the titans - the most unique period that theorists argued about in the early 1930s and during which tanks were used in large numbers by almost all the warring parties. At this time, a "check for lice" and a deep reform of the first theories of the use of tank troops took place. And it is the Soviet tank troops that are most affected by all this.
Tanks in battle that became a symbol of the past war, the backbone of the Soviet armored forces? Who created them and under what conditions? How did the USSR, having lost most of its European territories and having difficulty recruiting tanks for the defense of Moscow, be able to launch powerful tank formations on the battlefield already in 1943? This book, which tells about the development of Soviet tanks "in the days of testing ", from 1937 to the beginning of 1943. When writing the book, materials from the archives of Russia and private collections of tank builders were used. There was a period in our history that was deposited in my memory with some depressing feeling. It began with the return of our first military advisers from Spain, and stopped only at the beginning of forty-third, - said the former general designer of self-propelled guns L. Gorlitsky, - there was some kind of pre-stormy state.
Tanks of the Second World War, it was M. Koshkin, almost underground (but, of course, with the support of "the wisest of the wise leader of all peoples"), who was able to create that tank that, a few years later, would shock German tank generals. And what’s more, he didn’t just create it, the designer managed to prove to these stupid military men that it was his T-34 that they needed, and not just another wheeled-tracked “highway”. The author is in slightly different positions that he formed after meeting with the pre-war documents of the RGVA and RGAE. Therefore, working on this segment of the history of the Soviet tank, the author will inevitably contradict something "generally accepted". This work describes the history of Soviet tank building in the most difficult years - from the beginning of a radical restructuring of all the activities of design bureaus and people's commissariats in general, during a frantic race to equip new tank formations of the Red Army, the transfer of industry to wartime rails and evacuation.
Tanks Wikipedia the author wants to express his special gratitude for the help in the selection and processing of materials to M. Kolomiyets, and also to thank A. Solyankin, I. Zheltov and M. Pavlov, the authors of the reference publication "Domestic armored vehicles. XX century. 1905 - 1941" because this book helped to understand the fate of some projects, unclear before. I would also like to recall with gratitude those conversations with Lev Izraelevich Gorlitsky, the former Chief Designer of UZTM, which helped to take a fresh look at the entire history of the Soviet tank during the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union. Today, for some reason, it is customary to talk about 1937-1938 in our country. only from the point of view of repressions, but few people remember that it was during this period that those tanks were born that became legends of the wartime ... "From the memoirs of L.I. Gorlinkogo.
Soviet tanks, a detailed assessment of them at that time sounded from many lips. Many old people recalled that it was from the events in Spain that it became clear to everyone that the war was getting closer to the threshold and it was Hitler who would have to fight. In 1937, mass purges and repressions began in the USSR, and against the backdrop of these difficult events, the Soviet tank began to turn from a "mechanized cavalry" (in which one of its combat qualities protruded by reducing others) into a balanced combat vehicle, which simultaneously had powerful weapons, sufficient to suppress most targets, good cross-country ability and mobility with armor protection, capable of maintaining its combat capability when shelling a potential enemy with the most massive anti-tank weapons.
Large tanks were recommended to be added to the composition only special tanks - floating, chemical. The brigade now had 4 separate battalions of 54 tanks each and was reinforced by the transition from three-tank platoons to five-tank ones. In addition, D. Pavlov justified the refusal to form in 1938 to the four existing mechanized corps three more, believing that these formations are immobile and difficult to control, and most importantly, they require a different rear organization. The tactical and technical requirements for promising tanks, as expected, have been adjusted. In particular, in a letter dated December 23 to the head of the design bureau of plant No. 185 named after. CM. Kirov, the new chief demanded to strengthen the armor of new tanks so that at a distance of 600-800 meters (effective range).
