Pak 40 anti-tank gun. Anti-tank guns. Ballistic data and armor penetration

7.5 cm Kw.K.40 / 7.5 cm Stu.K.40- a family of German 75-mm tank (KwK 40) and assault guns (StuK 40), based on the 75-mm PaK 40 (PaK 44 L / 46) field anti-tank gun. Samo PaK gun 40 appeared in the game later than the KwK 40, and in terms of its game characteristics, before patch 1.49, it was a complete copy of the long-barreled version of the KwK 40 L/48 / StuK 40 L/48.

History reference

The most massive tank gun of the Wehrmacht. It was created by the Krupp and Rheinmetall design bureaus on the basis of the 75 mm PaK 40 anti-tank gun, to replace the KwK37. Produced from 1941 to 1945. The gun received an electric ignition device and a semi-automatic wedge gate. The length of the shells and the breech of the gun also had to be reduced, which resulted in a slight drop in the initial velocity of the projectile compared to the PaK 40. The gun was produced in several modifications, mainly differing in different barrel lengths and some mechanisms depending on the target vehicle. Guns mounted on tank destroyers received the name StuK40, and on tanks - KwK 40.

By the beginning of Operation Barbarossa, Germany had not a large number of anti-tank guns PaK 40, which was due to the weak armor of enemy tanks. But in battles with the latest Soviet T-34s and heavy KV-1 tanks, most of the other Wehrmacht guns proved to be ineffective. The tank commission headed by Guderian decided to develop a long-barreled gun based on PaK 40 for installation on tanks and self-propelled units. The development of the gun was carried out by two firms: the design bureau Krupp was responsible for the ballistics of the gun, and Rheinmetall was responsible for its design. Since PaK 40 was very heavy gun, then the development of a lightweight version for installation on tanks took long time and entailed a slight deterioration in the shooting characteristics of the gun. The recoil distance of the original PaK 40 (~900 mm) and the length of the shells (969 mm) were too long for the cramped tank house. Therefore, the designers had to reduce the recoil distance of the gun (up to ~ 520 mm) and shorten the length of the shells (up to ~ 495 mm), and in order to maintain a comparable amount of propellant explosive, the diameter of the shells had to be increased. At the same time, the gun barrel remained unchanged, the same as on the PaK 40 L/46, with a length of 2470.5 mm. The barrel had progressive rifling in increments of 6° to 9°. The result was the initial version of the KwK 40 L / 43 gun with a 43 caliber (3225 mm) barrel. The reduction in the breech of the gun freed up space for additional ammunition, and a shortened charging chamber with a large diameter simplified loading and increased the rate of fire.

Due to the large amount of propellant explosive in the projectiles used, the gun had problems, especially with its first versions. Often, after a shot, the cartridge case got stuck in the breech of the gun, blocking the ability to reload the gun or fire from it. To remove the cartridge case, the crew had to get out of the tank and push the cartridge case out of the gun through the barrel with a ramrod. This took considerable time, and in combat conditions it put the crew in danger. To solve this problem, it was necessary to reduce the amount of explosive in the propellant charge and change the design of the muzzle brake. As a result, there was little difference between previously produced shells and guns and their later versions.

By the spring of 1942, the original version was ready for installation on Pz.Kpfw tanks. IV. And already the first use of Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. F2 showed the undeniable superiority of the new gun over the guns of the enemy, allowing you to destroy enemy tanks at such distances at which the enemy was simply not able to inflict significant damage. With the advent of the enemy guns of larger caliber, this advantage came to naught. Nevertheless, various modifications of the PaK 40 remained quite effective until the very end of the war.

Media

7.5 cm PAK 40 at Canadian Air Base armed forces Borden in Ontario.



7.5 cm PAK 40 somewhere in Belgium.



75 mm KwK 40 L/43 on a Panzer IV Ausf. F2.



View into the muzzle of the gun



StuG III at Musee des blindes, France.



Illustration Panzer tank IV Ausf. H in section.





Series of muzzle brakes for the KwK 40 / StuK 40 gun



Muzzle brake of the first version. Panzer IV Ausf. F2



Muzzle brake of the second version. Panzer IV Ausf. G L/43



Muzzle brake of the third version. Panzer IV Ausf. G L/48



Muzzle brake of the fourth version. Panzer IV Ausf. H



Muzzle brake of the fifth version. Panzer IV Ausf. H-J







The KwK 40 breech on the Panzer IV Ausf. G

KwK40 L/43 (75 mm)

The original version of the German 75 mm KwK 40 cannon with a barrel length of 43 calibers (3225 mm). The gun did an excellent job both with the latest Soviet T-34 tanks, and with heavy KV-1 and KV-2 tanks. From April 1942 to June 1943 it was installed on Panzer IV medium tanks. In the version for Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. The F2 had a single-chamber ball-shaped muzzle brake, while the later versions had a two-chamber muzzle brake.

Gun ballistics provides high precision projectile hits, which allows you to target modules or vulnerabilities in the enemy’s armor. The armor penetration of a chamber round is sufficient to penetrate the frontal armor of most medium tanks, but may not be enough to penetrate the frontal projection of the turret of late medium tanks. Entry-level heavy tanks can be dealt with with a sub-caliber projectile. The most effective tactic against armored targets would be to flank and attack the side of the hull or turret. Vertical angles aiming allows you to target enemies from hills and other uneven surfaces, but it will not work to full use. Due to the low armor effect of all 75-mm shells, only the chamber PzGr.39 and the sub-caliber PzGr.40 will be really useful. The HEAT projectile Gr.38 HL/B has insufficient armor penetration and poor ballistics, while the high-explosive fragmentation Sprgr.34 will only be effective against unarmored vehicles.

Although the gun slightly surpasses the comparable guns of the USSR and the USA in terms of armor penetration of the main projectile, it is inferior to them in the armor impact of shells. Which may require several hits to destroy the enemy. It follows that in order to successfully destroy the enemy, you need to fire the first shot and, if possible, hit vulnerable spot, destroying or depriving the enemy tank of the ability to shoot back.

History reference

The KwK40 L/43 gun became the most massive tank gun (including other modifications). The gun made it possible to destroy all tanks of that time (1942-1943) at a distance of about 1500 meters. It was installed on new modifications of the Panzer IV tank, which led to its mass character. Since it was an intermediate modification, its production was soon stopped in favor of a long-barreled version. Tanks with this gun participated in the battles until the very end of the war and found well-deserved fame among the Wehrmacht tankers and their allies. But with the advent of more powerful weapons and new armored tanks at the enemy, KwK40 L / 43 could no longer hit the enemy so confidently.

