Waffenträger Panzer IV

Developed in 1942-1944

Characteristics:

Crew:

•          Commander, Gunner, Driver, Radio Man, Loader (2x)

Weight:

•           23-25 t

Length (metres) :

•         8,1 (128mm K81)

Width (metres) :

•           3,1

Height (metres) :

•           2,5

Armor:

•           30/8/8 mm

Engine:

•          Maybach HL 157 P

Speed:

•         45-50 km/h (17 km/h for the real version)

Radio:

•  FuG 12

Armament:

•           15cm PaK L/29.5
•          12.8cm K44 L/55 (Velocity 920 m/s, 360°, 28 kg AP round)
•           12.8cm K44/2 L/61 (Not the same as Jagdtiger, somewhat better in performance, higher RoF could be reached)
•           15cm PaK L/38 (This is not historical)

360° turret

In the process of separating self-propelled artillery mount production from tank manufacture, the development of socalled „Waffenträger” had been going on since 1942. The Waffenamt (Wa Prüf 4) bought firms that were not directly involved in tank production into the process.

The originally established military requirements called for, among other things:

-          - A fully-tracked chassis, independent of tank production, with a production engine that allowed a marching speed of about 17 km/h.

-          - Provisions for dismounting the gun by means available to the troops. All equipment had to be carried on the vehicle.

-          - All-around fire with 360-degree traverse, both on the vehicle and when removed.

-          - The gun was to be mobile on its own wheeled mount.

-          - Shrapnel protection for the crew, 8mm armor plate being considered sufficient.

-          - Uniform chassis on which a choice of several weapons could be carried.

On this basis, several developmental studies were worked out, including, among others, consideration of using chassis components of the Panzer IV and III/IV.

Wa Prüf 4 had established the following designations for these vehicles: „Einheits-Waffenträger, Grösse I” and „Einheits-Waffenträger, Grösse II” (Grösse means size, Einheits means universal)

Suggestions were made, involving Panzer IV or III/IV chassis components, for a „Mittleren Waffenträger (Mittleren means medium) für 15 cm sFH 18 (L/29.5)” and a „Mittleren Waffenträger für 12.8cm K 81 (L/55).”

The first prototypes, presented by Krupp, Steyr and Rheinmetall, found only limited approval, since they had turned out to be too complicated and too ponderous. The industry thereupon suggested means of simplification, and Wa Prüf 4 stated its readiness to drop some of its requirements. Despite all of this, no statisfactory solution could be found.

On February 4, 1944, on the occasion of a conference at Steyr-Daimler-Punch, a representative of Wa Prüf 4 presented requirements for a Waffenträger which had been changed again. Among other things, it was stated in them that the development of these vehicles was not to amount to a stopgap measure, meaning the placing of a weapon on an already existing chassis. The complete vehicle was to be developed especially for this purpose.

The Panzer IV and III/IV chassis were now dropped as the basis of this development, since a lighter vehicle was preferred. It should be kept in mind that at this point the Panzer IV was already regarded as a model that would not be produced indefinitely, and that it was only a matter of time until its production would be halted.

12,8cm K44 on wheels

By Ilosz