JPz 4-5

JPz 4-5

Jagdpanther G1

Ferdinand

JPz 4-5

Jagdpanther G1

Ferdinand

Germany

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
6.3	6.3	6.3

Class:

Tank destroyer

Research:27 000

Purchase:185 000

Description

In the early stages of the Cold War, the newly formed Bundeswehr faced the issue of combating the massed armoured threat that the Warsaw Pact presents. Reflecting back to the combat effectiveness of "Jagdpanzer" type vehicles in World War II, the Bundeswehr aimed for the procurement of similar tank destroyers to take on Soviet armour. One such design that the Bundeswehr would procure was a cannon-armed tank destroyer known as the Kanonenjagdpanzer. Following a period of development, the prototype developed by Rheinstahl-Hanomag, designated Kanonenjagdpanzer 4-5, would be adopted in 1963 and 770 units would be produced. These 90 mm cannon-armed tank destroyers would see use up until the early 1980s, but variants derived from the vehicles stayed in Bundeswehr service until 2003.

The Hanomag-Henschel JPz 4-5 was introduced in Update 1.53 "Firestorm". Players familiar with the StuG and Jagdpanzer series of vehicles earlier in the German tech tree would be familiar with the JPz 4-5's form factor. The vehicle is benefitted by its mobility, allowing players to quickly get into positions for ambushes to minimize the downsides of a turret-less construction. While the 90 mm cannon is not the most intimidating calibre of use, the access to HEATFS shells in the matchmaking means the JPz 4-5 can very easily penetrate any foes it hits.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades

Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle

Armourfront / side / back

Hull30 / 20 / 8

Turret30 / 20 / 8

Crew4 people

Visibility71 %

The 50 mm thick frontal plate protects the crew against heavy machine gun fire and some small calibre cannons. Care must be taken in regards to strafing planes since .50 cal rounds can penetrate your roof armour with ease, usually resulting in 1-2 crew loss and potential engine fire.

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour
• Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull Superstructure	50 mm (51°) Front glacis 50 mm (54°) Lower glacis	30 mm (35°) Top 30 mm Bottom	30 mm (44°) Top 30 mm (41°) Bottom	10 mm General area 20 mm Front part
Cupola	10 mm	10 mm	10 mm	10 mm

Notes:

• Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick.

Mobility

Reverse gearbox

Forward and backward movement is possible at the same maximum speed

Speedforward / back

AB77 / 77 km/h

RB and SB71 / 71 km/h

Number of gears6 forward

6 back

Weight25.5 t

Engine power

AB954 hp

RB and SB500 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB37.4 hp/t

RB and SB19.6 hp/t

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	77	77	25.5	710	954	27.84	37.41
Realistic	71	71		442	500	17.33	19.61

The JPz 4-5 is quite mobile for a tank destroyer due to its light weight, which means it can get into a sniping position early in the game and quickly change locations if spotted. The reverse speed is very good due to the reverse gearbox on the vehicle, which lets it escape just as quickly as it popped out if necessary. This lets the JPz 4-5 perform 'hit-and-run' manoeuvres well, as the vehicle can fire and quickly relocate without having to change directions to retreat. The JPz 4-5 also has great overall handling, turning and getting around the battlefield as fast as contemporary light tanks.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 000 → 3 893

RB3 432 → 4 454

SB4 657 → 6 044

Total cost of modifications46 800

85 000

Talisman cost1 500

Crew training52 000

Experts185 000

Aces710

Research Aces480 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

110 / 180 / 230 %

166 / 166 / 166 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 160 Suspension Research: 2 100 Cost: 3 800 110 Brake System Research: 2 100 Cost: 3 800 110 Filters Research: 3 900 Cost: 7 100 200 Transmission Research: 5 100 Cost: 9 300 270 Engine Research: 5 100 Cost: 9 300 270	Improved Parts Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 160 Improved FPE Research: 2 100 Cost: 3 800 110 Crew Replenishment Research: 3 900 Cost: 7 100 200	Horizontal Drive Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 160 Adjustment of Fire Research: 2 100 Cost: 3 800 110 90mm_us_M431_HEAT_ammo_pack Research: 2 100 Cost: 3 800 110 Elevation Mechanism Research: 3 900 Cost: 7 100 200 Smoke grenade Research: 5 100 Cost: 9 300 270