For the first time tanks Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. F2s with the new 75mm KwK40 L/43 cannon were used by Rommel during Operation Venice in Libya in May 1942 against the British 8th Army. The front-line units received only a few new tanks, and even then with a delay to the start of the operation, which were nicknamed "special" by the soldiers. At the same time, the newest "pilot" Grant tank in the amount of 138 units entered the 8th Army for testing. German intelligence then mistakenly believed that “pilot” was the name of the new British tank. From the August reports of the German Afrika Korps, it became clear that the new "Special" tank easily destroyed any enemy tank from a distance of 1500 meters or more, including the "Pilot". Tests have shown that main problem The guns had a muzzle brake. Due to its design, the shot produced a bright flash of flame and a noticeable puff of smoke, unmasking the position. In subsequent versions of the gun, the design of the muzzle brake was changed.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• High rate of fire

Flaws:

Media

KwK40 L/48 (75 mm)

Long-barreled variant of the 75 mm KwK 40 gun with a 48 caliber (3600 mm) barrel length. An increase in the barrel length offset the drop in muzzle velocity compared to the PaK 40, which slightly increased the armor penetration of the shells and the accuracy of fire. This version of the gun became the most widespread and was installed on Panzer IV tanks from March 1943 to April 1945, allowing them to destroy enemy tanks of comparable class at distances of 1000-1500 m, remaining out of reach of enemy guns. But with the advent of more powerful guns from the Allies, this advantage came to naught.

In the game, the weapon is present on:

• For all 3774 pcs. Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H
• For all 1758 pcs. Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. J
• For all 105 pcs. Panzerbefehlswagen IV converted from Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. J (17 units) and restored Panzer IVs (88 units)
• On the captured tanks Panzerkampfwagen KV-1B 756(r)

The ballistics of the gun ensures high accuracy of projectile hits, which allows you to target modules or vulnerabilities in the enemy’s armor. The armor penetration of a chamber shell is sufficient to penetrate the frontal armor of most medium tanks, but may not be enough to penetrate the front projection of the turret of late medium tanks. Entry-level heavy tanks can be dealt with with a sub-caliber projectile. The most effective tactic against armored targets would be to fly from the flag and attack the side of the tank or turret. Good elevation angles allow you to attack enemies from hills and other uneven surfaces. Due to the low armor effect of all 75-mm shells, only the chamber PzGr.39 and the sub-caliber PzGr.40 will be really useful. The HEAT projectile Gr.38 HL/B has insufficient armor penetration and ballistics, while the high-explosive fragmentation Sprgr. 34 will only be useful against unarmored vehicles.

Although the gun slightly surpasses the comparable guns of the USSR and the USA in terms of armor penetration of the main projectile, it is inferior to them in the armor impact of shells. Which may require several hits to destroy the enemy. It follows that in order to successfully destroy the enemy, you need to make the first shot and, if possible, hit the weak spot, destroying the enemy tank or depriving him of the ability to shoot.

History reference

The KwK40 L/48 gun (including all modifications) became the Wehrmacht's most massive tank gun. The gun made it possible to destroy all tanks of that time (1942-1943) at a distance of about 1500 meters. It was installed on the latest modifications of the Panzer IV tank, which led to its mass character. Tanks with this gun took part in the battles until the very end of the war and found well-deserved fame among the tankers of the Wehrmacht and their allies. But with the advent of more powerful guns and new armored tanks from the enemy, the KwK40 L / 48 could no longer hit the enemy so confidently. After the war, the surviving tanks with this gun were in service with the USSR until the end of 1949. And in 1967, several tanks took part in the Six Day War.

Advantages and disadvantages

The gun is well suited to destroy most medium and some heavy tanks at a distance of up to 1000 m. Although it can hit a target at a distance of 1500 m, due to the low armor penetration of shells at such a distance, it will not be able to penetrate the armor of most tanks.

Advantages:

• High rate of fire
• Ability to hit medium tanks at a distance of 1000 m
• Comfortable elevation angles

Flaws:

• Weak armor action of shells
• Low armor penetration makes it easy to destroy heavy tanks at medium and long distances

Media

75 mm KwK 40 L/48 on a Panzer IV Ausf. H



75 mm KwK 40 L/48 on a Panzer IV Ausf. J



75 mm KwK 40 L/48 on a Panzerbefehlswagen IV



75 mm KwK 40 L/48 on Pz.Kpfw. KV-1B 756(r)





Syrian Panzer IV Ausf. J captured Israeli army during the Six Day War in 1967.



Syrian Panzer IV Ausf. G captured by the Israeli army during the Six Day War in 1967



Panzer IV F2 at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds Ordnance Museum.



Panzer IV at the California Museum.



Panzer IV at Musee des blindes, France.





75 mm KwK 40 L/48, view into the loading chamber



75 mm KwK 40 L/48, breech



Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G LAH Division Kharkov 1943





PzKpfw IV Ausf G. Apr - May 1943 production. Dragon 1/35.



Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. J Last Production



Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.H with side screens and zimmerite coating. USSR, July 1944.



Panzer IV J Eastern Front



Pz IV J with mesh screens



A downed Ausf J in Syria



Syrian Pz IV J in Latrun



Finnish Pz IV J







X-ray Pz IV J





Pz.Kpfw. KV-1B 756(r) with 7.5 cm KwK40 gun

StuK40 L/43 (75mm)

The original version of the German assault 75 mm StuK 40 gun with a barrel length of 43 calibers (3225 mm). The StuK 37 L/24 assault gun proved to be excellent both against enemy infantry and against the new Soviet T-34 tanks. But the troops needed a weapon capable of dealing with enemy tanks at a long distance. Despite the fact that Krupp had already developed and tested a prototype of the 7.5 cm Kanone L / 40 gun, in November 1941 the command ordered all work to be curtailed. Adolf Hitler demanded that assault tanks be equipped with a long-barreled 75-mm cannon with a high muzzle velocity, capable of fighting heavy KV tanks at long distances. Based on his requirements, the command ordered the development of such a weapon from Rheinmetall, which produced field anti-tank gun PaK 40, which has already proven itself in the field. Since the PaK 40 was a very heavy gun, the development of a lighter version for mounting on assault tanks took a long time and resulted in a slight deterioration in the shooting characteristics of the gun. The recoil distance of the original PaK 40 (~900 mm) and the length of the projectiles (969 mm) were too long for the cramped cabin. Therefore, the designers had to reduce the recoil distance of the gun and shorten the length of the shells. At the same time, the gun barrel remained unchanged, the same as on the PaK 40 L/46, with a length of 2470.5 mm. The barrel had progressive rifling in increments of 6° to 9°. The result was a StuK 40 L / 43 gun, 43 calibers long (3225 mm). Reducing the breech of the gun freed up space for additional ammunition, and a shortened charging chamber with a large diameter simplified loading and increased the rate of fire. The gun received an electric ignition device, a semi-automatic wedge gate and a cylindrical two-chamber muzzle brake, damping up to 58% of the recoil. The gun was mounted on a solid frame along with guidance devices. Which provided vertical pointing angles of -6° ~ +20° and horizontal -12° ~ +12°. The gun coped well with both the latest Soviet T-34 tanks and heavy KV-1 and KV-2 tanks. The first three guns were ready in February of 1942, although mass production began in April. And the first units to receive Stug III F assault tanks with a new gun were the Great Germany division and the 1st tank division SS Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler.

