Panzer IV G

Type

## Background

The **Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G (Panzer IV Ausf. G)** is a German Medium Tank in *Post Scriptum*. It is armed with a 7.5 cm KwK 40 L/48 main gun and two 7.92mm MG 34s, one mounted coaxially to the main gun and the other mounted in the hull. It is operated by a crew of 4; driver, gunner, hull machine-gunner and a commander.

The tank comes with 30 APCBC shells, 15 APCR shells and 42 High Explosive shells. Plus 11 boxes of 300 rounds per MG 34 and 15 boxes of 250 rounds per hull gun MG34.

The Panzer IV was the backbone of the German Panzerwaffe throughout the entire conflict for Germany. With more than 8,500 of the vehicles produced across the different variants, the Panzer IV was only outdone by the StuG III.

The Ausf. G seen in-game was produced from May of 1942 to June of 1943 with almost 1,700 total tanks of the Mark G being produced. Specifics to this ausf. were the removal of the vision ports from the sides of the turrets, an updated muzzle brake, a system that allowed the transfer of coolant from one tank to another to assist in cold weather starting and smoke dischargers mounted on the turret sides instead of the hull rear. In January of 1943 the drivers episcope was eliminated. Schurzen (Spaced armor) was added to the side of the tank and on the turret. The thin plates of steel attached to the outside of the hull were introduced in 1943 and was effective against infantry AT or HEAT. The very late models of the Ausf. G received a new type drive sprocket, and the radio antenna was moved to the left hull rear which made it almost impossible to distinguish a late Ausf. G from and early Ausf. H.

## Strategy

The Panzer IV looks almost identical to its little brother, the Panzer III, but packs a heftier punch in both armor and firepower. It's also slightly bigger. Its speed isn't much to brag about maxing out at around 40 km/h. It's not the most agile tank, but it gets the job done despite having worse view ports compared to the British counterparts. The grey paint job blends it in well in city areas. The Panzer IV comes in two versions, with and without armored "Schürzen" side skirts. The skirts do a good job protecting the tank's ammo-racks. The Panzer IV's potent 7.5 cm KwK 40 main gun will do a good job against most allied tanks and vehicles. It does struggle against the heavily armored Churchill tank's hull, especially when angled. It's also outperformed by the Panther's longer 75 and the Tiger's 88 mm gun by quite a margin. The tank's seven second reload puts it ahead of both the Panther and the Tiger and it turns its turret quicker too. Taking 25 seconds for a full 360 degree rotation, it is still advised to consider the Panzer IV a glass cannon. Stick to open areas, but hidden in nearby forest, bushes or behind buildings.

Its armor is okay. Be careful of enemy vehicles like the British Staghound and Daimler, who can quickly flank and destroy the vehicle with few hits. It fights off 37/40 mm tank rounds to the front. The armored side skirts does a good job protecting the ammo-racks on both sides of the hull as mentioned earlier. However, the Sherman Firefly's 17 Pounder slices through its armor with ease at any range.