The Sd.Kfz. 161, also known as the Panzer IV, was a medium tank developed in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and used extensively during World War II as well as later wars. It was the most numerous German tank and the second-most numerous German fully tracked armored fighting vehicle of the war, with 8,553 units produced. The Panzer IV was initially designed for infantry support but evolved to become the primary tank for German forces due to its ability to engage enemy armor effectively. It was the only German tank to remain in continuous production throughout the war, with over 8,800 units produced between 1936 and 1945.
The Sd.Kfz. 161, also known as the Panzer IV, was a medium tank developed in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and used extensively during World War II as well as later wars. It was the most numerous German tank and the second-most numerous German fully tracked armored fighting vehicle of the war, with 8,553 units produced. The Panzer IV was initially designed for infantry support but evolved to become the primary tank for German forces due to its ability to engage enemy armor effectively. It was the only German tank to remain in continuous production throughout the war, with over 8,800 units produced between 1936 and 1945.
The Panzer IV was originally intended to be used only on a limited scale, so initially Krupp was its sole manufacturer. Prior to the Polish campaign, only 217 Panzer IVs had been produced: 35 Ausf. A; 42 Ausf. B; and 140 Ausf. C; in 1941, production was extended to Vogtländische Maschinenfabrik ("VOMAG") (located in the city of Plauen) and the Nibelungenwerk in the Austrian city of St. Valentin.
The Panzer IV was originally intended to be used only on a limited scale, so initially Krupp was its sole manufacturer. Prior to the Polish campaign, only 217 Panzer IVs had been produced: 35 Ausf. A; 42 Ausf. B; and 140 Ausf. C; in 1941, production was extended to Vogtländische Maschinenfabrik ("VOMAG") (located in the city of Plauen) and the Nibelungenwerk in the Austrian city of St. Valentin.
The Panzerbeobachtungswagen IV (Pz. Beob. Wg. IV) was an artillery observation vehicle built on the Panzer IV chassis. This, too, received new radio equipment and an electrical generator, installed in the left rear corner of the fighting compartment. Panzerbeobachtungswagen worked in cooperation with Wespe and Hummel self-propelled artillery batteries.
The Bergepanzer IV was a German armoured recovery vehicle developed in the 1940s based on the late Panzer IV chassis. It was designed to recover damaged tanks and was based on the Panzer IV chassis.
