Developed during the mid 30s and seeing mass production in 1939, the Panzer IV was developed to compliment the Panzer III medium tank. The Panzer IV would provide infantry support with its 75mm howitzer while the Panzer III would use its 50mm cannon to engage armored targets. Eventually this concept started to falter as newer and heavily armored allied tanks began to appear. Since up-gunning the Panzer III was out of the question, the Panzer IV was given a long 75mm gun and forced into the anti-tank role, becoming a true multi-purpose medium tank. The addition of more armor pushed the Panzer IV past its weight limit, which began to have a pretty severe impact on its suspension. The Panzer IV would continue to be the backbone of the German military up until the end of the war, and was the only German vehicle to be produced for the entirety of it.

Check the channel "About" section for the link to the creator of my profile picture.

Songs used (in order from first to last):
Halo: CE - Perilous Journey
Halo 3: ODST - Rain (Deference for Darkness)

Sources:
Panzer Tracts No.4 by Thomas L. Jentz and Hilary L. Doyle
Panzer IV & Its Variants by Walter J. Spielerberger
Panzer IV by Kevin Hjermstad
Panzer IV vs Sherman by Steven Zaloga and Richard Chasemore

Second channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_z0IvBt9VKgVY9_CgThzIA
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#tanks #tankhistory #warthunder