Panzer IV/70 (A)

On June 24, 1944, Waffenamt technicians compared the German medium tank Pz.Kpfw.IV with the Soviet medium tank T-34/85 and heavy tank IS-2. Comparisons were made in terms of gun performance and structural durability. In this comparison, the German Pz.Kpfw.IV was found to be behind the Soviet counterparts in both armament and passive protection.
On 26 June 1944, the firm Alkett was commissioned to develop a design proposal for mounting the 7.5cm Kw.K.42 L/70 gun on the Pz.Kpfw.IV platform as quickly as possible. Studies on the possibility of mounting this gun in a turret Pz.Kpfw.IV were made as early as 9/1943, with the study concluding with five reasons why this was not possible. It was therefore decided that the optimal solution to the problem would be to mount a modified superstructure from the Panzer IV/70(V) on the Pz.Kpfw.IV chassis. Further comparative tests Pz.Kpfw.IV with American and British tanks yielded the same conclusions as was the comparison with Soviet tanks. In a report dated 5 June 1944, the decision was made to convert Pz.Kpfw.IV to Sturmgeschutz mit 7.5cm Kw.K.42 L/70. Such a tank fighter would have superiority over all tanks, including IS-2.
Work on the prototype of the new fighter had already been completed, and on 6 June 1944 it was demonstrated to Adolf Hitler in Berghof. The latter ordered that the new fighter be designated Panzer IV/70(A), where the letter "A" stands for the company name Alkett.



Official names:



Description:
A new superstructure was mounted on the Pz.Kpfw.IV platform. The lower part of the superstructure was similar to the standard superstructure as used on the Pz.Kpfw.IV, i.e. perpendicular sides and a nose at a slight slope. A standard driver's visor was mounted in the left front of the superstructure. The upper part of the superstructure resembled that of the Panzer IV/70(V), but only the lafette, gun shield, the slope and thickness of the nose and the layout of the superstructure ceiling were the same. Different were the sides and rear of the superstructure, the machine gun housing and the ammunition racks. The height of the superstructure was 102 cm (the Panzer IV/70(V) superstructure was 64 cm high). There were reasons for the increase in vehicle height. The gun would have been hampered by the fuel tanks at maximum elevation. Another argument was the difficulty of moving the fighter in the terrain, where due to the long barrel there were collisions with terrain obstacles. Due to the lack of time for modifications to the original Pz.Kpfw.IV platform, the greater height of the vehicle was accepted although it was an easier target for opposing gunners.
An interesting feature of this tank destroyer was the possibility of mounting a curved barrel on the loader hatch, which could be used to shell the vehicle's surroundings with an assault rifle StG 44. This device and the ball mount (Kugellager) of the weapon was not on all machines. Later, the Kugellager mounting was abandoned and the hole left by it was covered by an armoured cover.


Produkcia (Fgst.Nr.120301-120600):




Modifications during production + experimental modifications






Production of the Panzer IV/70(V) and Panzer IV/70(A) was to be transformed in the next period into the Panzer IV Lang(E), which was a tank fighter project with a unified "Einheitsfahrgestell" platform using components of the Pz.Kpfw.III and Pz.Kpfw.IV platforms. However, this plan could not be realized.
In combat reports, this fighter was not evaluated positively. It was literally said that it was not combatable. Therefore, according to the order of Gen.Insp.d.Pz.Tr. dated 15.1.1945, it was decided to stop production of the Panzer IV/70(A) fighter and to continue production Pz.Kpfw.IV with the 7.5cm L/48 gun.


Units that received the Panzer IV/70(A)

Thomas L. Jentz, Hilary Louise Doyle - Panzer Tracts No.9-2 Jagdpanzer - Jagdpanzer IV, Panzer IV/70(V) and Panzer IV/70(A) development and production from 1943 to 1945, year of publication 2012, ISBN: None
Walter J. Spielberger - Panzer IV & its Variants, published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd., year of publication 1993, ISBN: 0-88740-515-0
Jagdpanzer IV L/70, Tornado - Военно-техническая серия No.160, year of publication 2000
Martin Block: forum.panzer-archiv.de
www.bundesarchiv.de

Elaborated

Penetrace (udávaná v mm) při vertikálním sklonění pancíře 30°:

https://www.freeweb.hu/gva/
https://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/ammotable7.htm
www.tarrif.net

Moderátor Jiří Tintěra

Panzer IV/70(A) v bulharskej armáde
V rámci nahradenia strát bulharských obrnených jednotiek počas bojov proti nemeckým jednotkám na území Juhoslávie, Maďarska a Rakúska obdržala bulharská armáda počas záverečných bojov a po ukončení vojny celkovo dva stíhače tankov Panzer IV/70(A). Išlo o ukoristené stíhače 3. ukrajinského frontu.
Vozidlo nieslo v bulharskej armáde názov "Šturmovo orudie Maybach T-4".

Stavy trofejných tankov Panzer IV/70(A) k 11-12/1945:


¹⁾Pravdepodobne nejde o sériové čísla podvozkov. Sériové čísla podvozkov Panzer IV/70(A) mali pridelené čísla 120310 - 120600. Môže však ísť o Wanne Nr. (výrobné čísla vaní).

Kaloyan Matev - The Armoured Forces of the Bulgarian Army 1936-45, Helion & Company, rok vydania 2015, ISBN: 978-1-909384-16-3

Zaniknuté website..

Saumur exhibit - a little unconventional from the inside

Exemplář z muzea v Saumuru.



(©Radek Havelka)



(©Radek Havelka)



(©Radek Havelka)



(©Radek Havelka)

List of known Panzerjäger IV L/70 (Alkett) machines destroyed / left behind in Czechoslovakia after WWII. (5/1945) *







I have several photographs of the machines in positions 1-4 from different views to rely on. The text from chronicles and similar texts is not technically sufficient for me (in layman's terms each self-propelled gun and tank fighter carried a "ferdinand")


* - this is by no means a definitive list. If you know of any machines you are welcome to add to the list.
** - the photo is in this thread above under the label. Destroyed on 15.4.1945 by the crew of tank no 603, des.J. Zamecnik.
*** - probably the registration number of the wreck.


Source - "unfortunately" my own research and archive
Reconstruction of camouflage - Petr Stepanek http://petr-stepanek-art.cz/

Defunct websites.

Zaniknuté website..

Some interesting photos with the Krummerlauf system...

Defunct websites.