Does anyone know what tank crew equipment was stored inside the Panzer IV?
Hand-grenades, ammunition, backpacks, gas-masks, pistols, MP 40, helmets?
Any help would be very appriciated

German tanks had storage boxes and storage hangars inside. The layout of these would change from time to time in a tank design that ran for a long time, like the Pz.4. In the last couple of years of the war they used loose storage shelving rather than individual boxes to save costs.

For every crewman there was a gasmask in its portable container, and an extension tube in a cylindrical holder fixed to the tank; a water flask; and for the relevant crewmen, headphones.

There was MG ammunition, spare vision blocks, perhaps an MP weapon, MG parts, parts for the main gun, telescope parts, radio spares, the oil can, fire extinguishers, and so forth.

Personal gear was stored in the external bin.

David

David, thank you do you know where I could find pictures of this?

I know that photos from the insides of Panzers are rare, and official storage diagrams are even more rare. When you look into a museum tank, most of this stuff is missing and the holder labels may be painted over.

What version Pz.4 do you want? Somebody else may have information.

David

Panzer IV Ausf H

I found this site but not too much to see

http://panzerivuniverse.phelpscomputerservices.com/PhotoNativeInt.htm

same topic discussed elsewhere

http://www.hobbyhavoc.com/oldhavoc/index.php?topic=1689.0;wap2

While crews lived in their AFVs and lots of stuff would be crammed in available space, you should pay heed to the fact that the tank's functionality was of primary importance. Modelers can tend to cram all sorts of stuff which would hamper the safety (clear lines of escape) and fighting ability (blocking turret traverse and elevation, aiming, etc.) and mobility (driver's vision lines). Internally, space was saved for food and other niceties and stuff the crew didn't want stolen. They rarely stuffed the inside with infantryman' gear (excess weapons, small arms ammo, excess grenades, panzerfausten, etc). Loose stuff could fall into dangerous spaces at inopportune times. The Verlinden style of canteens and binocs and food tins everywhere is simply too dangerous.

thank you

still looking for proper placement of gasmask, mp40, and any other stuff that was kept inside with the crew
Any ideas please share

I have the old AFV Interiors files. Frustrating incomplete for the Pz 4 but might give some clues. PM me if interested.

Hi Nick

I am interested