In the game, the weapon is present on:

• On the initial modification of the StuG III F from March to June 1942

The ballistics of the gun ensures high accuracy of projectile hits, which allows you to target modules or vulnerabilities in the enemy’s armor. The armor penetration of a chamber round is sufficient to penetrate the frontal armor of most medium tanks, but may not be enough to penetrate the frontal projection of the turret of late medium tanks. Entry-level heavy tanks can be dealt with with a sub-caliber projectile. The most effective tactic against armored targets would be to flank and attack the side of the hull or turret. Vertical aiming angles allow you to target enemies from uneven surfaces, but not from steep hills. Due to the low armor effect of all 75-mm shells, only the chamber PzGr.39 and the sub-caliber PzGr.40 will be really useful. The Gr.38 HL/B HEAT projectile has insufficient armor penetration and poor ballistics, while the Sprgr.34 high-explosive fragmentation projectile will only be useful against open-cut vehicles.

For more detailed guide for combat, read the article about the appropriate technique.

History reference

The StuK 40 L/43 gun (including other modifications) became the Wehrmacht's most massive assault tank gun. The gun made it possible to destroy all tanks of that time (1942-1943) at a distance of about 1500 meters. It was installed on new modifications of the StuG III F assault tank. Since it was an intermediate modification, its production was soon stopped in favor of the long-barreled version. Tanks with this gun participated in the battles until the very end of the war and found well-deserved fame among the Wehrmacht tankers and their allies. But with the advent of more powerful guns and new armored tanks from the enemy, the StuK 40 L / 43 could no longer hit the enemy so confidently.

The first units to receive Stug III F assault tanks with the new gun in early 1942 were the Grossdeutschland division and the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. Soon they took part in the summer offensive German troops. And although the gun made it possible to easily destroy any enemy tank from a distance of 1000 meters or more, the limited aiming angles did not allow effective offensive operations. At the same time, vehicles with this gun proved to be excellent in defense, and in fact moved from the class of assault guns to tank destroyers.

Advantages and disadvantages

The gun is well suited to destroy most medium and some heavy tanks at a distance of up to 1000 m. Although it can hit a target at a distance of 1500 m, due to the low armor penetration of shells at such a distance, it will not be able to penetrate the armor of most tanks.

Advantages:

• High rate of fire
• Ability to hit medium tanks at a distance of 1000 m

Flaws:

• Weak armor action of shells
• Low armor penetration makes it difficult to destroy heavy tanks at medium and long distances
• Insufficient pointing angles

Media

StuK40 L/48 (75mm)

Long-barreled version of the 75 mm StuK 40 assault gun with a 48 caliber (3600 mm) barrel. An increase in the barrel length offset the drop in muzzle velocity compared to the PaK 40, which slightly increased the armor penetration of the shells and the accuracy of fire. This version of the gun became the most widespread and was installed on StuG III assault tanks from June 1942 to April 1945, allowing them to destroy enemy tanks at distances of 1000-1500 m, remaining out of reach of enemy guns. But with the advent of more powerful guns from the Allies, this advantage came to naught.

In the game, the weapon is present on:

The ballistics of the gun ensures high accuracy of projectile hits, which allows you to target modules or vulnerabilities in the enemy’s armor. The armor penetration of a chamber round is sufficient to penetrate the frontal armor of most medium tanks, but may not be enough to penetrate the frontal projection of the turret of late medium tanks. Entry-level heavy tanks can be dealt with with a sub-caliber projectile. The most effective tactic against armored targets would be to flank and attack the side of the hull or turret. Vertical aiming angles allow you to target enemies on uneven surfaces, but not from hills. Due to the low armor effect of all 75-mm shells, only the chamber PzGr.39 and the sub-caliber PzGr.40 will be really useful. The Gr.38 HL/B HEAT projectile has insufficient armor penetration and poor ballistics, while the Sprgr.34 high-explosive fragmentation projectile will only be useful against open-cut vehicles.

Although the gun slightly surpasses the comparable guns of the USSR and the USA in terms of armor penetration of the main projectile, it is inferior to them in the armor impact of shells. Which may require several hits to destroy the enemy. It follows from this that in order to successfully destroy the enemy, you need to make the first shot and, if possible, hit the weak spot, destroying the enemy tank or depriving him of the ability to shoot back.

For a more detailed guide to combat, read the article on the relevant technique.

History reference

The StuK L/48 gun became the most massive assault tank gun (including all modifications). The gun made it possible to destroy all tanks of that time (1942-1943) at a distance of about 1500 meters. It was installed on new modifications of the StuG III assault tank. Tanks with this gun participated in the battles until the very end of the war and found well-deserved fame among the Wehrmacht tankers and their allies. But with the advent of more powerful guns and new armored tanks from the enemy, the StuK L / 48 could no longer hit the enemy so confidently.

By the beginning of Operation Citadel, more than 700 StuG long-barreled assault guns were in service. And although the operation failed, StuG III proved to be very successful. So, according to the countdown of the 11th Assault Gun Division for August 1943, they managed to destroy 423 enemy tanks, irretrievably losing only 18 assault guns. The September command report stated that the gun could easily hit any Soviet tank below the tiger class. It was noted that soviet tanks often panicked when fighting German assault tank destroyers. And from the orders intercepted by intelligence, it followed that Soviet tankers were forbidden to engage in battle with German assault guns.

The production of guns and tanks continued until the very end of the war. And in 1967 several assault tanks took part in the Six Day War.

Advantages and disadvantages

The gun is well suited for hitting most medium and some heavy tanks at a distance of up to 1000 m. Although it can hit a target at a distance of 1500 m, due to the low armor penetration of shells at such a distance, it will not be able to penetrate the armor of most tanks.

