The Panzerkampfwagen IV had ten main production modifications (Ausf. A to J), which have unique external and mechanical differentiation. A boxy hull, a short nose, and a five-man crew remained constants, but various visual cues help pinpoint the exact type of any particular vehicle.

Ausf. A (1937)

Gun: 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24
Features: MML’s distinctive stepped driver’s visor capping the glacis, internally mounted Walzenblende (gun mantlet), early drum-style commander’s cupola visibly set into the rear of the turret
Suspension: Eight small paired roadwheels with quarter-elliptic leaf springs (same across all variants)

Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. A

Recognition: Very short-barrel gun, flat frontal plate, narrow superstructure

• Years of construction: 1937
• Service entry: 1938
• Quantity produced: 35
• Manufacturer: Krupp
• Main armament: 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 + 2× MG34
• Notes: The first production model, Ausf. A had only 14.5 mm of armor and was used mainly for training and early war evaluations. Combat use was extremely limited. It lacked a driver’s visor and had a simple layout for testing concepts.

Ausf. B (1938)

Gun: KwK 37 L/24
Modifications: Stretched driver’s plate (step removed); armoring chassis head improved to 30mm; Maybach HL 120 TR engine

Note — The coax MG 34 remains — The bow MG is deleted and replaced with a pistol port

Ausf. C (1938–39)

Minor changes only: Increased turret front armor; coaxial MG 34 now protected by armored sleeve; virtually identical to Ausf. B in silhouette

Ausf. D (1939–40)

Gun: KwK 37 L/24
Biggest changes:

• BOW machine gun in a ball mount reintroduction
• Duroplast gun mantlet (Walzenblende) on turret front
• More Staggered glacis armor plate in front of radio operator

Ausf. E (1940–41)

Armor: Added appliqué plates (front and side); now up to 60mm combined
Commander’s cupola: Redesigned, no longer recess between turret rear
Rear: Turret storage box added (this onwards)

Ausf. F1 (early 1942)

Gun: Still KwK 37 L/24
Armor: Homogeneous 50mm front plates (integral, not bolted on)
View: Dressed like Ausf. E but there are clean flat glacis and thicker armor — hard to tell without records

Ausf. F2 → renamed Ausf. G (mid–1942)

Armament upgrade: KwK 40 L/43, long-barreled 7.5cm
You are prepped for October 2023 data.
Other: Addition of 3-point bolted armor on mantlet; longer gun radically changes vehicle profile

Ausf. G (late 1942–early 1943)

Transition to: KwK 40 L/48
Muzzle brake: Later Ausf. Gs have dual-baffle muzzle brake
Armor: Effective (heightened)* up to 80mm on the glacis* (welded or bolted plates); frequently retrofitted
Additional option: Winterization package with coolant pre-heater, water-transfer kit

Ausf. H (mid-1943–mid-1944)

Equipment: Long KwK 40 L/48 w/ double-baffle brake
Key ID features:

• SkirtsHung schürzengestrapped on hull sides and turret
• Vision ports on turret sides removed (now covered by armor skirts)
• Rubber-rimmed types start to be replaced by all-steel return rollers

Ausf. J (mid-1944–1945)

Like this, prepare in speedier, reasonable amount
Turret: Electric traverse system removed — turret turned by hand
Fuel: An additional fuel tank takes the place of the motor-generator set
Skirts: Mostly Thoma wire mesh skirts now
More clues: Three return rollers, not four (from late 1944); exhaust system simplified to two pipes