Two Panzer IVs knocked out by 'B' Squadron, 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 1944

Photograph by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), World War Two, North West Europe, 1944.

The most widely manufactured German tank of the war, the Panzer IV was somewhat outdated by the time of the Normandy landings of 1944. It was in the process of being replaced by the Panther and Tiger, but still comprised around half of the available German tank strength in the west prior to the invasion.

Most German panzer divisions in France contained an armoured regiment of one battalion of Panzer IVs and one of Panthers. The two Mark IVs shown here are armed with 75 mm KwK 40 L/48 guns, an upgraded weapon that allowed the Mark IV to take on most Allied tanks of the time on an equal basis. The Allies christened this improved model the 'Mark IV Special'.

From an album containing 210 photographs compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 1944.