Advantages:

• High rate of fire
• Ability to hit medium tanks at a distance of 1000 m

Flaws:

• Weak armor action of shells
• Low armor penetration makes it difficult to destroy heavy tanks at medium and long distances
• Insufficient pointing angles

Media

75 mm StuK 40 L/48 on StuG III Ausf. G



Syrian StuG III Ausf. G captured by the Israeli army during the 1967 Six Day War.



StuG III Ausf. G at Musee des blindes, France.



StuG III in the Museum of Finland.



StuG III Ausf. G and ammo



scale model StuK 40 L/48, without barrel.



StuG III Ausf. G





StuG III Ausf. G Breech



StuG III Ausf. G Breech





StuG III Ausf. G Scale model

Available projectiles

The KwK 40 / StuK 40 gun from PaK 40 inherited a whole family of 75 mm ammunition. While the shells remained unchanged, the cartridge case had to be reduced in length and increased in diameter. As a result, the amount of propellant charge in the cartridge case became less than in PaK 40, which led to a slight deterioration in ballistics and armor penetration of shells for the new gun. And due to the fact that there was still quite a lot of propellant charge in the sleeve, after the shot, the sleeve sometimes got stuck in the breech of the gun, jamming it. This forced the crew to leave the car and push the cartridge case manually through the gun barrel with a ramrod. This problem was solved by reducing the explosive in the propellant charge and changing the muzzle brake. Therefore, shells produced in different time have different characteristics.

The armor-piercing projectile had a thick steel case, inside which was placed an explosive charge, a bottom fuse and a tracer. He could penetrate armor plates of considerable thickness and hit the internal elements of the tank with an explosion.

The sub-caliber projectile was made of solid metals(usually made of tungsten carbide or hard steels) armor-piercing core, which was fixed on a pallet in the projectile body. Such a projectile was lighter than a conventional armor-piercing projectile and had a higher muzzle velocity. Due to this, its armor-piercing ability was also higher, since only one core pierced the armor.

A cumulative projectile could penetrate armor due to the fact that at the point where the projectile met the armor, waves of gases formed during the explosion were concentrated. Its armor-piercing ability did not depend on the firing range, however, its damaging effect inside the tank was smaller than other anti-tank shells. To protect the body of the projectile from destruction before the explosive charge worked, it was necessary to reduce the speed of the projectile at the moment it hit the surface of the armor. In addition, the penetrating power of the HEAT projectile dropped significantly due to the rotation of the projectile in flight, to reduce which it was necessary to reduce the muzzle velocity of the projectile. As a result, the firing range of HEAT projectiles did not exceed 1500-2000 m. To protect the body of the projectile from destruction before the explosive charge worked, it was necessary to reduce the speed of the projectile at the moment it hit the surface of the armor. In addition, the penetrating power of the HEAT projectile dropped significantly due to the rotation of the projectile in flight, to reduce which it was necessary to reduce the muzzle velocity of the projectile. As a result, the firing range of cumulative projectiles did not exceed 1500-2000 m.

High-explosive fragmentation projectile equipped with a head fuse of instant and inertial action with a deceleration setting. Used to engage infantry and lightly armored targets.

The smoke projectile was filled with a smoke-forming composition and supplied with an impact fuse. The smoke cloud was small, about 30 m in diameter, and lasted about 30 seconds. These shells were very rarely used by tanks.

Ammunition for KwK 40 / StuK 40



Ammunition for KwK 40 / StuK 40

75mm PzGr. 39 for KwK 40 / StuK 40



75mm Pz.Gr. 39 Armor-piercing chamber shell



75mm Pz.Gr. 40 Sub-caliber projectile



75mm Pz.Gr. 40W Armor-piercing projectile



75mm Spr.Gr. 34 High-explosive fragmentation projectile



75mm K.gr. rot Pz. Armor-piercing projectile



75mm Gr. 38 HL HEAT projectile



75mm Gr. 38 HL/A HEAT projectile



75mm Gr. 38 HL/B HEAT projectile



75mm Gr. 38 HL/C HEAT projectile



75mm Nb.Gr. smoke projectile

75mm PzGr. 39 in PaK 40 case

Pzgr. 39

German 75-mm armor-piercing tracer chamber projectile with armor-piercing and ballistic tip model 1939 - 7.5 cm. Panzergranate 39. The most common German armor-piercing projectile, produced in various modifications for guns ranging in caliber from 20 mm to 128 mm. With the exception of the caliber, the differences were minimal, mainly in the quality of the steel and the number of guide rings. It was a unitary projectile consisting of a shot and a cartridge case with a propellant charge. Cartridges with a propellant charge differed in length and diameter depending on the design of the breech of the gun (even in guns of the same caliber).

The sleeve with a length of 495 mm contained 2.15 kg of smokeless powder, a dibasic mixture of nitrocellulose and diethylene glycol dinitrate, as the main propellant charge. The propelling charge is made in the form of pressed cylindrical tubes 370 mm and 420 mm long, placed in a rayon bag. At the base of the sleeve there was an electric ignition mechanism C / 22 or C / 22 St. and a subversive charge weighing 0.315 kg, initiating the detonation of the main propellant charge.

The projectile consists of a steel body, in the head part of which there is a soft armor-piercing tip covered with a ballistic cap. The armor-piercing tip is attached to the head of the projectile by soldering with fusible solder. In the lower part of the projectile there was a chamber with 0.017 kg of explosive (phlegmatized RDX) and a Bdz 5103* detonator combined with a tracer. The projectile received rotation due to the friction of the copper guide ring on the rifled barrel of the gun. When fired, a tracer ignited, allowing you to track the flight of the projectile. The ballistic cap provided a high speed of the projectile over a long distance. The soft armor-piercing tip took over kinetic energy collision of the projectile with the armor, thereby protecting it from destruction and breaking the integrity of the armor, making it easier for the main projectile. At high angles of attack, the armor-piercing tip also ensured the normalization of the projectile. The sharp-headed steel projectile, crushing the soft armor-piercing tip, crashed into the weakened armor and pierced it, forming a cloud of armor fragments. Cocked upon impact, the bottom detonator with gas-dynamic deceleration undermined the explosive charge when the projectile had already penetrated the armor and flew some distance from it.

There was a training version of the PzGr. 39 Ub.

Verdict
The main armor-piercing projectile. High muzzle velocity provides good ballistics and armor penetration of the projectile. The amount of explosive, although small, allows you to inflict additional damage to the crew and flammable modules. With the help of a tracer, you can track the trajectory of the projectile and more accurately adjust the sight, but the enemy will also know from which side they are firing at him. In patch 1.47, the range of fragments during the explosion of the chamber was increased by almost 2 times, which slightly increased the armor effect of the projectile, increasing the area of ​​destruction.

