- For the Steel Division II unit see SD2:Panzer IV H
Panzer IV H is a German Tank unit. The Panzer IV series represented Nazi-Germany's mainstay medium tank line in the Second World War, seeing service on all fronts. It was the second most-produced German armoured fighting vehicle, the first place occupied by the Stug assault gun. The Panzer IV H is the culmination of years of hard-won experience and the result of continuous upgrading of its armour, gun, engine and other parts. It sports an incredibly powerful gun for its cost, but its armour is rather lacking and the tank can be penetrated by most forms of Allied anti-tank weaponry.
Overview[ | ]
The workhorse of the Nazi war machine, Panzer IV started its long service in 1936 as a fire support tank, equipped with a short-barreled 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 howitzer. In this role, Panzer IV would focus on taking out enemy fortifications, anti-tank emplacements, and infantry from a long range, protecting the lighter, faster Panzer III tanks focusing on taking out enemy armor. However, following Fall Barbarossa and the shock of fighting against superior Soviet tanks, it quickly displaced Panzer III as the primary battle tank. Krupp's design was larger, sturdier, and could readily accept significant armor upgrades and long-barreled guns capable of defeating Soviet armor. The Panzer IV chassis was used as the base for many other fighting vehicles. 8,553 Panzer IVs of all versions were built during World War II, a production run in Axis forces only exceeded by the StuG III assault gun with 10,086 vehicles. A significant number of these tanks was also transferred to Axis allies and continued to used in various militaries worldwide after the War ended.
The Panzer IV Ausf. H entered production in June 1943 and featured several upgrades, including a single plate glacis, reinforced final drive with higher gear rations, factory-applied Zimmerit magnetic coating, and pre-mounted Schurzen on the turret and sides of the vehicle to act as protection against HEAT warheads and anti-tank rifles. A total of 3774 Panzer IV H tanks were produced, seeing combat on all fronts of the war.
Each Panzer Division should be equipped with a Panzer IV Abteilungen along with a Panther Abteilungen.
116. Panzer's Panzer IV was the II./Panzer Regiment 16
12. SS-Panzer's Panzer IV served in the II./ SS Panzer Regiment 12
21. Panzer's Panzer Regiment 100 which was renamed to Panzer Regiment 22 was equipped with Panzer IV
Panzer-Lehr's II./Panzer-Lehr-Regiment 130 were equipped with Panzer IV.
Strategy[ | ]
The Panzer IV H is available to a wide range of German divisions in phase B with varying amounts of veterancy. It is advised to only pick veteran or elite Panzer IV H units, as the tank needs to take out enemy armoured vehicles quickly before they can return fire. The common 6-pdr anti-tank gun, Sherman and the Cromwell can all reliably pierce the frontal armour of the Panzer IV.
Its gun packs quite a punch and won't have trouble piercing all Allied tanks save for the heavy British support tanks or the American Jumbo. Every tank duel is a tense moment, as the tank that can land the first shot on the other will usually be the victor. The tank's gun also only has a 1000m firing range, putting the Panzer IV H at a severe disadvantage against tank destroyers and the more powerful anti-tank guns. The best duel is an unfair duel, and the player should not hesitate to panic the enemy with airplanes, artillery and supporting units before committing the Panzer IV H to a battle.
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