Around 200 Panzer IV F2 were produced and converted from F1 from March 1942 to July 1942. It had the 8 wheel suspension like its predecessors and was armed with the new long barreled 7,5cm KwK40 L/43 and two MG34. The crew consisted of 5 soldiers. The Panzer IV Ausf.F2 is distuguishable from the new and unique single baffle muzzle brake and the L/43 gun instead of the longer L/48 seen in later versions. The engine was the 265HP Maybach HL120TRM which allowed a maximum speed of 42km/h on street. The Panzer IV Ausf.F2 was 6.62m long, 2.88m wide and 2.68m high. It weighted 23 tons.
The 7.Pz.Div. was raised in Oct.1939 and fought 1940 in France, 1941/42 on the Eastern Front and from June 1942 on back in France. From 1943 on the Division was again on the eastern front and fought in Charkow, Belgorod, Tarnopol, Minsk, Western Prussia and surrendered to British Troops near Schwerin in May 1945. |