Armaments

Main armament

90 mm BK90 cannon

Ammunition51 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

7.2 → 5.6 s

Vertical guidance-8° / 15°

Horizontal guidance-15° / 15°

The JPz 4-5 is equipped with a Rheinmetall 90 mm BK 90/L40 anti-tank gun. When the Soviets began deploying their T-64 and T-72 main battle tanks, the 90 mm gun was not capable of engaging them in long-range combat and at that point the Kanonenjagdpanzer 90 mm became obsolete, despite the claims from manufacturers that the JPz 4-5 could be rearmed with a 105 mm gun. Once you unlock the HEATFS round, the JPz 4-5's ability to take out enemies will greatly improve.

90 mm BK90					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	51	-8°/+15°	±15°	N/A	7.04	9.75	11.84	13.10	13.93	7.28	6.44	5.94	5.60
Realistic					4.76	5.60	6.80	7.52	8.00

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
DM502	HESH	102	102	102	102	102	102
M71 shell	HE	20	20	18	17	16	16
M431 shell	HEATFS	320	320	320	320	320	320

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
DM502	HESH	853	10.6	0.1	4	3,050	73°	77°	80°
M71 shell	HE	823	10.55	0.2	0.1	1,210	79°	80°	81°
M431 shell	HEATFS	1,216	5.8	0.05	0.1	712.64	65°	72°	77°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the JPz 4-5

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	Visual discrepancy
51	4 (+47)	1 (+50)	No

Notes:

• The massive first rack depletes from right to left (when seen from behind).

Machine guns

7.62 mm MG3A1 machine gun

Ammunition2 600 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate1 200 shots/min

7.62 mm MG3A1 machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition2 600 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate1 200 shots/min

7.62 mm MG3A1
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	2,500 (1,000)	1,200	N/A	N/A
Pintle	2,500 (1,000)	1,200	-5°/+25°	±45°

Usage in battles

The Jagdpanzer 4-5 is a very hard tank destroyer to master. It shines with excellent mobility and in rate of fire but has some serious downsides as well, such as the lack of a turret and really poor armour all around. The thin armour of this tank leaves little space for mistakes. Know the map and flank your enemies making use your excellent mobility, but don't get too carried away. Use your great mobility to get a great sniping spot early game, rather than just rushing into a capture point, because if you do, you're most likely going to be in a close-combat fight with another tank at the capture point, and the JPz 4-5 isn't great in close quarters combat. When you first spawn, drive and find a flanking position that allows you to quickly drive into cover with your fast reverse gear if you make a mistake. Scan the environment for enemies and take them out one by one, but don't get too carried away with it, once you kill 2 or 3 enemy tanks get out of that area and find a different spot, because most players will be looking for you when they respawn in another tank or aircraft. In case of getting spotted get in cover as fast as possible and reposition or wait until your enemy makes a mistake, like driving out into the open or getting bored and pushing or firing their cannon.

The best way to engage the enemy in this tank is to "shoot and scoot" since this vehicle is literally a glass cannon, concealment and cover are the JPz 4-5's best friends. Don't just play the JPz 4-5 like an MBT and rush into the middle of the map, sure it's fun and you might get 1 or 2 kills but you won't survive very long. Play the JPz 4-5 like the M41 before it, use your speed to get a sniping spot and move from there.

