Panzer IV H: Making Lists With the German Workhorse

The Panzer IV H: Using the German Workhorse
By Steven MacLauchlan, Mike Haught, and Andrew Haught
The Panzer IV H: Using the German Workhorse

Steven's Grey Wolf Panzerkompanie
I’ve long been a huge fan of the Panzer IV H (which I lovingly refer to as “The German Sherman”). Having taken full Panzer IV H companies to great success since the first publication of Festung Europa, I’m excited that the new plastic box set makes a company of these glorious tanks more widely available! I’m going to look at two 1650 point lists: one from Grey Wolf, and one from Atlantik Wall.

The first list I'm going to look at is the Panzerkompanie from Grey Wolf.

650 Panzerkompanie from Grey Wolf(Confident Veteran)
HQ  
with two Panzer IV H, and a Bergepanther Recovery Vehicle 195 points
Combat Platoons  
Panzer Platoon  
with 4x Panzer IV H 360 points
Panzer Platoon  
with 4x Panzer IV H 360 points
Panzer Platoon  
with 4x Panzer IV H 360 points
Divisional Support Platoons  
Panzerspäh Platoon  
with 3x Sd Kfz 234/2 (Puma)s 150 points
Captured Armoured Train  
with Locomotive and 2x Heavy Artillery Cars.  Add Panzer Platoon with 2x Panzer 38(t) 215 points
Total Points: 1640 points
I’ve taken this list to a few tournaments, and done quite well with it. Where it lacks in punch, it makes up for in finesse. With Veterancy, Pumas, and 2 smoke generators, it’s a dagger and not a broadsword. The Captured Armoured Train and associated Panzer Platoon are fantastic to stick in reserve as they both arrive at the same time. The 2 heavy artillery cars can either combine to fire as an 8 gun battery, or operate independently. I tend to let them fire independently as smoke generators. The list will suffer against heavy armour, and must be sneaky to get side shots.
The next list I will look at is the Panzerkompanie (Lehr) from Atlantik Wall.
1650 Panzerkompanie from Atlantik Wall(Confident Veteran)
HQ  
with two Panzer IV H, and a Bergepanther Recovery Vehicle 195 points
Combat Platoons  
Panzer Platoon  
with 4x Panzer IV H 360 points
Panzer Platoon  
with 4x Panzer IV H 360 points
Weapons Platoons  
Panzer Anti-aircraft Gun Platoon  
with 2x Flakpanzer 38(t)s 80 points
Divisional Support Platoons  
Gepanzerte Panzergrenadier Lehr Platoon  
with 7 MG teams, 3 Tank-hunter teams, and 4 Sd Kfz 251/1 halftracks 280 points
Puma Panzerspäh Platoon  
with 3 Patrols (each with 2x Sd Kfz 234/2 Pumas) 300 points
Rocket Launcher Battery  
with 1 Command SMG team, 1 Observer Rifle team, 1 Kubelwagen, and 2x 15cm NW41 75 points
Total Points: 1650 points
Like the list from Grey Wolf this is a finesse list. On the attack, it has a huge recce screen in the form of all the Pumas, and a solid, fast moving core with 10 Panzer IV Hs and the Panzergrenadiers. With 10 stands, and plenty of integral AT, the Panzergrenadiers are fantastic for assaulting just about anything your opponent has! With less smoke, and fewer tanks, this list will also suffer in an open environment where it may need to deal with heavy tanks, but against a historical opponent, this is a nimble list that flies like a butterfly and stings like a bee.
The Panzer IV H: Using the German Workhorse
Mike's Fortress Italy Panzerkompanie
The release of Fortress Italy combines with the new Panzer IV H plastic kit has me quite excited to run a Panzerkompanie. While others are gearing up for an HG army, I’m looking at the unsung 26. Panzerdivision. The Panzer IV H was their workhorse and they had some excellent support, such as Flammpanzer IIIs and the Semovente 105 panzerjager. I’ll have all three, thanks!
1550 Panzerkompanie from Fortress Italy(Confident Veteran)
HQ  
with two Panzer IV H 180 points
Combat Platoons  
Panzer Platoon  
with 4x Panzer IV H 360 points
Panzer Platoon  
with 4x Panzer IV H 360 points
Weapons Platoons  
Flame-tank Platoon  
with 4x Flammpanzer III 255 points
Divisional Support Platoons  
Panzerjäger Platoon  
with 4x StuG M43 105/25 320 points
Heavy Panzerspäh Platoon  
1 Patrol with 2x Sd Kfz 231 8-rad 70 points
Total Points: 1545 points
Andrew's Companie Tancuri Medii from Grey Wolf
The Panzer 4 H or T-4 in the Romanian Companie Tancuri MedII (Medium Tank Company) is a fantastic tank. The T-4 is cheap; only 240 points a platoon and they are rated as elite, so they have a 2/3 chance of being veterans.
The Panzer IV H: Using the German Workhorse
Not only are the tanks a bit cheaper, but so is their support. This makes it possible to squeeze in an extra platoon or two into you panzer IV H (T-4) army over their German confident veteran counterparts.

At 1500 points I get a good core of Tanks and Infantry. On defence my tanks will take advantage of cover while my infantry dig in on the objectives. My artillery and tanks will focus on weakening down my opponents spearhead.
1500 Companie Tancuri Medii from Grey Wolf(Elite)
HQ  
with one T-4 Tank 80 points
Combat Platoons  
Tancuri Medii Platoon
 
with 3x T-4 240 points
Tancuri Medii Platoon  
with 3x T-4 240 points
Tancuri Medii Platoon  
with 3x T-4 240 points
Divisional Support Platoons  
Vanatori Bindata Platoon  
with 9 MG teams, 5 TB Half-tracks (Sd Kfz 251/1), and Panzerfaust upgrade 235 points
Vanatori Bindata Platoon  
with 9 MG teams, 5 TB Half-tracks (Sd Kfz 251/1), and Panzerfaust upgrade 235 points
Armoured Car Platoon  
with 3 AB Armoured Cars 90 points
Motorized Artillery Battery  
with 4 Skoda 100mm M14s 150 points
Total Points: 1510 points

At 1500 points I get a good core of Tanks and Infantry. On defence my tanks will take advantage of cover while my infantry dig in on the objectives. My artillery and tanks will focus on wearing down my opponent's spearhead.

Having two full platoons of nine infantry stands gives my tanks a great anchor to hold objectives. Their halftracks makes them mobile and their size makes them stable, and this flexibility really makes the relationship between the tanks and the armoured infantry a symbiotic one.

On the attack it really depends on the rolls for my random motivation and skill. I would send all but one tank platoon against one objective, hoping that my seven tanks, the armoured cars, and two platoons of infantry can break through my opponent's defences. My artillery will focus on pinning as much as possible.

My last platoon of tanks will put pressure on the other objective(s), if I keep it back but within striking distance it will limit what my opponent will be willing to send over to blunt my main spearhead.

The Panzer IV H: Using the German Workhorse
 Check out the Plastic Panzer IV H spotlight here...