Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf E

Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf E

The Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf E was the fifth production model of the Panzer IV medium support tank and saw a significant increase in the armour carried by the tank. During the production run of the Ausf D extra armour had been bolted onto the side and front of the tank. On the Ausf E the 20mm plates on the side of the superstructure and hull and the 30mm plates on the front of the superstructure became a standard feature, while the frontal hull armour was increased in thickness from 30mm to 50mm.

The Ausf E also featured a new cupola design, with the cupola moved forwards from the rear of the turret into a more central position. This allowed the turret rear to be redesigned as a single bent plate. The turret was also given an exhaust fan to remove gun fumes.

Minor changes included a simplified sprocket design, a new pivoting driver’s visor, the fitting of a single signal post of the turret roof, an armoured cover for the smoke-candle rack and a redesign of the hatches on the front of the hull to make them flush with the surface.

The appearance of the Ausf E allowed every medium tank company to reach a strength of 10 Panzer IVs for the fighting in the Balkans and North Africa (40 Ausf Ds and Es accompanied the 5th and 8th Panzer Regiments to North Africa), and the start of the invasion of Russia. In 1941 the seventeen Panzer divisions that took part in the invasion of Russia contained 438 Panzer IV Ausf B-Fs. The Ausf E remained in service until the last examples were destroyed in 1944.

Names
Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf E
Sd Kfz 161
6 Serie BW

Stats
Number produced: 223
Produced: September 1940-April 1941
Hull Length: 5.92m
Hull Width: 2.84m
Height: 2.68m
Crew: 5
Weight: 21 tons
Engine: Maybach HL120TRM
Max Speed: 42km/hr
Max Range: 200km
Armament: One 7.5cm KwK37 L/24 and one 7.92mm MG13s

Armour

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