#Ostwind 4

[gnomeniche]

[??? UNABLE TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUAL]

hi. i’d like to introduce you to the eidolon. he’s the antagonist of arc 4.

ignore everything i’ve previously said about arc 4. this is what it is now: the overall idea is that the mental world—and all its fears, nightmares, and warped perceptions—has begun to bleed into the physical world of ostwind. this “fog” affects many of the residents of ostwind, human and nonhuman, but the whole phenomenon comes from the magic of the hellmouth, which is using linden as the lynchpin due to events at the end of arc 3. unfortunately for lucas, this means that to solve the problem, the main characters have to figure out whatever’s going on with his brother.

the eidolon is linden. at least, he is the manifestation of the version of linden that he presents to other people and of linden’s need to maintain control of that perception of normalcy. as such, he controls the veil (the earthly force that hides magic from people) to the extent that he can decide anything that people see. the eidolon starts out looking exactly like linden, but as the arc progresses, his face chips off like porcelain, the color drains from him, and he starts to look like this.

there’s more than one version of linden that shows up this arc, too. the question is whether any one of them are more linden than the others

i made a lot of these decisions ages ago, but i’m only talking about this now because i’m finally satisfied with the overall look of the eidolon, so i can finally share him. my television presenter / panopticon / analog horror girlfriend.

[entdeckertouren-blog]

Abenteuer Peene - 5 Tage auf dem Wasser - Juli 2023

Tag 1

Morgens um 4 sind wir in Leipzig gestartet. Es ist Sonntag, die Autobahnen sind leer, wir kommen entspannt in MV an. Abseits von Autobahn und Ostsee zeigt sich das Land von seiner schönsten Seite. Blauer Himmel, lange Alleen, gelbe Weizenfelder mit rotem Mohn und blauen Seen.

Die Kanu- Station in Verchen empfängt uns tiefenentspannt. Was kein Zufall zu sein scheint. An der Station direkt gibt es psychologische Beratung, Stressmanagement und Hypnose.

Wir bekommen unsere Boote, alles erforderliche Packmaterial und alles ist "Na klar. Kein Problem."

In aller Ruhe verladen wir unseren Gepäckstapel. Schon krass, was so in die Boote geht. Wir haben einen 4er und einen 3er Kanadier. Beide Boote lassen sich zu zweit gut fahren.

Wir finden den Eingang zur Peene - und sind erstmal entsetzt. Motorboote. Unzählige. Kleine, große, laute, schnelle, Yachten, Segelschiffe. Das haben wir nicht erwartet. Jede Beschreibung des Peene- Abenteuers suggeriert Ruhe und Stille. Davon ist nichts zu sehen.

Wir kommen nur langsam voran und schieben es auf unsere Erschöpfung. Doch - Nein!!! Als wir an einem Baumstopp mit Schwimmweste ins Wasser springen und uns treiben lassen, geht es tatsächlich in die falsche Richtung! Wir sind fassungslos. Dass die Peene die Fließrichtung manchmal bei Ostwind ändert, haben wir gelesen und es als seltenes Ereignis eingestuft. Jetzt ist es klar. Der Fluss fließt heute rückwärts. Echt jetzt? Heute? Bei kaum spürbaren Wind? Ja.

Nach 8 km sozusagen stromaufwärts halten wir am ersten Wasserwanderrastplatz. Mehr geht heute nicht.

Es ist ein winziger schmaler Streifen. Es gibt kein fließend Wasser. Kein Strom. Ein Plumpsklo und im Dorf einen "Wasserautomaten" an welchem man für Geld Wasser zapfen kann.

Dafür gibt es dann am Abend.... Ein Konzert! Das ganze Dorf strömt herbei um einem Musikerduo zuzuhören. Mit Klappstühlen kommen jung und alt. Die Musiker kommen mit dem Hausfloß angefahren. Es wird ein Imbissstand aufgebaut.

Und so kommen wir zu einem unerwarteten Erlebnis: Abends an der Peene mit Sonnenuntergang, Gitarrenmusik, Bier, Langos, Bockwurst und Schokokuchen! Was für ein Erlebnis!!!

[claudi-is-fishing]

Sonntag, 28.04., der Tag

Was haben wir geschwitzt am Zoll…wir haben es geschafft!!! Gegen 14:00 Uhr sind wir in Herdla angekommen. Wir haben ca 4 Stunden gebraucht, um das Auto auszuladen. Der Rest wird heute noch ausgepackt. Ich habe lediglich geschafft, 2 Terrassen Ruten zu montieren, sodass jeder ein paar Würfchen machen konnte. Bei eisigem Ostwind hatten wir noch nicht mal einen Rupfer😩. Der Wind wird sich heute zu einem Sturm entwickeln und auf Süd drehen. D. h., er kommt dann direkt von vorn und wir müssen mit dem Auswerfen aufpassen. Aber das macht nichts, denn ich muss eh arbeiten und wir haben viel Zeit.

[sandyhookhistory]

“A Routine Killing Day” 80 Years Ago, Today – (Mon) Feb 1st, 1943, across the board: The Axis may be losing in North Africa but they sure have plenty of bite left in them. 53 miles northeast of Tobruk, Libya (14 miles from shore), U-617 (VIIC) puts 2 torpedoes into the 400-foot minelayer HMS Welshman (M 84, Abdiel-Class, Pic 1). She takes 165 Officers and Men with her to the bottom; 124 others are rescued. 8 miles off Tarfaya, Morocco, U-66 (IXC) uses her deck gun to sink the French trawler “Joseph Elise.” (No Pic Available - NPA) 1 dead, 11 survivors. Meanwhile, the Allies hit back. 4.5 miles northeast of Cape San Vito, Sicily, the Italian freighter “Pozzuoli” (NPA) is picked off by the sub HMS Turbulent (N98, T-Class, Pic 2); 11 Dead, 16 Survivors. At Norway’s most northern point, 1.5 miles off Porsangerfjord, the Russian sub L-20 (Leninets-Class, sister ship in Pic 3) sinks the German steamer “Othmarschen” (Pic 4) with 4 Dead, 39 Survivors. 90 miles to the southeast, off Vardo, Norway, the Vorpostenboot “Ostwind” (V1165, Polarkries-Class, NPA) is sunk by the Russian sub M-172 (Malyutka-Class, sister ship Pic 5). 45 Dead. The Germans don’t do themselves any favors either – inside Varangerfjord, the Vorpostenboot, “Coronel” (V5909, Seeteufel-Class, NPA) eats a sea mine and sinks; casualties unknown. And… we bleed, too. In the Pacific, the Japanese strike back in the last dying gasps of the Guadalcanal campaign. USS De Haven (DD-469, Fletcher-Class, Pic 6) is jumped by 9 Japanese planes. Her gunners claim 3 but the other 6 strike home. A direct hit on the bridge kills her Captain, 2 others hit, and the concussive force of a near miss rips her hull open. She takes over half her crew – 167 Officers and Men – to the seafloor. 162 others are rescued. We also lose 3 PT Boats in the same area. PT-123 (80-Footer, Elco-Built, sister seen in Pic 7) is also sunk by Japanese planes; they strafe and bomb her helpless survivors in the water, killing 4. PT-37 (Elco 77-footer, sister in Pic 8) and PT-111 (Elco 80', NPA) are ripped apart by the the destroyer “Kawakaze” (Shiratsuyu-Class, Pic 9). Casualties on the PTs unknown. Just another damn day... (at Fort Hancock, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoJHxZct70Y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[c00kietin]

thank u!!!

last song: Amnesia Was Her Name by Lemon Demon!!

currently watching: The Great British Bake Off with family!! every other thing I'm watching is on and off sdshshj

last movie: OSTWIND 3!!! or 4. can't remember. we're watching it in our German class :D

Sweet/Savoury/Spicy: like prev I am a RAT for anything sugary!!

Current obsessions: JJBA, sooorta thinkin mha a lil more........nothing very strong though my obsessions have dulled a wee bit </3

Tea or Coffee: Iced tea is barely a tea, but that's the closest I can get lol. I don't like hot drinks or the smell of coffee.

Last thing I searched: on my laptop, guess who online (wanted to play with a friend) and on my phone it's.....box jellyfish :3

open tags!!!

[tag nine people you want to get to know better!]

Tagged by: @nowiknowthislooksbad HEHE tyy!!

Last song: Something Has to Happen (Mr. Scoops)

Favorite color: Pink :) like pastel

Currently reading: Krakoa-era x-men comics! Specifically x-men, hellions, and Wolverine

Currently watching: Finished Wolverine and the X-men a lil bit ago, haven't dedicated myself to anything specific since :) been thinking abt picking Miami Vice back up!

Last movie: Transformers One (i need to see it again)

Sweet/ Spicy / Savory: Sweet !! I don't do well with spicy :(

Relationship status: Singleee

Current obsessions: X-men and the DCA!

