Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf A

The backbone of the German armored division was the Panzer IV, designed in 1934 according to specifications issued by the Army Weapons Department. At the time the vehicle was developed under the covert title of Mitteren Traktor (medium tractor) to disguise its military role, with both Rheinmetall-Borsig and MAN producing a prototype for testing. Responsibility for the end product was given to the Krupp-Grusonwerke plant at Magdeburg where the Panzer IV Ausf A took shape. The armor was relatively thin on the early production models, thus starting with the Ausf B the amour was continually increased, ether during manufacture or with add on plates in the field. The Ausf B also included a new engine to increase power along with minor overall improvements to the vehicle. Approximately 35 Panzer IV Ausf A vehicles were manufactured from 1937 to 1938, with five of those vehicles being used for testing while the others were issued to combat forces (being retired from duty in 1941). April of 1938 saw the manufacture of the Ausf B with 42 vehicles rolling out of the workshop and into armored formations until they were also retired in 1943. Apart from an armor thickness increase the Panzer IV Ausf B had a modified turret design and a new one-piece front hull plate.