Advantages

• Good armor penetration and ballistics
• The presence of a chamber with explosive

Flaws

• Moderate armor action

Spr Gr. 34

German 75-mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile model 1934 - 7.5 cm. Sprenggranate 34. It was a unitary projectile consisting of a shot and a cartridge case with a propellant charge. Cartridges with a propellant charge differed in length and diameter depending on the design of the breech of the gun. The 5.74 kg projectile is painted dark olive except for the copper guide ring. The chamber occupies almost the entire volume of the projectile and has an exit hole in the front of the projectile. The walls of the projectile at its base are thicker than in the front. One of the modifications of the Kl.A.Z 23 instantaneous or delayed fuse with a deceleration of 0.15 seconds is installed in the head of the projectile. The projectile is stuffed with 0.68 kg of ammotol 40/60 (or TNT) and a red phosphorus smoke bomb.

The sleeve with a length of 495 mm contained 0.78 kg of smokeless powder, a dibasic mixture of nitrocellulose and nitroguanidine, as the main propellant charge. The propelling charge is placed in a bag of rayon. In the center of the bag was a long cylindrical tube of compressed diethylene glycol dinitrate, reaching the base of the projectile. At the base of the sleeve there was an electric ignition mechanism C / 22 or C / 22 St.

There was a training version of the Sprgr. 34 Ub.

Verdict
The only use of a high-explosive fragmentation projectile is firing at unarmored vehicles or at the crew in an open wheelhouse. Despite 700 g of explosive, the explosion radius barely exceeds half a meter, and not so numerous fragments cannot penetrate even thin armor.

Advantages:

• Good at destroying unprotected crew
• High chance to start a fire

Flaws:

• Disgusting armor penetration
• Small explosion radius
• Short range

Gr. 38 Hl/B

German 75 mm HEAT tracer M1938, modification B - 7.5 cm. Granate Hohlladung 38/B. A common German cumulative projectile, produced in various modifications for 75 mm guns. It was a unitary projectile consisting of a shot and a cartridge case with a propellant charge. Cartridges with a propellant charge differed in length and diameter depending on the design of the breech of the gun.

The sleeve with a length of 495 mm contained 0.43 kg of smokeless powder, a dibasic mixture of nitrocellulose and nitroguanidine, as the main propellant charge. The propelling charge is placed in a bag of rayon. In the center of the bag was a long cylindrical tube of compressed diethylene glycol dinitrate, reaching the base of the projectile. At the base of the sleeve there was an electric ignition mechanism C / 22 or C / 22 St.

The 4.57 kg projectile is painted dark olive except for the copper guide ring. The chamber occupies almost the entire volume of the projectile. The walls of the projectile at its base are thicker than in the front. One of the modifications of the Kl.A.Z 38 instantaneous fuse is installed in the head of the projectile. The projectile head itself is made of brittle cast iron and is screwed into the steel body of the projectile. The projectile is stuffed with 0.5 kg of Phlegmatized RDX packaged around a central aluminum tube. The top of the explosive charge has a cup-shaped notch, and most of the projectile head is hollow. A perforated aluminum disk was installed at the boundary between the charge and the cavity in the head of the projectile. When a projectile collided with an obstacle, the fuse was triggered, it initiated the explosive charge detonator at the rear of the projectile. During the detonation of the explosive, a compacted gas-dynamic jet was created, which entered the armor through the head of the projectile that collapsed from the impact. The huge pressure of the gas jet greatly exceeds the yield strength of the armor metal, which is why the armor behaves like a liquid and the jet pierces it without any problems. The main striking elements are a hot gas jet and red-hot fragments ("drops") of armor.

Verdict
Like all early HEAT rounds, Gr. Hl. 38/B has a low initial flight speed and therefore poor ballistics. Instantaneous fuse Kl.A.Z 38 gives premature operation when struck by protective screens, trees or fences. The cumulative jet is inferior in terms of armor penetration to an armor-piercing projectile, but has a huge chance of causing a fire or detonation of the module. The presence of a large amount of explosive allows the projectile to be used not only as a cumulative, but also as a high-explosive, albeit with less effect. In polygon conditions, the projectile pierced a 75-mm armor plate at an angle of 30 ° from the normal. The armor penetration of the projectile in the game is slightly lower compared to the German tests - this is essential for hitting heavily armored tanks (such as the KV, T-44 or the T-34-85 turret). The armor effect of a HEAT shell is actually higher than in the game, but it strongly depends on the thickness of the armor that has been pierced. The penetrating power of the cumulative jet drops significantly when flying in the air and drops catastrophically when a projectile is detonated on the screen - up to 5 ~ 10 mm in the main armor behind the screen.

Advantages:

• High chance to cause a fire or explosion of the module
• Ability to use as a high-explosive projectile

Flaws:

• Bad ballistics
• Reduced armor penetration
• Detonation against any obstacle
• Extremely weak armor effect
• Cannot penetrate armor behind the screen

Pzgr. 40

German 75-mm armor-piercing tracer projectile with a ballistic tip, model 1940 - 7.5 cm. Panzergranate 40. A common German armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile. It was a unitary projectile consisting of a shot and a cartridge case with a propellant charge.

The sleeve with a length of 495 mm contained 2.18 kg of smokeless powder, a dibasic mixture of nitrocellulose and nitroguanidine, as the main propellant charge. The propelling charge is made in the form of pressed cylindrical tubes 370 mm and 420 mm long, placed in a rayon bag. At the base of the sleeve there was an electric ignition mechanism C / 22 or C / 22 St. and a subversive charge weighing 0.315 kg, initiating the detonation of the main propellant charge.

Externally, the projectile looks like a PzGr. 39, but inside it consists of a steel body (serving as a pallet), in the central part of which there is a solid core of tungsten carbide, covered with a ballistic cap. At the bottom of the projectile is a tracer. The projectile received rotation due to the friction of the guide ring on the rifled barrel of the gun. When fired, a tracer ignited, allowing you to track the flight of the projectile. The pallet carried out the centering of the projectile when fired from a cannon and stored kinetic energy for flight. And in combination with a ballistic cap, it provided a high projectile flight speed over a long distance. Upon impact, the steel body of the projectile deformed, releasing a small-caliber hard, pointed tungsten core, which, separated from the pallet, easily pierced the armor.

