Panzer IV Ausf. K

1st September 2006

The Panzerkampfwagen IV was produced in large numbers and it formed the backbone of the German armoured forces for the duration of WWII. Despite its weak armour and technical problems the panzer IV was the most reliable German armoured vehicle, and from 1942 on in particular, it was the equal of almost all enemy tanks thanks to its improved armament. The weak armour of the Panzer IV had not however gone un-noticed by the Krupp works which had drawn up plans in 1942 for a revised hull for the Panzer IV. The General staff took the decision to modernise the Panzer IV hull with a sloped glacis as proposed by Krupp. The tank weight would increase slightly with the new hull arrangement and new wider tracks would also be featured. Sadly the Adolf-Hitler production program called for the Pz.Kpfw. IV production rate to more than double by October 1943, with an additional 1200 completed by the Spring of 1944. In order to meet these production goals, the assembly and steel firms insisted that the Pz.Kpfw. IV design had to remain unchanged. Sadly the panzerkommision were forced to recommend the Pz.Kpfw. IV with sloped armour be dropped. But we modellers cant let that stop us from a bit of fun, so here is what I think it may have looked like

You can see here the standard Pz IV J hull has been modified with plastic card and parts from the Revel Kingtiger to Produce the Ausf K 01.JPG	You can see here the standard Pz IV J hull has been modified with plastic card and parts from the Revel Kingtiger to Produce the Ausf K 02.JPG	You can see here the standard Pz IV J hull has been modified with plastic card and parts from the Revel Kingtiger to Produce the Ausf K 03.JPG	I have finished the kit with Milicast IR sets and Part etched skirts 04.JPG
I have finished the kit with Milicast IR sets and Part etched skirts 05.JPG	I have finished the kit with Milicast IR sets and Part etched skirts 06.JPG	I have finished the kit with Milicast IR sets and Part etched skirts 07.JPG	A 1:76th cromwell models Schmalturm was dropped on to the Ausf K hull for a bit of fun 08.JPG
A 1:76th cromwell models Schmalturm was dropped on to the Ausf K hull for a bit of fun 09.JPG