Panzer IV/70(V)

This page is about the German tank destroyer Panzer IV/70(V). For the other version, see Panzer IV/70(A).

Panzer IV/70(V)

Jagdpanzer 38(t)

Jagdpanther G1

Panzer IV/70(V)

Jagdpanzer 38(t)

Jagdpanther G1

Germany

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
5.3	5.7	5.7

Class:

Tank destroyer

Research:33 000

Purchase:105 000

Show in game

Description

The Panzer IV/70(V) (German armoury designation: Sd.Kfz. 162/1) is a rank III German tank destroyer with a battle rating of 5.3 (AB) and 5.7 (RB/SB). It was introduced during the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before Update 1.41.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades

Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle

Armourfront / side / back

Hull80 / 30 / 22

Turret80 / 40 / 22

Crew4 people

Visibility64 %

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, casemate)
• Cast homogeneous armour (gun mantlet, shrapnel shield)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	80 mm (47°) Upper glacis 50 mm (55°) Lower glacis	30 mm Bottom 30 mm + 5 mm (29°) Engine deck skirts	22 mm (5°)	20 mm (6°) Front 20 mm (2°) Engine compartment
Superstructure	80 mm (50°) Turret Front 75 mm (conical) Shrapnel shield 75 mm (spherical) Gun mantlet	40 mm (29°)	30 mm (31°)	20 mm

Notes:

• Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick, and torsion bars are 15 mm thick.
• Mudguards are 4 mm thick.
• Tracks (20 mm thick) are used as add-on armour on the casemate.

Befitting of the German casemate destroyer line, the frontal armour on the Panzer IV/70(V) is one to be feared. It features a mighty frontal plate of 80 mm sloped at 50°, resulting in an awesome 120 mm of protection. The gun mantlet also is very well protected, and has over 150 mm in some areas. The amazing armour is made better when the player unlocks the "add-on armour" modification, applying tracks to the front and sides of the tank, and results in over 185 mm of protection in some areas. Even with this amazing armour, it is best to use the Panzer IV/70(V) at longer ranges, as this allows you to make use of your amazing gun and turns you from a difficult target to a nigh impenetrable one.

However, the side armour is very weak and is able to be penetrated by most things at your BR, so the player should be careful and look out for flankers.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB38 / 9 km/h

RB and SB35 / 8 km/h

Number of gears6 forward

1 back

Weight26.2 t

Engine power

AB572 hp

RB and SB300 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB21.8 hp/t

RB and SB11.5 hp/t

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)		Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse	Stock	AoA	Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	38	9	25.8	0.4	426	572	16.51	21.83
Realistic	35	8			265	300	10.27	11.45

Being based on the chassis of the Panzer IV, the all-round mobility is very solid. The tank is able to reach 43 km/h (27 mph) and hold itself there over most terrains and has very good hull traverse, allowing for quick turns. However the reverse speed is only 7.5 km/h. Not being able to reverse fast enough will sometimes put the player in a very dangerous situation.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB1 267 → 1 795

RB1 485 → 2 104

SB2 076 → 2 941

Total cost of modifications29 800

58 000

Talisman cost1 200

Crew training30 000

Experts105 000

Aces470

Research Aces360 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

90 / 140 / 170 %

148 / 148 / 148 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 1 500 Cost: 2 900 115 Ostketten Research: 1 500 Cost: 2 900 115 Suspension Research: 1 700 Cost: 3 300 130 Brake System Research: 1 700 Cost: 3 300 130 Filters Research: 2 500 Cost: 4 900 195 Transmission Research: 1 900 Cost: 3 700 150 Engine Research: 1 900 Cost: 3 700 150	Improved Parts Research: 1 500 Cost: 2 900 115 Improved FPE Research: 1 700 Cost: 3 300 130 Crew Replenishment Research: 2 500 Cost: 4 900 195 Add-on Armor Research: 1 900 Cost: 3 700 150	Horizontal Drive Research: 1 500 Cost: 2 900 115 Adjustment of Fire Research: 1 700 Cost: 3 300 130 Elevation Mechanism Research: 2 500 Cost: 4 900 195 75mm_kwk_42_APCR_ammo_pack Research: 1 900 Cost: 3 700 150 Smoke grenade Research: 1 900 Cost: 3 700 150

Armaments

Main armament

75 mm PaK42 cannon

Ammunition55 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

9.6 → 7.4 s

Vertical guidance-7° / 15°

Horizontal guidance-12° / 12°

The Panzer IV/70(V) bears the 75 mm PaK42 cannon with a rate of fire below average. With the maximum penetration of 192 mm for the stock AP, this gun can frontally penetrate most opponents it will face. With its explosive filler, it can one shot almost all tanks upon penetration. The 935 m/s muzzle velocity allows easy targeting when aiming at moving targets. The gun traverse is average, but the depression of 7 degrees is very good given its small profile, allowing it to go into hull-down position at some place. The gun also comes with a researchable APCR round which has a maximum penetration of a whopping 228 mm, and great velocity of over 1,100 m/s. Note that just like every other APCR shot, it is not good at piercing sloped armour, and its damage is inadequate to take out the opponent with a single shot.

