Jagdpanzer IV

The Jagdpanzer IV, designated Sd.Kfz. 162, was a German tank destroyer built on the Panzer IV chassis and produced in three main variants. It was a casemate-style, turretless design developed against the wishes of Heinz Guderian as a replacement for the Sturmgeschütz III, and it was meant to carry the long 7.5 cm Pak 42 L/70, though shortages meant older Pak 39 guns armed the first production vehicles. The final prototype was shown in December 1943 and production started in January 1944, with the L/48 version staying in production until November and the L/70 versions running from August 1944 to March or April 1945. The Vomag design was the main one, while Alkett, maker of the StuG III, was ordered to redesign the superstructure for the Panzer IV/70 (A) variant. The Tank Encyclopedia credits some 750 L/48 vehicles to Vomag.