Turret Traverse

The Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. A through Ausf. H had a seperate turret traverse engine, the Auto Union, DKW-Motor, Typ ZW 500, in addition to the manual hand crank.

The hand crank turned the turret 1.89° per turn, requiring 190.5 turns for a full traverse. When using the traverse engine, the turret could be turned at up to 16° per second, or 22.5 seconds for a full traverse.

Auto Union, DKW-Motor, Typ ZW 500
Type Water cooled
Cylinders 2
Bore and stroke 68.0 x 68.5 mm
Displacement 498 cc
Compression 5.8:1
Max. governed speed 2800 rpm
Net h.p. 12
Length 560 mm
Width 340 mm
Height 510 mm
Weight 60 kg

Production

Production numbers for the Panzerkampfwagen IV.
Year Total
1937-1938 215
1939 147
1940 290
1941 467
1942 994
1943 2982
1944 3125
1945 435
Total 8440

Technical Information

Technical details of the Panzerkampfwagen IV.
Ausf. D Ausf. F Ausf. G Ausf. J
Crew
Crew
  • Commander
  • Gunner
  • Loader
  • Radio operator
  • Driver
Physical Characteristics
Weight 20.0 t 22.3 t 23.6 t 25.0 t
Length 5.92 m 6.63 m 7.02 m
Width 2.84 m 2.88 m
Height 2.68 m
Ground pressure 0.83 kg/cm² 0.88 kg/cm² 0.93 kg/cm² 0.89 kg/cm²
Armor
Hull, front 30-60 mm 50 mm 80 mm
Hull, sides and rear 20-40 mm 20-30 mm
Hull, top 10-20 mm
Hull, bottom 10 mm
Turret, front 30-35 mm 50 mm
Turret, sides and rear 20 mm 30 mm
Turret, top 10 mm
Performance
Maximum speed 42 km/h 38 km/h
Road speed 25 km/h
Cross-country speed 20 km/h
Maximum grade 30°
Trench crossing 2.30 m
Vertical obstacle 60 cm
Fording depth 80 cm
Fuel capacity 680 l
Mileage (road) 2.24 l/km 2.13 l/km
Mileage (cross-country) 3.62 l/km 3.24 l/km
Cruising range 210 km 320 km
Cross-country range 130 km 320 km
Engine
Make and model Maybach HL 120 TRM
Type Water cooled
Cylinders 12
Displacement 11 900 cc
Fuel Gasoline
Max. governed speed 2600 rpm
Net h.p. 265
Armament
Main weapon 7,5 cm Kw K L/24 7,5 cm Kw K 40 L/43 7,5 cm Kw K 40 L/48
Secondary weapon 7,92 mm M G 34 (2)
Auxillary weapon 9 mm M P
Ammunition Storage
Main weapon 80 87
Secondary weapon 2700 3150

Additional Reading

Panzerkampfwagen IV photographs (external link)
Photographs of the Panzerkampfwagen IV at Panzerphotos.
Jagdpanzer IV
Information about the Jagdpanzer IV.
Panzer IV/70
Information about the Panzer IV/70 (V) and Panzer IV/70 (A).
Nashorn
Information about the Nashorn.
Sturmgeschütz IV
Information about the Sturmgeschütz IV.
Sturmpanzer
Information about the Sturmpanzer.
Flakpanzer IV
Information about the Flakpanzer based on the Panzerkampfwagen IV chassis.
Hummel
Information about the Hummel.

Sources

  1. Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.A-H : Elektrisches Turmschwenkwerk. Berlin : Heereswaffenamt, 1943. 47 p.
  2. JENTZ, Thomas L. & DOYLE, Hilary Louis. Panzer Tracts No. 23 - Panzer Production from 1933 to 1945. Boyds, MD : Panzer Tracts, 2011. 80 p.
  3. JENTZ, Thomas L. & DOYLE, Hilary Louis. Panzer Tracts No. 4 - Panzerkampfwagen IV : Grosstraktor to Panzerbefehlswagen IV. Darlington, MD : Darlington Productions, 1997. 60 p. ISBN 0-9648793-4-4.
  4. Koch. Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.B bis E : Gerätbeschreibung und Bedienungsanweisung zum Turm : Bescreibung. Berlin : Heereswaffenamt, 1941. 52 p. D 653/6.
  5. Koch. Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. F1 und F2 : Gerätbeschreibung und Bedienungsanweisung zum Ausbau - Bescreibung. Berlin : Heereswaffenamt, 1942. 25 p. D 653/5.
  6. PAWLAS, Karl R. Waffen-Revue W 127 - Datenblätter für Heeres-Waffen, -Fahrzeuge und Gerät. Nurnberg : Publizistisches Archiv für Militär- und Waffenwessen, 1976. 248 p. ISBN 3-88088-213-4.