Anyone have any idea what unit this PzKpfw IV on Sicily might have belonged to? It was photographed in Palermo after the fighting for shipment back to APG.

Hello Steve,

That is a very cool picture of a rare phot'ed tank. That is the upgunned Pz IV D I believe the same kit that Dragon made. I believe there are only two units in Sicily that had Pz IV's , HG and the 15th Pz GR Div so it would I would say have to be one of these.I had read where 26th I believe had these rebuilds in Italy but had never seen or heard of them in Sicily . Thanks for posting this pic I find it very cool and saved it in my archives. I'm waiting along with you to hear if anyone else can shed any facts on this one.

Brian

Added armour on the upper and lower hull sides.

Will, Have a closer look at the exhaust pipes, that is a D. Alan

Alan,

Other identifiers are the older cupola and the top mounted hatch stop. The Ausf.E already had the mid style cupola and a Panzer III style hatch stop mounted low on the side of the turret.

Regards.

Tom

I've been more observant of Threes rather than fours at the moment but great info once I start detailing my wargames models.

Thanks guys

Steve

Working from Brians two units P.767 Truppenkennzeichen Band 4 shows the Kennzeichen of Pz.Abt 115 as applied in the area of Caltanisetta on Sicily in early July.

Also on P.16 of Last of the Panzers is a photo of one of a Pz.Abt 115 PzIV lost at Pachino beach.

It would seem reasonable that if a PzIV lost at Pachino beach had the Abts Kennzeichen on the side plate that one lost in or around Palermo should also have it, however there does not appear to even be a hint of it under the visor on the turret side plate.

So, while not conclusive, if its unlikely to be Pz.Abt 115 of 15 PGD, then this would seem to point to HG.

cheers Neill.

Edit;
Steve, never certain with my eyes but there does seem to be the Kennzeichen for 3 PGD to the right of the BK on the rear plate. They arrive in Italy in June but I cannot find any reference to them being on Sicily. The first mention of them in Italy that I can find from a few different sources is Salerno.

Perhaps if Martin is looking in he could show if 3 PGD is even possible for a shipment of PzIV that would fit with the known features.

Neill, Unfortunately the same sort of things can be said for the Pz IV's belonging to HG, they were all fitted with turret skirting armour and marked with the HG cirle insignia and there is no sign of either on this Pz IV. Alan

This is the APG / Ft. Lee vehicle, right? With the L/43 seen in this pic swapped back to an L/24 by the museum?