Panzer IV

The Panzer IV is a Medium Tank featured in Girls und Panzer: Real Sensha-Do. It is notable for being very rare to obtrain but very easy to use. The Panzer IV has two variants at the moment, each with massively different stats

Panzer IV Ausf.D
Short barreled early-war variant, it has thin armor, and a stubby 75mm howitzer with low speed and very low penetration. With its relatively big profile compared to its stats, it's a massive and largely defenceless target. It partly makes up for this with its mobility and flexibility, however, being able to lay down indirect fire with its howitzer as well as carrying a considerable amount of smoke shells.

Pros
-Good mobility

-Very good ergonomics, really easy to use even by a single crew member

-The strategies it works best at also work great when undercrewed or single-crewed

-Indirect Fire

-Lots of Smoke shells

Cons
-Awful penetration

-Massive shell drop makes it really tough for it to actually hit a target reliably at long range

-Large, bulky target

-Really thin armor, even vulnerable to 50cals in some places

Strategies
The Pz.IV D's pros of indirect fire and smoke shells together with its bad combat stats make this tank an excellent support tank. It has a massive advantage most people don't realize: with the appropiate scouting and spotting from teammates, it can fire without being exposed, not having to fear return fire. This makes it great for things like baiting or pestering enemies to lure then into ambush or cover more powerful tanks. The smoke shells' tactical advantage must also not be underplaged as it can support teammates and provides the Panzer with a way to safely retreat when in danger using its high mobility. Furthermore, indirect fire with AP shells together with a good spotter can prove highly effective to dislodge camping, stationary tanks. Since being under fire will cause them to pull back and, if it doesn't, even the Pz.IV's shells can penetrate weakspots like the StuG's cupola or the Matilda's turret ring

Sub-Variants
The Panzer IV Ausf.D only has one variant, belonging to Ooarai Girls High Academy

Panzer IV Ausf.F2
Up-Gunned and Up-Armored variant of the Panzer IV, this variant sacrifices indirect fire and smoke for more direct combat value. With its long-barreled 75mm gun, good mobility and increased armor while keeping its good ergonomics, the Pz.IV F2 makes for a powerful well-rounded medium tank which can pose a threat to the heaviest of enemies

Pros
-Good mobility

-Really good ergonomics

-Very powerful gun which can melt through any enemy tank easily

-Up-armored to 80mm in some areas which makes it able to take some pnushment

Cons
-Sacrifices all its support abilities, is now a purely combat tank

-Lower glacis is a major weakspot. Armor, while thicker, can't be relied on

-Side and Rear armor are still very thin

-Longer barrel and slower turret transverse make it suffer in close-range brawls and tight spaces

Strategies
Due to its lack of any unique features past being a good all around tank, this vehicle lacks any particular strategy yet is flexible and usable for most combat scenarios. Close range fights and tight spaces should however be avoided due to its long barrel and slow turret

Sub-Variants
The Panzer IV Ausf.F2 only has one variant, belonging to Ooarai Girls Academy