The Panzer IV F2 is part of the German medium tank line. Different from the early Panzer IV tanks, the Panzer IV F2 variant features a 75 mm KwK40 L43 long-barrelled cannon. This provides the Panzer IV F2 with much-increased projectile velocity and armor penetration compared to its predecessors. The Panzer IV F2 even has great mobility, allowing it to outrun most medium and heavy opponents. However, the tank’s poorly armored hull and turret leave it vulnerable to most enemy guns it may encounter. Regardless of these flaws, the Panzer IV F2 remains an enjoyable tank to play; with the tactics outlined below, players can achieve strong results in this vehicle.
| Pros | Cons |
| An excellent main gun firing lethal shells | Weak armor |
| Good gun depression (-10°) | Poor survivability once penetrated |
| Fast acceleration and turning | |
| Smoke grenades for coverage | |
| Impressive reload rate of 5 seconds (With an aced crew) |
Armor
| Armor Location | Armor Thickness (mm) | Angle (°) | Effective Thickness (mm, approx.) | Note |
| Upper Frontal Plate | 50 | 8° | ~50 | Will block small calibre autocannon hits |
| Lower Frontal Plate | 50 | 14° | ~55 | Still easy to penetrate, but the transmission will block most fragments |
| Sides | 30 | 0° | ~30 | Can only block machine gun fire up to .50 BMG |
| Upper Rear | 20 | 11° | ~20 | Extremely weak, penetration here means certain engine fire |
| Lower Rear | 20 | 9° | ~20 | Very weak, possible ammo detonation |
| Gun Mantlet | 50 | 10° | ~55 | Easy to penetrate and knock out the crew |
| Top | 10 | - | 10 | Very weak, cannot even block 7.7 mm bullets |
A few additional tracks can be installed on the UFP and the LFP, providing the vehicle with about an additional 15 mm of protection.
As can be seen from the chart above, the Panzer IV F2 has extremely weak armor; even a round from the Soviet reserve tank BT-5 can prove fatal. Consequently, this vehicle should not be considered a medium tank for operational purposes; it is better described as a comparatively large light tank. Note that it is not a good idea to angle for more protection, since it will reveal the vehicle's even weaker side armor. When it comes to the side and rear, the tank is even more vulnerable to enemy fire. Aside from threats posed by opposing main‑cannon armament, even anti‑aircraft autocannons and well‑placed 12.7 mm machine‑gun fire can penetrate its thin 20‑30 mm armor plates with ease. The vehicle’s turret roof hatch offers equally poor protection; only 10 mm of steel separates the crew from damage inflicted by HE shells and airborne weaponry.
Survivability
The Panzer IV F2 has a crew complement of five: commander, gunner, driver, loader, and a radio operator (for calling an artillery strike if installed). They are seated rather close to each other, especially the commander, gunner, and the loader, since they are all cramped into the turret. As a result, a well-aimed AP round will take out most of them, leaving the vehicle severely damaged or sending it straight back to the hangar. Therefore, the vehicle should utilise camouflage or obstacles to protect its critical components and preserve its combat capability.
The Panzer IV F2 is equipped with both smoke grenades and smoke rounds (K.Gr.Rot Nb.) to cover it. Smoke rounds should be used wisely. Smoke rounds can not only conceal the tank but can also be fired at the enemy to block their sights.
As you can see in the following image, ammunition is placed everywhere in the hull of the tank, making it easy to get hit and explode. It is recommended to take only 24 rounds of ammo to remove the higher of the frontal ammo racks.
Armament
The Panzer IV F2 features a 75 mm KwK40 L43 cannon, slightly shorter than the 75 mm on Pz.IV H&J variants and Panthers, but still overwhelming when being compared with its competitors, like the 75 mm M3 mounted on the Sherman. This KwK40 L43 cannon, when firing a PzGr 39 APCBC, has a staggering maximum penetration of 137 mm and has 29 grams of filler to ensure the post-pen damage, making the Panzer IV F2 one of the most effective predators at its rank. The vertical traverse is comfortable too (-10/+20), granting the Panzer IV F2 the ability to fight under complex terrain. The horizontal rotation speed reaches a top of 16 degrees per second. The vertical traverse speed, on the other hand, is 4 degrees per second, not too swift, but definitely not sluggish, an average performance. It is also noteworthy that the Panzer IV F2 has a 6.5-second reload time, dropping to 5 seconds with an aced crew. This grants it an additional opportunity to engage multiple enemies.
