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Description
Overview:
As the last of the Pzkpfw-IV series, officials decided to modify the design of the vehicle to maximize its road and cross-country range. Designers achieved this by removing the auxiliary generator motor - used to power the turret traverse system - and fitting a 200-liter fuel tank in its place. In turn, they altered the turret's traverse system to allow the gunner to rotate the turret manually. The first 10-series/BW (Pzkpfw-IV Auf-J) came off the assembly line early in 1944. Production continued until the very end of the war.

Production:
Manufacturers produced 3,140 Pzkpfw-IV Auf-J between February 1944 and May 1945, with Vomag making 180 units and Nibelungenwerk 2,970. (Note: Nibelungenwerk assembled StuPz-IV and Pz-IV/70(A) concurrently).

Design:
The Pzkpfw-IV Auf-J retained the same characteristics as the Auf-H with the following exceptions:
• Elimination of turret traverse auxiliary generator motor.
• Elimination of auxiliary motor muffler from the hull rear.
• Addition of 200 Liter fuel tank in place of the auxiliary generator motor.
• Converting the hydraulic turret traverse system to a manual system.
• Adding a rack for spare tracks on the right side of the superstructure.

Series Modifications:
The Pzkpfw-IV J had the following changes made during its production:
Spring 1944:
¬ Dropping the visor on the right side of the front turret.
¬ Dropping the visors on turret side hatches.
¬ Adding three Piltz sockets to turret roof for jib-boom.
Summer 1944:
¬ Replacing C-towing hooks with S-towing hooks.
¬ Increasing thickness of superstructure roof from 10mm to 16mm
¬ Modifying the fume-extracting fan mount on the turret roof.
¬ Replacing the old cylindrical type muffler with new ‘Flammentöten' mufflers.
¬ Replacing the radiator refill box that had tapering sides to one with vertical sides.
Fall 1944:
¬ Replacing old schürtzen with new wire-mesh schürtzen to reduce total weight.
¬ Dropping the application of ‘Zimmerit' anti-magnetic paste.
¬ Extending the hull side out to allow towing holes to be drilled.
¬ Replacing the commander's cupola swinging hinge with a pivoting hinge.
¬ Adding Nahverteidigungswaffe anti-personnel mortar to the turret roof.
Winter 1944/45:
¬ Eliminating one return idler per side, bringing the total from four to three per side.
¬ Adding a coupling to the hull for towing.
The Pzkpfw-IV J had the following changes made after its issue:
Spring 1944:
¬ Applying zimmerit anti-magnetic paste.
Summer 1944:
¬ Adding three Pilze to mount jib-boom on turret roof.

Combat:
The Pzkpfw-IV Auf-J became the most common German tank from late 1944 until the end of the war, seeing combat in Russia, Italy, France, Eastern Europe, and finally Germany. By the time, the Pzkpfw-IV Auf-J saw action in the war, one of each Panzer Regiment in each Panzer Division was composed entirely of Pzkpfw-IVs, while the rest of the regiment would have been composed of Pzkpfw-V "Panther."

Drawing:
This drawing depicts an early production Ausf.J which only differed from a late Ausf.H externally in not having the small square exhaust muffler for the turret traverse motor. This particular drawing shows the vehicle without external equipment, stowage bin on the turret rear and schürzen.

Description
Overview:
As the last of the Pzkpfw-IV series, officials decided to modify the design of the vehicle to maximize its road and cross-country range. Designers achieved this by removing the auxiliary generator motor - used to power the turret traverse system - and fitting a 200-liter fuel tank in its place. In turn, they altered the turret's traverse system to allow the gunner to rotate the turret manually. The first 10-series/BW (Pzkpfw-IV Auf-J) came off the assembly line early in 1944. Production continued until the very end of the war.

Production:
Manufacturers produced 3,140 Pzkpfw-IV Auf-J between February 1944 and May 1945, with Vomag making 180 units and Nibelungenwerk 2,970. (Note: Nibelungenwerk assembled StuPz-IV and Pz-IV/70(A) concurrently).

Design:
The Pzkpfw-IV Auf-J retained the same characteristics as the Auf-H with the following exceptions:
• Elimination of turret traverse auxiliary generator motor.
• Elimination of auxiliary motor muffler from the hull rear.
• Addition of 200 Liter fuel tank in place of the auxiliary generator motor.
• Converting the hydraulic turret traverse system to a manual system.
• Adding a rack for spare tracks on the right side of the superstructure.

Series Modifications:
The Pzkpfw-IV J had the following changes made during its production:
Spring 1944:
¬ Dropping the visor on the right side of the front turret.
¬ Dropping the visors on turret side hatches.
¬ Adding three Piltz sockets to turret roof for jib-boom.
Summer 1944:
¬ Replacing C-towing hooks with S-towing hooks.
¬ Increasing thickness of superstructure roof from 10mm to 16mm
¬ Modifying the fume-extracting fan mount on the turret roof.
¬ Replacing the old cylindrical type muffler with new ‘Flammentöten' mufflers.
¬ Replacing the radiator refill box that had tapering sides to one with vertical sides.
Fall 1944:
¬ Replacing old schürtzen with new wire-mesh schürtzen to reduce total weight.
¬ Dropping the application of ‘Zimmerit' anti-magnetic paste.
¬ Extending the hull side out to allow towing holes to be drilled.
¬ Replacing the commander's cupola swinging hinge with a pivoting hinge.
¬ Adding Nahverteidigungswaffe anti-personnel mortar to the turret roof.
Winter 1944/45:
¬ Eliminating one return idler per side, bringing the total from four to three per side.
¬ Adding a coupling to the hull for towing.
The Pzkpfw-IV J had the following changes made after its issue:
Spring 1944:
¬ Applying zimmerit anti-magnetic paste.
Summer 1944:
¬ Adding three Pilze to mount jib-boom on turret roof.

Combat:
The Pzkpfw-IV Auf-J became the most common German tank from late 1944 until the end of the war, seeing combat in Russia, Italy, France, Eastern Europe, and finally Germany. By the time, the Pzkpfw-IV Auf-J saw action in the war, one of each Panzer Regiment in each Panzer Division was composed entirely of Pzkpfw-IVs, while the rest of the regiment would have been composed of Pzkpfw-V "Panther."

Drawing:
This drawing depicts an early production Ausf.J which only differed from a late Ausf.H externally in not having the small square exhaust muffler for the turret traverse motor. This particular drawing shows the vehicle without external equipment, stowage bin on the turret rear and schürzen.