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Old 01-12-12, 06:50 PM   #11
Lieste
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The PzIV turret was marginal in size with the gun mounted very far forward there was minimal clearance to the TC position.

With the much heavier L48 gun, compared to the original L24, the turret balance was close to practical limits, and adding more turret front armour would have also required large increases in armour weight on the turret rear, and a consequent increase in turret weight much greater than the small area and thickness increase suggest. Given the composite 'bolted' construction of the hull/superstructure, and relatively light weight structures (side and deck armour much thinner than normal for medium tanks) this increase in turret weight would probably require additional structural weight in the turret ring and hull - all of which would also add to the stress on the overburdened suspension.

The PzIV already suffered in comparison with the Panther and Tiger in cross country manoeuvrability - having a MMP significantly higher than either of these later tanks.
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