The Panzerkampfwagen Mk IV proved to be the one constant in Hitler's Panzerwaffe throughout the Second World War - the German equivalent of the American Sherman and the Soviet T-34. In this companion volume to his best-selling visual histories of the Tiger and Panther tanks, Anthony Tucker-Jones provides a concise account of the Mk IV's design, development and performance in combat. The Mk IV served on every major front, in France, the Balkans, North Africa, the Soviet Union and, at the end of the war, in Germany itself - it was a key weapon in the blitzkrieg attacks launched early in the war and in the later desperate defence of the Reich. Using over 150 rare wartime photographs, plus a selection of specially commissioned colour, he describes how the initial design of the Mk IV was modified and refined throughout the course of the conflict to counter the threats posed by ever more formidable Allied tanks and anti-tank guns on the battlefield. While the Mk IV was never produced in the same numbers as the leading Allied tanks, it was without doubt one of the principal armoured vehicles of the Second World War, and Anthony Tucker-Jones's highly illustrated history is the ideal introduction to it. AUTHOR: Anthony Tucker-Jones is one of Pen & Sword's leading authors. He has written well over 30 books including a number of the highly successful Images of War series – he also wrote the recent six part Modern Warfare series for Pen & Sword. He started his writing career freelancing for the internationally renowned Jane's Defence Weekly and Jane's Intelligence Review. Subsequently he was recruited by British Defence Intelligence for his expertise. Since then he has forged a career as a fulltime author and writer. This included almost a decade as a regular feature writer for Military Illustrated magazine. He has contributed to numerous other military aviation, military vehicle and naval magazines and made regular media appearances. In addition he specialises in counter-terrorism and has been the freelance terrorism and security correspondent for intersec - The Journal of International Security for the past 10 years. This highly respected magazine is the principal publication for the UK's security industry. Further information can be found on his website at www.atuckerjones.com