Tea or Coffee: ough, Coffee but I drink a lot of sweet tea too

Last thing you googled: snake skeletons for art reference!

tagging (no pressure!!!)

@sinisternoodles101 @forgetmenautical @mitathemita @bionicboxes @biggiesnails @amarynthian-fortress @chickenchirps27 @crystalmagpie447 uhhhh and anyone else who feels like participating!! Sorry if any of you guys already got pinged in one of these <3

[sammy-summerdotde]

„Umso mehr ich übe, desto glücklicher werde ich." Gary Player Mit guten 40km pfeift der Ostwind durch den Hafen. Eigentlich ist hier nur eine Schutzmauer die nicht besonders hoch ist und wo an beiden Seiten Wasser und Wind gut vorbei kann. So ist das wenn ein Hafen 2 Eingänge hat. Wir haben das Boot gut vertaut und trainieren Manöver. Anker ausbringen bei rauer See z.B. Es könnte gerne 20 Grad wärmer sein, aber zumindest ist es in der Fortuna schön warm. Die kleine nennen wir grade Fortuniti ( was so viel wie kleiner Reichtum bedeutet). Natürlich kam jemand an, der uns erstmal belehrt hat das es Gefährlich ist, was wir tun. Dann ist mir erst wieder eingefallen , daß ich in Frankreich bin und vielleicht dachte er wir wollen nach England Rudern? Also wir waren gut ausgerüstet. 1.5 Liter Wasser, 10kg Anker, 30 m Leine, Weißes Rundumlicht, Ukulele Handschuhe und 4 Liter Drybag, Navigationshandy, aber meinen Handkompass würde ich dann doch noch mitnehmen wollen. Neue Batterie im Schiff, der Motor springt wieder an. Der Franzose hat mir das Geld ohne Probleme für die letzte Batterie zurückgegeben. War eine witzige Idee um ein Wetterfenster zu bekommen, aber hier in den Gewässern (zumindest im Wind da ) ist es ein befreihendes Geräusch, wenn es im Moment der Momente nicht einfach nur Klick macht. Überlege ob ich auf die Boot Düsseldorf gehe. Wer von euch ist da noch so? Bin Freitag auf die neue Französin gespannt. Plan ist mit ihr dann gleich mal 70 Meilen zu segeln. Mal gucken wie sie so drauf ist. Neben Natur und Technik lerne ich beim Segeln vor allen Menschen kennen und das macht es wirklich interessant. #segeln #sailing #segelboot #sailinglife #yacht #ostsee #sail #ukulele #meer #yachting #segelnmachtgl #sammy #urlaub #boat #sea #boatlife #boot #regatta #segelyacht #sailingyacht #nature #rn #segelschiff #sailingboat #yachtlife #ostsee #kanaren #segler #k #segelt https://www.instagram.com/p/CmJMPdWtv3a/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mellyorablack]

X

Sabin Tambrea:

Diesen Donnerstag startet ein Film in den Kinos, in dem ich mal wieder ein richtiges Zuckerschnäuzchen spielen durfte! #ostwind geht in die 4. Runde. Ich habe den Film schon gesehen, und ich muss sagen: Nicht nur das Mädchen in mir fand ihn großartig! Kommt gut in die neue Woche. Xs

[unscharf-an-den-raendern]

Charlie auf Gran Canaria - Teil 1: Viva España (schon wieder)

“Yo, Charlie, warst du nicht erst vor ein paar Monaten auf Lanzarote, wieso seid ihr jetzt schon wieder auf den Kanaren, sind die nicht Risikogebiet?”

Nun, die Kanaren sind die Standard-Antwort meiner Eltern, wenn es darum geht, wo man denn im Winter Urlaub machen könnte. Und dieses Mal war auf Gran Canaria endlich mal nicht alles ausgebucht! Die Kanaren haben den Omikron-Höhepunkt mittlerweile hinter sich, die Inzidenzen sinken rasant, erst vor kurzem wurde die 3G-Pflicht in der Gastronomie wieder abgeschafft und diese Woche soll auch die Maskenpflicht im Freien wieder fallen. Kurz gesagt also: Die Kanaren stehen momentan viel besser da als Deutschland. Und die ganzen Ungeimpften dürfen hier nicht hin, wenn sie nach ihrer Rückkehr nicht in Quarantäne wollen. Aus dem Weg, Geringgeimpfte!

Und wir scheinen wohl nicht die einzigen zu sein, die hierhin flüchten. Eigentlich wollten wir 14 Tage hier bleiben, aber weil der Flug bereits restlos ausgebucht war, sind wir jetzt 11 Tage hier.

Da bei dem Angebot kein Zug zum Flug dabei war, am Tag davor auch noch Sturm angekündigt war und die Preise der Deutschen Bahn fast so hoch waren, wie die Parkgebühren am Frankfurter Flughafen, sind wir dieses Mal mit dem Auto hingefahren und haben mal wieder im Hotel übernachtet - und das jetzt zum dritten Mal (und ja, wir sind mittlerweile Mitglied in ihrem Bonusprogramm).

Dieses Mal hatten wir das Zimmer auf der anderen Seite mit Ausblick auf Manhattan Frankfurt.

Der Flug war ein klein wenig unübersichtlich. Überall steht “Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria” und wie inklusive sehr vieler anderer Fluggäste haben uns gefragt: “Wait, machen wir nen Zwischenstopp auf Fuerteventura?”. Spoiler: Nein, das Flugzeug ist zuerst nach Gran Canaria geflogen und dann über Fuerteventura zurück nach Frankfurt. Anscheinend ist sonst die Auslastung zu gering.

Und nun: Europa von oben

Die Schweizer Alpen

Der Fluss Saône, nördlich von Lyon.

Die Pyrenäen

Leider nicht so spektakulär: Der Anflug auf Gran Canaria

Wie Sie sehen, sehen Sie nichts. Momentan ist hier mal wieder Calima, eine Wetterlage, die nur auf den Kanaren und den Kapverden vorkommt. Ab und zu kommt mit dem Ostwind Saharastaub mit. Dann wird es trüb, trocken und heiß. 2020 war der Calima sogar so schlimm, dass der gesamte Flugverkehr auf den Kanaren zwei Tage lang eingestellt werden musste, weil man einfach nichts mehr gesehen hat. Der momentane Calima ist zum Glück nicht so schlimm, es ist etwas trüb, aber das war’s auch. Momentan sieht es so aus, als würde er noch mindestens bis zum 11. Februar bleiben.

Und auch dieses Mal haben wir es nicht geschafft, ohne Probleme vom Mietwagen abholen rauszufahren. Wir fahren so zur Ausfahrt und sehen: Da ist eine Schranke. Fuck, wir haben kein Ticket. Die Leute, die hinter uns standen haben uns auch gefragt, ob wir wissen, wo man ein Ticket herkriegt. Bis meine Mutter dann eine geniale Idee hatte. Kennt ihr diese Schranken, die automatisch aufgehen, sobald man nah genug an sie ranfährt? Das war so eine Schranke.

Danach sind wird glücklicherweise ohne größere Vorkommnisse (dafür mit sehr vielen Tunneln) in Puerto Rico angekommen. Nein, nicht das US-Außengebiet in der Karibik. Puerto Rico liegt in einer Bucht im Süd-Westen von Gran Canaria, denn mein Vater wollte auf keinen Fall nochmal in die Partyhochburg Maspalomas.

Wir sind jetzt zum zweiten Mal bzw. im Falle meiner Eltern zum dritten Mal auf Gran Canaria. Zuletzt waren wir 2001 in Maspalomas und damals konnten wir kaum irgendwohin fahren, weil mir beim Autofahren immer schlecht geworden ist.

Wie viele Hotels möchtest du in den Berg reinbauen? Ja!

Sieht bei Nacht aber richtig cool aus.

Gut, von da oben hat man bestimmt ne super Aussicht, aber jedes Mal nen Berg hochsteigen müssen, wenn man zurück ins Hotel will? Nein, danke.

