I would like to know if someone could please tell me what are the racks or brackets that hold on the side skirts on the Panzer IV J? Is there any good detailed photos of the item [s] that I am looking for?

Hey Wolf,
I just uploaded some Panzer IV pics to the msn group reference photo's under "Panzer IV". The last 2 pictures on the first page are of a J with the mesh skirts and mounts showing. They are not overly close shots, but they are full colour and in a museum so they are fairly clear. Hope they will help!!!

Hi Wolf,
I found some interesting pics of the Thomaschild on the Panzer IV Ausf J at the Panzer Diesel website: http://www.panzerdiesel.com/data/e/29t.html
Hope that they'll be usefull!!

Great photos... but man, those wire mesh "aprons" look like they were a useless waste of metal ! They couldn't stop a 30cal round, much less a shaped charge (bazooka)! Course, they would be a lot easier to use in adding in camoflauge I guess....

The wire mesh wasn't meant to "stop" a round only to cause it to detonate prematurely so as not to totally penetrate the main armor Though not as good as the previous panels, it was cheaper, lighter, and more flexible. Works only on HEAT style rounds not SABOT