The Jagdpanzer IV L/70, with its low profile and strong frontal armor, was well suited to the stand-up defensive battles fought by the Germany during the final year of the war. Originally designed as a replacement for the Sturmgeschutz, this vehicle instead assumed the role of a tank destroyer primarily with the Panzer and Panzer Grenadier divisions. The Jagdpanzer IV L/70, also known as the Panzer IV L/70, were produced with the longer L/70 75mm Pak 42 and were built with two major versions, namely the Vomag and Alkett designs. This AFV is the focus of this recent Tankpower publication from Wydawnictwo Militaria of Poland.

Contents

This book is clearly aimed at modelers with plenty of the sort of detail modelers ask for. The focus of the book is on the AFV’s appearance and technical features, and there are numerous line drawings and museum photos.

The book has a well-structured format that makes it easy to find specific information when using it as a modeling reference. The opening section presents the history of the Jagdpanzer IV with a focus on the longer barreled L/70 version and the proposed Panzer IV/70(E), which had a simplified chassis. Later sections describe the Jagdpanzer in detail covering the layout, details on the power unit and transmission, optics and electricals. The text is dual Polish and English text and while the English is logically structured some faux pas slipped into the translation. While essentially a summary of existing research, this section presents the information together in an accessible style (without the need to translate from the German).

The history section includes a short section on unit organisation with two charts showing company and brigade organizations and a particularly useful table showing vehicle allocations with type, unit, number and date.

The front section includes a good compilation of wartime photos of the Jagdpanzer IV L/70. While all were familiar to me, it is very useful to have them printed clearly on glossy paper in one book.

The short notes on camouflage and marking, are superficial and overlooks the use of red-primer as a base coat on many late war German AFVs. Five pages present 20 color side profiles including one each of the proposed Panzer IV with an 88mm Pak and the Panzer IV/70(E).

This title has ample scale drawings, which seem well researched with small detail such as tyre side wall markings and electrical cabling to the headlamps. Several line illustrations show small details such has the sight opening, changes in the brake access hatches, the mounting brackets for Thoma schurzen and the various rear plate/ exhaust configurations. Three plans show the internal layout (the Alkett and Vomag fighting compartments and a full cross section of a Jagdpanzer IV L/70 (V)).

Most of the scale illustrations are multi-view 1/35 scale plans, some are in the book, while many including are on loose A3 pages. The benefit of loose A3 pages is that no detail gets loss on the binding and you can make a copy to have on your modeling desk and not worry about glue and paint spills etc, just keep the original safe with the book. Versions covers are Jagdpanzer IV L/70 (V) with plans for March 45, Sept-Nov 44 (with and without schurzen), Sept-Nov 44 command (Dragon kit), Aug 44 (7 views); Panzer IV L/70 (A) with several configurations; and several paper designs including 5 views of the Panzer IV/70(E).

The final and largest section contains colour photos of several surviving examples in museums. The Kubinka Jagdpanzer IV L/70 (V) is covered extensively, including internal photos of the fighting compartment, brakes (hatch open and closed) and engine air intake, giving a level not normally available to the public. Other photos are of the Saumur Panzer IV L/70(A) and Sofia Jagdpanzer IV L/70 (V) in Bulgaria. These photos are crisp, well sized and systematically address most, if not all, relevant angles of the Jagdpanzer’s exterior. I can see them being very useful for modelers wanting to detail their kits.

Summary

Tankpower’s “Panzer IV L/70” provides a very useful handbook on these late war German tank destroyers. The key strengths are the numerous multi-view scale plans and the comprehensive photo coverage of surviving Vomag and Alkett jadgpanzer IVs. These features along with the wartime photos make this an ideal companion for modelers wishing to research and/or detail their kits. . Well recommended.

Neville Lord

Tankpower’s military titles are stocked by specialist retailers including Historica Books who specialize in WWII titles.

Related 1/35 Kits

Dragon’s Jagdpanzer L/70 (V) - Dragon (item 9043) is generally considered to be the most accurate 1/35 scale kit of this subject. It has been re-boxed by Gunze in some countries. . This represents a vehicle produced circa September 1944 with flammvernichter exhaust and has a command vehicle option.

Panzer IV L/70(A) - Shanghai Dragon's release (6082) has improvements to the hull and small detail over the original Kong Kong made Dragon release (6015). Look for later tooling releases that are made in China.

Tamiya’s Jagdpanzer IV can be made as an L/70 (V) but is not as accurate as the later Dragon release.

Italeri have also released a Jagdpanzer L/70 (V).

User Contributed Notes