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| This view, from the starboard side of the tank, affords another good view of the schurtzen and running gear. The long length of the KwK40 l/48 can also be appreciated. Originally, this weapon was of 43 calibres length, but was increased in length in later models so as to afford higher muzzle velocity its shells. On the front of the vehicle, you can see lengths of replacement track hung in a fashion so as to afford greater armor protection. Bearing in mind that the later model Panzer Ivs had been up armored through bolt on kits and schurtzen, they were still very vulnerable to the 76mm guns of thier main adversary, the T34, and worse, thier armor was no defense against the later T34/85 and JS series heavy tanks, with thier 85mm and 122mm guns respectively. With regard to the running gear, the main bogies were as standard throughout the PIVs production run, only the idler wheel and drive sprocket varying across the models. Also, though not visible, the return rollers varied in number on the J, some being built with the standard 4 whilst others were built with only 3.AAt the front of the hull, you can see the forward firing mg34 to the right and on the far side, the single bosch headlight fairing. |