Panzerkampfwagen IV with Panther Schmalturm

Drawing by H. L. Doyle from Panzerkampfwagen IV and Its Variants, 1975.

Given the growing resistance of allied tanks to German anti-tank guns, plans were developed to categorically up-gun the entire range of German tanks toward the end of World War II. One possible answer was affixing the Schmalturm of the Panther Ausf. F to the Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. J chassis. The drawing above gives a good indication of what the conversion would look like.

Unfortunately, like so many other late-war German projects, this conversion was impractical. The chassis of the panzerkampfwagen IV was severely overloaded by the schmalturm. Furhtermore, it is doubtful the turret ring of the Panzer IV would have been able to accomodate the turret unless the overhang was widended (which was suggested in one schematic). However this would have further overloaded an already burdened chassis.

Source: Panzerkampfwagen IV and Its Variants

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