The Panzer IV or Panzerkampfwagen IV or abbreviated to Pz.Kpfw.
IV was designed as an infantry support tank with a short 7.5
cm assault gun which was to support
Panzer
III however, after realising that the
Panzer
III was inferior to the Russian T-34 tanks. It wasn't
long before the Panzer IV assumed the role of main battle
tank of Wehrmacht.
The Panzer IV was a very reliable and sturdy battle tank,
which was continually updated during the course of World War
II. Its design and conception, began after a meeting by the
Army ordnance department on the 11th of January 1934. A number
of manufacturers submitted their designs for the Panzer IV
Krupp's
design was accepted for production in 1936 while development
and construction prototype took place at Krupp's, Essen factory.
The production line was established at
Krupp-Grusonwerke
AG at Magdeburg. Production was also carried out at
Nibelungen-Werke,
Vomag,
German Military Vehicles.
ISBN-10: 087349783X
Armoured Fighting Vehicles of Germany World War II.
ISBN-10: 0214203077
Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World Two.
ISBN-10: 1854095188
For a complete list of
sources
