Pzkw Mk IV F2 Developed by Krupp in 1934 – 1936 to succeed the Pzkw Mk III. The first delivery to the German army was the Ausf. A model with a short 75 mm. L/24 howitzer for infantry support. After encounters with allied tanks during the battle of France it was recognized a better gun was needed for tank-to-tank encounters since the L/24 had too low a muzzle velocity and lower accuracy than was needed. The Ausf. F2 with the long barreled gun was delivered in early 1942. Weight: 23.6 tons Armament: 75 mm. KwK 40 L/43 gun Ammunition storage: 80 rounds Two 7.92 mm. machine guns, one in hull front, one for anti-aircraft use. Engine: Maybach HL 108 TR, generating 300 horse power Speed: 40 km./hour on road, 20 km./hour cross country Range: 200 km. on road, 130 km. cross country Crew: driver, radio operator, loader, gunner, commander. The Pzkw Mk IV formed the mainstay of the German panzer units, together with the Pzkw Mk III. The Mk IV was produced until the end of the war. Some 20,000 were manufactured (compare with 52,000 Sherman tanks in the US). After the war, the Mk IV continued in use with the Finnish, Spanish and Syrian armies. The Pzkw Mk IV’s last action was during the 6 Day War in 1967, when the Israeli army captured a number of them in dug-in positions. 1:72 scale model by Airfix. Assembly and painting by me, 1989. Enjoy! Camera: Fuji A303 digital