Hi
Yes this is interesting me, the late Panzer IVG are said to have used the 7,5cm KwK 40 L/48 instead of the L/43 but when was the L/48 used in the normal production of the Panzer IVG?
The gun seems to have been ready by August 42 for testing and till now the only info I found is that it was used from March 43 on in the production of the Panzer IVG.
Can anyone confirm this or has additional info?
Panzer IVG, when was the 7,5cm KwK 40 L/48 used?
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Panzer IVG, when was the 7,5cm KwK 40 L/48 used?
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Re: Panzer IVG, when was the 7,5cm KwK 40 L/48 used?
On 30.4.1943 German Quartermaster General records for the first time distinguished between the Pz. IV with the L/43 and the L/48 gun.
By that date all existing Pz. IV equipped units reported having only Pz. IV L/24 and L/43 on hand. None already had received any Pz. IV L/48, although a total of 105 had just been allocated to units on the Eastern Front.
By 10.5.1943 still none of the allocated Pz. IV L/48 had reached their assigned units.
But on 20.5.1943 for the first time any Pz. IV L/48 appear among the Pz. IV L/24 and L/43:
15 with Pz.Gren.Div. GD
10 with 5. Pz.Div.
3 with 9. Pz.Div.
2 with 20. Pz.Div.
By 31.5.1943 the figures had risen to:
30 with 13. Pz.Div.
15 with SS-Pz.Gren.Div. LAH
15 with SS-Pz.Gren.Div. DR
15 with SS-Pz.Gren.Div. T
15 with Pz.Gren.Div. GD
10 with 5. Pz.Div.
3 with 9. Pz.Div.
2 with 20. Pz.Div.
10 with 25. Pz.Div. in Norway
So at the very end of May 1943 a total of 100 Pz. IV with the L/48 had reached active service.
With only a total of 68 Pz. IV Ausf. H of the first series produced at Vomag, it is IMHO save to say more than half of the 100 Pz. IV L/48 that had reached the troops must have been late Ausf. G with L/48 guns.
Who received exactly what however can only be finally established if the chassis numbers of the tanks will be known.
Martin Block
By that date all existing Pz. IV equipped units reported having only Pz. IV L/24 and L/43 on hand. None already had received any Pz. IV L/48, although a total of 105 had just been allocated to units on the Eastern Front.
By 10.5.1943 still none of the allocated Pz. IV L/48 had reached their assigned units.
But on 20.5.1943 for the first time any Pz. IV L/48 appear among the Pz. IV L/24 and L/43:
15 with Pz.Gren.Div. GD
10 with 5. Pz.Div.
3 with 9. Pz.Div.
2 with 20. Pz.Div.
By 31.5.1943 the figures had risen to:
30 with 13. Pz.Div.
15 with SS-Pz.Gren.Div. LAH
15 with SS-Pz.Gren.Div. DR
15 with SS-Pz.Gren.Div. T
15 with Pz.Gren.Div. GD
10 with 5. Pz.Div.
3 with 9. Pz.Div.
2 with 20. Pz.Div.
10 with 25. Pz.Div. in Norway
So at the very end of May 1943 a total of 100 Pz. IV with the L/48 had reached active service.
With only a total of 68 Pz. IV Ausf. H of the first series produced at Vomag, it is IMHO save to say more than half of the 100 Pz. IV L/48 that had reached the troops must have been late Ausf. G with L/48 guns.
Who received exactly what however can only be finally established if the chassis numbers of the tanks will be known.
Martin Block
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Re: Panzer IVG, when was the 7,5cm KwK 40 L/48 used?
Sorry, replace 100 with 115. Did I already mention my troubles with mathematics
Martin Block
Martin Block
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Re: Panzer IVG, when was the 7,5cm KwK 40 L/48 used?
Very helpful, thanks.
Do you may also know why there is such a long time between the KwK L/48 and the StuK L/48?
According to "The Spielberger German Armor & Military Vehicles Series Vol.II Sturmgeschütz & Its Variants" the first StuK L/48 were produced in June 1942, I guess it didn't take so long for StuGs with the L/48 to arrive at the front maybe August or September I would estimate.
Do you may also know why there is such a long time between the KwK L/48 and the StuK L/48?
According to "The Spielberger German Armor & Military Vehicles Series Vol.II Sturmgeschütz & Its Variants" the first StuK L/48 were produced in June 1942, I guess it didn't take so long for StuGs with the L/48 to arrive at the front maybe August or September I would estimate.
"Spread word to every slave, that even the mighty republic bleeds when struck!"
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Re: Panzer IVG, when was the 7,5cm KwK 40 L/48 used?
Sorry, don't have data on that topic available.
Martin Block
Martin Block
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Re: Panzer IVG, when was the 7,5cm KwK 40 L/48 used?
Did the StuG III Ausf F/8 not enter production in September 1942, this was the first version with the L/48 gun.
Alan