The latest tanks in the world when designing new tanks, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of increasing the level of armor protection during modernization by at least one step ... "This problem could be solved in two ways: First, by increasing the thickness of the armor plates and, secondly," by using increased armor resistance". It is easy to guess that the second way was considered more promising, since the use of specially hardened armor plates, or even two-layer armor, could, while maintaining the same thickness (and the mass of the tank as a whole), increase its resistance by 1.2-1.5 It was this path (the use of specially hardened armor) that was chosen at that moment to create new types of tanks.
Tanks of the USSR at the dawn of tank production, armor was most massively used, the properties of which were identical in all directions. Such armor was called homogeneous (homogeneous), and from the very beginning of the armor business, the craftsmen strove to create just such armor, because uniformity ensured stability of characteristics and simplified processing. However, at the end of the 19th century, it was noticed that when the surface of the armor plate was saturated (to a depth of several tenths to several millimeters) with carbon and silicon, its surface strength increased sharply, while the rest of the plate remained viscous. So heterogeneous (heterogeneous) armor came into use.
In military tanks, the use of heterogeneous armor was very important, since an increase in the hardness of the entire thickness of the armor plate led to a decrease in its elasticity and (as a result) to an increase in brittleness. Thus, the most durable armor, other things being equal, turned out to be very fragile and often pricked even from bursts of high-explosive fragmentation shells. Therefore, at the dawn of armor production in the manufacture of homogeneous sheets, the task of the metallurgist was to achieve the highest possible hardness of the armor, but at the same time not to lose its elasticity. Surface-hardened by saturation with carbon and silicon armor was called cemented (cemented) and was considered at that time a panacea for many ills. But cementation is a complex, harmful process (for example, processing a hot plate with a jet of lighting gas) and relatively expensive, and therefore its development in a series required high costs and an increase in production culture.
Tank of the war years, even in operation, these hulls were less successful than homogeneous ones, since for no apparent reason cracks formed in them (mainly in loaded seams), and it was very difficult to put patches on holes in cemented slabs during repairs. But it was still expected that a tank protected by 15-20 mm cemented armor would be equivalent in terms of protection to the same, but covered with 22-30 mm sheets, without a significant increase in mass.
Also, by the mid-1930s, in tank building, they learned how to harden the surface of relatively thin armor plates by uneven hardening, known since the end of the 19th century in shipbuilding as the "Krupp method". Surface hardening led to a significant increase in the hardness of the front side of the sheet, leaving the main thickness of the armor viscous.
How tanks shoot videos up to half the thickness of the slab, which was, of course, worse than carburizing, since despite the fact that the hardness of the surface layer was higher than during carburizing, the elasticity of the hull sheets was significantly reduced. So the "Krupp method" in tank building made it possible to increase the strength of armor even somewhat more than carburizing. But the hardening technology that was used for sea armor of large thicknesses was no longer suitable for relatively thin tank armor. Before the war, this method was almost never used in our serial tank building due to technological difficulties and relatively high cost.
Combat use of tanks The most developed for tanks was the 45-mm tank gun mod 1932/34. (20K), and before the event in Spain, it was believed that its power was enough to perform most tank tasks. But the battles in Spain showed that the 45-mm gun could only satisfy the task of fighting enemy tanks, since even the shelling of manpower in the mountains and forests turned out to be ineffective, and it was possible to disable a dug-in enemy firing point only in the event of a direct hit . Shooting at shelters and bunkers was ineffective due to the small high-explosive action of a projectile weighing only about two kg.
Types of tanks photo so that even one hit of a projectile reliably disables an anti-tank gun or machine gun; and thirdly, in order to increase the penetrating effect of a tank gun on the armor of a potential enemy, since, using the example of French tanks (already having an armor thickness of the order of 40-42 mm), it became clear that the armor protection of foreign combat vehicles tends to be significantly increased. There was a right way to do this - increasing the caliber of tank guns and simultaneously increasing the length of their barrel, since a long gun of a larger caliber fires heavier projectiles at a higher muzzle velocity over a greater distance without correcting the pickup.
