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In addition, Turkey was a buyer, with 35 Panzer IV received until 4 May 1944 in exchange for some chromium. Delivery was began with Ausf G and probably went on with Ausf H versions.<ref>Official document in Turkish Republic Archive, BCA: 10.52.344.9</ref>
==Variants==
[[File:SdKfz162.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Jagdpanzer IV]] tank destroyer, based on the Panzer IV chassis, mounting the 75 mm Pak L/48 anti-tank gun.]]
In keeping with the wartime German design philosophy of mounting an existing anti-tank gun on a convenient chassis to give mobility, several tank destroyers and infantry support guns were built around the Panzer IV hull. Both the [[Jagdpanzer IV]], initially armed with the {{convert|75|mm|in|2|adj=on}} L/48 tank gun,<ref>Scheibert (1991), p. 38</ref> and the Krupp-manufactured [[Sturmgeschütz IV]], which was the casemate of the [[Sturmgeschütz III]] mounted on the body of the Panzer IV,<ref>Scheibert (1991), p. 37</ref> proved highly effective in defense. Cheaper and faster to construct than tanks, but with the disadvantage of a very limited gun traverse, around 1,980 Jagdpanzer IVs<ref>{{Cite web| last = Parada| first = George| title = Jagdpanzer IV| publisher = achtungpanzer.com| url = http://www.achtungpanzer.com/jagdpanzer-iv-sd-kfz-162-75mm-l48-1944.htm| accessdate = 2008-09-01}}</ref> and 1,140 Sturmgeschütz IVs<ref>{{Cite web| last = Parada| first = George| title = Sturmgeschütz III / IV| publisher = achtungpanzer.com| url = http://www.achtungpanzer.com/sturmgeschutz-iii-sturmgeschutz-iv.htm| accessdate = 2008-09-01}}</ref> were produced. Another tank destroyer, the Panzer IV/70, used the same basic 75 millimeter L/70 gun that was mounted on the Panther.<ref>Scheibert (1991), p. 44</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Jentz|first=Thomas L.|author2=Doyle, Hilary Louis|title=Panzer Tracts No. 9: Jagdpanzer, Jagdpanzer 38 to Jagdtiger|year=1997|publisher=Darlington Productions|location=Darlington (MD)}}</ref>
Another variant of the Panzer IV was the ''Panzerbefehlswagen'' IV (Pz. Bef. Wg. IV) command tank. This conversion entailed the installation of additional radio sets, mounting racks, transformers, junction boxes, wiring, antennas and an auxiliary electrical generator. To make room for the new equipment, ammunition stowage was reduced from 87 to 72 rounds. The vehicle could coordinate with nearby armor, infantry or even aircraft. Seventeen ''Panzerbefehlswagen'' were built on Ausf. J chassis in August and September 1944,<ref name="Panzer Tracts 23" /> while another 88 were based on refurbished chassis.<ref>Doyle & Jentz (2001), pp. 41–42</ref>
[[File:Sturmpanzer.Saumur.0008gkp7.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Sturmpanzer IV|''Sturmpanzer'' IV]] Brummbär infantry-support gun (Casemate MG variant (flexible mount)).]]
The ''Panzerbeobachtungswagen'' IV (Pz. Beob. Wg. IV) was an [[Artillery observer|artillery observation]] vehicle built on the Panzer IV chassis. This, too, received new radio equipment and an electrical generator, installed in the left rear corner of the fighting compartment. ''Panzerbeobachtungswagens'' worked in cooperation with [[Wespe]] and [[Hummel (artillery)|Hummel]] [[self-propelled artillery]] batteries.<ref>Doyle & Jentz (2001), pp. 42–43</ref>
Also based on the Panzer IV chassis was the ''Sturmpanzer'' IV [[Brummbär]] {{convert|150|mm|in|2|adj=on}} infantry-support self-propelled gun. These vehicles were primarily issued to four Sturmpanzer units (Numbers 216, 217, 218 and 219) and used during the battle of Kursk and in Italy in 1943. Two separate versions of the Sturmpanzer IV existed, one without a machine gun in the mantlet and one with a machine gun mounted on the mantlet of the casemate.<ref>Scheibert (1991), pp. 32–33</ref> Furthermore, a {{convert|105|mm|in|2|adj=on}} artillery gun was mounted in an experimental demountable turret on a Panzer IV chassis. This variant was called the ''[[Heuschrecke 10|Heuschrecke]]'' ("Grasshopper").<ref>Scheibert (1991). p. 43</ref> Another 105 mm artillery/anti-tank prototype was the [[10.5 cm K (gp.Sfl.)]] nicknamed ''Dicker Max''.
[[File:Wirbelwind CFB Borden 2.jpg|thumb|right|The ''[[Wirbelwind]]'' self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.]]
Four different self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicles were built on the Panzer IV hull. The ''Flakpanzer IV [[Möbelwagen]]'' was armed with a {{convert|37|mm|in|2|adj=on}} anti-aircraft cannon; 240 were built between 1944 and 1945. In late 1944 a new ''Flakpanzer'', the ''[[Wirbelwind]]'' ("Whirlwind"), was designed, with enough armor to protect the gun's crew and a rotating turret, armed with the quadruple 20 mm [[2 cm FlaK 30#2 cm Flakvierling 38|''Flakvierling'']] anti-aircraft cannon system; at least 100 were manufactured. Sixty-five similar vehicles were built, named ''[[Ostwind]]'' ("East wind"), but with a single {{convert|37|mm|in|2|adj=on}} anti-aircraft cannon instead. This vehicle was designed to replace the ''Wirbelwind''. The final model was the ''Flakpanzer IV [[Kugelblitz]]'', of which only five pilot vehicles were built. This vehicle featured an enclosed turret armed with twin {{convert|30|mm|in|2|adj=on}} anti-aircraft cannons.<ref>Scheibert (1991), pp. 37–42</ref>
Although not a direct modification of the Panzer IV, some of its components, in conjunction with parts from the Panzer III, were utilized to make one of the most widely used self-propelled artillery chassis of the war—the Geschützwagen III/IV. This chassis was the basis of the ''[[Hummel (artillery)|Hummel]]'' artillery piece, of which 666 were built, and also the {{convert|88|mm|in|2}} gun armed [[Nashorn]] tank destroyer, with 473 manufactured.<ref>Spielberger (1972), pp. 81–82</ref> To resupply self-propelled howitzers in the field, 150 ammunition carriers were manufactured on the Geschützwagen III/IV chassis.<ref name="Spielberger 1972, p. 82"/>
Another rare variant was the ''Bergepanzer'' IV [[armoured recovery vehicle|armored recovery vehicle]]. Some were believed to have been converted locally,<ref>New Vanguard 28, ''Panzerkampfwagon IV Medium Tank 1936-45'', Bryan Perrett, Osprey Publishing 1999</ref> 21 were converted from hulls returned for repair between October 1944 and January 1945. The conversion involved removing the turret and adding a wooden plank cover with an access hatch over the turret ring and the addition of a 2-ton jib crane and rigid towing bars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/trumpeter/tr00389.html|title=Trumpeter 00389 German Bergepanzer IV|work=perthmilitarymodelling.com}}</ref>
==See also==
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