D.M.L. Dragon

Series – ARMOR**

DRR 60231 – JAGDPANZER IV L/70

Late production, "L01", Hungary 1945*

1/72 Scale

SRP – $18.25

Released – July 2006

REGULAR CUSTOMERS PLEASE INQUAIRE FOR AVAILABILITY OF ADDITIONAL DISCOUNT

DRR 60231 & 60232 are Dragon first release of Jagdpanzer model in their Armor Series (though the model of this battle vehicle was issued by Dragon as a part of their 2005 Expo Special models)

Jagdpanzer IV was built on the Pz.Kpfw IV chassis. L/.. stands for the main gun barrel length that in this case is the caliber by 70; and was the most powerful variant of the gun used for Jagdpanzer. 

1/72 Jagdpanzer IV L/70 "L01", Hungary 1945

This model features a Jagdpanzer IV with a special winter camouflage scheme. It features an overall white color with 'splotches' of yellow. This tank-hunter was rushed into combat to try and stem the tide of the Red Army tanks closing in on Hungary in 1945.

Main Features:
- True-scale model
- Historically accurate and weathered camouflage replicated from an actual wartime photograph
- Detailed and weathered track links
- Includes display case
- Highly collectible
- Ready to display!

The Panzer IV/70(V) (Sd Kfz 162/1)***

Other designations: Panzerwagen 604/10, Great 559, Pz Jag IV mit 7.5cm PaK 42 (L/70). Please note that this vehicle didn’t have designation of Jagdpanzer IV as its predecessor.  It was improved version of Pz Kpfw IV (Sd Kfz 162) “Jagdpanzer IV” that was developed as improvement of StuG III program (assault gun based on the Pz III chassis) with the idea to eventually replace it.   StuG III program started in 1940 and was constantly upgraded during the course of production.   Due to the lost of the production facility at Alket in December 1944 in order to compensate StuG lost of production it was decided to mount StuG III superstructure on Pz IV chassis and continue production at Krupp as StuG IV, while newly developed superstructure of Pz Jag on Pz IV chassis manufactured at Vomag.   Panzer IV/70(V) went into production in January 1944.  Rather to be treated as a new variant (Ausf) the new designation had been assigned to this battle vehicle - Sturmgeschütz neuer Art mit 7.5cm PaK L/48 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen IV (Sd Kfz 162).  Besides this long official name it also had other designations “shorter names”:  Great 821, Pz Jag IV and last but not least Jagdpanzer IV.  For additional information on German assault gun program (Sturmgeschütz or StuG please see at the bottom of this page) 

Upgraded version Sd Kfz 162/1 went into production in August and till December Vomag produced both Jagdpanzer IV (Sd Kfz 162) and Sd Kfz 162/1, but in December it switch to production of Panzer IV/70(V) only.

As with StuG III and IV the New StuG used the same suspension and drive train components as the chassis from which it was designed.  However the front of the hull was altered and totally new superstructure was designed.  Well-slopped armor plate (first introduced on T-34 Russian Tank) significantly increased protection.   The main difference compare to its predecessor Jagdpanzer IV was the long barrel gun PaK42 L/70 that was similar in performance to deadly Panther’s tank gun.  The gun was held at +13 degree elevation by a travel lock when moving in non-combat areas.  In addition to increased front armor protection that started with Jagdpanzer IV produced since May, long heavier gun of Panzer IV/70 (V) made it nose heavy resulting heavy wear and even failure of the rubber tired wheels.  In order to fix this problem on later production units steel rimmed wheels were installed at two front wheel stations.   Late production units were built on the Pz IV Ausf J chassis, which had 3 return rollers instead of four.  Armor side-skirts were available on both Sd Kfz 162 and Sd Kfz 162/1.  Germans applied Zimmerit paste coating (protection against magnetic mines) on all new tanks and self-propelled guns till late 1944 when the program was abandoned.  Nine hundred thirty (930) units were produced from August 1944 to March 1945

It was decided to use this New StuG as a tank destroyer only therefore all Jagdpanzer IV and Panzer IV/70(V) were issued to independed Panzer-jager (Tank-Hunter) detachments and Panzer-jager detachments of Panzer Divisions.  First Panzer IV/70(V) were issued to 105^th and 106^th Independed Panzer Brigades.  It was first used in numbers during the Ardennes offensive in December 1944. 

Jagdpanzer IV (Sd Kfz 162) and especially its latter version with long barrel gun Panzer IV/70(V), (Sd Kfz 162/1) were very efficient weapon.  Original intend for Jagdpanzer replacing StuG III and for the matter StuG IV never materialized with both these assault guns still in production till March 1945. 