75 mm PaK42					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	55	-7°/+15°	±12°	N/A	7.04	9.75	11.84	13.09	13.93	9.62	8.51	7.84	7.40
Realistic					4.76	5.60	6.80	7.52	8.00

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
PzGr 39/42	APCBC	192	188	173	156	140	126
Sprgr. 42	HE	11	11	11	11	11	11
PzGr 40/42	APCR	228	224	204	182	162	145

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile Mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
PzGr 39/42	APCBC	935	6.8	1.2	14.0	28.9	48°	63°	71°
Sprgr. 42	HE	700	5.74	0.1	0.5	725	79°	80°	81°
PzGr 40/42	APCR	1,120	4.75	N/A	N/A	N/A	66°	70°	72°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Panzer IV/70(V)

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	6th rack empty	7th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
55	46 (+9)	36 (+19)	26 (+29)	16 (+39)	8 (+47)	4 (+51)	1 (+54)	No

Notes:

• Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.
• Packing 16 (+39) shells will keep the sides of the casemate empty.

Machine guns

7.92 mm MG42 machine gun

Ammunition600 rounds

Belt capacity150 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate1 200 shots/min

The tank has a MG42 commander machine gun with a high fire rate. It is able to quickly finish off the exposed crews of some vehicles. However, its traverse angles are very limited meaning a lot of the time the whole tank has to be moved to get the MG on target. Also the maximum penetration of 13 mm makes it useless against those not-so-lightly-armoured vehicles, like the BTR-152A, the M18 GMC, etc.

7.92 mm MG42
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Hull	600 (150)	1,200	-6°/+15°	±5°

Usage in battles

This vehicle is very much a defensive weapon that should only be on the offensive if the situation is desperate. The gun is powerful at this rank. In terms of penetration and muzzle velocity, it will make short work of all but the toughest tanks. When taking fire, however, the Pz IV/70(V)'s protection is inconsistent at best. Shots that strike the sloped upper superstructure are likely to bounce, but anywhere else and the shell will almost certainly penetrate at closer ranges. It is best to avoid confrontation if possible and let the other members of the team take the damage to allow the player to pick and choose the engagement. Ideally, the enemy won't have a chance to return fire. Allow room between the Panzer IV/70(V) and the enemy, and avoid traversing high-traffic areas; instead, keep an eye on them from a distance and let the enemy come towards the Panzer IV/70(V).

Urban areas should be avoided if possible. Entering such an area is an invitation for the enemy to flank, and the closeness of the engagements negates the main advantage of this tank: the gun. Engaging the enemy at close range doesn't utilize the L/70's excellent penetration at range.

Arcade battles

In Arcade battles, with the shot indicator showing the player where shots will land, the high-velocity L/70 can accurately hit targets at long ranges, and targets on the move as the shells arrive quickly at the target. The penetration indicator, which changes colour based on the chance of successful penetration, is a problem for the IV/70 (V). It highlights the weak areas of the tank to enemy players, making the weak spots obvious.

Arcade tends to be faster-paced than Realistic and Simulator, so the lack of a turret may be a large detriment as being flanked is quite common in this mode.

Realistic/Simulator battles

With a lack of markers above tanks and larger combat zones, Realistic and Simulator suit this vehicle well. Taking up a concealed firing position and engaging enemies from a distance is what this tank excels at. Be mindful of flanking attacks though, if consideration of exposed flanks and careful checking of these areas is not performed, it will likely be too late to respond to an enemy on a flank or behind. Keeping with the 'anti-tank gun with treads' analogy, zooming across the map and looking for enemies is not how this tank should be played. Let the enemy do the work because this tank is very poorly suited to assaulting. Usage of the binoculars is highly advised as they allow a zoomed-in 360-degree view without having to move the vehicle.

At the start of the match, the Panzer IV/70(V) is best used as a sniper for most of the times. The player can adapt their tactics from the StuG IIIs and the Jgdpz. 38t. A good way to get kills is to find a spot that:

• provides hard cover
• overlooks a key street / passage way
• has bushes to hide in
• is not too close to the frontline

This way the player can use the bushes to hide the Pz IV/70. If any opponent appears in the sight, the player can kill it easily with the great penetration, velocity and damage of the main cannon. If the enemy notices the player, either go back in cover until they are distracted, or utilize the sturdy frontal armour and be a "heavy tank". It can bounce quite some shells, given that the enemy's guns aren't strong enough.

