Panzer IV H/J

[Donovan]

This is a Panzer IV from the local tank museum, only one in this hemisphere that is in private hands.

It came from Israel after the war with Syria. It was captured by the Israeli's and in their museum for many years until traded to it's current location in Virgina.

After WWII this tank went to Checkoslovakia where is was somewhat modified before ending up in the hands of the Syrians and finally the Israeli's. It's exact type is unknown, but interestingly enough it only has four coats of paint.

Brown/Red primer, followed by what appears to be Dunkelgleb and then two coats of gray. The gray is probably post WWII and the tank sits today and it came from Israel.

I've got a ton of pics from this fairly complete example and if it is an H model that would make it really rare. Anyway, it looks to be a mix of several PzIV models. Perhaps a reworked earlier version?

If interested I can post the other pics in sections.

Cheers,
Christopher

http://www.30seconds.org/Models/PzIV-front.jpg

http://www.30seconds.org/Models/PzIV-side.jpg

http://www.30seconds.org/Models/PzIV-rear.jpg

[James Tainton]

hey thanks for the fotos... a quick appraisal says to me this is a Panzer IV/J model (lack of forward side vision ports, and the all metal return rollers being the main visual cues- but the cupola on the turret is a bit odd- its more like a F or G model?

[KingTiger]

Hey Christopher,

Excellent pics. :thumb:
I must agree with James (Panzerfaust). It looks like a IV/J but the cupola, with the double hatch looks like a model G. My guestimation is that the older cupola was retrofitted unto the turret. Probably the previous one might have been damaged. You did say that it was in Czechoslovakia for awhile and they probably still had parts of Mk IV's on hand from WWII. It's just a theory.

KingTiger

[James Tainton]

http://www.amps-armor.org/Conventions/Amps2004/Images%5CAMPS0340.jpg
in the amps pictures... a dio on Damascus..

[James Tainton]

I had this link for awhile and it seems to show the same model of vehicle... it is captioned as PanzerIV/G so...????and it looks very close to yours...
http://www.davidpride.com/Israeli_Armor/images/IL_Armor187.jpg

http://www.davidpride.com/Israeli_Armor/IL_Armor187.htm

this is part of his photos of the Israeli Armor armor museum...

http://www.davidpride.com/Israeli_Armor/Armor_Main.htm