This Panzer IV or Panzerkampfwagen III Sd.Kfz. 161, has a 75 mm gun. Its frontal armor was 80 mm on the hull and 50 mm on the turret. This Panzer IV Ausf. H (Eng. type H) is coated with Zimmerit and has Schürzen Skirts. These spaced plate armored skirts were extra armor v.s. anti-tank rifles and hollow charges. Zimmerit was a defensive layer against magnetic mines.
Zimmerit, a special anti-magnetic coating
Zimmerit was a special anti-magnetic coating applied to German tanks and armored vehicles during World War II, developed and used primarily from 1943 to 1944. Its main purpose was to prevent the attachment of magnetic mines, which were a significant threat to armored vehicles at the time. Magnetic mines could be attached to the vehicle’s steel surface, and once activated, they would explode, damaging or destroying the vehicle.
Zimmerit was a paste-like substance made from a mixture of barium sulfate, strontium carbonate, and other materials that could be spread onto the vehicle’s exterior. The coating was applied in a rough, textured pattern, often in horizontal or vertical lines, giving the surface a distinctive appearance. This rough texture helped to disrupt the contact between a magnetic mine and the vehicle’s surface, reducing the likelihood of the mine sticking.
The coating was applied to various armored vehicles, including Panzer IV, Panther, and Tiger I tanks, as well as other German armored vehicles. However, it was eventually phased out by 1944 due to the development of more advanced mine-detection and countermeasures, as well as concerns about the weight and maintenance of the coating.
Zimmerit was largely removed from production and vehicle upkeep by the winter of 1944, after which the threat of magnetic mines diminished.
Panzer IV auf. H – Sd.Kfz. 161
The Panzer IV Ausf. H (Sd.Kfz. 161) was a variant of the iconic German Panzer IV tank used during World War II. It was introduced in 1942 as part of the ongoing effort to improve the design of the Panzer IV to meet the demands of the increasingly difficult war on the Eastern Front and in North Africa.
The Panzer IV Ausf. H was powered by a Maybach HL 120 TRM 12-cylinder gasoline engine producing 300 horsepower, allowing it to reach a top speed of around 38 km/h (24 mph) and a range of 150 km (93 miles) on roads. Weighing around 25 tons, it retained excellent mobility for its class, especially in urban and rough terrain environments.
One of the major upgrades of the Ausf. H was its 50mm thick frontal armor, which provided better protection against anti-tank weapons. It also featured a longer 75mm KwK 40 L/48 gun, improving its ability to engage enemy tanks and armored vehicles at greater distances. The vehicle was equipped with two 7.92mm MG34 machine guns for infantry defense.
The Panzer IV Ausf. H had a crew of 5 (commander, driver, gunner, loader, and radio operator) and became a critical asset for the German Army during pivotal battles like the Battle of Kursk and in the Normandy Invasion.