The Panzer IV F2 is also equipped with a coaxially mounted MG 34, firing an AP/AP/AP-T belt, which has a max penetration of 13 mm, able to disable some light vehicles and exposed crew members.
Even though the ballistic performance of the PzGr 39 is strong, players are still advised to avoid shooting at angled surfaces; the shell’s penetration decreases rapidly as the impact angle increases.
Ammunition
The Panzer IV F2 can use five different kinds of ammo: The PzGr 39 APCBC, the Hl.Gr 38B HEAT, the PzGr 40 APCR, the Sprgr. 34 HE, the K.Gr.Rot Nb smoke shell. Here is a detailed guide on how to use these ammunition.
| Ammunition | Shell Type | Muzzle Velocity | Penetration @10 m (0°) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PzGr 39 | APCBC | 740 m/s | 137 mm | Primary stock round; excellent penetration and explosive filler for high post-penetration damage. |
| Sprgr. 34 | HE | 550 m/s | 10 mm | Stock high-explosive shell, effective against open-topped and light vehicles via overpressure. |
| Hl.Gr 38B | HEAT | 450 m/s | 80 mm | Stable 80 mm penetration, greater explosive mass than HE; recommended secondary for light armor. |
| PzGr 40 | APCR | 919 m/s | 163 mm | Outstanding penetration for heavy armor; low projectile mass, penetration degrades quickly at range. |
| K.Gr.Rot Nb. | Smoke | 540 m/s | Non‑lethal smoke round | Generates a smoke screen with a radius of 9 m. |
Ammunition Loadout
As mentioned above, carrying 24 shells minimizes the risk of ammunition detonation while retaining a sufficient combat load. I recommend bringing 15 APCBC, 3 HEAT (can be replaced by HE), 3 APCR and 3 smoke shells to make sure that the vehicle can deal with most enemies.
How to deal with Certain Enemies
- KV-1 (All variants): When engaging a KV head‑on with its hull plates perpendicular to the line of fire, targeting the driver’s optics is advised. If the vehicle presents an angled hull, aim for the gun mantlet instead. Shots against the KV’s sloped armor surfaces should be avoided, as these areas carry a high risk of ricochet.
- M4 Sherman: Shoot anywhere but the gun mantlet. The uneven surface might bounce your shot. Aim for the MG port if possible.
- T-34 (All variants): Shoot anywhere, but avoid the extremely thick driver's optics and the angled LFP.
- Churchill I: When facing an angled Churchill, the turret ring might be the best option, but it's quite hard to aim at.
- M44 & M55 (All variants): These two SPGs can be challenging to fight, since your APCBC explosive filler fuse might not work correctly against them. Shoot at surfaces near the gun of the SPG to disable the vehicle's ability to fire.
Mobility
The mobility of the Panzer IV F2 is above average. With the top forward speed of 43 km/h, the Panzer IV F2 can easily outrun the frequently encountered M4 Shermans and the KV family. The "tracks" and the "ostketten" modifications will provide the Panzer IV F2 with extra grip, so that the Panzer IV F2 will be better at climbing over hilly terrain and accelerating. In combat situations, the Panzer IV F2 can easily achieve 35–40 km/h and reach its top speed on paved roads after a short acceleration run. Once travelling at speed, minor slopes and obstacles will not stop the tank; it can simply traverse them.
Usage in Battles
Sniping
Thanks to the accuracy and the great ballistics of the PzGr 39 APCBC, the Panzer IV F2 excels at long range sniping in some big and open maps. With 98 mm of penetration at 1.5 km, if positioned correctly, you can take out each enemy shot by shot.
Tip: It is highly recommended to get to the enemy flanks before starting to snipe as you'll get a better chance of taking out tanks without being spotted. Also, make sure the sky is clear when you are about to tuck in. The Panzer IV F2 is vulnerable to strafing aircraft.
Urban Brawling
A reload time of 5 seconds makes the Panzer IV F2 somewhat good at close-quarters combat, though this requires greater caution than fighting in heavily armoured vehicles. You should think twice before firing, and take cover when deciding whether to advance or fire again. This sounds a little like ambushing. But a Panzer IV F2 needs some extra protection to make up for its weak armor, so take advantage of the buildings.
Thank You For Reading!
All image credits go to AviatoR_76