Verdict
The projectile is not filled with explosives, but due to the high muzzle velocity and small caliber armor-piercing core has excellent ballistics and armor penetration. Ideal for shooting fast moving targets at long range. Weak armor effect may require several hits to destroy the enemy. Like most sub-caliber shells, it has a high cost per unit. Was reduced in patch 1.49 starting speed(L/48) from 990 m/s to 930 m/s and (L/43) from 930 m/s to 919 m/s.

Advantages:

• High armor penetration
• Excellent ballistics and flight speed
• Suitable for hitting heavily armored targets

Flaws:

• Weak armor action
• High price

Pzgr. 40W

German 75-mm armor-piercing tracer with a ballistic tip, model 1940, modification W - 7.5 cm. Panzergranate 40W. A relatively rare German armor-piercing projectile, produced in a limited batch as a cheap replacement for the expensive and scarce PzGr 40 sub-caliber projectile. It was a unitary projectile consisting of a shot and a cartridge case with a propellant charge.

The sleeve with a length of 495 mm contained 2.18 kg of smokeless powder, a dibasic mixture of nitrocellulose and nitroguanidine, as the main propellant charge. The propelling charge is made in the form of pressed cylindrical tubes 370 mm and 420 mm long, placed in a rayon bag. At the base of the sleeve there was an electric ignition mechanism C / 22 or C / 22 St. and a demolition charge that initiates the detonation of the main propellant charge.

The projectile weighing 4.1 kg consists of a solid steel flat-headed body covered with a ballistic cap. A tracer was screwed into the base of the projectile. The projectile itself was made from blanks for the PzGr. 40 without tungsten core.

Verdict
At its core, it is a solid projectile with a ballistic cap. There is no explosive in it, just as there is no high armor penetration of the Pzgr 40 sub-caliber projectile. Due to the high muzzle velocity, it has good ballistics. It was in service with KwK 40 before patch 1.40.13.0 and is not currently used in the game.

Advantages:

• Good ballistics
• Increased chance to start a fire

Flaws:

• Very weak armor action
• Low armor penetration

K. Gr. rot Pz.

German 75 mm armor-piercing tracer chamber round with armor-piercing and ballistic tip. Sometimes referred to as Pz. Gr. 38 rot or 7.5 Gr. Patr. 38 kwk. When the KwK 40 gun had just left the conveyors, there were not enough new Pzgr. 39. Therefore, at first, a large number of K.Gr. rot Pz. for short-barreled gun 7.5 cm KwK 38 L/24. Namely, a cartridge case with a propellant charge was replaced with a cartridge case for KwK 40. It was a unitary projectile consisting of a shot and a cartridge case with a propellant charge.

A 495 mm long cartridge case contained, as the main propellant charge, presumably 2.15 kg of smokeless powder - a dibasic mixture of nitrocellulose and diethylene glycol dinitrate. The propelling charge is made in the form of pressed cylindrical tubes 370 mm and 420 mm long, placed in a rayon bag. At the base of the sleeve there was an electric ignition mechanism C / 22 or C / 22 St. and a subversive charge weighing 0.315 kg, initiating the detonation of the main propellant charge.

The projectile consists of a steel body, in the head part of which there is a soft armor-piercing tip covered with a ballistic cap. The armor-piercing tip is attached to the head of the projectile by soldering with fusible solder. In the lower part of the projectile there was a chamber with 0.08 kg of explosive (pressed TNT) and a Bdz detonator combined with a tracer. The projectile received rotation due to the friction of the copper guide ring on the rifled barrel of the gun. When fired, a tracer ignited, allowing you to track the flight of the projectile. The ballistic cap provided a high speed of the projectile over a long distance. The soft armor-piercing tip took on the kinetic energy of the collision of the projectile with the armor, thereby protecting it from destruction and breaking the integrity of the armor, making it easier for the main projectile to work. At high angles of attack, the armor-piercing tip ensured the normalization of the projectile. The sharp-headed steel projectile, crushing the soft armor-piercing tip, crashed into the weakened armor and pierced it, forming a cloud of armor fragments. Cocked upon impact, the bottom detonator with gas-dynamic deceleration undermined the explosive charge when the projectile had already penetrated the armor and flew some distance from it.

Verdict
The shell served as a temporary replacement for the Pzgr. 39.

Advantages:

• More explosives compared to Pzgr 39

Flaws:

• Higher chance of ricochet and projectile destruction than Pzgr 39
• Less armor penetration compared to Pzgr 39

Gr. 38 Hl

German 75 mm HEAT tracer M1938 - 7.5 cm. Granate Hohlladung 38. A common German cumulative projectile, produced in various modifications for 75 mm guns. The projectile was used to a limited extent for firing from this gun. Mostly at the first stages, until mass production of more advanced modifications for this weapon was launched. It was a unitary projectile consisting of a shot and a cartridge case with a propellant charge. Cartridges with a propellant charge differed in length and diameter depending on the design of the breech of the gun.

The 4.4 kg projectile is painted dark olive except for the copper guide ring. The chamber occupies almost the entire volume of the projectile. The walls of the projectile at its base are thicker than in the front. One of the modifications of the Kl.A.Z 38 instantaneous fuse is installed in the head of the projectile. The projectile head itself is made of brittle cast iron and is screwed into the steel body of the projectile. The projectile is stuffed with 0.54 kg of a phlegmatized mixture of RDX and TNT, packaged around a central aluminum tube reaching the fuse. The upper part of the explosive charge has a goblet-shaped notch, and the part of the projectile head is hollow. When a projectile collided with an obstacle, the fuse was triggered, it initiated the explosive charge detonator at the rear of the projectile. When the explosive was detonated, a gas-dynamic jet was created, which entered the armor through the head of the projectile that collapsed from the impact. The huge pressure of the gas jet greatly exceeds the yield strength of the armor metal, which is why the armor behaves like a liquid and the jet pierces it without any problems. The main striking elements are a hot gas jet and fragments (“drops”) of armor.

Verdict
The game is missing.

Gr. 38 Hl/A

German 75 mm HEAT tracer M1938, modification A - 7.5 cm. Granate Hohlladung 38/A

A sleeve 495 mm long contained 0.43 kg of smokeless powder, a dibasic mixture of nitrocellulose and nitroguanidine, as the main propellant charge. The propelling charge is placed in a bag of rayon. In the center of the bag was a long cylindrical tube of compressed diethylene glycol dinitrate, reaching the base of the projectile. At the base of the sleeve there was an electric ignition mechanism C / 22 or C / 22 St.