Ich, hangry, weil ich seit dem Essen im Flugzeug nichts mehr gegessen habe: 😠

Ich, nachdem ich auf dem Weg zum Restaurant vier (4) Katzen gesehen habe:  😊

[i-am-an-abyss-of-gender]

Panzer IV The Panzerkampfwagen IV (Pz.Kpfw. IV), commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a German medium tank developed in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz. 161. Panzerkampfwagen IV Sd.Kfz. 161/VK 622 (Ausf. A) Panzermuseum Munster 2010 0128.JPG A Panzer IV Ausf. G "413" in desert colours, bearing the palm tree insignia of the Afrika Korps, "Friederike" script written on the gun barrel near the mantlet. This tank was on display at the Deutsches Panzermuseum. Type Medium tank Place of origin Nazi Germany Service history In service 1939–1945 (Nazi Germany) 1954[1]–1967 (Syria) Used by Nazi Germany Romania Turkey Hungary Bulgaria Italy Finland Spain Croatia Syria Wars World War II, 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Six-Day War Production history Designer Krupp Designed 1936 Manufacturer Krupp, Vomag, Nibelungenwerk Unit cost ≈103,462 Reichsmarks and 115,962 Reichmarks With 7,5 cm KwK 40 (L/43)[2] Produced 1936–1945 No. built ≈8,553 of all tank variants[3] Variants StuG IV, Jagdpanzer IV, Brummbär/Sturmpanzer IV, Nashorn, Wirbelwind, Ostwind Specifications (Pz. IV Ausf. H, 1943[5]) Mass 25.0 tonnes (27.6 short tons; 24.6 long tons) Length 5.92 metres (19 ft 5 in) 7.02 metres (23 ft 0 in) gun forward Width 2.88 m (9 ft 5 in) Height 2.68 m (8 ft 10 in) Crew 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator/bow machine-gunner) Armor Hull front: 80 mm (3.1 in) Hull side (upper and lower): 30 mm (1.2 in) Hull rear (upper and lower): 20 mm (0.79 in) Hull roof and floor: 10 mm (0.39 in) Schürzen: 5 mm (0.20 in) to 8 mm (0.31 in)[4] Turret front: 50 mm (2.0 in) Turret side and rear: 30 mm (1.2 in) Turret roof: 10 mm (0.39 in) Main armament 7.5 cm (2.95 in) KwK 40 L/48 main gun (87 rounds) Secondary armament 2 × 7.92 mm MG 34 machine guns (3,150 rounds) Engine Maybach HL120 TRM 12-cylinder gasoline engine 300 PS (296 hp, 220 kW) Power/weight 12 PS (8.8 kW) / tonne Transmission (Synchromesh ZF SSG 77) 6 forward and 1 reverse ratios Suspension Leaf spring Fuel capacity 470 l (120 US gal) Operational range 200 km (120 mi) Maximum speed 38 to 42 km/h (24 to 26 mph) maximum, 25 km/h (16 mph) max sustained road speed 16 km/h (9.9 mph) off road The Panzer IV was the most numerous German tank and the second-most numerous German armored fighting vehicle of the Second World War, with some 8,500 built. Its chassis was also used as the base for many other fighting vehicles, including the Sturmgeschütz IV assault gun, the Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer, the Wirbelwind self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, and the Brummbär self-propelled gun. The Panzer IV saw service in all combat theaters involving Germany and was the only German tank to remain in continuous production throughout the war. It was originally designed for infantry support, while the similar Panzer III was to fight armoured fighting vehicles. However as the Germans faced the formidable T-34, the Panzer IV had more development potential, with a larger turret ring to mount more powerful guns, so the two switched roles. It received various upgrades and design modifications, intended to counter new threats, extending its service life. Generally, these involved increasing the armor protection or upgrading the weapons, although during the last months of the war, with Germany's pressing need for rapid replacement of losses, design changes also included simplifications to speed up the manufacturing process. The Panzer IV was partially succeeded by the Panther medium tank, which was introduced to counter the Soviet T-34, although it continued to be a significant component of German armoured formations to the end of the war. It was the most widely exported tank in German service, with around 300 sold to Finland, Romania, Spain and Bulgaria. After the war, Syria procured Panzer IVs from France and Czechoslovakia, which saw combat in the 1967 Six-Day War. 8,553 Panzer IVs of all versions were built during World War II, a production run in Axis forces only exceeded by the StuG III assault gun with 10,086

vehicles. Development history Origins The Panzer IV was the brainchild of the German general and innovative armored warfare theorist Heinz Guderian.[6] In concept, it was intended to be a support tank for use against enemy anti-tank guns and fortifications.[7] Ideally, each tank battalion in a panzer division was to have three medium companies of Panzer IIIs and one heavy company of Panzer IVs.[8] On 11 January 1934, the German army wrote the specifications for a "medium tractor", and issued them to a number of defense companies. To support the Panzer III, which would be armed with a 37-millimetre (1.46 in) anti-tank gun, the new vehicle would have a short-barreled, howitzer-like 75-millimetre (2.95 in) as its main gun, and was allotted a weight limit of 24 tonnes (26.46 short tons). Development was carried out under the name Begleitwagen ("accompanying vehicle"),[9] or BW, to disguise its actual purpose, given that Germany was still theoretically bound by the Treaty of Versailles ban on tanks.[10] MAN, Krupp, and Rheinmetall-Borsig each developed prototypes,[8] with Krupp's being selected for further development.[11] The chassis had originally been designed with a six-wheeled Schachtellaufwerk interleaved-roadwheel suspension (as already adopted for German half-tracks), but the German Army amended this to a torsion bar system. Permitting greater vertical deflection of the roadwheels, this was intended to improve performance and crew comfort both on- and off-road.[11][12] However, due to the urgent requirement for the new tank, neither proposal was adopted, and Krupp instead equipped it with a simple leaf spring double-bogie suspension, with eight rubber-rimmed roadwheels per side. The prototype had a crew of five; the hull contained the engine bay to the rear, with the driver and radio operator, who doubled as the hull machine gunner, seated at the front-left and front-right, respectively. In the turret, the tank commander sat beneath his roof hatch, while the gunner was situated to the left of the gun breech and the loader to the right. The torque shaft ran from the rear engine to the transmission box in the front hull between the driver and radio operator. To keep the shaft clear of the rotary base junction, which provided electrical power to the turret including the motor to turn it, the turret was offset 66.5 mm (2.62 in) to the left of the chassis center line, and the engine was moved 152.4 mm (6.00 in) to the right. Due to the asymmetric layout, the right side of the tank contained the bulk of its stowage volume, which was taken up by ready-use ammunition lockers.[11] Accepted into service under the designation Versuchskraftfahrzeug 622 (Vs.Kfz. 622), "experimental motor vehicle 622",[10] production began in 1936 at Fried. Krupp Grusonwerk AG factory at Magdeburg.[13] Ausf. A to Ausf. F1 Panzer IV Ausf. A in 1939 Panzer IV Ausf. C 1943 The first mass-produced version of the Panzer IV was the Ausführung A (abbreviated to Ausf. A, meaning "Variant A"), in 1936. It was powered by a Maybach HL108 TR, producing 250 PS (183.87 kW), and used the SGR 75 transmission with five forward gears and one reverse,[14] achieving a maximum road speed of 31 kilometres per hour (19.26 mph).[15] As main armament, the vehicle mounted the short-barreled, howitzer-like 75 mm (2.95 in) Kampfwagenkanone 37 L/24 (7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24) tank gun, which was a low-velocity weapon mainly designed to fire high-explosive shells.[16] Against armored targets, firing the Panzergranate (armor-piercing shell) at 430 metres per second (1,410 ft/s) the KwK 37 could penetrate 43 millimetres (1.69 in), inclined at 30 degrees, at ranges of up to 700 metres (2,300 ft).[17] A 7.92 mm (0.31 in) MG 34 machine gun was mounted coaxially with the main weapon in the turret, while a second machine gun of the same type was mounted in the front plate of the hull.[11] The main weapon and coaxial machine gun were sighted with a Turmzielfernrohr 5b optic while the hull machine gun was sighted with a Kugelzielfernrohr 2 optic.[18] The Ausf. A was protected by

14.5 mm (0.57 in) of steel armor on the front plate of the chassis, and 20 mm (0.79 in) on the turret. This was only capable of stopping artillery fragments, small-arms fire, and light anti-tank projectiles.[19] A total of 35 A versions were produced.[10] The 300 horsepower Maybach HL 120TRM engine used in most Panzer IV production models. PzKpfw IV Ausf. D In 1937 production moved to the Ausf. B.[10] Improvements included the replacement of the original engine with the more powerful 300 PS (220.65 kW) Maybach HL 120TR, and the transmission with the new SSG 75 transmission, with six forward gears and one reverse gear. Despite a weight increase to 16 t (18 short tons), this improved the tank's speed to 42 kilometres per hour (26.10 mph).[20] The glacis plate was augmented to a maximum thickness of 30 millimetres (1.18 in),[19] while a new driver's visor was installed on the straightened hull front plate, and the hull-mounted machine gun was replaced by a covered pistol port and visor flap.[20] The superstructure width and ammunition stowage were reduced to save weight.[20] A new commander's cupola was introduced which was adopted from the Panzer III Ausf. C.[20] A Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung (smoke grenade discharger rack) was mounted on the rear of the hull starting in July 1938[20] and was back fitted to earlier Ausf. A and Ausf. B chassis starting in August 1938.[21] Forty-two Panzer IV Ausf. Bs were manufactured.[10] The Ausf. C replaced the B in 1938.[10][22] This saw the turret armor increased to 30 mm (1.18 in), which brought the tank's weight to 18.14 t (20.00 short tons).[22] After assembling 40 Ausf. Cs, starting with chassis number 80341, the engine was replaced with the improved HL 120TRM. The last of the 140 Ausf. Cs was produced in August 1939. Production changed to the Ausf. D; this variant, of which 248 vehicles were produced, reintroduced the hull machine gun and changed the turret's internal gun mantlet to a 35 mm (1.38 in)[23] thick external mantlet.[22] Again, protection was upgraded, this time by increasing side armor to 20 mm (0.79 in).[16] As the German invasion of Poland in September 1939 came to an end, it was decided to scale up production of the Panzer IV, which was adopted for general use on 27 September 1939 as the Sonderkraftfahrzeug 161 (Sd.Kfz. 161).[10] In response to the difficulty of penetrating the thick armor of British infantry tanks (Matilda and Matilda II) during the Battle of France, the Germans had tested a 50 mm (1.97 in) gun — based on the 5 cm Pak 38 anti-tank gun — on a Panzer IV Ausf. D. However, with the rapid German victory in France, the original order of 80 tanks was cancelled before they entered production.[24] In October 1940, the Ausf. E was introduced. This had 30 millimetres (1.18 in) of armor on the bow plate, while a 30-millimetre (1.18 in) appliqué steel plate was added to the glacis as an interim measure. A new driver's visor, adopted from the Sturmgeschütz III was installed on the hull front plate.[25] A new commander's cupola, adopted from the Panzer III Ausf. G, was relocated forward on the turret eliminating the bulge underneath the cupola.[26] Older model Panzer IV tanks were retrofitted with these features when returned to the manufacturer for servicing. 206 Ausf. Es were produced between October 1940 and April 1941.[3] The short-barreled Panzer IV Ausf. F1. In April 1941, production of the Panzer IV Ausf. F started. It featured 50 mm (1.97 in) single-plate armor on the turret and hull, as opposed to the appliqué armor added to the Ausf. E,[22] and a further increase in side armor to 30 mm (1.18 in).[27] The main engine exhaust muffler was shortened and a compact auxiliary generator muffler was mounted to its left.[25] The weight of the vehicle was now 22.3 tonnes (24.6 short tons), which required a corresponding modification of track width from 380 to 400 mm (14.96 to 15.75 in) to reduce ground pressure. The wider tracks also facilitated the fitting of track shoe "ice sprags", and the rear idler wheel and front sprocket were modified.[28] The

designation Ausf. F was changed in the meantime to Ausf. F1, after the distinct new model, the Ausf. F2, appeared. A total of 471 Ausf. F (later temporarily called F1) tanks were produced from April 1941 to March 1942.[3] Ausf. F2 to Ausf. J On 26 May 1941, mere weeks before Operation Barbarossa, during a conference with Hitler, it was decided to improve the Panzer IV's main armament. Krupp was awarded the contract to integrate again the 50 mm (1.97 in) Pak 38 L/60 gun into the turret. The first prototype was to be delivered by 15 November 1941.[29] Within months, the shock of encountering the Soviet T-34 medium and KV-1 heavy tanks necessitated a new, much more powerful tank gun.[30] In November 1941, the decision to up-gun the Panzer IV to the 50-millimetre (1.97 in) gun was dropped, and instead Krupp was contracted in a joint development to modify Rheinmetall's pending 75 mm (2.95 in) anti-tank gun design, later known as 7.5 cm Pak 40 L/46. Because the recoil length was too great for the tank's turret, the recoil mechanism and chamber were shortened. This resulted in the 75-millimetre (2.95 in) KwK 40 L/43.[31] When the new KwK 40 was loaded with the Pzgr. 39 armor-piercing shell, the new gun fired the AP shell at some 750 m/s (2,460 ft/s), a substantial 74% increase over the howitzer-like KwK 37 L/24 gun's 430 m/s (1,410 ft/s) muzzle velocity.[28] Initially, the KwK 40 gun was mounted with a single-chamber, ball-shaped muzzle brake, which provided just under 50% of the recoil system's braking ability.[32] Firing the Panzergranate 39, the KwK 40 L/43 could penetrate 77 mm (3.03 in) of steel armor at a range of 1,830 m (6,000 ft).[33] The longer 7.5 cm guns were a mixed blessing. In spite of the designers' efforts to conserve weight, the new weapon made the vehicle nose-heavy to such an extent that the forward suspension springs were under constant compression. This resulted in the tank tending to sway even when no steering was being applied, an effect compounded by the introduction of the Ausführung H in March 1943.[34] The 1942 Panzer IV Ausf. F2 was an upgrade of the Ausf. F, fitted with the KwK 40 L/43 anti-tank gun to counter Soviet T-34 medium and KV heavy tanks. The Ausf. F tanks that received the new, longer, KwK 40 L/43 gun were temporarily named Ausf. F2 (with the designation Sd.Kfz. 161/1). The tank increased in weight to 23.6 tonnes (26.0 short tons). Differences between the Ausf. F1 and the Ausf. F2 were mainly associated with the change in armament, including an altered gun mantlet, internal travel lock for the main weapon, new gun cradle, new Turmzielfernrohr 5f optic for the L/43 weapon, modified ammunition stowage, and discontinuing of the Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung in favor of turret mounted Nebelwurfgerät.[35] Three months after beginning production, the Panzer IV Ausf. F2 was renamed Ausf. G.[36] During its production run from March 1942 to June 1943, the Panzer IV Ausf. G went through further modifications, including another armor upgrade which consisted of a 30-millimetre (1.18 in) face-hardened appliqué steel plate welded (later bolted) to the glacis—in total, frontal armor was now 80 mm (3.15 in) thick.[37] This decision to increase frontal armor was favorably received according to troop reports on 8 November 1942, despite technical problems of the driving system due to added weight. At this point, it was decided that 50% of Panzer IV production would be fitted with 30 mm (1.18 in) thick additional armor plates. On 5 January 1943, Hitler decided that all Panzer IV should have 80 mm (3.15 in) frontal armor.[38] To simplify production, the vision ports on either side of the turret and the loader's forward vision port in the turret front were removed, while a rack for two spare road wheels was installed on the track guard on the left side of the hull. Complementing this, brackets for seven spare track links were added to the glacis plate. For operation in high temperatures, the engine's ventilation was improved by creating slits over the engine deck to the rear of the chassis, and cold

weather performance was boosted by adding a device to heat the engine's coolant, as well as a starter fluid injector. A new light replaced the original headlight and the signal port on the turret was removed.[39] On 19 March 1943, the first Panzer IV with Schürzen skirts on its sides and turret was exhibited.[40] The double hatch for the commander's cupola was replaced by a single round hatch from very late model Ausf. G. and the cupola was up-armored from 50 mm (1.97 in) to 95 mm (3.74 in). In April 1943, the KwK 40 L/43 was replaced by the longer 75-millimetre (2.95 in) KwK 40 L/48 gun, with a redesigned multi-baffle muzzle brake with improved recoil efficiency.[41] The longer L/48 resulted in the introduction of the Turmzielfernrohr 5f/1 optic.[42] A Panzer IV Ausf H at the Musée des Blindés in Saumur, France, with its distinctive Zimmerit anti-magnetic mine coating, turret skirts, and wire-mesh side-skirts. The next version, the Ausf. H, began production in June 1943[3] and received the designation Sd. Kfz. 161/2. The integrity of the glacis armor was improved by manufacturing it as a single 80-millimetre (3.15 in) plate. A reinforced final drive with higher gear ratios was introduced.[43] To prevent adhesion of magnetic anti-tank mines, which the Germans feared would be used in large numbers by the Allies, Zimmerit paste was added to all the vertical surfaces of the tank's armor.[44] The turret roof was reinforced from 10-millimetre (0.39 in) to 16-millimetre (0.63 in) and 25-millimetre (0.98 in) segments.[43] The vehicle's side and turret were further protected by the addition of 5-millimetre (0.20 in) hull skirts and 8-millimetre (0.31 in) turret skirts.[4][45] This resulted in the elimination of the vision ports located on the hull side,[43] as the skirts obstructed their view. During the Ausf. H's production run, its rubber-tired return rollers were replaced with cast steel, a lighter cast front sprocket and rear idler wheel gradually replaced the previous components,[43] the hull was fitted with triangular supports for the easily damaged side skirts, the Nebelwurfgeraet was discontinued, and a mount in the turret roof, designed for the Nahverteidigungswaffe, was plugged by a circular armored plate due to initial production shortages of this weapon.[46][47] These modifications meant that the tank's weight increased to 25 tonnes (27.56 short tons). In spite of a new six-speed SSG 77 transmission adopted from the Panzer III, top speed dropped to as low as 16 km/h (10 mph) on cross country terrain. An experimental version of the Ausf H was fitted with a hydrostatic transmission but was not put into production.[34] The Ausf. J was the final production model, and was greatly simplified compared to earlier variants to speed construction. This shows an exported Finnish model. Despite addressing the mobility problems introduced by the previous model, the final production version of the Panzer IV—the Ausf. J—was considered a retrograde from the Ausf. H. Born of necessity, to replace heavy losses, it was greatly simplified to speed production.[48] The electric generator that powered the tank's turret traverse was removed, so the turret had to be rotated manually. The turret traversing mechanism was modified and fitted with a second gear which made hand-operation easier when the vehicle was on sloping terrain.[49] On reasonably level ground, hand operation at 4 seconds to traverse to 12.5° and 29.5 seconds to traverse to 120° was achieved.[49] The resulting space was later used for the installation of an auxiliary 200-litre (53 US gal) fuel tank; road range was thereby increased to 320 km (200 mi),[50] The remaining pistol and vision ports on the turret side hatches were removed, and the engine's radiator housing was simplified by changing the slanted sides to straight sides.[47] Three sockets with screw threads for mounting a 2-ton jib boom crane were welded on the turret roof while the hull roof was thickened from 11-millimetre (0.43 in) to 16-millimetre (0.63 in).[51] In addition, the cylindrical muffler was

