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Jagdpanzer IV

Jagdpanzer IV

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JagdPzIV (Stock)

Blitz_JagdPzIV_screen.png
Totals
910500 Cost
850 HPDurability
24.15 / 26.8 Weight
Crew
  1. Commander
  2. Radio Operator
  3. Driver
  4. Gunner
  5. Loader
Armor
80/40/20Hull Armor(front/sides/rear, mm)
80/80/80Turret Armor(front/sides/rear, mm)
Maneuver
320 h.p.Engine Power
38 km/hTop Speed / Reverse Speed
36 deg/sTraverse Speed
Firepower
160 damage
110 mmAverage Penetration
5.4 Time for Complete Loading
44 deg/sGun Traverse Speed
Communication
230 mView Range
500 mSignal Range
VI
Jagdpanzer IV
910500
The Pz. IV medium tank served as the basis for many vehicles, including tank destroyers. At the end of 1944, a version of the 75-mm PaK 42 L/70 gun was prepared for this basis. The new variant of the vehicle was designated the JagdPzIV/70. From August 1944 through March 1945, the Nibelungenwerke company produced 278 vehicles of this type.

One step below the Jagdpanther it sometimes has the ability to bounce shells from its highly angled front armor. Which is a blessing for it as, unfortunately, the Jagdpanzer IV has bad starting guns for its tier and you must invest in the tracks before you can mount anything else. However one way to sidestep a 4000 exp grind to the tracks is investing 200k for the enhanced suspension equipment which increases the load limit of the tank by 10%. For these reasons, it is widely considered the worst tier 6 TD. Fully upgraded, it's almost as fast and mobile as the StuG III while having about double the HP and has a small target silhouette as well as similar camo values to its predecessor.

It is important to note that with the new and improved L/70 (since the 8.0 conversion) this tank has become a contender for its tier. No longer can this be considered a bad tank destroyer - though it might have the same gun as the StuG III, it has a marked improvement in armor, health, speed and rate of fire, making for a more dangerous target that stays at range.

Gun

Gun

Level Gun Average Penetration (mm) Rate of Fire Dispersion at 100 m Aiming Time Experience Weight (t)
V 7,5 cm Pak 39 L/48 110/158/20 160/160/200 11.11 0.37 1.7 0 1520
V 10,5 cm Stu.H. 42 L/28 64/104/25 330/330/410 5 0.53 2.5 4480 2100
VI 7,5 cm Pak 42 L/70 150/194/20 160/160/200 12.77 0.33 1.7 5430 1740
VII 8,8 cm Pak L/56 145/195/44 220/220/270 10.53 0.35 1.7 11210 2050
Engine

Engine

Level Engine Engine Power (h.p.) Chance of Fire on Impact Experience Weight (t)
IV Maybach HL 108 TR 320 20 0 450
IV Maybach HL 120 TR 350 20 1070 510
IV Maybach HL 120 TRM 440 20 1810 510

Level Suspension Load Limit Traverse Speed (deg/s) Experience Weight (t)
V Jagdpanzer IV 0-Serie 26.8 36 0 7800
VI Jagdpanzer IV 26.8 43 4850 7800
Radio

Radio

Level Radio Signal Range (m) Experience Weight (t)
III FuG5_GER 500 0 50


Compatible Equipment

Medium Spall Liner
Camouflage Net
Fill Tanks with CO2
Coated Optics
Enhanced Gun Laying Drive
Enhanced Levers
Additional Grousers
Improved Ventilation Class 2
Medium-Caliber Tank Gun Rammer
Binocular Telescope
Toolbox
"Wet" Ammo Rack Class 1

Compatible Consumables


Player Opinion

Pros and Cons

Pros:


  • Sloped front armor
  • Very low silhouette
  • Quite mobile
  • Excellent camo rating
  • Buffed rate of fire against the guns the VK series tanks also mount, which equates to a very high DPM value with either gun


Cons:


  • Worst penetration of all tier 6 tank destroyers
  • Expect a lot of non-penetrating hits against tier 6-8 tanks, especially when using the 8.8 L/56
  • Practically no gun depression (due to the tank having such a low to the ground silhouette)
  • Very slow speed when reversing
  • Vulnerable engine, will break often from frontal shots.


Performance

The JagdPanzer IV is a tier 6 tank destroyer with medium speed and an amazing reload, depending on the gun. This vehicle is also tied with the StuG III and Hetzer for one of the best camo ratings in the game, making sneak attacks quite possible.

One thing to note however is that if flanking is possible in this tank, it should not only be considered an option, but a necessity. This is where the JgP IV truly shines. By minimizing your weaknesses (penetration) and attacking from the flanks, you can seriously threaten the enemy.

This tank destroyer excels very much as an Assault gun and not a sniper. So instead of sitting on a hill with this tank, use your speed and mobility to keep up with friendly tanks and provide them with supporting fire to help their advance. Only when you know you will be able to pen enemies from your position should you stay stationary.