The 4.4 kg projectile is painted dark olive except for the copper guide ring. The chamber occupies almost the entire volume of the projectile. The walls of the projectile at its base are thicker than in the front. One of the modifications of the Kl.A.Z 38 instantaneous fuse is installed in the head of the projectile. The projectile head itself is made of brittle cast iron and is screwed into the steel body of the projectile. The projectile is stuffed with 0.4 kg of phlegmatized RDX packaged around a central aluminum tube. Top part the explosive charge has a cone-shaped notch, and most of the projectile head is hollow. During the detonation of the explosive, a compacted gas-dynamic jet was created, which entered the armor through the head of the projectile that collapsed from the impact. The huge pressure of the gas jet greatly exceeds the yield strength of the armor metal, which is why the armor behaves like a liquid and the jet pierces it without any problems. The main striking elements are a hot gas jet and fragments (“drops”) of armor.

Verdict
Missing in the game

Gr. 38 Hl/C

German 75 mm HEAT tracer M1938, modification C - 7.5 cm. Granate Hohlladung 38/C. A common German cumulative projectile, produced in various modifications for 75 mm guns. It was a unitary projectile consisting of a shot and a cartridge case with a propellant charge. Cartridges with a propellant charge differed in length and diameter depending on the design of the breech of the gun.

A sleeve 495 mm long contained 0.5 kg of smokeless powder, a dibasic mixture of Nitrocellulose and Nitroguanidine, as the main propellant charge. The propelling charge is placed in a bag of rayon. In the center of the bag was a long cylindrical tube of compressed diethylene glycol dinitrate, reaching to the base of the projectile. At the base of the sleeve there was an electric ignition mechanism C / 22 or C / 22 St.

The 4.8 kg projectile is painted dark olive except for the copper guide ring. The chamber occupies almost the entire volume of the projectile. The walls of the projectile at its base are thicker than in the front. One of the modifications of the Kl.A.Z 38 instantaneous fuse is installed in the head of the projectile. The projectile head itself is made of brittle cast iron and is screwed into the steel body of the projectile. The projectile is stuffed with 0.5 kg of Hexogen-TNT alloy packaged around a central solid aluminum tube. The top of the explosive charge has a cup-shaped notch, and most of the projectile head is hollow. A perforated aluminum disk and a cardboard guide nozzle were installed at the boundary between the charge and the cavity in the head of the projectile. During the detonation of the explosive, a compacted gas-dynamic jet was created, which entered the armor through the head of the projectile that collapsed from the impact. The huge pressure of the gas jet greatly exceeds the yield strength of the armor metal, which is why the armor behaves like a liquid and the jet pierces it without any problems. The main striking elements are a hot gas jet and red-hot fragments ("drops") of armor.

Verdict

Flaws:

• The KwK 40 is not in service

Nb Gr. 40

German 75 mm smoke round 7.5cm Nebel-granate. In its structure, it almost does not differ from the high-explosive fragmentation projectile Sprgr. 34, except for the filler and additional recess in the base. In the wall of the projectile there was a clogged hole for filling the projectile with a smoke-forming mixture. It was a unitary projectile consisting of a shot and a cartridge case with a propellant charge. Cartridges with a propellant charge differed in length and diameter depending on the design of the breech of the gun. The 6.2 kg projectile is painted dark olive except for the copper guide ring. The chamber occupies almost the entire volume of the projectile and has an exit hole in the front of the projectile. The walls of the projectile at its base are thicker than in the front. One of the modifications of the Kl.A.Z 23 Nb instantaneous or delayed fuse is installed in the head of the projectile. The projectile is stuffed with 0.068 kg of picric acid in a cardboard tube running along the center of the chamber from the top of the projectile to its base. The rest of the space is filled with a smoke-forming mixture.

A sleeve 495 mm long contained 0.8 kg of smokeless powder, a dibasic mixture of nitrocellulose and nitroguanidine, as the main propellant charge. The propelling charge is placed in a bag of rayon. In the center of the bag was a long cylindrical tube of compressed diethylene glycol dinitrate, reaching the base of the projectile. At the base of the sleeve there was an electric ignition mechanism C / 22 or C / 22 St.

Use in combat

This is the most massive tank gun of the Wehrmacht, which fought until the very end of the war and many years later. It has seen almost every possible enemy it has. In the game, tanks with this gun (including the PaK 40) usually face opponents with a combat rating between 2.0 and 6.0. In this range there is a huge number of armored vehicles of various classes and designs. There is no reasonable way to describe the tactics of combat on each machine against all enemies, so the section will be limited to general guidelines. And for a detailed guide, refer to the corresponding section of the article about the technique using this tool.

Choice of ammunition

There are 4 types of ammunition available for the gun: armor-piercing chamber, high-explosive fragmentation, fragmentation-cumulative and sub-caliber. You definitely should not take a full ammunition load, since if an ammo rack is hit, it can be detonated with a high probability (up to 95%). Since it is impossible to remove an already loaded projectile from the gun, you should not take all 4 types of projectiles - you will quickly use up ammunition by firing "unsuitable" projectiles. It is recommended to take only 2 types of shells - Pzgr. 39 and Pzgr. 40. The first is filled with explosives and is able to deal with lightly armored vehicles, and the second has a huge armor penetration and will allow you to deal with heavily armored vehicles. High-explosive fragmentation projectile Sprgr. 34 is practically useless, since it cannot penetrate the armored shields of light vehicles that pose a danger to you. A machine gun will better cope with this task, or if you don’t have one, then the usual armor-piercing-chamber projectile Pzgr. 39. High-explosive fragmentation impact of the Gr. HL 38/B is slightly weaker than Sprgr. 34, so it works even worse against light vehicles. The cumulative jet, although it has a high chance of setting fire to / blowing up a gas tank / ammo rack, is still inferior to the same effect from the explosion of the Pzgr chamber. 39, and insufficient armor penetration and armor effect do not make the projectile so effective.

Combat tactics

Equipment with this gun has weak armor, and the gun itself has good ballistics at a distance of 1000-1500 meters. The projectiles don't have much armor effect, so don't expect to destroy the target with one shot and be prepared to land another one or retreat to cover.

If you knocked out the barrel, use the mount to fight the enemy.