replaced by two flame-suppressing mufflers. In June 1944 Wa Prüf 6 had decided that because bomb damage at Panzerfirma Krupp in Essen had seriously jeopardized tank production, all plates which should have been face-hardened for the Panzer IV were instead made with rolled homogeneous armour plate.[51] By late 1944, Zimmerit was no longer being applied to German armored vehicles, and the Panzer IV's side-skirts had been replaced by wire mesh, while the gunner's forward vision port in the turret front was eliminated[52] and the number of return rollers was reduced from four to three to further speed-up production.[53] In a bid to augment the Panzer IV's firepower, an attempt was made to mate a Schmalturm turret — carrying the longer 75 mm (2.95 in) L/70 tank gun from the developing Panther Ausf. F tank design, and partly developed by Rheinmetall from early 1944 onwards — to a Panzer IV hull. This failed and confirmed that the chassis had reached the limit of its adaptability in both weight and available volume.[48] Production Panzer IV production by year[3] Date Number of vehicles Variant (Ausf.) 1937–1939 262 A – D 1940 290 (-24) D, E 1941 480 (+17) E, F 1942 994 F, G 1943 2,983 G, H 1944 3,125 H, J 1945 ~435 J Total ~8,569 all The Panzer IV was originally intended to be used only on a limited scale, so initially Krupp was its sole manufacturer. Prior to the Polish campaign, only 217 Panzer IVs had been produced: 35 Ausf. A; 42 Ausf. B; and 140 Ausf. C; in 1941, production was extended to Vogtländische Maschinenfabrik ("VOMAG") (located in the city of Plauen) and the Nibelungenwerk in the Austrian city of St. Valentin.[3] In 1941, an average of 39 tanks per month were built; this rose to 83 in 1942, 252 in 1943, and 300 in 1944. However, in December 1943, Krupp's factory was diverted to manufacture the Sturmgeschütz IV and, in the spring of 1944, the Vomag factory began production of the Jagdpanzer IV, leaving the Nibelungenwerk as the only plant still assembling the Panzer IV.[54] With the slow collapse of German industry under pressure from Allied air and ground offensives—in October 1944 the Nibelungenwerk factory was severely damaged during a bombing raid—by March and April 1945, production had fallen to pre-1942 levels, with only around 55 tanks per month coming off the assembly lines.[55] Panzer IV: comparison of key production features[56] Version Main gun Superstructure armour mm (inch) Hull armour mm (inch) Turret armour mm (inch) Weight tonnes (long tons; short tons) Engine Notes F S R F S R F S R Ausf. A VK622 7.5 cm KwK L/24 15 (0.59) 18.4 (18.1; 20.3) Maybach HL 108TR 250 PS (246.6 hp; 183.9 kW) SGR 75 transmission Ausf. B 30 (1.2) 15 (0.59) 15 (0.59) 30 (1.2) 15 (0.59) 15 (0.59) 30 (1.2) 15 (0.59) 15 (0.59) 18.8 (18.5; 20.7) SSG 75 transmission Ausf. C 30 (1.2) 15 (0.59) 15 (0.59) 30 (1.2) 15 (0.59) 15 (0.59) 30 (1.2) 15 (0.59) 15 (0.59) 19.0 (18.7; 20.9) Maybach HL 120 TRM 300 PS (300 hp; 220 kW) Ausf. D 30 + 30 † 20 (0.79) + 20 † 20 (0.79) 30 (1.2) 20 (0.79) 20 (0.79) 30 (1.2) 20 (0.79) 20 (0.79) 20.0 (19.7; 22.0) Ausf. E 30 + 30 † 20 + 20 † 20 30 + 30 † 20 + 20 † 20 30 20 20 21.0 (20.7; 23.1) Ausf. F1 50 (2.0) 30 (1.2) 20 (0.79) 50 (2.0) 30 (1.2) 20 (0.79) 50 (2.0) 30 (1.2) 30 (1.2) 22.3 (21.9; 24.6) track width increased from 380 to 400 mm (15 to 16 in) Ausf. F2 7.5 cm KwK 40 L/43 50 30 20 50 30 20 50 30 30 23.0 (22.6; 25.4) single-chamber, globe, muzzle brake Ausf. G 50 + 30 † 30 20 50 + 30 † 30 20 50 30 + 8 (0.31)‡ 30 + 8 ‡ 23.5 (23.1; 25.9) multi-baffle muzzle brake Ausf. H 7.5 cm KwK 40 L/48 80 (3.1) 30 20 80 30 20 50 30 + 8 ‡ 30 + 8 ‡ 25.0 (24.6; 27.6) Zimmerit paste added to vertical surfaces SSG 77 transmission Ausf. J 80 30 20 80 30 20 50 30 + 8 ‡ 30 + 8 ‡ 25.0 (24.6; 27.6) electric motor for turret traverse removed, Rolled homogeneous armour, no Zimmerit † – appliqué armor plate, bolted or welded on ‡ – Schürzen skirts Export The Panzer IV was one of the most widely exported German tanks of the Second World War.[57] In 1942, Germany delivered 11 tanks to Romania and 32 to Hungary,

many of which were lost on the Eastern Front between the final months of 1942 and the beginning of 1943 during the battles around Stalingrad, at which the Hungarian and Romanian troops there were almost annihilated by the attacking Soviet forces.[58] Romania received approximately 120 Panzer IV tanks of different models throughout the entire war.[59] To arm Bulgaria, Germany supplied 46[60] or 91[61] Panzer IVs, and offered Italy 12 tanks to form the nucleus of a new Italian Army armored division. These were used to train Italian tank crews while the-then Italian leader Benito Mussolini was deposed shortly after the Allied conquest of Sicily but were then retaken by Germany during its occupation of Italy in mid-1943.[60] The Falangist Spanish government petitioned for 100 Panzer IVs in March 1943 but only 20 were ever delivered by December that same year.[62] Finland bought 30 but only received 15 in 1944 and in the same year a second batch of 62[60] or 72[61] was sent to Hungary (although 20 of these were subsequently diverted to replace German military losses).[61] The Croatian Ustashe Militia received 10 Ausf. F1 and 5 Ausf. G in the autumn of 1944.[63] In total, 297 Panzer IVs of all models were delivered to Germany's allies.[64] Combat history A Panzer IV Ausf. E with hits on the turret and the edge of the gun barrel. The Panzer IV was the only German tank to remain in both production and combat throughout World War II,[65][66] and measured over the entire war it comprised 30% of the Wehrmacht's total tank strength.[67] Although in service by early 1939, in time for the occupation of Czechoslovakia,[68] at the start of the war the majority of German armor was made up of obsolete Panzer Is and Panzer IIs.[69] The Panzer I in particular had already proved inferior to Soviet tanks, such as the T-26, during the Spanish Civil War.[70] Poland, Western Front and North Africa (1939–1942) When Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939, its armored corps was composed of 1,445 Panzer Is, 1,223 Panzer IIs, 98 Panzer IIIs and 211 Panzer IVs; the more modern vehicles amounted to less than 10% of Germany's armored strength.[71] The 1st Panzer Division had a roughly equal balance of types, with 17 Panzer Is, 18 Panzer IIs, 28 Panzer IIIs, and 14 Panzer IVs per battalion. The remaining panzer divisions were heavy with obsolete models, equipped as they were with 34 Panzer Is, 33 Panzer IIs, 5 Panzer IIIs, and 6 Panzer IVs per battalion.[72] Although the Polish Army possessed less than 200 tanks capable of penetrating the German light tanks, Polish anti-tank guns proved more of a threat, reinforcing German faith in the value of the close-support Panzer IV.[73] A British Crusader tank passing a burning German Panzer IV during Operation Crusader, late 1941. Despite increased production of the medium Panzer IIIs and IVs prior to the German invasion of France on 10 May 1940, the majority of German tanks were still light types. According to Heinz Guderian, the Wehrmacht invaded France with 523 Panzer Is, 955 Panzer IIs, 349 Panzer IIIs, 278 Panzer IVs, 106 Panzer 35(t)s and 228 Panzer 38(t)s.[74] Through the use of tactical radios[75] and superior tactics, the Germans were able to outmaneuver and defeat French and British armor.[76] However, Panzer IVs armed with the KwK 37 L/24 75-millimetre (2.95 in) tank gun found it difficult to engage French tanks such as the Somua S35 and Char B1.[77] The Somua S35 had a maximum armor thickness of 55 mm (2.2 in),[78] while the KwK 37 L/24 could only penetrate 43 mm (1.7 in) at a range of 700 m (2,300 ft).[17] The British Matilda II was also heavily armored, with at least 70 mm (2.76 in) of steel on the front and turret and a minimum of 65 mm on the sides,[79] but were few in number. Although the Panzer IV was deployed to North Africa with the German Afrika Korps, until the longer gun variant began production, the tank was outperformed by the Panzer III with respect to armor penetration.[80] Both the Panzer III and IV had difficulty in penetrating the British Matilda II's thick armor, while