Another key element of being an ambush DPM TD is defending losing flanks. Utilize the tanks mobility to re-position to ambush enemy tanks pushing a flank. This should give you a first strike advantage, and possibly a health advantage, giving your allies were able to do something before falling. Few tanks of the same tier can deal with multiple targets and stay nearly invisible to the enemy. Giving your in a position to pen the enemy targets, the enemy has few to no options left.

Overall, the decent damage and good ROF, paired with the low armor penetration, creates a lot of all-or-nothing scenarios where the JgP IV either does extremely well and carries the team, or contributes very little for a TD of its tier. With the 8.8, the playstyle is much like the Hetzer, but with a bigger and faster tank, and relatively less armor.





The previously stated tactics are applicable to the 8.8 cm PaK 36 L/56. However, what hasn't been explained so far is the tactics for the 7.5 cm L/70, used from the StuG III. Although it is the same gun used in the previous tank, it gets a serious Rate of Fire (and consequently DPM) buff. Additionally, it is mounted on a much more capable chassis with higher armor values, more speed and nearly double the HP values. Used by a skilled player, one might question why there is such a bias against a very capable tank.

Using the L/70, one may take a more traditional TD role, and play the tank to its biggest strengths, without getting dangerously close to the front line. With the high accuracy of the L/70, one may target specific areas of tanks, such as the tracks - even at range. This tactic will allow a player to remain at least 100m away from the enemy at all times - easily done in combination with mobility. Additionally, what isn't immediately obvious is that the Jagdpanzer has a very good camo value and when properly hidden (remaining far enough behind bushes that any shot will not break camo) can lay on the DPM from afar without any risk of return fire. Using the L/70 and a gun rammer, the JagdPz IV becomes almost like a tier 6 E-25, with a very fast firing gun, good speed and camo values.

Don't be afraid to trade with the enemy, even if they have big guns. With either gun, but especially the L/70 (due to the lower frequency of unfortunate bounces and weird misses), you can take hits to your decently large HP pool/sloped armor and you will have higher DPM than any enemy you face - letting you win fights through sheer attrition. This is something the StuG III couldn't do. However, do remember to only resort to this tactic when absolutely needed, as in self defense situations. Otherwise, staying hidden is key.


Early Research

Like any tank, you'll want to research the suspension first. It might even be a good idea to save up some free experience after researching the JagdPz IV and researching the suspension before you buy it (or mount enhanced suspension equipment), because the stock gun is very underpowered. After that, the 7.5cm L/70 already carries over from the StuG, so equipping that to your tank will be very beneficial. The next thing to research is the engines, which have a very low research cost. After that, all that's left to research is the guns and the JagdPanther.


Historical Info

The Jagdpanzer IV, Sd.Kfz. 162, was a tank-destroyer based on the Panzer IV chassis built in three main variants. As one of the casemate-style turretless Jagdpanzer ("Hunting tank") designs, it was developed against the wishes of Heinz Guderian, the inspector general of the Panzertruppen, as a replacement for the Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III). Guderian objected against the needless, in his eyes, diversion of resources from Panzer IV tank production, as the Stug III and Sturmgeschütz IV were still more than adequate for their role.

Development

After the Battle of Stalingrad, in September 1942, the Wehrmacht's arms bureau, the Waffenamt, called for a new standard for assault weapons; 100 mm of armor to the front, 40–50 mm on the sides, wider tracks, ground clearance of 50 cm, top speed of 26 km/h, and the lowest possible firing positions. The new Panzerjager ("tank hunter") design would be armed with the same 7.5 cm gun as fitted to the Panther: the Pak 42 L/70. Initially, a new chassis were planned, but that of the Panzer IV had to be used. Previous efforts to mount bigger guns on smaller chassis resulted in the Marder series as well as StuG IIIs. The Marder series were tall and had open crew compartments. The new design had a low silhouette and completely enclosed fighting compartment.

The Jagdpanzer IV used the Panzer IV chassis 7 (known as BW7), but the almost-vertical front hull plate was replaced by sloped armor plates. Internally, the layout was changed to accommodate the new superstructure, moving the fuel tanks and ammunition racks[clarification needed]. Since the Jagdpanzer lacked a turret, the engine which originally powered the Panzer IV's turret could be eliminated.

The new superstructure had 80 mm-thick sloped armour, which gives greater armor protection than a vertical armor of 100 mm. To make the manufacturing process as simple as possible, the superstructure was made of large, interlocking plates which were welded together.

Armament consisted of a 7.5 cm main gun, originally intended to be the PaK 42 L/70, but shortages meant that for the pre-production and the first production run, different older guns were used: the 7.5 cm PaK 39 L/48. These were shorter and less-powerful than the PaK 42.

Installing the much heavier PaK 42 meant that the Jagdpanzer IV was nose heavy, especially with the heavy frontal armor. This made them less mobile and more difficult to operate in rough terrain, leading their crews to nickname them Guderian-Ente "Guderian's duck". To prevent the rubber rims of the roadwheels from being dislocated by the weight of the vehicle, some later versions had steel roadwheels installed on the front.