The best tanks in the world had a large caliber gun, also had a large breech, significantly more weight and increased recoil reaction. And this required an increase in the mass of the entire tank as a whole. In addition, the placement of large shots in the closed volume of the tank led to a decrease in the ammunition load.
The situation was aggravated by the fact that at the beginning of 1938 it suddenly turned out that there was simply no one to give an order for the design of a new, more powerful tank gun. P. Syachintov and his entire design team were repressed, as well as the core of the Bolshevik Design Bureau under the leadership of G. Magdesiev. Only the group of S. Makhanov remained at liberty, who from the beginning of 1935 tried to bring his new 76.2-mm semi-automatic single gun L-10, and the team of plant No. 8 slowly brought the "forty-five".
Photos of tanks with names The number of developments is large, but in mass production in the period 1933-1937. not a single one was accepted ... "In fact, none of the five air-cooled tank diesel engines, which were worked on in 1933-1937 in the engine department of plant No. 185, was brought to the series. Moreover, despite the decisions on the highest levels of the transition in tank building exclusively to diesel engines, this process was held back by a number of factors.Of course, diesel had significant efficiency.It consumed less fuel per unit of power per hour.Diesel fuel is less prone to ignition, since the flash point of its vapors was very high.
Even the most advanced of them, the MT-5 tank engine, required reorganization of engine production for serial production, which was expressed in the construction of new workshops, the supply of advanced foreign equipment (there were no machine tools of the required accuracy yet), financial investments and strengthening personnel. It was planned that in 1939 this diesel engine with a capacity of 180 hp. will go to mass-produced tanks and artillery tractors, but due to investigative work to find out the causes of tank engine accidents, which lasted from April to November 1938, these plans were not fulfilled. The development of a slightly increased six-cylinder gasoline engine No. 745 with a power of 130-150 hp was also started.
Brands of tanks with specific indicators that suited the tank builders quite well. Tank tests were carried out according to a new methodology, specially developed at the insistence of the new head of the ABTU D. Pavlov in relation to military service in wartime. The basis of the tests was a run of 3-4 days (at least 10-12 hours of daily non-stop traffic) with a one-day break for technical inspection and restoration work. Moreover, repairs were allowed to be carried out only by field workshops without the involvement of factory specialists. This was followed by a "platform" with obstacles, "bathing" in the water with an additional load, simulating an infantry landing, after which the tank was sent for examination.
Super tanks online after the improvement work seemed to remove all claims from the tanks. And the general course of the tests confirmed the fundamental correctness of the main design changes - an increase in displacement by 450-600 kg, the use of the GAZ-M1 engine, as well as the Komsomolets transmission and suspension. But during the tests, numerous minor defects again appeared in the tanks. The chief designer N. Astrov was suspended from work and was under arrest and investigation for several months. In addition, the tank received a new improved protection turret. The modified layout made it possible to place on the tank a larger ammunition load for a machine gun and two small fire extinguishers (before there were no fire extinguishers on small tanks of the Red Army).
US tanks as part of modernization work, on one serial model of the tank in 1938-1939. the torsion bar suspension developed by the designer of the Design Bureau of Plant No. 185 V. Kulikov was tested. It was distinguished by the design of a composite short coaxial torsion bar (long monotorsion bars could not be used coaxially). However, such a short torsion bar did not show good enough results in tests, and therefore the torsion bar suspension did not immediately pave its way in the course of further work. Obstacles to be overcome: rises not less than 40 degrees, vertical wall 0.7 m, overlapping ditch 2-2.5 m.
YouTube about tanks work on the production of prototypes of D-180 and D-200 engines for reconnaissance tanks is not being carried out, jeopardizing the production of prototypes. "Justifying his choice, N. Astrov said that a wheeled-tracked non-floating reconnaissance aircraft (factory designation 101 10-1), as well as the amphibious tank version (factory designation 102 or 10-2), are a compromise solution, since it is not possible to fully meet the requirements of the ABTU.Variant 101 was a tank weighing 7.5 tons with a hull according to the type of hull, but with vertical side sheets of case-hardened armor 10-13 mm thick, because: "Sloped sides, causing serious weighting of the suspension and hull, require a significant (up to 300 mm) broadening of the hull, not to mention the complication of the tank.
