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Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.G

Description

This Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf.G with 75 mm KwK 40/L48 gun was made at Nibelungenwerke in June 1943. The main difference of the “Ausf.G” modification compared to previous ones was a new gun - longer (+5 calibers) barrel, but with the fixed turn of rifling instead of variable one.

The most apparent visual difference was the addition of side armor plates, “Schürzen”, which were attached to the hull and turret sides. They were added mainly to protect the tank from massed AT rifle fire which was dangerous for thinner armored sides. Not being able to stop an AP bullet, this additional armor destabilized it or caused its fragmentation before it could hit the main armored hull.

It should be noted that this modification with additional 30 mm armor plates overlaying the front hull practically reached a limit of possible modernization - it was impossible to increase the protection of the turret in the same way. Roof and bottom armor thickness was reduced. However, while lacking armor protection, its gun was capable of hitting enemy tanks at 1 km distance or closer.

Vomag, Nibelungenwerke, and Krupp-Grusonwerk made 1930 “G” modification tanks total. 588 of them were made at Nibelungenwerke and had an interesting peculiarity - their tracks were set up in a reverse direction.

Unladen weight: 23600 kg.
Length: 7.02 m.
Width: 3.17 m.
Height: 2.63 m.
Clearance: 400 mm.

Engine: Maybach HL 120TRM, petrol.
Maximum power: 300 HP at 3000 RPM.
Maximum RPM: 3000 RPM.
6 speed gearbox.

Maximum road speed:
1st: 5.4 kph.
2nd: 10.4 kph.
3rd: 17.5 kph.
4th: 26.6 kph.
5th: 37.6 kph.
6th: 48.5 kph.
Reverse: 6.7 kph.

Maximum offroad speed: 18 kph.

Fluids:
Internal fuel tanks capacity: 470 l.
Engine oil system capacity: 25 l.
Summer engine coolant: 100 l. of 40% glysantin
Winter engine coolant: 100 l. of 60% glysantin
Endurance range: 210 кm.
Maximum oil consumption: 2 l/h.

Hull armor:
Upper front: 50 mm + 30 mm rolled armor.
Middle front: 25 mm rolled armor.
Lower front: 50 mm + 30 mm rolled armor.
Bottom front: 30 mm rolled armor.
Sides: 30 mm rolled armor.
Upper rear: 20 mm rolled armor.
Middle rear: 20 mm rolled armor.
Lower rear: 15 mm rolled armor.
Roof front: 12 mm rolled armor.
Roof back: 10 mm cast armor.
Bottom: 10 mm rolled armor.

Turret armor:
Front: 50 mm rolled armor.
Sides: 30 mm rolled armor.
Rear: 30 mm rolled armor.
Roof: 10 mm rolled armor.
Cupola: 50 mm cast armor.
Gun mantlet: 50 mm cast/rolled armor.

Additional armor sheets:
5 mm rolled armor for additional protection against AT rifles.

Main gun: rifled, 7,5 cm KwK 40 L/48.
Barrel length: 55
Elevation: +20°..-8°
Ammo: up to 84 rounds
Usable rate of fire: 10 rounds per minute.
Turret drive: powered by autonomous generator, 26 seconds per rotation.

Gun ammunition:
7.5 cm Pzgr. 39 armor piercing high explosive (APHE): 6.8 kg, 750 m/s, 104 mm at 500 m.
7.5 cm Pzgr. 40 armor piercing composite rigid (APCR): 4.1 kg, 930 m/s, 150 mm point blank.
7.5 cm Gr.38 HL/С high explosive anti-tank (HEAT): 4.57 kg, 450 m/s, 104 mm.
7.5 cm SprGr.34 high explosive (HE): 5.74 kg, 550 m/s, 660 g. explosives.

Machineguns: 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34.
Bullet mass: 11.5 g.
Muzzle velocity: 855 m/s.
Armour pentration at 100 m: 11 mm.
Rate of fire: 900 rounds per minute.
Coaxial: 12 belts, 150 rounds per belt (1800 rounds).
Bow: +-15°/+20°..-10°, 11 belts, 150 rounds per belt (1650 rounds).

Gunsights:
Tzf 5f2 gunner scope-sight, field of view 25°.
Backup open-type sight with closable port.
KZF 2 machinegunner scope-sight, field of view 18°.

Radio equipment:
VHF Fu 5 transceiver with additional Fu 2 receiver.
4 intercom terminals.

Modifications

High-Explosive Shells
7,5 cm SprGr.34

Good against soft, unarmored or lightly armored targets.

Mass 5.74 kg, explosives mass 660 g.

Direct hit armour penetration 20 mm, effective damage distance for light vehicles 3 m.

When fired from a 7,5 cm KwK 40 L/48 gun:
Muzzle velocity 550 m/s.
500 m: velocity 509 m/s, drop -4.5 m.
1000 m: velocity 473 m/s, drop -18.5 m.
2000 m: velocity 405 m/s, drop -80.9 m.

High Explosive Anti-Tank Shells
7,5 cm Gr.38 HL/C

HEAT shells armed with high-explosive shaped charge warhead.

Their armour piercing capability doesn’t decrease with range, but accuracy does because of the lower projectile velocity and similar kinetic projectiles usually have a higher armour piercing capability up close.

Mass 4.57 kg, explosives mass 530 g, armour penetration 104 mm.

When fired from a 7,5 cm KwK 40 L/48:
Muzzle velocity: 450 m/s.
500 m: velocity 328 m/s, drop -7.8 m.
1000 m: velocity 278 m/s, drop -38.1 m.
2000 m: velocity 244 m/s, drop -200.4 m.

Additional armor plates
Additional protection: 5 mm armored plates attached to the hull and turret. They were added mainly to protect the tank from massed AT rifle fire which was dangerous for thinner armored sides. Not being able to stop an AP bullet, this additional armor destabilized it or caused its fragmentation before it could hit the main armored hull.

Armour Piercing High Explosive Shells
7,5 cm Pzgr. 39

Shells armed with bursting charge warhead.

Good against armoured targets. In case of penetration do more damage inside the target than solid AP shells, but HE filling can detonate prematurely (for instance, when used against spaced armour plates).

Mass 6.8 kg, explosives mass 18 g.

When fired from a 7.5 cm KwK 40 L/48 gun:
Muzzle velocity 750 m/s, armour penetration at point blank range 117 mm.
500 m: armour penetration 104 mm, velocity 691 m/s, drop -2.4 m.
1000 m: armour penetration 92 mm, velocity 636 m/s, drop -10.0 m.
2000 m: armour penetration 72 mm, velocity 537 m/s, drop -44.8 m.

Sub-Caliber Armour Piercing Shells
7,5 cm Pzgr. 40

Shells armed with sub-caliber armour-piercing projectile. Good against heavily armoured targets at short ranges.

7,5 cm Pzgr. 40 is a composite round - hard (tungsten alloy) penetrator inside a body made from a softer steel (for obturation inside a gun barrel).

Mass: 4.1 kg, penetrator calibre 28 mm.

When fired from a 7,5 cm KwK 40 L/48 gun:
Muzzle velocity 930 m/s, armour penetration at point blank range 150 mm.
500 m: armour penetration 128 mm, velocity 832 m/s, drop -1.6 m.
1000 m: armour penetration 108 mm, velocity: 739 m/s, drop -10.0 m.
2000 m: armour penetration 75 mm, velocity: 573 m/s, drop -44.8 m.