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===Eastern Front (1941–1945)===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-088-3734A-19A, Russland, Panzer IV.jpg|thumb|right|A nampak PzKpfw IV Ausf. H ofdari the [[12thDivisi Panzer Divisionke-12 (Wehrmacht)|12th Panzerdengan Division]] carrying [[spaced armor|Schürzen]] skirting operating on the [[Eastern Front (WorldLapis WarBaja IITambahan)|Eastern Front]]berjuang indi the [[USSR]],Front 1944Timur.]]
WithPada thesaat launchingpelaksanaan of OperationOperasi ''Barbarossa'' onpada 22 JuneJuni 1941, the unanticipated appearance of the [[KV-1 (tank)|KV-1]] and [[T-34]] tanks prompted an upgrade of the Panzer IV's {{convert|75|mm|in|2|adj=on|abbr=on}} gun to a longer, high-velocity {{convert|75|mm|in|2|adj=on|abbr=on}} gun suitable for antitank use. This meant that it could now penetrate the T-34 at ranges of up to {{convert|1200|m|ft|abbr=on}} at any angle.<ref>Jentz (1996), p. 243</ref> The {{convert|75|mm|in|2|adj=on|abbr=on}} KwK 40 L/43 gun on the Panzer IV could penetrate a T-34 at a variety of impact angles beyond {{convert|1000|m|ft|abbr=on}} range and up to {{convert|1600|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>Bird & Livingston (2001), p. 25</ref> Shipment of the first model to mount the new gun, the Ausf. F2, began in spring 1942, and by the [[Case Blue|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.<ref>Doyle & Jentz (2001), p. 33</ref> They played a crucial role in the events that unfolded between June 1942 and March 1943,<ref>Doyle & Jentz (2001), p. 35–36</ref> and the Panzer IV became the mainstay of the German panzer divisions.<ref name=Spielberger87>Spielberger (1972), p. 87</ref> 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 tank|Panther]] was not delivered to German units in the Soviet Union until May 1943.<ref>Caballero & Molina (2006), p. 42</ref> 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.<ref>Caballero & Molina (2006), p. 39</ref>
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,<ref>Perrett (1999), p. 39</ref> so much of the effort fell to the 841 Panzer IVs that took part in the battle.<ref>Caballero & Molina (2006), p. 47</ref> Throughout 1943, the German army lost 2,352 Panzer IVs on the Eastern Front;<ref>Caballero & Molina (2006), p. 48</ref> some divisions were reduced to 12–18 tanks by the end of the year.<ref name=Spielberger87 /> In 1944, a further 2,643 Panzer IVs were destroyed, and such losses were becoming increasingly difficult to replace.<ref>Caballero & Molina (2006), p. 51</ref> 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.<ref>Reynolds (2002), p. 5</ref>
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