The final prototype of the Jagdpanzer IV was presented in December 1943 and production started in January 1944, with the PaK 39 L/48 armed variant staying in production until November. Production of the PaK 42 L/70 armed variants started in August and continued until March/April 1945.

On August 19–22, 1943, after the Battle of Kursk, Hitler received reports that StuG IIIs performed better than Panzer IVs, within certain restraints of how they were deployed. It was thus intended to stop production of the Panzer IV itself at the end of 1944 to concentrate solely on production of the Jagdpanzer IV, but the Panzer IV was in production all the way until the end of the conflict, along with Jagdpanzer IV.

Variants

  • Jagdpanzer IV with 7.5 cm PaK 39 L/43: a small number of these were built as the pre-production (0) series.
  • Jagdpanzer IV with 7.5 cm PaK 39 L/48, official name Sturmgeschütz neuer Art mit 7.5 cm PaK L/48 auf Fahrgestell PzKpfw IV. Some 780 or so were produced in 1944.
  • Jagdpanzer IV/70 (V) (Sd.Kfz.162/1) was one of two variants armed with the PaK 42 L/70 gun. Some 940 were built in 1944 and 1945. The (V) stands for the builder, Vomag.
  • Jagdpanzer IV/70 (A) (Sd.Kfz.162/1) was the other PaK 42 L/70 armed Jagdpanzer IV. In order to send Pak 42 L/70-armed vehicles to the front as soon as possible, Hitler ordered an interim solution in July 1944. Alkett, a manufacturer of the StuG III, Alkett, was to immediately produce the Jagdpanzer IV to its own design. These differed in that its superstructure was mounted directly on the original Panzer IV chassis, and as such, lacked the sharp-edged nose of the Vomag variant. It was also taller. Only 278 were built in the period from August 1944 to March 1945. The (A) in the designation came from Alkett. This variant is also known as the Zwischenlosung: in translation, the "intermediate solution".

Minor modifications and improvements were made throughout the production runs of all variants, as well as several field improvements, the most common being the addition of armor side-skirts.

Originally, the Jagdpanzer IV/48's gun had a muzzle brake installed, but because the gun was so close to the ground, each time it fired, huge dust clouds would rise up and betrayed the vehicle's position, leading many crews to remove the muzzle brake in the field. Later variants dispensed with the muzzle brake.

Early L/48 and L/70-armed vehicles had zimmerit applied to the hull to protect against anti-tank grenades, but this was discontinued after about September 1944. Later vehicles had three return rollers rather than the original four, and adopted the twin vertical exhausts typical of the late Panzer IV series. Some late vehicles also had all-steel road wheels on the first couple of bogies on each side.

Combat history

The Jagdpanzer IV served in the anti-tank sections of Panzer and SS Panzer divisions. They fought in Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and on the Eastern Front (WWII). They were very successful tank-destroyers, but performed badly when used out of role as substitutes for tanks or assault guns, as most tank-destroyers were. In the later stages of the war however, they were increasingly used as tank substitutes, because there was often nothing else available. Romania received several Jagdpanzer IV tank-destroyers from the Red Army after the war ended. They were officially known as TAs T4s in the army inventory and were used until 1950. All German armor was scrapped in 1954.

One of the more notable Jagdpanzer IV aces was SS-Oberscharführer Roy from the 12th SS Panzerjäger Abteilung of the 12th SS Panzer Division. He was killed by an American sniper while looking out of the hatch of his Jagdpanzer IV on December 17 1944, during the Ardennes Offensive in Belgium.

After the war, West Germany continued the Jagdpanzer concept with the Kanonenjagdpanzer, but few other fixed-casemate self-propelled guns were built postwar.


Historical Gallery

Sources and External Links

Tank Destroyers
USA IIT18 IIIT82 IVM8A1 IVT40 VM10 Wolverine VT49 VIM18 Hellcat VIM36 Jackson VIIT25/2 VIIT25 AT VIIIT28 VIIIT28 Prototype IXT30 IXT95 XT110E3 XT110E4
UK IIUniversal Carrier 2-pdr IIIValentine AT IVAlecto VAngry Connor VAT 2 VIChurchill Gun Carrier VIAT 8 VIIAT 15A VIIAT 7 VIIIAT 15 IXTortoise XFV215b (183)
Germany IIPanzerjäger I IIIMarder II IVHetzer VStuG III Ausf. G VIDicker Max VIJagdpanzer IV VIIE 25 VIIE 25 "#1" VIIJagdpanther VIIIFerdinand VIIIJagdpanther II VIII8,8 cm Pak 43 Jagdtiger VIIISnowstorm Jagdtiger 8.8 IXJagdtiger XJagdpanzer E 100
USSR IIAT-1 IIISU-76 IVSU-85B VSU-85 VSU-85I VISU-100 VISU-100Y VIISU-152 VIISU-100M1 VIISU-122-44 VIIIISU-152 VIIISU-101 IXObject 704 IXSU-122-54 XObject 263 XObject 268
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