Jagdpanzer IV/70(V)

  Unit Properties of  General Information
 * Nation:     Germany
 * Category:   Tanks
 * Class:      Medium Tank
 * Role:       Tank Hunter/Infantry Support
 * Primary Armament: 75mm PaK 42 (AP/HE)
 * Secondary Armament: 1 x 7.92mm MG-42 Machine gun Hull
 * Armor:     80-20mm
 * Crew:       5


 * MP price:   50
 * Speed:      27
 * Fuel:       ?

The Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) was a tank hunter/spg, with a low silhouette, sloped frontal armor and a powerful gun it was quite potent on the battlefield.

History
The Jagdpanzer IV was a parallel design to the StuG IV, both intended to replace the ageing StuG III. They both reached production but ended up in different roles. While the StuG was employed as an assault gun the Jadpanzer IV was used as a tank destroyer. Based on the chassis of the Panzer IV, it had 80mm of sloping frontal armor which provided better protection than the 100mm of frontal armor on the Tiger I. It was designed to use the same gun as the Panther, the 75mm KwK 42 (It was designated PaK 42 when used on tank destroyers) however due to shortages in early production the lower velocity 75 mm PaK 39 had to be used, when supplies were improved of the KwK 42 it was used on the Jagdpanzer IV however it had a negative effect on the weight distribution with alot of the weight being at the front of the vehicle, this created problems on rough terrain and the rubber rims of the front road wheels could also fall off. It was originally fitted with a muzzle brake however this was removed on later models as it created huge dust clouds when the gun was fired due to the close proximity of the barrel to the ground.

Despite primarily being a tank destroyer, the Jagdpanzer IV was used in as an assault gun and tank substitute later on in the war due to losses in armor; not being designed for this role it performed poorly, unable to quickly sight its main gun at close ranges and having to physically move to aim at new targets combined with crews trained in ambushing and long range combat led to many losses on the field. Other than this the Jagdpanzer performed well in the role of a tank hunter, being able to conceal itself and pick of enemies at range made it a useful tool on the battlefield. Despite not sporting the more advanced PaK 42 until later on in the war the PAK-39 was still a powerful weapon able to penetrate the majority of allied armor, except the British Churchill, at long ranges; the upgrade to the PAK 42 greatly enhanced the lethality of the Jgd.Pz. IV giving it the ability to engage the heaviest Allied armor.

In game
This vehicle, being a tank hunter excels at long range tank combat but performs poorly in close ranges. It can even take out the KV-85 from range, as long the frontal armor is pointed directly towards it. Due to its low profile it is able to hide behind landscapes and rocks and can be quite hard to spot. However this presents a disadvantage, the most vulnerable part of an armored vehicle is its hull and this has to be exposed to fire, where as the Panzer IV can hide its hull behind an obstruction presenting only its turret to the enemy. A shot to the turret can be repaired, whereas if the hull is hit then it is more often than not, irreparable.

The Jagdpanzer IV is also extremely weak on the sides with only 40mm of relatively flat armor, this presents a problem when the vehicles tracks are thrown or it is rendered immobile by other means as its main gun has limited traverse and it is unprotected from flanking attacks, it would be sensible to abandon the vehicle if this occurs, to save it being destroyed and you losing your crew.


 * NOTE
 * The Jagdpanzer has the same penetration and range as the Pz.Kpfw. V "Panther" Ausf. G