7.5 cm PaK 40
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The 7.5 cm PaK 40 (7.5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 40) was a German 7.5 cm anti-tank gun developed in 1939-1941 by Rheinmetall and used during the Second World War.
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[edit] History
Development of the PaK 40 began in 1939 with development contracts being placed with Krupp and Rheinmetall to develop a 7.5 cm anti-tank gun. Priority of the project was initially low, but Operation Barbarossa in 1941 and the appearance of heavily armoured Russian tanks like the KV-1, increased the priority. The first guns were delivered in November 1941. By 1943 PaK 40 formed the bulk of the German anti-tank artillery.
The PaK 40 was the standard German anti-tank gun until the end of the war, and was supplied by Germany to its allies. Some captured pieces were used by the Red Army. After the end of the war the PaK 40 remained in service in several European armies, including Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Hungary and Romania.
About 23,500 pieces were produced, and about 6,000 more were used to arm tank destroyers.
[edit] Performance
The weapon was effective against almost every Allied tank until the end of the war, with the exception of the Soviet IS-2 and the American M26 Pershing. However it was much heavier than the PaK 38, decreasing its mobility to the point where it was difficult or impossible to move without an artillery tractor on boggy ground.
[edit] General characteristics
- Caliber: 75 mm L/46
- Rifling: 32 Grooves, right-hand increasing twist, 1/24 to 1/18.
- