Panzer IV Ausf. F1/G/H Medium Tank

Bolt Action Panzer IV Ausf. F1/G/H Medium Tank does exactly as it says on the box. It provides you with all the parts to build a Panzerkampfwagen IV as the Ausf F1 with the 50mm short-barelled gun, the Ausf G with the more powerful 75mm long-barelled gun or the Ausf H with the addition of the “schurzen” side armour plates. The tank can be built with the commanders hatch open and closed and there is a top half figure of a tank commander issuing commands.

There are decals provided and a packet of red, black and white cotton wool “smoke”. Two unit cards are provided for: the earlier version up to Ausf F and the later version for Ausf G and H. In the Bolt Action system of WWII wargaming these would have points values ranging from: 140 for an Ausf. F1 with an inexperienced crew up to 282 points for an Ausf. G or H with a veteran crew.

Construction

The model’s parts are very well made in a slightly softer plastic than some kits. This means they cut off the sprues well and it’s easy to tidy off the little burrs. There is a high level of detail including the characteristic Zimmerit paste applied to the body surfaces. The whole 8 wheels and rollers assembly comes in one piece with just the 2-part tracks and the tops of the drive sprocket and idler wheels to be added. The tracks are moulded to have realistic sag and rest on the return rollers.

All the parts have individual numbers on the sprues. The 2 x A5 page instruction set is clear and concise with leader lines showing where all the numbered parts fit. These are also annotated with an F, G or H for the different model variations and particularly the schurzen armour. All the various options were correct for the models they were depicting as far as my research revealed.

Some of the additional bits and pieces like petrol cans, spare track and wheels are optional and in practice crews would attach anything they could lay their hands on to give them extra protection.

One issue I had was with the sheet of decals. I spent a long time researching for an appropriate number to use for the model G I’d built in Normandy camoflauge without the schurzen armour. I was going for Untersturmfuhrer Gerhard Stiller’s tank no. 725 of the 1st SS Panzer Division. Unfortunately the numbers in the decal sheet are too large for the side of the turret. I’ll only be able to apply them if I add the schurzen. I’ll maybe do this later.

There also ought to be smaller crosses to go on the front and back of the tank and some smaller numbers for the rear of the turret or schurzen. Finally the Division insignia are nice but if you were making the F1 in desert garb it would be nice to have some Afrika Korps “palm tree” symbols. (I subsequently found out all these issues were addressed with the different decal sheet in the Panzer IV Ausf. B/C/D kit)

History

The Panzer IV was the backbone of the German armed forces in World War II. It was the only tank to be in continuous production throughout the war with over 8,000 produced in total. Originally intended for a rôle as an infantry support vehicle to help take fortified positions it was frequently upgraded and improved particularly in firepower.

It’s main armament changed from the 50 cm howitzer of the F1 through to the long-barelled 7.5 cm Kampfwagenkanone 40 (KwK 40). This latter gun gave it a powerful anti-tank capability and it was able to penetrate all the Allied armour of the day, even at medium to long distances.

Debriefing

This is a good solid kit of the Pz. Kpfw. IV, with the minor quibble about the decals. It can provide you 3 different versions of the most numerous German tank and should be present on any Bolt Action wartable of the period.