Photo from Panzerkampfwagen IV and Its Variants
Armored Ferry Based on the Panzerkampfwagen IV
Photo from Panzerkampfwagen IV and Its Variants
River crossings and amphibious operations remain as a
challenge to armies even today. It is therefore not surprising
that the German army attempted to develop several vehicles to
aid in any military campaign involving bodies of water. This
amphibious tractor was based on the suspension of a Panzer IV.
Known as the "Panzerfaehre" (armored ferry), this vehicle was
to be the successor to the "Landwasserschlepper." Two units would
be straddled by a self-floating ferry deck. The purpose of the
system was to allow the quick crossing of rivers and other small
bodies of water by tanks. The hull of the armored ferr was impervious
to existing armor-piercing shell fire. However, as the weight of armored vehicles
was rapidly increasing, the project was not developed further than a
few test vehicles.