Panzer 4 variations, say some letters! Maybe we blitz-mod it
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JgPz 4... Why not a Jagdpanzer 38t or Ferdi?
...Not even Hetzer... Still German Panzers are a problem for us... We dont have ideas for.
You are looking for the best Panzer IV variants to model?
1) Pz IV F1 - 464 built. KWK37 L/24 short barrel, low velocity 75mm main gun, 50mm thick frontal armour, 30mm thick side armour 22.3t weight - This variant was present at Stalingard in some numbers and could stand in for all the early-model PzIVs used in the Russian campaign from 1941 (should modders decide to build maps from that period).
2) Pz IV H - lots built. KWK40 L/48 long-barrel, high velocity 75mm gun, Single-piece 80mm front glacis, spare track links on brackets on the front glacis, single round hatch for the commander's cupola (up-armoured), Zimmerit anti-mine paste on all vertical surfaces, and most importantly, the Schurzen armour skirts (5mm side skirts, 8mm turret skirt) 25t weight and slightly reduced mobility due to weaker transmission - This is the iconic Pz IV from RO1 and was the one used at the battle of the Kursk (you've got to start working on that some time) and the long retreat back to Germany. This variant is useful for so many possible maps! It is also markedly different in appearance from the PzIVG we have in game because of the side skirts, adding some nice variety to the battlefield. If you could program the side skirts to fall off in sections when hit (like they do in Iron Front) that would be epic. This variant is useful for 1943 and 1944 maps.
3)Pz IV J - lots built. Fixed the mobility issues of the Aus H., manually operated turret instead of electrical (electrical system space was used for an extra fuel tank), no pistol/vision ports in turret, simplified radiator housing, different mufflers (2 flame supressing ones instead of the cylinderical one), 3 return rollers only, wire-mesh side skirts instead of plates - This was the 1944/45 production model useful for late war maps (like Rakowice for example) and if Rising Storm content was used to make Western front maps from Normandy. Please note that Zimmerit was no longer in use by late 1944 so if you decide to use a skin for that, maybe make Zimmerit and Zimmerit-less skins for this one.
4)STuGIV - 1140 Built. KWK40 L/48 long-barrel, high velocity 75mm gun, PzIV chassis with the armoured superstructure of the STuGIII, MG34 with a shield on top of the superstructure, 23t weight (lighter than the StuGIII G!) - Historically this wasn't as numerous as the STuGIII but was known for being an effective tank-killer on the Ostfront. Since we don't know how long we'll be waiting for the PzIII (and any variants thereof like the STuGIII) to come from TWI, making this or Jagdpanzer IV should be a priority (keeping in mind that the STuGIV and JPIV are both 1944/45 models. Tank destroyers were heavily used by the Wehrmacht
5)Jagdpanzer IV - ~2000 built. More common that the STuGIV and built in several variants in 1944/45(Jagdpanzer IV - KWK40 L/48, Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) super low profile sexiest looking JPIV with the lethal PaK42 L/70 from the Panther tank and the Jagdpanzer IV/70 (A) also with the PaK42 but with a 40cm taller superstructure. The argument for the Jagdpanzer is the same as for the STuGIV above with the Jagpanzer IV/70(V) being the most common variant. Early examples had Zimmerit applied while later vehicle dispensed with the muzzle brake which apparently kicked up a large dust cloud with each firing (the gun was so close to the ground).
6)Panzerbefehlswagen IV (Pz.Bef.Wg. IV) command tank - 105 built from PzIVJ and refurbished chasses. Features a radio and reduced ammo stowage
7)Sturmpanzer 43 (2nd Series)- The so-called "Brummbaer" 150mm StuH43 L/12 anti-infantry gun! Zimmerit used until Sep, 1944. 306 units built.
I hope this helps,
Fafnir_6