Curious about the picture: what is it supposed to show us about Zimmerit? The photo is to small for me to say that its anything except a "D" variant and I can't even tell if there's any Zim on it at all!

There is a caption , No ? Definitely not a D

There is a caption , No ? Definitely not a D [/quote] It used to be believed that the introduction of the bow gun marked an A as opposed to D. I recently was told it was the cupola.(as the most obvious feature in a photo as indicated By the chart in the next post) By the old standard the pic is of a D, even down to the plug on the turret side. But it has the cast cupola so now properly considered an A even with the plug and letter slot mg mount. The Germans and their nomenclature. With all the other changes introduced and deleted during the production run there's almost as much difference between early and late A as there is between D to A. But it is an early A without the obvious texture of zimmerit on the turret or hull but only on a skirt piece. The state of the skirt gives a clue as to what may have possibly happened to the other zimmerit.

There is Zimm on the schurzen the forward plate anyways She has no Zimm .

Opps! I guess reading would be an understated attribute. Still think that its a pretty unlikely "A" with the bow machine gun opening and the ashcan commander's cupola -or is it? Hard for me to tell. Couldn't possibly be a mistake on the part of the book's editor, right? Hardly important either way, though why an "A" wouldn't have Zim when its in the field is interesting. As to the Zim on the schurtzen: perhaps from a different donor tank? They did lose the darned things way too easily.

The other possibility in a picture like this is that it represents a hybrid, either during production or later when a "D" chassis was fitted with an "A" turret in an effort to use what was on hand in the repair facility. I know, reaching...

God Grief -- Jentz gives you the serial number of the vehicle along with the date of manufacture and the factory .... ... let me find his phone # for you

Not reaching too far! According to German construction practices, they used up stock parts of previous production runs on following production vehicles (as long as they fit!)until they were used up. Waste not want not!

Drool!