Squadron Signal - Armor in Action 2012 - PzKpfw IV (Panzer IV)

PzKpfw IVausf B The Ausf B was similar to the ausf A, but featured detail improvements and an altered hull. The hull front plate was now a single 30mm plate and the radio operator's ball-mounted MG34 was eliminated and replaced by a vision port with a glass block. Next to this was a machine pistol port identical to that fitted to the ausf A's front plate. The driver's visor now used double flaps, both of which moved to close and protect the vision block. The hull top hatches were now single pieces hinged at the front. On the turret faceted cast visor flaps replaced the early simple flaps in the turret front plate and a new better cupola was fitted. The new cupola had more armor and was better protected, having 5 segments of upper and lower armor shutters to close and protect the view ports. The turret doors were modified by the addition of small pistol ports below the vision ports, protected by simple interna1 sliding armor shutters. The pistol ports in the rear turret plate were covered with round flaps from ausf B onward. The transmission was now a 6-speed SSG76.

Ausf B

This wartime drawing shows several interesting features of the ausf B. The vehicle is shown with several rounds of tank ammunition and a few 50-rd. drums for the MG 34's. From the left, the details include: radio antenna in its trough; vehicle jack; axe, headlamp (with canvas cover); front flap of mudguard (flipped back); R.O.'s vision port (visor flap raised); gun mantlet ; loader's view flap; new cupola with 5-segment vision slot flaps. The light colored shells are yellow (HE); the dark shells are black (APC). 7