the Matilda's 40-mm QF 2 pounder gun could knock out either German tank; the Matilda II's major disadvantage was its low speed.[81] By August 1942, Rommel had only received 27 Panzer IV Ausf. F2s, armed with the L/43 gun, which he deployed to spearhead his armored offensives.[81] The longer gun could penetrate all American and British tanks in theater at ranges of up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft), by that time the most heavily armored of which was the M3 Grant.[82] Although more of these tanks arrived in North Africa between August and October 1942, their numbers were insignificant compared to the amount of matériel shipped to British forces.[83] The Panzer IV also took part in the invasion of Yugoslavia and the invasion of Greece in early 1941.[84] Eastern Front (1941–1945) A PzKpfw IV Ausf. H of the 12th Panzer Division carrying Schürzen skirting operating on the Eastern Front in the USSR, 1944. With the launching of Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941, the unanticipated appearance of the KV-1 and T-34 tanks prompted an upgrade of the Panzer IV's 75 mm (2.95 in) gun to a longer, high-velocity 75 mm gun suitable for anti-tank use. This meant that it could now penetrate the T-34 at ranges of up to 1,200 m (3,900 ft) at any angle.[85] The 75 mm KwK 40 L/43 gun on the Panzer IV could penetrate a T-34 at a variety of impact angles beyond 1,000 m (3,300 ft) range and up to 1,600 m (5,200 ft).[86] Shipment of the first model to mount the new gun, the Ausf. F2, began in spring 1942, and by the summer offensive there were around 135 Panzer IVs with the L/43 tank gun available. At the time, these were the only German tanks that could defeat T-34 or KV-1 with sheer firepower.[87] They played a crucial role in the events that unfolded between June 1942 and March 1943,[88] and the Panzer IV became the mainstay of the German panzer divisions.[89] Although in service by late September 1942, the Tiger I was not yet numerous enough to make an impact and suffered from serious teething problems, while the Panther was not delivered to German units in the Soviet Union until May 1943.[90] The extent of German reliance on the Panzer IV during this period is reflected by their losses; 502 were destroyed on the Eastern Front in 1942.[91] The Panzer IV continued to play an important role during operations in 1943, including at the Battle of Kursk. Newer types, such as the Panther, were still experiencing crippling reliability problems that restricted their combat efficiency,[92] so much of the effort fell to the 841 Panzer IVs that took part in the battle.[93] Throughout 1943, the German army lost 2,352 Panzer IVs on the Eastern Front;[94] some divisions were reduced to 12–18 tanks by the end of the year.[89] In 1944, a further 2,643 Panzer IVs were destroyed, and such losses were becoming increasingly difficult to replace.[95] Nevertheless, due to a shortage of replacement Panther tanks, the Panzer IV continued to form the core of Germany's armored divisions, including elite units such as the II SS Panzer Corps, through 1944.[96] In January 1945, 287 Panzer IVs were lost on the Eastern Front. It is estimated that combat against Soviet forces accounted for 6,153 Panzer IVs, or about 75% of all Panzer IV losses during the war.[97] Western Front (1944–45) A Panzer IV Ausf. G of the 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, 1942. Panzer IVs comprised around half of the available German tank strength on the Western Front prior to the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944.[98] Most of the 11 panzer divisions that saw action in Normandy initially contained an armored regiment of one battalion of Panzer IVs and another of Panthers, for a total of around 160 tanks, although Waffen-SS panzer divisions were generally larger and better equipped than their Heer counterparts.[99][100] Regular upgrades to the Panzer IV had helped to maintain its reputation as a formidable opponent.[98] The bocage countryside in Normandy favored defense, and German tanks and anti-tank guns inflicted very heavy

casualties on Allied armor during the Normandy campaign, despite the overwhelming Allied air superiority. German counter-attacks were blunted in the face of Allied artillery, infantry-held anti-tank weapons, tank destroyers and anti-tank guns, as well as the ubiquitous fighter-bomber aircraft.[101] The side skirt armor could predetonate shaped charge anti-tank weapons such as the British PIAT, but could be pulled away by rugged terrain. German tankers in all theaters were "frustrated by the way these skirts were easily torn off when going through dense brush".[98] Pz.Kpfw-IV in Belgrade Military Museum, Serbia. The Allies had also been improving their tanks; the widely used American-designed M4 Sherman medium tank, while mechanically reliable, repairable, and available in large numbers, suffered from an inadequate gun in terms of armor-piercing.[102] Against earlier-model Panzer IVs, it could hold its own, but with its 75 mm M3 gun, struggled against the late-model Panzer IV.[103] The late-model Panzer IV's 80 mm (3.15 in) frontal hull armor could easily withstand hits from the 75 mm (2.95 in) weapon on the Sherman at normal combat ranges,[104] though the turret remained vulnerable. The British up-gunned the Sherman with their highly effective 76 mm QF 17-pounder anti-tank gun, resulting in the Firefly;[105] although this was the only Allied tank capable of dealing with all current German tanks at normal combat ranges, few (342) were available in time for the Normandy invasion.[102] One Sherman in every British troop of four was a Firefly. By the end of the Normandy campaign, a further 550 Fireflies were built.[106] which was enough to make good any losses.[107] A second British tank equipped with the 17-pdr gun, the Cruiser Mk VIII Challenger, could not participate in the initial landings having to wait for port facilities to be ready to land. It was not until July 1944 that American Shermans fitted with the 76 mm gun M1 gun achieved a parity in firepower with the Panzer IV.[108][109] By 29 August 1944, as the last surviving German troops of Fifth Panzer Army and Seventh Army began retreating towards Germany, the twin cataclysms of the Falaise Pocket and the Seine crossing cost the Wehrmacht dearly. Of the 2,300 tanks and assault guns it had committed to Normandy (including around 750 Panzer IVs[110]), over 2,200 had been lost.[111] Field Marshal Walter Model reported to Hitler that his panzer divisions had remaining, on average, five or six tanks each.[111] During the winter of 1944–45, the Panzer IV was one of the most numerous tanks in the Ardennes offensive, where further heavy losses—as often due to fuel shortages as to enemy action—impaired major German armored operations in the West thereafter.[112] The Panzer IVs that took part were survivors of the battles in France between June and September 1944,[dubious – discuss] with around 260 additional Panzer IV Ausf. Js issued as reinforcements.[110] Other users A captured German Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G used for anti-tank weapons testing by the British Eighth Army in Italy in 1943. Finland bought 15 new Panzer IV Ausf. Js in 1944 for 5,000,000 Finnish markkas each.[113] The remainder of an order for 40 tanks and some StuG IIIs were not delivered and neither were necessary German tank instructors provided. The tanks arrived too late to see action against the Soviet Union but instead ended up being used against Nazi Germany during their withdrawal through Lapland. After the war, they served as training tanks and one portrayed a Soviet KV-1 tank in the movie The Unknown Soldier in 1955.[citation needed] The additional weight, going from the 18.4 tons (Ausf. A) to about 25 tons (Ausf. J), of these modifications strained the relatively light chassis. The overloaded and primitive leaf-spring suspension gave its crew a shaky ride, earning the Panzer IV the nickname "Ravistin" ("Shaker") in Finnish service. This not only affected general crew comfort, but also hampered the accurate aiming of the main gun. What exactly caused this vibration that gave the PzKw IV Ausf. J