Play it in a way that you're never spotted by the enemy, because if you're seen by the enemy you are already dead.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Low profile, meaning enemy will have a hard time searching for your silhouette
• Fast-firing gun
• Fast speed and mobility, with a great turning speed on the spot
• HEATFS can reliably penetrate most of the tanks easily you will meet at that battle rating, and especially Soviet sloped armour
• Great in a sniper role
• Full night vision (for the driver, the commander, and the gunner)

Cons:

• Glass cannon, your armour is bad all around, only able to stop small-calibre autocannon from the front and MG from the side
• Small calibre for a rank IV tank destroyer, when using the stock HESH shell
• Stock shell is HESH, meaning its harder than usual to research modifications
• Low versatility, meaning it's only good at sniping

History

Development

In the Cold War, the Bundeswehr, West Germany's defence forces, envisaged a tactical doctrine of a mobile defence system. This system would require the use of traditional tank destroyers as they were during World War II. Their role would be to provide infantry support against an armoured target with their powerful guns.

Hanomag and Henschel of Germany, along with MOWAG from Switzerland, developed a prototype of a vehicle able to hold the 90 mm gun commonly used in the M47 Patton. The first prototype was made in 1960 and these vehicles were produced until 1967. The vehicle was known as the Kanonenjagdpanzer 4-5, or shortened to Kanonenjagdpanzer. 770 were built for the Bundeswehr, West Germany's defence forces, and 80 of these produced models were also given to Belgium in April 1975.

Design

The Kanonenjagdpanzer takes a huge design similarity to the Jagdpanzer IV design, with a very low profile to present itself less of a target. However, the armour is only 50 mm thick sloping, which itself is the very thing for the era the vehicle was introduced. The vehicle carries a crew of four people to perform its functions. The 90 mm gun is fixed on a casemate structure, thus it has limited traverse like traditional tank destroyer designs. Inside the vehicle, there are provisions for holding 51 rounds for the main gun, plus about 4,000 machine gun rounds for the coaxial. Aside from that, additional protection the vehicle protects is NBC protection to combat against weapons of mass destruction.

Usage

The Kanonenjagdpanzer saw use in tank destroyer companies within mechanized and mountain infantry brigades of the Bundeswehr. However, the newer Soviet second-generation main battle tanks, the T-64 and the T-72, were more than capable of taking on the 90 mm gun the Kanonenjagdpanzer is equipped with, and so the Kanonenjagdpanzer was declared obsolete. The producers tried to lengthen its service life by claiming that the 105 mm L7 gun can be adapted into the design, but this proved fruitless.

The Kanonenjagdpanzer, due to its obsolete status, saw more usage in specialized roles. Between 1983 and 1985, about 163 Kanonenjagdpanzer were converted into Raketenjagdpanzer Jaguar 2 (not to be confused with the Raketenjagdpanzer 2), a vehicle with a BGM-71B TOW anti-tank guided missile on the roof. Others were converted to artillery observation vehicle named Beobachtungspanzer and served in mortar units to direct fire.

The Kanonenjagdpanzer design stayed with the Bundeswehr up until 1990, when they were formally retired from service.

Archive of the in-game description

The project to develop the self-propelled antitank mount was begun in the mid-1950s by specialists from the companies Hanomag (Hannoversche Maschinenbau AG) and Henschel (Rheinstahl Henschel AG). The base selected for the new vehicle was the Schützenpanzer Lang HS.30 armoured transporter. The first prototype of the SPG with the designation Kanonenjagdpanzer 1-3 was assembled in 1959. The tests revealed significant flaws in the vehicle. As a result, more work was done to refine it. The decision was made to arm the new SPG with a 90 mm antitank cannon similar to the one installed on the American M47 Patton II. By 1961 each development company had built its own experimental model. Both models were presented for testing. After comparative testing, as well as the merger of the two companies, the decision was made to combine the efforts of the specialists from both companies in order to build a single experimental model. Work on the creation and testing of the new model continued until 1965. After all testing was complete in 1966 the new vehicle was accepted as part of the arsenal under the designation JPz 4-5. The SPG was built serially from 1966 to 1967. During its production the companies Hanomag and Henschel each built 385 vehicles.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the JPz 4-5 from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

Jagdpanzer Kanone - KaJaPa - Olaf Kievit

See also

• Ru 251
• RakJPz 2
• RakJPz 2 (HOT)

External links

• [Devblog] Jagdpanzer 4-5 with developer's answers
• [Wikipedia] Kanonenjagdpanzer