• Your main friend is distance. At a distance it's easier for you to hit most enemies than them you.
• The gun elevation angles on tanks allow you to shoot behind hills.
• Take cover behind a hill and use your binoculars to safely reconnoiter surrounding area and "jump out" of the ambush, finding the enemy.
• Staying in cover behind the hill, use the binoculars for aiming and "mounted" shooting.
• The most vulnerable enemy module is the ammo rack, try to hit it.
• Shooting at the side of the enemy's turret will allow you to hit several key modules at once - the crew, ammunition rack, breech and turret drive system.
• For shooting at fast moving targets, it is best to use sub-caliber shells Pzgr 40 with high speed, but also armor-piercing chamber Pzgr 39.
• The engine of most enemies can be destroyed with a single Pzgr 39 hit.
• If you have a heavily armored tank in front of you, whose armor you cannot penetrate, then try to destroy its barrel - this will give you time to change position or allow you to hit it in a weak spot. To destroy the enemy's barrel, three Pzgr 39 shells are fired.
• When fighting against high-level vehicles, try to flank them, as such vehicles can destroy you from a long distance.
• Your rate of fire is faster than most enemies, but your projectiles are weaker.
• Win.
• The Pzgr 39 can be used against most targets, and the Pzgr 40 against the most heavily armored.
• Work in a team.

Low level light armored vehicles This includes small-caliber tanks and light anti-aircraft guns. They pose a danger only to close range (<500 метров). В то же время, вы можете поразить их с любой дистанции. Стоит опасаться фланговых атак такой техники.

Light armored vehicles of medium and high level This includes light tanks and self-propelled guns, as well as large-caliber anti-aircraft guns. Of particular danger are high-speed anti-aircraft guns that can penetrate your armor at a distance of up to 1000 m. Try to determine their location by sound and tracers and catch them by surprise or cover them with artillery support.

medium tanks This includes medium tanks of the initial and medium levels with a comparable gun. You are dangerous to each other, but you have a higher rate of fire and more accurate guns. Take advantage of this. If your armor allows, then try to "diamond" at a distance or try to go from the flank.

High Tier Medium Tanks This includes medium tanks that can confidently hit you at a distance of 1000 m. They are extremely dangerous and can destroy you with one shot. Try to shorten the distance and enter from the flag. Another tactic might be a well-laid ambush, but don't expose yourself until the enemy is within safe range.

Self-propelled guns This includes Soviet self-propelled guns: both short-barreled (for example, SU-122) and long-barreled (for example, SU-85). They are deadly even at long distances. The angles of inclination and the thickness of the frontal armor will not allow you to easily hit the fighting compartment of the self-propelled gun. Armor-piercing shells will penetrate your armor even at a distance of 1800 m, and high-explosive high-explosive shells can destroy you even if they hit you next to a tank. Deadly in a head-on collision at close range, but vulnerable to outflanking. It is most effective to hit the side, which almost always leads to the destruction of self-propelled guns with one shot.

Medium Heavy Tanks This includes heavy tanks, which you can penetrate without much difficulty with the main projectile (KV-1 and M6A1). These tanks are capable of destroying you from a distance, while their armor will protect you from your projectiles. To defeat heavy tanks, it is better to get close to them at least at an average distance and target weak points in the armor. To defeat enemies at long distances, it would be better to use a sub-caliber projectile. Like any other tanks, they are vulnerable to flank attacks. Your advantage is maneuverability and sometimes rate of fire.

High Tier Heavy Tanks This includes heavy tanks with frontal armor above the Pzgr 39 armor penetration limit (IS and Sherman Jumbo). Extremely dangerous. Part of the tanks can be hit in the weak spots of the armor or on the side. The best way to do this is to ambush and flank. You can also try to immobilize a heavy tank and cover it with artillery. You can also try to knock out his barrel, making it an easy target for other members of your team.

Aviation For experienced pilots, you are not a priority target, but a frag is a frag. Hide from aircraft in the woods and between buildings. Don't move in a large group, especially near heavy tanks. In some cases, you can destroy a low-flying enemy aircraft with a projectile, in particular, an aircraft approaching you. Remember that the rate of fire of the gun is enough for you only for one shot.

tank bots It will not be easy for you to destroy the enemy tank bots, since the KwK 40 shells have a weak armor effect, and the bots do not have an ammo rack. Try to hit the tank crew or use artillery against enemies standing still. If your ammo is low, then ignore the bots.

Artillery and other stationary targets Computer artillery is dangerous for you, but you can destroy it with any projectile. Therefore, use binoculars for reconnaissance of the location of the artillery. Large groups of enemies can be covered with artillery strikes.

see also

• link to an article about the cannon/machine gun variant;
• links to approximate analogues in other nations and branches.

And the like.

Links

• Ammunition Artillery of the former German Army
• Guderian G. - Tanks Forward (1957)
• The study of the penetrating effect of German captured shells on the armor of our tanks and the development of measures to combat them. 3rd Main Directorate, Central Research Institute. - 1942
StuH42 L/28

75 mm Pak 40 gun

Starting in 1943, the 75 mm Pak 40 gun became the standard anti-tank gun of the Wehrmacht and was used against enemy armored vehicles on both the Eastern and Western fronts. Rheinmetall-Borsig began work on the Pak 40 in 1939, and the first guns of this type appeared at the front in late 1941. Since the German troops experienced by this time an acute shortage of effective anti-tank artillery, the Pak 40 was first mounted on RSO and Marder self-propelled artillery mounts of various options. Only in February 1943, towed guns of this type were included in the staffing of infantry divisions. But even then their number did not meet the requirements of the troops.

The design of the Pak 40 included a monoblock barrel with a breech block and a dual-chamber muzzle brake. The shield cover consisted of two parts. Part of the shield, mounted on the upper machine, had rear and front armor plates. The shield, fixed on the lower machine, was partially reclined. Mounted on a carriage with sliding beds, the gun had a horizontal firing sector of 65 ° and could fire at elevation angles from -3 ° to + 22 °. The semi-automatic shutter provided a rate of fire of 12-14 rounds per minute. For towing with a tractor, the gun was equipped with pneumatic brakes; when rolling the Pak 40 manually, the gun barrel was attached to the steering wheel.

For firing, high-explosive fragmentation grenades, armor-piercing and sub-caliber tracers, as well as cumulative shells were used. The latter weighed 4.6 kg and at a distance of up to 600 m at a meeting angle of 60 ° pierced armor 90 mm thick. In total, more than 25 thousand Pak 40 guns were manufactured, which were mass-produced until the end of World War II.

Tactical and technical data

Designation: Pack 40

Type of: anti-tank gun

Caliber, mm: 75

Weight in combat position, kg: 1425

Barrel length, calibers: 46

The initial velocity of the projectile, m / s: 792 (armor-piercing), 933 (sub-caliber), 450 (cumulative), 550 (high-explosive fragmentation)

rate of fire, rds / min: 12-14

effective firing range , m: 1500

Max. firing range, m: 8100

Armor penetration by armor-piercing tracer at ranges of 100 and 1000 m , mm: 98, 82