Video reviews of tanks in which the power unit of the tank was planned to be based on the 250-horsepower MG-31F aircraft engine, which was mastered by the industry for agricultural aircraft and gyroplanes. Gasoline of the 1st grade was placed in a tank under the floor of the fighting compartment and in additional onboard gas tanks. The armament fully met the task and consisted of coaxial machine guns DK caliber 12.7 mm and DT (in the second version of the project even ShKAS appears) caliber 7.62 mm. The combat weight of a tank with a torsion bar suspension was 5.2 tons, with a spring suspension - 5.26 tons. The tests were carried out from July 9 to August 21 according to the methodology approved in 1938, with special attention paid to tanks.
Overview of the video guide tank Pz.Kpfw. IV World of Tanks
Pz.Kpfw. IV tank, which is a representative in the game and is at level 5 of development. For Pz.Kpfw. IV guide is not the main key instruction for use, the guide serves to provide basic information and small recommendations, otherwise you should act on the basis of the current situation. This model has a very good reputation among the players and has real-life prototypes. This tank took part in the Second World War and showed pretty good combat potential. As for the game, you should not have any problems to fully upgrade it, and after a few battles you will be able to continue the development, which is also represented by VK 36.01 H. The best option would be to continue the branch with VK 36.01 H, since the vehicles in it are quite promising .
For Pz.Kpfw. IV review is informational and allows you to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of this machine. The equipment has excellent cross-country ability and armament, has errors in terms of booking. For its fire potential, this machine uses a 75 mm gun with a penetration rate of 110 mm and damage of 110 HP. The rate of fire in this scenario reaches 15 rounds per minute.
The maximum speed is 48 km / h, the weight reaches 28 tons, and the engine has a power of 440 hp. It should be borne in mind that the review has a limit of 350 meters.
Tank armor is:
- Hull: forehead - 80 mm, sides - 30, karma - 20 mm.
- Tower: forehead - 50, side - 30 mm, back of the tower - 30 mm.
Without additional modules, military equipment will simply be an easy target to be destroyed in a few shots:
- Rammer - improves gun reloading;
- Coated optics - allows the view indicator to scan the area much better;
- Improved ventilation - improves the performance of crew skills.
- repair kit;
- fire extinguisher;
- first aid kit.
Crew.
Do not forget about the crew, which is practically the propulsion system of the combat vehicle.
- Commander: Eagle Eye, Combat Brotherhood, Repair;
- Driver-mechanic: repair, bb, smooth running;
- Gunner: smooth turret turn, bb, repair;
- Radio operator: repair, bb, radio interception;
- Loader: repair, bb, desperate.
Pz.Kpfw. IV World of Tanks
Weak spots
But what about the weaknesses of the Pz.Kpfw 4, it is rather weak in this regard. Its projections are very easily penetrated by a medium weapon of similar levels. Based on the armor rating, the tower should be the priority for the attack, since it has the lowest armor rating. But considering the frontal projection of the hull, you can safely shoot at rectangular panels, more precisely at the places where the machine gun masks are located. As for other projections, they break through quite simply and almost always allow themselves to miss critical damage.
Comparison of technology.
But in terms of comparing the combat potential, our German steel monster was on the second line of the rating, along with its fellow Pz.Kpfw. III/IV. The leading position belongs to, the third line went to the American and M7. But the Chinese closes the rating.
Pz.Kpfw. IV what gun to put
Battle tactics.
But as often happens, technical indicators are far from being the main determinants of the tactical use of technology. Pz.Kpfw. IV is great for introducing sniper fire and supporting allies. Never try to work miracles on this tank, they still won't work, it's best to play carefully using planning. By helping your allies, you will ensure not only the victory of the team, but also earn good money.