Between April 1943 and July 1944, a total of 3774 Panzer IV Ausf Hs were produced. The basic difference between this model and the Ausf G variant was the fitting of the SSG77 transmission. In addition, armour thickness was increased to 80mm (3.14in) from 50mm (1.96in). A host of other minor modifications included external air filters, all-steel rollers, a cupola mount for an antiaircraft machine gun, a new idler, the deletion of side vision ports for the driver and radio operator, and a new cupola with thicker armour.
Main armament consisted of the 75mm KwK40 L/48 gun. The Ausf H and J models were up-gunned with this weapon in 1943-44. It was an excellent all-round gun, which fired a potent high-explosive round and also had a good anti-armour performance. This was especially true at short ranges when using the PzGr40 armour-piercing, composite non-rigid round.
Following the introduction into service of the Panther, all panzer regiments in a panzer division were to have one detachment of Panthers and one detachment of Panzer IVs. However, because of problems with the Panther, panzer divisions had a second detachment of Panzer IVs. In France in June 1944, for example, most of the 748 Panzer IVs with the nine German panzer divisions were Ausf H models.
Specifications
- Designation
- SdKfz 161/2
- Type
- Medium Tank
- Length
- 7.02m (23.03ft)
- Width
- 3.29m (10.79ft)
- Height
- 2.68m (8.79ft)
- Weight
- 25,454kg (56,000lb)
- Crew
- Five
- Main Armament
- 75mm
- Secondary Armament
- 1 x 7.92mm
- Engine
- Maybach HL120TRM
- Range
- 210km (131 miles)
- Speed
- 38km/h (23.75mph)
- Fording
- 1m (3.25ft)
- Trench Crossing
- 2.2m (7.25ft)
- Armour (hull)
- 80mm (3.14in)
- Armour (turret/superstructure)
- 50mm (1.96in)