such a bad name among Finnish tank crews remains somewhat unclear, but the poor suspension seems to be the most likely suspect.[114] After 1945, Bulgaria incorporated its surviving Panzer IVs into defensive bunkers as gunpoints on its border with Turkey, along with Soviet T-34 turrets. This defensive line, known as the "Krali Marko Line", remained in use until the fall of communism in 1989.[citation needed] Twenty Panzer IV Ausf. Hs and ten StuG III Ausf. Gs were supplied to Spain in December 1943, a small fraction of what Spain had originally asked for. The Panzer IV represented the best tank in Spanish service between 1944 and 1954, and was deployed along with T-26s and Panzer Is. Spain sold 17 Panzer IVs to Syria in 1967, with the remaining three left conserved. These can be found in Madrid, Burgos and Santovenia de Pisuerga (Valladolid). Most of the tanks Romania had received were lost during combat between 1944 and 1945. These tanks, designated T4 in the army's inventory, were used by the Army's 2nd Armored Regiment. On 9 May 1945, only two Panzer IVs were left. Romania received another 50 captured Panzer IV tanks from the Red Army after the end of the war. These tanks were of many different models and were in very bad shape[59]—many of them were missing parts and the side-skirts. These German T4 tanks remained in service until 1950, when the Army decided to use only Soviet equipment. By 1954, all German tanks in Romanian military service had been scrapped. An ex-Syrian Panzer IV displayed at the AAF Tank Museum. While their numbers remain uncertain, Syria received around 60 Panzers that were refurbished in France between 1950 and 1952, followed by 50 others purchased from Czechoslovakia in 1954, per the Czechoslovakia-Syria arms deal.[115] A Soviet 12.7mm DShK machine gun on an anti-aircraft mount was retrofitted on the cupola. These ex-German tanks were used to shell Israeli settlements below the Golan Heights, together with Soviet-supplied T-34s, and were fired upon in 1965 during the Water War by Israeli Super Sherman and Centurion tanks.[112] Syria received 17 Panzer IVs from Spain, with these seeing combat during the Six-Day War in 1967.[116] Several of Syria's Panzer IVs were captured by the Israeli Army and donated to the Yad La-Shiryon museum. The AAF Tank Museum in Danville, Virginia later traded a US M5 Stuart light tank to the Latrun museum for one of the Czechoslovak-origin Panzer IVs, which is now an exhibit there.[117] In addition, Turkey was a buyer, with 35 Panzer IVs received until 4 May 1944 in exchange for some chromium ore. Delivery began with the Ausf. G and probably went on with Ausf. H versions.[118] Other sources state only 15 to 22 tanks were delivered in 1943, all of the Ausf G version.[119] Captured Panzer IVs in service The Soviet Army captured significant numbers of German armored vehicles, including Panzer IVs (its Russian designation was "T-4"). Some of them were pressed into temporary service and some others were used for driver or anti-tank training. Sometimes, captured tanks were used in different temporary units or as single tanks. While captured Tiger I/IIs and Panthers were only permitted to be used until they irrecoverably broke down, the simplicity of the Panzer IV and the large number of captured parts allowed for long-term repair and continued use. At least one captured Panzer IV Ausf. H was used by the Warsaw Tank Brigade of the Polish 2nd Corps in Italy during 1944. The 1st GMR (Groupement Mobile de Reconnaissance) of the FFI (French Forces of the Interior), later called 'Escadron Autonome de Chars Besnier', was equipped in December 1944 with at least one Panzer IV. Variants A Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer, based on the Panzer IV chassis, mounting the 75 mm Pak L/48 anti-tank gun. A Sturmpanzer IV infantry-support gun The Wirbelwind self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. In keeping with the wartime German design expediencies of mounting an existing anti-tank gun on a convenient chassis to give mobility, several tank destroyers and infantry support guns were

built around the Panzer IV hull. Both the Jagdpanzer IV, initially armed with the 75-millimetre (2.95 in) L/48 tank gun,[120] and the Krupp-manufactured Sturmgeschütz IV, which was the casemate of the Sturmgeschütz III mounted on the body of the Panzer IV,[121] proved highly effective in defense. Cheaper and faster to construct than tanks, but with the disadvantage of a very limited gun traverse, around 1,980 Jagdpanzer IVs[122] and 1,140 Sturmgeschütz IVs[123] were produced. Another tank destroyer, the Panzer IV/70, used the same basic 75-millimeter L/70 gun that was mounted on the Panther.[124][125] Another variant of the Panzer IV was the Panzerbefehlswagen IV (Pz. Bef. Wg. IV) command tank. This conversion entailed the installation of additional radio sets with associated mounting racks, transformers, junction boxes, wiring, antennas and an auxiliary electrical generator. To make room for the new equipment, ammunition stowage was reduced from 87 to 72 rounds. The vehicle could coordinate with nearby armor, infantry or even aircraft. Seventeen Panzerbefehlswagen were built on Ausf. J chassis in August and September 1944,[3] while another 88 were based on refurbished chassis.[126] The Panzerbeobachtungswagen IV (Pz. Beob. Wg. IV) was an artillery observation vehicle built on the Panzer IV chassis. This, too, received new radio equipment and an electrical generator, installed in the left rear corner of the fighting compartment. Panzerbeobachtungswagens worked in cooperation with Wespe and Hummel self-propelled artillery batteries.[127] Also based on the Panzer IV chassis was the Sturmpanzer IV (called "Brummbär" by Allied intelligence) 150-millimetre (5.91 in) infantry-support self-propelled gun. These vehicles were primarily issued to four Sturmpanzer units (Numbers 216, 217, 218 and 219) and used during the battle of Kursk and in Italy in 1943. Two separate versions of the Sturmpanzer IV existed, one without a machine gun in the mantlet and one with a machine gun mounted on the mantlet of the casemate.[128] Furthermore, a 105-millimetre (4.13 in) artillery gun was mounted in an experimental demountable turret on a Panzer IV chassis. This variant was called the Heuschrecke ("grasshopper").[129] Another 105 mm artillery/anti-tank prototype was the 10.5 cm K (gp.Sfl.) nicknamed Dicker Max. Four different self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicles were built on the Panzer IV hull. The Flakpanzer IV "Möbelwagen" ("moving van") was armed with a 37-millimetre (1.46 in) anti-aircraft cannon; 240 were built between 1944 and 1945. In late 1944 a new Flakpanzer, the Wirbelwind ("whirlwind"), was designed, with enough armor to protect the gun's crew in a rotating turret, armed with the quadruple 20 mmFlakvierling anti-aircraft cannon system; at least 100 were manufactured. Sixty-five (out of an order for 100) similar vehicles with a single 37 mm anti-aircraft cannon were built named Ostwind ("East wind"). This vehicle was designed to replace the Wirbelwind. The final model was the Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz, of which only five pilot vehicles were built. This vehicle featured an enclosed turret armed with twin 30-millimetre (1.18 in) Rheinmetall-Borsig MK 103 aircraft cannon.[130] Although not a direct modification of the Panzer IV, some of its components, in conjunction with parts from the Panzer III, were utilized to make one of the most widely used self-propelled artillery chassis of the war—the Geschützwagen III/IV. This chassis was the basis of the Hummel, of which 666 were built, and also the 88-millimetre (3.46 in) gun-armed Nashorn tank destroyer, with 473 manufactured.[131] To resupply self-propelled howitzers in the field, 150 ammunition carriers were manufactured on the Geschützwagen III/IV chassis.[68] Another variant was the Bergepanzer IV armored recovery vehicle. Some were believed to have been converted locally,[132] 21 were converted from hulls returned for repair between October 1944 and January 1945. The conversion involved removing the turret and adding a wooden plank cover with an access hatch over the turret

