HOME | DD

Description
In June 1944, German weapons experts calculated the survivability of the Pzkpfw-IV (L/48) against newer Russian tanks and tank destroyers (the T-34/85 and JSU-122) to no-ones surprise, the Pzkpfw-IV performed poorly against these Soviet-made armored fighting vehicles in both armor protection and firepower. Authorities agreed that the Pzkpfw-IV needed a more powerful main armament and better armor protection. Some suggested fitting the Panzer-IV/70(V) superstructure directly onto an unmodified Pzkpfw-IV Auf-J chassis. A majority agreed, consequently authorities gave Alkett the task of
designing an 'Übergangsaufbau' or transitional superstructure to fit onto the Pzkpfw-IV Auf-J chassis. Designers had solved conversion problems - namely the inability of the main armament to elevate sufficiently - by fitting a 40cm high square boxlike superstructure between an unaltered Pzkpfw-IV Auf-J chassis and an essentially unaltered Panzer-IV/70(V) superstructure. After a demonstration to Hitler, it was agreed to order 350 such vehicles. Production progressed very slowly with the vehicle - now named the Panzer-IV/70(A) - with only three of the 50 assembled in the month of August. Manufacture picked up in the following months and by March 1945 Alkett had finished 271 units. Panzer-IV/70(A) s saw action from September 1944 until the end of the war.

Note: the vehicle was never known as Zwischenlösung. This was an erroneous name given by Allied sources.

This drawing depicts the final version produced having the first four road wheels steel rimmed, reduction of the number of return idlers from four to three, the elimination of tow brackets on the front loewr hull, and extending the hull sides out to drill new tow eyelets in them.

Description
In June 1944, German weapons experts calculated the survivability of the Pzkpfw-IV (L/48) against newer Russian tanks and tank destroyers (the T-34/85 and JSU-122) to no-ones surprise, the Pzkpfw-IV performed poorly against these Soviet-made armored fighting vehicles in both armor protection and firepower. Authorities agreed that the Pzkpfw-IV needed a more powerful main armament and better armor protection. Some suggested fitting the Panzer-IV/70(V) superstructure directly onto an unmodified Pzkpfw-IV Auf-J chassis. A majority agreed, consequently authorities gave Alkett the task of
designing an 'Übergangsaufbau' or transitional superstructure to fit onto the Pzkpfw-IV Auf-J chassis. Designers had solved conversion problems - namely the inability of the main armament to elevate sufficiently - by fitting a 40cm high square boxlike superstructure between an unaltered Pzkpfw-IV Auf-J chassis and an essentially unaltered Panzer-IV/70(V) superstructure. After a demonstration to Hitler, it was agreed to order 350 such vehicles. Production progressed very slowly with the vehicle - now named the Panzer-IV/70(A) - with only three of the 50 assembled in the month of August. Manufacture picked up in the following months and by March 1945 Alkett had finished 271 units. Panzer-IV/70(A) s saw action from September 1944 until the end of the war.

Note: the vehicle was never known as Zwischenlösung. This was an erroneous name given by Allied sources.

This drawing depicts the final version produced having the first four road wheels steel rimmed, reduction of the number of return idlers from four to three, the elimination of tow brackets on the front loewr hull, and extending the hull sides out to drill new tow eyelets in them.