Panzer Iv On The Battlefield

Often referred to as a workhorse the PzKpfw IV is certainly not a glamorous beast but from North Africa to the Eastern front it was a ubiquitous fixture on the various battlefields of WWII. Using archive and original photographs to lay down a visual time line for this Panzer's development, the book takes a historical overview of this strategically important tank. Description and definition of all the different Ausfs are included both within the introduction and captions. It applies recent findings to the analysis and commentary of the photographs. These include the authors own research into unit specific stowage and factory production differences, which feature for the first time within the context of a monograph looking at the vehicles overall evolution. Information that should be invaluable to both historians and modelers.

Using archive and original photographs to lay down a visual time line for this Panzer's development, the book takes a historical overview of this strategically important tank. It applies recent findings to the analysis and commentary of the photographs. Information that should be invaluable to both historians and modelers.

The Panzer IV programme was started in 1934, forming, alongside the Panzer IIs and IIIs, the schnellen Truppen, the force that was to become the Panzerwaffe. At first, German planners envisioned the tank in a secondary role, but during the invasions of The Low Countries and France, it took on a more central role. When the Panzerwaffe turned east to attack the Soviet Union, the Panzer IV initially fared poorly against the better-armed T-34. However, upgrades to its gun and armour protection saw it perform far better, not only against Soviet armour but also against British and American tanks in North Africa and Italy. In 1944, it was slowly replaced by the Panzer V Panther, but the dire strategic situation meant that it bore the brunt of the Allied D-Day invasion and its aftermath, and it remained in service until the end of the war. Fully illustrated throughout with contemporary photographs, this fascinating study from German armour expert Thomas Anderson tells the complete story of Germany's most widely produced tank of World War II, from its design and development to its many upgrades and variants.

With comprehensive captions and text this superb book tells the story of the production of the Panzer IV to the key battles in Poland, France, North Africa, Italy, Russia and North West Europe. Initially the Panzer IV was designed as an infantry support tank, but soon proved to be so diverse and effective that it earned a unique tactical role on the battlefield.The book shows how the Panzer IV evolved and describes how the Germans carefully utilized all available reserves and resources into building numerous variants that went into production and saw action on the battlefield. It depicts how these formidable tanks were adapted and up-gunned to face the ever increasing enemy threat.Between 1936 and 1945, over 8,000 Panzer IVs were built. For most of the war this tank was a match for its opponents heavy tanks and quickly and effectively demonstrated its superiority on the battlefield.The Panzer IV was the only German tank to remain in production during the war. Its chassis was converted into more models than any other Panzers that entered service. As well as the various prototype projects and command tanks, observation vehicles, ammunition carriers, recovery vehicles, amphibious armored ferry vehicles that saw service, the book will show a multiple of converted anti-tank propelled vehicles.

The Panzer IV Panzerkampfwagen IV was one the foremost German fighting vehicles of the Second World War, and this volume in the TankCraft series is an ideal introduction to it. With detailed captions, text and illustrations the book tells the story of the technical development of the Panzer IV and the numerous variants that went into production, and it describes how it evolved from an infantry support vehicle to become the backbone of the Panzer units. It was modified and upgunned to face the ever-increasing enemy threat, and it proved to be so diverse and effective that it earned a unique tactical role on the battlefield.A large part of the book showcases available model kits and after market products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined in order to provide everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of the only Panzer that stayed in production throughout the war.

In Panzerwaffe on the Battlefield 2, Jon Feenstra looks at various German armored fighting vehicles. The captions focus on the modifications of these panzers, self-propelled guns, etc. This book covers the entire war period - from 1939 to 1945 and all theaters. This hardcover, landscape formatted book's brief introduction is followed by more than one hundred mainly unpublished photographs, published in the highest possible quality. Both the introduction and the captions are bilingual (English/Hungarian).