ring and the addition of a 2-ton jib crane and rigid towing bars.[133] Panzer IV mit hydrostatischem antrieb Another rare variant was the Panzer IV mit hydrostatischem antrieb. In 1944, Zahnradfabrik (ZF) Augsburg plant produced a prototype with an unusual drive concept. A Panzer IV Ausf. H tank received a fluid drive instead of the normal gearbox. Two oil pumps were installed behind the engine, which in turn drove two oil engines. An axial engine drive transmitted the power to the rear drive wheels via a reduction gear. Instead of the two steering levers, the driver had a crescent-shaped steering wheel with the steering movements of which two steering cylinders were operated, which in turn regulated the volume of the oil pumps and thus regulated the adjacent force on the two drive wheels. The only prototype built was not used and was shipped to America after the war to be subjected to driving tests. These finally had to be discontinued due to a lack of spare parts. The only surviving vehicle is now in United States Army Ordnance Training and Heritage Center in Maryland.[134] Production models Production models of Panzer IV[3] Name Production details Ausf.A, 1/BW (Sd.Kfz.161) 35 produced by Krupp-Gruson, between November 1937 and June 1938. Ausf.B, 2/BW 42 produced by Krupp-Gruson, from May to October 1938. Ausf.C, 3/BW 140 produced by Krupp-Gruson, from October 1938 to August 1939. Ausf.D, 4/BW + 5/BW 200 + 48 produced by Krupp-Gruson, from October 1939 to October 1940. Ausf.E, 6/BW 206 produced by Krupp-Gruson, from October 1940 to April 1941. Ausf.F, 7/BW 471 produced by Krupp-Gruson, Vomag and Nibelungenwerke from April 1941 to March 1942. Ausf.F2, 7/BW Umbau (Sd.Kfz.161/1) Temporary designation for Ausf F chassis built with long 7.5cm KwK40 L/43 main gun, later renamed into Auf. G and 8/BW. Ausf.G, 8/BW 1,927 produced by Krupp-Gruson, Vomag and Nibelungenwerke from March 1942 to June 1943. Ausf.H, 9/BW (Sd.Kfz.161/2) ~2,324 produced by Krupp-Gruson, Vomag and Nibelungenwerke from June 1943 to February 1944. Ausf.J, 10/BW ~3,160 produced by Nibelungenwerke and Vomag from February 1944 to April 1945. Variants based on chassis Derivatives of Panzer IV Name Production details Tauchpanzer IV 42 converted from July 1940 as submersible medium support tanks Panzerbefehlswagen Command tank with additional radio equipment, 17 built on Ausf. J and further 88 on rebuilt chassis Panzerbeobachtungswagen IV Artillery spotter tank with special radio equipment, 133 converted from Ausf. J Sturmpanzer IV Heavy Assault gun armed with 150 mm Infantry gun Sturmgeschütz IV Assault gun, similar to StuG III, armed with 7.5 cm gun Jagdpanzer IV and Panzer IV/70 Tank destroyer armed with 7.5 cm gun Nashorn Heavy Panzerjäger armed with 8.8 cm Anti-tank gun Hummel Self-propelled artillery armed with 150 mm Howitzer Flakpanzer IV Multiple variants of Panzer IV chassis armed with various Flak guns Brückenleger IV b+c 20+4 bridge layer tanks built by Krupp and Magirus, on Ausf.C and Ausf.D chassis, from February to May 1940 Brückenleger IV s (Sturmstegpanzer) 4 assault bridge carriers converted from Ausf.C chassis in 1940 Bergepanzer IV 21 armoured recovery vehicles converted from Pz IV chassis from October to December 1944 Panzer IV mit hydrostatischem antrieb 1 Panzer IV Ausf. H with a hydraulic drive by Zahnradfabrik in 1944

Thank you for this my love

[handwerkstatt]

20.04.2020  Ein strammer Ostwind treibt Fantasiewolken vor sich her.

4/20/2020  A brisk east wind is driving fantasy clouds ahead.

[silverhorseyz]

Top 7 comfort movies

Thanks for tagging @adelaideoldburg!

This list is in no particular order, I can’t pick one over the other.

1. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

2. Bambi 2

3. Leiutajateküla Lotte (Lotte from Gadgetville)

4. The Lion King, all of the three movies

5. The Saddle Club

6. Shrek, the first movie is the one and only Good Sherk Content™

7. Windstorm (Ostwind), all of them

Tagging my sweethearts @lightningstorm-in-a-teacup, @goddess-of-apples, @evangeline-kingborn

[gnomeniche]

i think it would be fun if in arc 4 lucas figures out how to share his Sight. maybe he learns a spell for it or something but i think it would be Thematically Cool.

like normally you are born with second sight or you can slowly develop it from channeling magic through yourself (and it has to be through you. it can’t just be from proximity to magic or else everyone in ostwind would have sight). but the spell of shared sight allows someone with neither of these qualifications to have the second sight temporarily

[swden-bookelves]

Reading Challenge 2020

This time I want to read at least 50 Books and Stories through the year. Let's see if I can complete it or how far I will come.

So I will try to update this post over the year with every book I read. It will be a mix between englisch and german books and I'm so exited to see how it will go! Even though the year already started and I read a few books already.

Books On The Shelf

 Bianca Iosivoni - Sturmtochter (#1): Für immer verboten

 John Katzenbach - Der Wolf

 L. Schmidbauer, K. M. Henn - Ostwind (#2): Rückkehr nach Kaltenbach

 Ambrose Bierce - An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge

 E. A. Poe - The Black Cat

 S. King, J. Hill - In the Tall Grass

 Kiera Cass - The One (#3)

 Patrick Süskind - Das Parfüm: die Geschichte eines Mörders

 Kari Erlhoff - Die drei ???: Im Schatten des Giganten

Kerstin Gier - Rubinrot

Kerstin Gier - Saphirblau

Kerstin Gier - Smaragdgrün

Anna Todd - After Passion

Sophie Seeberg - Die Schanin hat nur schwere Knochen!: Unerhörte Geschichten einer Familienpsychologin

Richard Bachmann - Todesmarsch

Marie Force - Befreit (Quantum-Serie #4)

Halo Summer - Aschenkindel - Das wahre Märchen

Detektiv Conan - Band 1, 2, 3

Clare Lydon - Before You Say I Do

Stephen King - Brennen muss Salem

Sophie Seeberg - Die Schakkeline ist voll hochbegabt, ey!

Sophie Seeberg - Der Maik-Tylor verträgt kein Bio

Claudia Siegmann - Das letzte Dornröschen (Märchenfluch #1)

Amy Ewing - Kristallblau (abgebrochen)

[maka-auf-dem-ostseekuestenradweg]

Tag 4 Friedensthal- Kiel (🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️ 58km, 310 hm)

Für heute versprach der Wetterbericht den ganzen Tag schönstes Regenwetter, also wurden alle Regensachen angeprölt, die in den Taschen zu finden waren, bei 14 Grad fiel auch die Entscheidung für die lange Hosen-Variante leicht und so verpackt konnte es losgehen:

Eins kann ich vorweg nehmen, es hat nicht geregnet 😄 dafür war der freche Wind wieder da und wie schon in den letzten beiden Tagen immer noch als „Ostwind“ unterwegs 🙈😜 eigentlich war die Empfehlung für den Ostseeküstenradweg unbedingt in Flensburg zu starten, um dann mit Westwind im Rücken prima Richtung Stralsund und nach Hause zu radeln, da hat der Wind die Reisebeschreibung wohl falsch verstanden... 😅 und heute hat er sich mit ca. 30km/h kräftig ins Zeug gelegt ...hat uns „fast“ gar nicht gestört, haben einfach öfter mal den Tour-Modus eingeschaltet, vor allem bei langen Steigungen, geht ja schließlich gar nicht „Berghoch mit Gegenwind“🤣 nach ca. 20 km ziemlich unspektakulärer Fahrt straßenbegleitend, zwar die Ostsee im Blick aber bestimmt 200m Luftlinie entfernt, haben wir den Radweg kurzerhand verlassen und sind direkt an den Strand gefahren, Zeit für eine Pause 🍵 😋

Frisch gestärkt und aufgewärmt ging es weiter, den nächsten Ausreißer vom offiziellen Radweg haben wir Richtung Strande Hafen und Leuchtturm Bülk gemacht.

Die letzten 15 km ging es dann schon immer quer durch Kiel mit kurzer Fährfahrt über den Nord-Ostseekanal, gegen 14:45 Uhr erreichten wir die Altstadt mit unserem Hotel. Genug Zeit also um nach erfrischenden Duschen und kleiner Pause (wir waren doch ganz schön k.o. durch den ständigen Gegenwind) noch durch die Altstadt zu ströpern, ist relativ unspektakulär.

[airborn64]

OSTWIND 4 Teaser Trailer German Deutsch (2019)

OSTWIND 4 Teaser Trailer German Deutsch (2019)

Offizieller "Ostwind 4: Aris Ankunft" Teaser Trailer Deutsch German 2019 | Abonnieren ➤ | (OT: Ostwind 4: Aris Ankunft) Movie Trailer | Kinostart: 28 Feb 2019 | Filminfos Durch einen Zwischenfall werden Mika (Hanna Binke) und ihr Ostwind auf eine harte Probe gestellt. Mikas Großmutter (Cornelia Froboess), Sam (Marvin Linke) und Herr Kaan (Tilo Prückner) versuchen unterdessen, Gut Kaltenbach am…

[julexbhn-blog]

"Du bist nicht wie er ,er ist nicht wie du, aber zusammen seid ihr ein ganzes!"

-Ostwind 4