This tank destroyer is Panzer IV with a long PaK 42 Anti-tank gun. Panzer IV/70 (A) Sd.Kfz. 162, the (A) refers to the creator of the tank Alkett. The PaK 42 is the same gun used in the Panzerkampfwagen IV Panther tanks. This 75 mm gun could outrange most Allied tank weapons and therefore it was considered a real threat on the battlefield. Originally the Jagdpanzers PaK 42 had a muzzle break. Most crews removed this for the low silhouette of the tank and the low placement of the gun caused clouds of dust after firing and gave away the position of the tank destroyer.
This particular tank was captured by Allied forces and used by the Free French until the end of the war. The Jagdpanzer was left as it is, with impact damage and even an unexploded shell in its frontal armor.
Sd.Kfz. 162 – The Jagdpanzer IV/70 (A)
The Jagdpanzer IV/70 (A), designated Sd.Kfz. 162, was a German tank destroyer used during World War II. Built on the chassis of the Panzer IV, the Jagdpanzer IV/70 (A) featured a fully enclosed superstructure, providing better protection and a more effective combat platform. It was designed primarily to combat Soviet armor, featuring the powerful 75mm Pak 42 L/70 gun—one of the most effective anti-tank guns of the war.
The Jagdpanzer IV/70 (A) weighed approximately 25 tons and was powered by a Maybach HL120 TRM engine, producing 265 horsepower. This allowed it to achieve a top speed of around 38 km/h (24 mph), with a range of about 210 km (130 miles) on roads. The vehicle was protected by up to 80mm of armor on the front, sloped to improve its effectiveness.
The vehicle had a four-man crew: a commander, gunner, loader, and driver. Its design emphasized firepower and protection over mobility, which resulted in a less agile but highly effective tank destroyer. The Jagdpanzer IV/70 (A) was produced from 1944 until 1945, with around 1,000 units built. It saw combat on both the Eastern and Western Fronts, proving its effectiveness against both Soviet and Allied armored forces.
