===Asal-Muasal===
Sama seperti [[Panzer III]] Jenderal [[Heinz Guderian]] mendesain juga Panzer IV ini. Dalam desain awal-nya, Panzer IV ini digunakan untuk Tank Pendukung Infanteri bukan untuk Tank vs Tank. Ideal-nya, setiap battalion tank dalam divisi panzer pasti memiliki kompani tank medium [[Panzer III]] dan satu kompi panzer berat Panzer VI. Pada 11 Januari 1934 [[Wehrmacht]] menulis spesifikasi "Traktor Pendukung", karena pembuatan tank dilarang oleh Perjanjian Versailles. melewati beberapa tahun berganti nama dengan Begleitwagen ("Kendaraan Pendukung"), disingkat BW yang proposalnya diberikan kepada 3 perusahaan besar MAN, Krupp, dan Rheinmetal namun hasil desain Krupp yang diterima dan di Produksi massal pada awal 1936 setelah Hitler mengumumkan penghapusan Perjanjian Versailles.
===Ausf. A to Ausf. F1===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-J08365, Ausbildung, Überrollen durch Panzer.jpg|thumb|left|Panzer IV Ausf. C]]
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 [[Maybach]]'s HL 108TR, producing {{convert|250|PS|kW|2|abbr=on}}, and used the SGR 75 transmission with five forward gears and one reverse,<ref>Perrett (1999), p. 5; Caballero & Molina (2006), p. 6</ref> achieving a maximum road speed of {{convert|31|km/h|mph|2}}.<ref>Caballero & Molina (2006), p. 6</ref> As main armament, the vehicle mounted the ''Kampfwagenkanone'' 37 [[Caliber#caliber as a measure of length|L/24]] (KwK 37 L/24) {{convert|75|mm|in|2|adj=on|abbr=on}} tank gun, which was a low-velocity gun mainly designed to fire high-explosive shells.<ref name=Caballero7>Caballero & Molina (2006), p. 7</ref> Against armored targets, firing the ''Panzergranate'' ([[Armor-piercing shot and shell|armor-piercing shell]]) at {{convert|430|m/s|ft/s|-1}} the KwK 37 could penetrate {{convert|43|mm|in|2}}, inclined at 30 degrees, at ranges of up to {{convert|700|m|ft|-2}}.<ref name=Doyle4>Doyle & Jentz (2001), p. 4</ref> A {{convert|7.92|mm|in|2|adj=on|abbr=on}} [[MG 34 machine gun]] was mounted [[Coaxial weapon|coaxially]] with the main gun in the turret, while a second machine gun of the same type was mounted in the front plate of the hull.<ref name=Perrett5 /> The Ausf. A was protected by {{convert|14.5|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} of steel armor on the front plate of the chassis, and {{convert|20|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} on the turret. This was only capable of stopping [[Fragmentation (weaponry)|artillery fragments]], [[small-arms]] fire, and light anti-tank projectiles.<ref name=Perrett6Caballero7>Perrett (1999), p. 6; Caballero & Molina (2006), p. 7</ref>
[[File:Maybach HL120.jpg|thumb|right|The 300 horsepower Maybach HL 120TRM engine used in most Panzer IV production models.]]
After manufacturing 35 tanks of the A version, in 1937 production moved to the Ausf. B.<ref name=Spielberger70 /> Improvements included the replacement of the original engine with the more powerful {{convert|300|PS|kW|2|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|16|t|ST|abbr=on}}, this improved the tank's speed to {{convert|39|km/h|mph|}}.<ref>Perrett (1999), p. 6; Caballero & Molina (2006), p. 6</ref> The [[glacis]] plate was augmented to a maximum thickness of {{convert|30|mm|in|2}},<ref name=Perrett6Caballero7 /> and the hull-mounted machine gun was replaced by a covered pistol port. Forty-two Panzer IV Ausf. Bs were manufactured before the introduction of the Ausf. C in 1938.<ref name=Spielberger70 /><ref name=Perrett6>Perrett (1999), p. 6</ref> This saw the turret armor increased to {{convert|30|mm|in|2|abbr=on}}, which brought the tank's weight to {{convert|18.14|t|ST|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Perrett6 /> 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, and 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 an external one.<ref name=Perrett6 /> Again, protection was upgraded, this time by increasing side armor to {{convert|20|mm|in|2|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Caballero7 /> As the German [[Invasion of Poland (1939)|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).<ref name=Spielberger70 />
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-124-0211-18, Im Westen, Panzer IV.jpg|thumb|left|PzKpfw IV Ausf. D]]
In response to the difficulty of penetrating the armor of British [[infantry tank]]s ([[Matilda I (tank)|Matilda]] and [[Matilda II]]) during the [[Battle of France]], the Germans had tested a {{convert|50|mm|in|2|adj=on|abbr=on}} 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 canceled before they entered production.<ref>Doyle & Jentz (2001), p. 5</ref>
In October 1940, the Ausf. E was introduced. This had {{convert|50|mm|in|2}} of armor on the bow plate, while a {{convert|30|mm|in|2|adj=on}} appliqué steel plate was added to the glacis as an interim measure. Finally, the commander's cupola was moved forward into the turret. 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.<ref name="Panzer Tracts 23" />
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1979Anh.-001-10, Panzer IV, Ausf. F-1.jpg|thumb|right|The short-barreled Panzer IV Ausf. F1.]]
In April 1941, production of the Panzer IV Ausf. F started. It featured {{convert|50|mm|in|2|adj=on|abbr=on}} single-plate armor on the turret and hull, as opposed to the appliqué armor added to the Ausf. E,<ref name=Perrett6 /> and a further increase in side armor to {{convert|30|mm|in|2|abbr=on}}.<ref>Caballero & Molina (2006), p. 31</ref> The weight of the vehicle was now {{convert|22.3|t|ST}}, which required a corresponding modification of track width from {{convert|380|to|400|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} to reduce ground pressure. The wider tracks also facilitated the fitting of ice [[sprag]]s, and the rear idler wheel and front [[sprocket]] were modified.<ref name=Spielberger71>Spielberger (1972), p. 71</ref> 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.<ref name="Panzer Tracts 23" />
===Ausf. F2 to Ausf. J {{anchor|F2}}===
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