World War 2 In Review: Guderian's duck

Jagdpanzer IV (PzJag IV 7.5cm). Captured vehicle seen postwar at Aberdeen Proving Ground with spurious camouflage scheme.

The Jagdpanzer IV, Sd.Kfz. 162, was a tank destroyer based on the PzKpfw IV chassis built in three main variants. As one of the casemate-style turretless Jagdpanzer (tank destroyer, literally "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 PzKpfw IV tank production, as the Stug III and Sturmgeschütz IV were still more than adequate for their role.

Officially, only the L/48-armed vehicle was named Jagdpanzer IV. The L/70-armed vehicle was named Panzer IV/70. In this article, both versions are referred to in general as Jagdpanzer IV, except in the variants and surviving vehicles section.

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 Panzerjäger ("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 was planned, but that of the PzKpfw 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 PzKpfw 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. Since the Jagdpanzer lacked a turret, the engine which originally powered the PzKpfw IV's turret could be eliminated.

The new superstructure had 80 mm thick sloped armor, which gives a much greater armor protection than a vertical armor of 100 mm. To make the manufacturing process as simple as possible, the superstructure was made out 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 due to shortages older guns were initially used, the 7.5 cm Pak 39 L/43 for pre-production, and the 7.5 cm Pak 39 L/48 for initial production variant. 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 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 PzKpfw IV within certain restraints of how they were deployed. It was thus intended to stop production of the PzKpfw IV itself at the end of 1944 to concentrate solely on production of the Jagdpanzer IV, but the PzKpfw IV was in production all the way until the end of the conflict along with Jagdpanzer IV.

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

Early vehicles had zimmerit applied to the hull to protect against magnetic mines, 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 PzKpfw IV series. Some late vehicles also had all-steel road wheels on the first couple of bogies on each side.

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. 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 T4 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 Rudolf Roy from the 12th SS Panzerjäger Battalion of 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. An innovative exception was the Swedish Stridsvagn 103, or "S-Tank."

Details

Type: Tank destroyer

Place of origin: Nazi Germany

Produced: December 1943 – April 1945

Number built: about 2,000

Variants

Jagdpanzer IV 0-Serie: with 7.5 cm Pak 39 L/43: a small number of these were built as the pre-production (0-Serie) probably in December 1943.

Jagdpanzer IV (SdKfz 162): with 7.5 cm Pak 39 L/48, official name Sturmgeschütz neuer Art mit 7.5 cm Pak L/48 auf Fahrgestell PzKpfw IV, with 769–784 produced in January 1944 - November 1944.

Panzer IV/70 (V) (SdKfz 162/1): was one of two variants armed with the same Pak 42 L/70 gun. The (V) stands for the designer, Vomag. The most produced version, with 930–940 built in August 1944 - April 1945.

Weight: 25.8 tons (28.4 short tons; 25.4 long tons)

Length: 8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)

Width: 3.17 m (10 ft 5 in)

Height: 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)

Crew: 4

Armor: 10–80 mm (0.39–3.15 in)

Main armament: 1x 7.5 cm Pak 42 L/70, 55 rounds

Secondary armament: 1x 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34, 600 rounds

Engine: Maybach HL 120 TRM, 300 PS (296 hp, 221 kW)

Power/weight: 11.6 PS (8.6 kW) / ton

Suspension: Leaf springs

Operational range: 210 km (130 mi)

Panzer IV/70 (A) (SdKfz 162/1): 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, in July 1944 Hitler ordered an interim solution to speed up Nibelungenwerke's transition from PzKpfw IV production to Panzer IV/70 production. "A" stands for Alkett, a manufacturer of the StuG III, that was ordered to redesign the Jagdpanzer IV superstructure to be mounted onto a standard PzKpfw IV chassis. The Vomag design used a modified chassis permitting a very low silhouette, mounting the superstructure onto the original PzKpfw IV chassis required additional vertical steel plates mounted onto the chassis to counter height differences. The resulting vehicle was about 40 cm taller and lacked the sharp edged nose of the Vomag variant. Only 278 were built by Nibelungenwerke from August 1944 to March 1945.

Survivors

Jagdpanzer IV 0-Serie: Deutsches Panzermuseum in Munster, Germany. The vehicle is a pre-production model with rounded front plates. It was previously part of the Musée des Blindés in Saumur, France

Jagdpanzer IV L/48: Deutsches Panzermuseum in Munster, Germany. It is an early version with 60 mm armor. This vehicle is on loan from the WTS in Koblenz, Germany, and previously belonged to the United States Army Ordnance Museum in Aberdeen, Maryland. It was returned to Germany in the 1960s; Musée des Blindés in Saumur, France. It is an early model with 60 mm armor; Thun Tank Museum in Switzerland. It is a late model with 80 mm front armor; In storage in a military area in Bulgaria. This is a very early L/48 model, and the only surviving example with the driver's machine gun slot welded over. It was previously part of a defensive line on the Bulgarian border. In February 2008 it was ordered recovered by the Bulgarian Defense Minister to be either preserved in a museum in Bulgaria, or sold to a private collector.