As the match progresses, the player can use the Pz IV/70 as a medium tank since it has good top speed and traverse. Go cap some points and help the teammates to push. With its low profile, the Pz IV/70 can find a comfortable corner around a point and ambush any point-cappers. Now the situational awareness comes into place, as this vehicle lacks a turret, meaning it cannot respond quickly to close-quarter sudden encounters. Also note that the side armour is extremely thin, so even if the player thinks they're just angling a little bit, shells like the Soviet 85 mm / 122 mm will still penetrate with ease.

Enemies worth noting:

• IS-2, ISU-122, SU-152/ISU-152: The Pz IV/70 relies on its frontal armour a lot to survive, so the biggest threats are generally the vehicles with high penetration. These machines with high-calibre guns pose the biggest threat, as their APHEBC shells will slice through the Pz IV/70's frontal armour like butter, and their damage is more than enough to kill all the crew inside. Try and finish them off first before they see you. If they do, quickly go to a nearby cover and either call for help, or wait until they fire / are distracted.
• ARL-44: the ARL 44's 90 mm SA45 gun can cut through the Pz IV/70's armour with no effort from almost any practical combat range. Its upper frontal plate is completely immune to your shells, and its lower plate also has a habit of causing ricochets. Fortunately, its turret armour is easily penetrated by your gun, resulting in most or all of the turret crew being knocked out or even the ammunition at the back of the turret being detonated.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Excellent firepower: decent rate of fire and good accuracy for the main gun
• Stock shell has great penetration and damage, and can easily penetrate and take out most opponents like the T-34-85, M4A2 (76) W/A3 (76) W , IS-1, etc. with a single shot
• Low profile provides excellent concealment
• Sloped 80 mm frontal armour provides good protection against most of the opponents, and is especially boosted with add-on armour. It is frontally immune to 76 mm Shermans, the T-34-85 and the M18 GMC
• Decent acceleration and excellent cross country performance
• Adequate gun depression of 7 degrees for a compact hull
• Superb zoom, up to x9.2 magnification, allowing for extreme range kills

Cons:

• Lacks a turret which limits its combat potential and makes it vulnerable to flankers
• Closely packed crew meaning a penetration from any angle will likely to destroy the tank
• Poor side armour, extremely weak against APBCs like the Soviet 85 mm
• The downward side of the gun mantlet is prone to shot traps (shell ricocheting down into the hull roof) which is lethal
• Although frontal armour is thick, it can still get knocked out with a single shot by the IS-2 regardless the angle and distance

History

Archive of the in-game description

This variant of the anti-tank gun was developed in two different versions by the companies Vomag AG and Alkett. Though similar in combat power and armour protection, these machines were significantly different in appearance. In August 1944, Vomag began producing its own Panzer IV/70 (V) variant with a 75 mm gun. The gun itself was positioned slightly to the right of the tank's longitudinal axis to allow better use of the vehicle's internal space. Due to the great length of the guns, they were held with a special bracket during non-combat movement. The destroyer's weight was increased to 26 tons. The great length of the barrel and the forward-weighted armour (80 mm) made the vehicle unbalanced, giving it low cross-country ability. Because of this, it was nicknamed "Guderian's duck" by the troops. The front pair of road wheels were made entirely of metal. This tank destroyer had "Schürzen" side skirts which protected the lower sides of the tank from anti-tank and hollow-charge projectiles. Vomag made a total of 930 of these tank destroyers. The Panzer IV, Panzer IV/70 (A), and Panzer IV/70 (V) also had a commander's version produced, with a crew of five men, reduced ammunition, and an additional radio station. The powerful armament of these vehicles made them quite popular with the Wehrmacht's anti-tank divisions. These self-propelled guns were widely used in combat operations during the final part of the war, including: the battle of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge as well as on the Eastern Front. It was very successful as a tank destroyer due to its low profile, accurate gun and good armour protection, but performed poorly when used out of role as a substitute for tanks or assault guns to support infantry. This was increasingly necessary in the later stages of the war from late 1944 to 1945, because there was often nothing else available to the badly depleted German armoured units.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Panzer IV/70(V) from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

Panzer IV/70(V) - A Desireable Experience - Napalmratte

Best tank destroyers discusses the Panzer IV/70(V) at 7:10 - War Thunder Official Channel

Best after-party picks discusses the Panzer IV/70(V) at 4:09 - War Thunder Official Channel

Panzer IV/70(V) Tank Review - NUSensei

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

• Jagdpanzer IV

Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

• SU-85M

External links

• [Wikipedia] Jagdpanzer IV
• [Tanks Encyclopedia] Panzer IV/70 (V)