Inside the Panzer IV! - WW2 German Tank

First episode in a series from my tours of the AAF Tank Museum & Indiana Military Museum - the WWII German Panzer IV.

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#panzeriv #inside #tanks #ww2 #tankmuseum #warthunder

[slobodan]

Really well explained. Ive never seen someone be allowed to rotate the turret or even get inside a tank at a museum!

[Maiko]

This needs a great restoration, it’s in really great shape.

[vonon]

A very underrated tank. Thanks for another look at a classic.

[sneff]

Your video is the first video I found that actually shows the rotation of the turret. For some reason most museums are very strict with that.

[eddyhoughton]

From what I read back in the 1980s, the earlier H model had a power turret traverse but it was removed from the later J model to simplify production when the Germans were suffering late in the war.

[Irish]

The Panzer IV has always been my favorite WWII-era German tank. Tankers and tank enthusiasts have an understanding that tanks themselves are apolitical. And that admiring, say, a Panzer or a T-34 does not mean you sympathize with the ideology of their respective nations. I served as a tank crewman in the U.S. Army. My final duty station was Fort Knox, the (now former) home of U.S. Armor. On a day off once in the middle of the week, when there were almost no other visitors, I toured the Patton Museum's collection of tanks. (In my life, I probably visited the Museum twenty or so times.) They had just put on display a newly-restored German Panther tank. No one else was around, so I hopped the velvet rope and pulled myself inside the Panther's turret. The turret was very easy to traverse with the manual crank, and it was fairly roomy inside (not forgetting that there was no one else in there, and no combat load to take up all the interior space.) It's safe to say the Germans made excellent tanks for a horrible purpose.

[bmwi]

This is the one and only reason I am going to this museum! The workhorse of the German army! Can’t wait to see it in person!

[lmyrski]

Great tank, but it is painted completely wrong! Also, if it only has manual traverse it is a J, not an H. All versions had manual traverse, but hey removed the the power traverse system for the late war "J" version. It saved copper and since they were mainly on the defense there was less need for the power traverse. On the other hand, someone may have removed the power traverse in its post-war life. I also notice the commander's hatch is 2 piece which was not typical of the J version. The tank may be a mixed part tank, which was common as tanks were repaired and upgraded. Despite what the man said, Panzer IVs had electric starters, but they were mainly only used in emergencies, such as restarting the tank in combat. Think about it, if your tank stalls for some reason, who wants to get out and risk cranking it when enemy infantry are around? The mufflers were also missing from that tank. As for being too big for the tank, not only are you larger than average for WWII, they tended to send smaller men to the tank force. Dive bombers too, btw, because tall people black out quicker. In fact, people your height would find all sorts of restrictions. The USA had many of the same restrictions. Submarines for example.

[gregfrith]

Awesome video! I had always wanted to get into AAF's PzIV, but just never got around to it. I really miss this museum...

[pigtasticpigtures]

I’ve actually been inside of this tank. It was extremely awesome.

[Splattle]

Good tank, yes. But Shermans were not bouncing off it. The bow plate and driver front were 80 mm, otherwise the thickest armor on the Pz IV Ausf H were the turret front and gun mantlet with 50 mm. The sides and superstructure were thinner again. The garden variety M4 with the 75 mm gun could kill this tank at normal combat ranges, unless the gunner was aiming specifically for the front of the hull.

[kimcason]

Wow some one's a Lucky Boy. Being able to get in and even Traverse the Turret..!
I have only ever seen the Outside. What a treat..!

I still would NOT like to be in One in Action, mind.
Or any tank in Action come to think of it..!

Good Video Thx for Sharing. Cool.

Cheers kim in Oz. 😎

[metaphoric-jc]

Today they are silent .. But on those days these machines were nightmares to their enemies. They lived their Ives to their fullest extent

[tonnywildweasel]

Fantastic! One of my favorite tanks, so I appreciate this vid a LOT 👍 Thank you guys 👍
Greets from the Netherlands ✌, T.

[dovahkiin-rxij]

An absolutely amazing video, can't wait to see the next episode!

[FrancesZuzolo]

It was amazing to see these tanks in person! I'm partial, but I think you did an outstanding job ;)

[AlexO]

Very well edited and explained, nice. -Havoc

[theamapolero]

As I would like to know English to try to understand 100% everything they say, thanks for being so illustrative, what a good channel

[Emtbtoday]

Ausf H has the twin extractors on the right hand side for the turret traverse so should be powered for an H

[ryleeculla]

The panzer 4 isn’t really loved that much it’s always over looked by the big cats