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Germany
PzKpfw IV Ausf B SdKfz 161 (Panzer IV)
Ordnance classification - SdKfz 161

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The PzKpfw IV Ausf B SdKfz 161 was designed in 1937, manufactured by Krupp, Vomag, Nibelungenwerk based on the existing fully tracked PzKpfw IV and was in use from 1938 to 1943.

Flag of World War 2 Germany
Photo of PzKpfw IV Ausf B SdKfz  161 (Panzer IV)
PzKpfw IV Ausf B SdKfz  161(Panzer IV) scale illustration

General Details
Specifications
Operational Date(s)1938 - 1943
Ordnance classificationSdKfz 161
Quantity Produced42
Weight25 tonne
Crew5
M.G's small2
M.G's large(>10mm)n/a
Length5.92 mtr
Width2.86 mtr
Height2.65 mtr
Engine Details/Performance
Max Road Speed25 mph
Max Cross Country Speed13 mph
Range Road125 miles
Range Cross Country50 miles
Fuel TypePetrol
Fuel Capacityunknown
Horse Power320 hp
Power/Weight12 hp/tonne
General Information
The PzKpfw IV Ausf B SdKfz 161 was designed in 1937, manufactured by Krupp, Vomag, Nibelungenwerk based on the existing fully tracked PzKpfw IV and was in use from 1938 to 1943.

The vehicle was powered by Maybach 'HL120 TRM' petrol powerplant producing 320 HP which could drive the vehicle on roads at up to 25 mph with a range of about 125 miles before refuelling. Its cross country performance was good providing a max speed of about 13 mph and a range of about 50 miles.

It was armed with 2 light machine guns which were 7.92mm MG 34s. Its main armament consisted of a 7.5cm KwK 37 L/24 which could penetrate 54 mm of flat plate at 800 metres


Armour Details
Turret
Front30mm@10°(30mm)
Side15mm@25°(17mm)
Rear15mm@16°(16mm)
Top10mm@87°(10mm)
Superstructure
Front30mm@(30mm)
Side15mm@(15mm)
Rear15mm@10°(15mm)
Top12mm@87°(12mm)
Hull
Front30mm@12°(31mm)
Side15mm@(15mm)
Rear15mm@10°(15mm)
Top5mm@90°(5mm)
Armour (x)mm @ (y)° (Effective mm @ 0°)
Effective Armour - Maximum 31 mm - Minimum 5 mm



Weapon Details
Flag
7.92mm MG 34
7.92mm Maschinengewehr 34
(translates as Machine Gun) x 2
Blank
photo of 7.92mm MG 34 from Bundesarchiv(https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de)
History
Derived from the Solothern Maschinengewehr Modell 30, it became the main machine gun for the German army. It could be fitted with a bipod for infantry use, an Anti Aircraft mount, or a heavy tripod to turn the gun into a heavy machine gun.
ManufacturerMauser-Werke
Manufactured1936 - 1943
Calibre7.92mm
LengthL/79
Rate of Fire800 rpm
 
Ammunition Details
Name/Id Calibre Weight MVelocity Explosive Content
S.m.K.H tungsten cored
(AP Standard Small Arms)
7.92mm 0.013Kg 910M/Sec
Quoted Penetration 13mm@100m/30°
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.13 0.33 1.04
Penetration(mm@30°) 15 11 6
Penetration(mm@0°) 18 13 7
Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98


 
S.m.K
(BALL Standard Small Arms)
7.92mm 0.012Kg 785M/Sec
Quoted Penetration 8mm@100m/30°
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.2
Penetration(mm@30°) 5
Penetration(mm@0°) 6
Hit Probability(%) 98


Weapon Details
Flag
7.5cm KwK 37 L/24
7.5cm Kampfwagenkanone 37 L/24
(translates as Tank Gun)
Blank
History
This gun was fitted to the early Panzer IV and StuG III vehicles
Manufactured1937 - 1942
Calibre75mm
LengthL/24
 
Ammunition Details
Name/Id Calibre Weight MVelocity Explosive Content
K. Gr. rot Pz
(AP Armor Piercing)
75mm 6.8Kg 385M/Sec
Quoted Penetration 38mm@500m/30°
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.26 0.53 1.1 2.33 3.71 5.28 7.09 9.17
Penetration(mm@30°) 63 58 53 46 40 35 30 25
Penetration(mm@0°) 73 68 62 54 47 41 35 29
Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 54 22 6 2 1



7.5 cm Sprgr.34 - short
(HE High Explosive)
75mm 4.4Kg 385M/Sec 0.454Kg explosive
Maximum Range 6250 Mtr
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.26 0.53 1.1 2.33 3.71 5.29 7.09 9.17
Direct Fire
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.26 0.53 1.1 2.33 3.71 5.29 7.09 9.17
Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 54 22 6 2 1
Blast/Fragmentation Effects
Burst radius Infantry in open 99% kill3 mtr Burst radius Infantry in open 66% kill6 mtr
Burst radius Infantry in open 33% kill16 mtr  Armour Penetration inc roof at 1 mtr1 mm
An explosion within 3 mtr of infantry in the open will cause 99% casualties - lethal.
An explosion within 6 mtr of infantry in the open will cause > 66% casualties and could damage some AFV's.
An explosion within 16 mtr of infantry in the open will cause 33% casualties.
The blast effect of this shell exploding within 1 mtr of an armoured vehicle will penetrate 1 mm of the tank armour including the roof.

Hit probability is based on a static 2 x 2.4 metre panel at 0 degrees(vertical) at the range specified.

The data that has been used to create these records has come from Wikipedia, The Lone Sentry, The Bundes Archive and numerous books and websites that have provided the detailed information that has not been available anywhere else. The information we use to calculate the penetration tables, flight times and the hit probability comes from the Gun Calibre, the Shell Mass(Kg) and the muzzle velocity, plus range reductions to allow for gravity and wind resistance. This calculation originally came from a pre-war Krupp calculation which has been modified, and seems to fit the actual test results.

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