Hi everyone.

I'm looking for pictures of a Panzer IV J Mid during the final winter of the war. Something really beat up, maybe even missing an entire length of fender and pieces of its turret skirts, yet still in service. I've done several Google searches with little success.

Thanks everyone. Be safe out there

Alex

Alex;

Doing the big Google and other such searches is your best bet.

While the photo record of beat-up Pz. IV is pretty good, specially late-war, I would have to say that whole fenders apparently did not go "MIA" while the tank still worked (end-pieces, however, did, and fenders could get mangled), nor did those turret - schurzen become partially-removed. Leastwise, I don't recollect ever seeing this sort of stuff on a pic of a still-operational tank.

I suspect that impacts and events sufficient to remove those fenders probably did a lot of other damage as well, and likely left the tank in-op. Maybe same for those turret-schurzen. IF those became damaged sufficient to foul or encumber the turret, I think the crew would simply remove them. But I also think that the crews valued those items and would not remove any unless they really were severely mangled.

Missing hull schurzen and mangled schurzen-racks are a different story - lots of missing plates and bent-up racks show in pictures.

Just my thoughts on this matter!

Bob

How's this??? lol

David;

"And here, folks, for your consideration, are a choice selection of "used" tanks! Please be aware that each lot is being sold "as is - where is" and buyer assumes all responsibility for removal of the vehicle from the property by close of business next Friday! A Buyer's Premium of 10% will be added to the winning bid. At the conclusion of bidding, winners will please go see the lady up front. Gentlemen, shall we start the bidding, now?"

An interesting selection of "bashed-four" pics! The first is of a short-gun F1 in Russia (noting the Russians with their PPSh-41) - and no schurzen were ever on it anywhere... I'll bet it was not going back for any quick refurbs and return to action, let alone somehow still operable "as is"!

The other three are later H or J tanks (good as Alex seeks such...) but are pretty clearly knocked out. And anything goes (or falls, or flies off) on a knocked-out IV!

But these, and myriad other pics, clearly show what became of those Pz. IV in their final days!

Bob

The only Pz IV with missing turret schurzen I've seen is one in the background of the images of "Derby", a well known 3 AD Sherman. See here:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208/thread/1267861134/Reference+Help-+Shermans+in+Normandy

Hope that helps.