Weight (tones): 25.8

L: 8.5m (8’ 4”)

W: 3.17m (10’ 7”)

H: 1.85m (6’ 2”)

Powered by Maybach HL120TRM gasoline engine w/6 forward and 1 reverse speed gearbox: speed 35km/h (21.3mph), range 210km(127miles)

Armed w/ 7.5cm PaK42 L/70 main gun (different sources show 50 or 55 rounds) Traverse 20 degree (hand) Elevation –5 + 15 degree; .and one 7.62mm MG42 (600 rounds).  Late production units have additional mount in the roof over the gunner for the 7.62mm MP44 (first in world assault rifle).  The mount was designed for a curved barrel attachment.  Armor: superstructure and upper hull front – 80 mm (3.15”); superstructure sides – 40mm; hull sides – 30mm; rear superstructure and hull – 20mm; Top/Bottom superstructure 20mm and hull 10mm

Sturmgeschütz (StuG) - History of Development

Contract for development of 15 and 20 tones class tanks were issued in 1935 the results were Panzerkampfagen III and IV.  Original planning was to use Pz III for tank-to-tank engagements and Pz IV as an infantry support tank. A year latter the order was given to develop an armored infantry support vehicle armed with a gun at least 7.5cm and the high not exceeding the high of an average man.  Prototypes were built in 1937; and first 30 units of Gepanzerter Selbstfahrlafette fur Strumgeschutz 7.5cm Kanone Ausf A had been produced in 1940.  Starting the long line of Sturmgeschütz or StuG, in English an assault gun, which served in Nazi German Armed Forces.  Production of assault guns was much less expensive while effectiveness was almost good as tanks.  During the WW II Germans produced 14,205 of Pz III and Pz IV and 10389 of StuG III and IV plus 1,699 Pz Jag IV.  The down side of a StuG was limited traverse of the main gun that often required turning the vehicle towards the target when a tank could just turn the turret.  

During the Poland, Belgium and France campaigns, though available in small numbers, Pz III, IV and StuG performed well. However, with the invasion in Soviet Union Germans got a nasty surprise in form of the best tank in the world at the time the Russian T-34.   This tank was totally superior to any German tanks.   Both 5cm of Pz III and 7.5cm short barrel gun of Pz IV were insufficient to fight T-34.  In late 1941 early 1942 Germans supplied to the front Pz III with a long barrel gun that was an improvement but still not good enough for the job.  However design of StuG allowed upgrading its armament to 7.5cm L/43 or L/48 guns, that considered long barrel for the time.  During the spring/summer 1942 359 Ausf F 6 and 7 series; and during autumn /winter 1942 334 StuG Ausf F/8 8-series, armed w. 7.5cm L/48, along with some 200 Pz IV armed with the same gun were supplied to the front.  In fact only these battle vehicle could take the fight with T-34 at that time.  This unfortunate for Germans situation reveal new role for StuG – a tank destroyer.    After unsatisfactory attempts to upgrade Pz III as ant-tank weapon its production stopped in early 1943.  Though some 700 new production and converted were produced during the summer of 1943 as support tank armed with short barrel 7.5cm gun.  In August 1943 the production of the Pz III line ended   However, StuG were produced in large quantity till March 1945.   In December 1944 Allies heavily bombed Alket (the main production company of StuG III), to compensate lost of production Hitler demanded that StuG III superstructure were mounted on Pz IV chassis and by January 1944 Krupp totally switch from production of Pz IV to StuG IV that was in production till March 1945.  Germans had a long list of self-propelled guns or original designs and conversions based on captured enemy tanks or obsolete German tanks.  Such SPG were occasionally used for infantry support but can’t be confused with StuG that was specifically design for this role.

Production figure:

StuG III - Assault Gun

(Sd Kfz 142) Ausf A - 30 + 5 prototypes (1-5 /1940)

(Sd Kfz 142) Ausf B – 320 (6/1940 –5/1941)

(Sd Kfz 142) Ausf C – 50 (5-9/1941)

(Sd Kfz 142) Ausf D – 150 (5-9/1941)

(Sd Kfz 142) Ausf E – 272 (9/1941-3/1942)

StuG III – Assault Gun /Tank Destroyer

(Sd Kfz 142/1) Ausf F – 359 + 1 prototype (3-9/1942)

(Sd Kfz 142/1) Ausf F/8 – 334 (9-12/1942)

(Sd Kfz 142/1) Ausf G– 7,720 + 173 converted from Pz III (12/1942 –3/1945)

(Sd Kfz 142/2) 10.5cm StuG 42– 1,211 +1 prototype (10/1942-2/1945)

Variants:

Sturminfanteriegeschutz 33B (assault infantry gun) –24 (12/1941-10/1942)*

Sturmgeschütz (FI) (Flame thrower) - 10 converted (out of originally planned 220) from Pz III (5-6/1943)

Munitionspanzer auf Fahrgestell Sturmgeschutz III Ausf G – numbers were field converted to ammunition carrier in 1944-1945.  Main gun was removed and a flat armor plate covered the front of the gun aperture.

StuG IV – Assault Gun / Tank Destroyer

(Sd Kfz 167) StuG IV 1,108 plus 31 on converted Pz IV chassis

New StuG – Tank Destroyer

(Sd Kfz 162) Jagdpanzer IV, Great 821 - 769 + 26 Bergegerat. (1-11/1944)

(Sd Kfz 162/1) Panzer IV/70(V), Great 559 - 930 (8/1944-3/1945) by Vomag

Panzer IV/70(A), Great 558 –278 (8/1944 –3/1945) by Alket /Nibelungenwerke (Porsche)

Dragon ARMOR 1:72 models are: This line features static pre-assembled, pre-painted models made of both diecast and plastic. True to scale; authentically detailed and historically accurate; each WITH its own protective DISPLAY CASE, which is dust resistant and stackable.

Inquire about a discount for regular customers.

** Age over 14 Collectible item

*** Information provided based on my best knowledge regarding the matter that I would like to share with fellow collectors who can find it useful.   It can’t be considered as a historically accurate research of any kind.