Panzer IV L/70 (V): National Museum of Military History in Sofia, Bulgaria; Kubinka Tank Museum in Russia; United States Army Ordnance Museum located in Aberdeen, Maryland; Patton Museum located at Fort Knox, Kentucky. This vehicle was previously part of the Shrivenham Study Collection in the UK; Canadian War Museum located in Ottawa, Canada. This vehicle was previously at the Canadian Forces Base/Area Support Unit Shilo in Canada.

Panzer IV L/70 late (A): Musée des Blindés in Saumur, France. The vehicle was used in 1944-45 by Free French forces. The vehicle is displayed with damage resulting from a direct hit by an armor-piercing shell.

Wrecks: A wreck of Jagdpanzer IV L/48 is stored in Armored Warfare Museum in Poznań. It was excavated in 2009 in the vicinity of the Citadel.

Early Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F with 7.5cm PaK 39 L/48 gun with muzzle brake.

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F.

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F with 7.5cm PaK 39 L/48 gun.

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F, 3rd Company, 116th Panzer Division (the unit emblem can be seen above the tactical symbol on the hull front), Normandy, June 1944.

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (L/48), 116th Panzer Division, Normandy, June 1944.

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F with a Jagdpanzer (P) Elefant (SdKfz 184s).

Panzerkampfwagen IV/70(V).

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F with 7.5cm PaK 39 L/48 gun.

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F.

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F with 7.5cm PaK 39 L/48 gun.

Late Panzerkampfwagen IV/70(V).

Panzerkampfwagen IV/70(V) with 7.5cm StuK 42 L/70 gun.

Captured Panzerkampfwagen IV/70(V) with plaque "addressing" it to the Aberdeen Proving Ground.

Panzerkampfwagen IV/70(V).

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F.

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F with 7.5cm PaK 39 L/48 gun with interior visible after removal of the roof.

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F interior showing the breech of the 7.5cm PaK 39 L/48 gun.

Roof of PzKpfw IV/70(V).

Roof of a pre-production Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F.

A Jagdpanzer IV with infantry support, Hungary, 1944.

Vomag prototype of the Jagdpanzer IV with 7.5cm StuK 42 L/70 gun.

Knocked out Jagdpanzer IV.

Jagdpanzer IV.

Knocked out and abandoned Jagdpanzer IV, France, 1944.

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (L/48) (SdKfz 162).

A Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (Sd.Kfz. 162/1), LSSAH, with infantry on its engine deck attacks outside Poteau, Belgium, on 17 December 1944 during the Ardennes Offensive. The vehicle has the unusual so-called "ambush" camouflage scheme.

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (L/48) (SdKfz 162).

Captured Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (L/48) (SdKfz 162) with plaque "addressing" it to the Aberdeen Proving Ground.

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (L/48) (SdKfz 162).

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (L/48) (SdKfz 162) Nr. 132.

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (L/48) (SdKfz 162) Nr. 331.

Jagdpanzer IV (PzJag IV 7.5cm).

Jagdpanzer IV (L/48) Ausf F (SdKfz 162) (A-0).

Destroyed Jagdpanzer IV (PzJag IV 7.5cm). The entire fighting compartment superstructure has separated from the vehicle.

Jagdpanzer IV (PzJag IV 7.5cm), Berlin, May 1945.

Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) (SdKfz 162/1) with mesh side skirts.

Captured Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1) Nr 101.

A knocked out Jagdpanzer IV that has lost its left track, which may have struck a mine.

Jagdpanzer IV.

Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1).

A captured Jagdpanzer IV L/48 (7.5 cm PaK 39 L/48) (SdKfz 162) parked with other captured vehicles.

A knocked out Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) captured and being driven by French soldiers. Note the penetration holes in the upper front superstructure.

Another view of the same Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) as seen in the above photo.

Another view of the same Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) as seen in the above two photos. The M10 Gun Motor Carriage is from 3e Compagnie, 11e RCA (Régiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique).

The crew of a Jagdpanzer IV with partial side skirt armor take a break.

Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1).

Another view of the Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1) as seen in the above photo.

Another view of the Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1) as seen in the previous two photos.

Abandoned Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1) with white winter camouflage left in a ditch by the side of a road.

Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1).

Destroyed Jagdpanzer IV suffered an internal explosion (note roof plate laying on top of superstructure). Possibly hit a mine; note the white tape used to indicate the presence of mines.

Completely destroyed Jagdpanzer IV. The entire left side of the vehicle has been blown apart.

A totally destroyed Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1), most likely due to aerial attack.

An American soldier climbs onboard a knocked out Jagdpanzer IV.

A destroyed Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) (SdKfz 162/1).

Knocked out Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) (SdKfz 162/1).

Sturmgeschütz neuer Art mit 7.5 cm PaK L/48 auf Fahrgestell PzKpfw IV Ausf F (SdKfz 162/E 39) (Prototype V1).

Sturmgeschütz neuer Art mit 7.5 cm PaK L/48 auf Fahrgestell PzKpfw IV Ausf H (SdKfz 162/E 39) (Prototype V2).

Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) (SdKfz 162/1) prototype.

Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1)—"addressed" to the 'War Office, England.'

Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1).

A destroyed Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1) that has suffered a catastrophic internal explosion.

Another destroyed Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1) that has suffered a catastrophic internal explosion.

Collection point for captured and knocked out vehicles headed for the scrapper, including Jagdpanzer IVs, PzKpfw IVs, T-34, re-captured M4 medium tanks, and trucks.

American GI examines totally destroyed Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (L/48) (SdKfz 162).

Knocked out Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1).

A local family poses with a knocked out Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1) with six "kill" rings on the main gun barrel.

Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1).

Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) (SdKfz 162/1). Being examined by American soldiers. In the background are several PzKpfw V "Panther" tanks.

Same Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) (SdKfz 162/1) as in the above photo, seen at a later date.

Soviet T-34 "knocks out" a Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1) in a staged photograph.

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (L/48) (SdKfz 162).

Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1).

Soviet officers inspecting a knocked out Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (L/48) (SdKfz 162), Berlin.

Knocked out Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1), alongside a knocked out M4 medium tank, France.

Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) (SdKfz 162/1).

French refugees carry their meager belongings past this destroyed Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) (SdKfz 162/1) in the fire-razed village of Mittelwihr, France, 8 February 1945.

Another view of French refugees carrying their meager belongings past the destroyed Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) (SdKfz 162/1) in the fire-razed village of Mittelwihr, France, 8 February 1945.

Two Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) (SdKfz 162/1) were abandoned by the Germans in their flight from U.S. First Army troops outside Oberpleis, Germany, 25 March 1945.

American labor leaders on an inspection tour of the European war front rest a moment on a wrecked Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (L/48) (SdKfz 162) left alongside a French road by the retreating German Army. The labor men are visiting the war front in order to gain valuable first-hand information about the uses being made of American manufactured battle equipment. 24 August 1944.

Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) (SdKfz 162/1).

Knocked out Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) (SdKfz 162/1), Kampfgruppe "Schulze," Panzer-Lehr-Division, April 1945.

Jagdpanzer IV (L/48) Ausf F (SdKfz 162).

Front view of the same Jagdpanzer IV (L/48) Ausf F (SdKfz 162) as in the above photo.

Jagdpanzer IV (L/48) Ausf F (SdKfz 162), Nr. 313.

Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1), Nr. 221, Dreierwalde, northern Germany, early April 1945.

Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) with side skirt armor (SdKfz 162/1) abandoned at a service station in Alsace, France.

A destroyed Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1) that has suffered a catastrophic internal explosion.

Destroyed Sturmgeschütz 7.5 cm StuK 40 with Topfblende Ausf G (SdKfz 142/1) and in the background a Jagdpanzer IV (L/48) destroyed by an internal explosion and fire.

Jagdpanzer IV (L/48) Ausf F (SdKfz 162).

Jagdpanzer IV passing a dug-in anti-tank gun.

Jagdpanzer IV (L/48) Ausf F (SdKfz 162).

Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) (SdKfz 162/1).

Captured Hungarian soldiers are marched past a Jagdpanzer IV (L/48) Ausf F (SdKfz 162).

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (L/48) (SdKfz 162).

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (L/48) (SdKfz 162), I./SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 12, Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil, France, 9 August 1944.

Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) (SdKfz 162/1).

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (L/48) (SdKfz 162), Normandy.

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (L/48) (SdKfz 162), Assault Gun Platoon, First Bulgarian Army, with vehicles captured by the Soviets and supplied to Bulgaria during the latter stages of the war when they fought against the Germans. Note the "red star" on the vehicle's upper hull, a simple white outline. A captured Hungarian 40 M Turán I is in the background.

A collection point for wrecked and captured German and Soviet vehicles intended for scrapping. Included are Jagdpanzer IVs, PzKpfw V "Panthers," JSU-152s, T-34 and Panzerflak-Selbstfahrlafette (3.7 cm FlaK 43) auf PzKpfw IV "Möbelwagen" (SdKfz 161/3).

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (L/48) (SdKfz 162), 16th Panzer Division, Normandy, France, 1944.

Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F (L/48) (SdKfz 162), Panzerjäger Abteilung 130, Panzer Lehr Division.

7.5cm StuK 42 L/70 auf Panzerjäger IV (SdKfz 162) tank destroyer.

This Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1) of SS Panzerjäger Abteilung 1 was the mount of SS-Untersturmführer Otto Holst, commander of the battalion's 1st Battery. It ended up in the Ambléve when SS-Standartenführer Hansen ordered the unit to attempt to cross the weak bridge at Petit-Spai, during the Ardennes Offensive.

Otto Holst's Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1) in the Ambléve River after collapsing the Petit Spai bridge, 21 December 1944.

Another view of SS-Hauptsturmführer Otto Holst's Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1), 1./SS-Stu.Gesch.Abt. 1.

A blown bridge at Stavelot. Peiper, upon viewing such handiwork, muttered, "Those damned engineers." A knocked out Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (SdKfz 162/1) assault gun is at left.