World War Weapons • Printable Reference
T-34 vs Panzer IV
Mobility, sloped armor, and production scale versus iterative upgrades and tactical flexibility.
Soviet Union • TANKS
T-34
T-34/76 Medium Tank
- Introduced
- 1940
- Manufacturer
- Kharkov Locomotive Factory
- Type
- medium tank
- Service Window
- 1940 - 1960
The T-34 is widely regarded as the most important tank of WW2 and one of the most influential tank designs in history. Its combination of firepower, protection, and mobility shocked the Germans when first encountered in 1941.
Germany • TANKS
Panzer IV
Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. H
- Introduced
- 1939
- Manufacturer
- Krupp
- Type
- medium tank
- Service Window
- 1939 - 1945
The Panzer IV was the most widely produced German tank of WW2 and the backbone of the Panzerwaffe. Originally designed as an infantry support tank, it was continually upgraded to serve as the primary medium tank.
T-34 Key Specs
- Crew
- 4
- Weight
- 26.5 t
- Main Armament
- 76.2mm F-34 gun
- Armor (front)
- 47 mm
- Max Speed
- 53 km/h
- Range
- 400 km
- Production
- 84,000 built
Panzer IV Key Specs
- Crew
- 5
- Weight
- 25 t
- Main Armament
- 75mm KwK 40 L/48
- Armor (front)
- 80 mm
- Max Speed
- 38 km/h
- Range
- 210 km
- Production
- 8,553 built
Operational Tradeoff Summary
T-34
T-34 entered service in 1940 as a medium tank and its battlefield value came from armor, mobility, and crew survivability under sustained pressure.
Panzer IV
Panzer IV entered service in 1939 as a medium tank and its battlefield value came from armor, mobility, and crew survivability under sustained pressure.