The German Waffentrager (weapon carrier), was formulated by the artillery and technical supply department at the end of 1942. It was assumed that two main types of carriers would be developed in parallel. The first one could be considered light and was supposed to mount a 75 mm PaK 40L/70 anti-tank gun, a 105 mm FH 18/40 howitzer, or a 37 mm FlaK anti-aircraft gun. The second type of carrier was intended for the more powerful 88 mm PaK 43 L/71 gun, the 150 mm FH 43 howitzer, and the 128 mm K43 gun.
The Bergepanzer IV was a German armoured recovery vehicle developed in the 1940s based on the late Panzer IV chassis. It was designed to recover damaged tanks and was based on the Panzer IV chassis.
The Bruckenleger IV b was a bridge-layer mounted on the hull of the Panzer IV Ausf. D, with a total of twenty units built. These vehicles were supplied to the BL Zug (Bridging Platoon) of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 10th Panzer Divisions, serving in France and the Low Countries before being withdrawn in mid-1941. The Bruckenleger IV b was known for its role in overcoming obstacles during combat, but its service with the troops was not rated well, leading to the decision to cancel further production and convert existing platforms back to conventional tanks.
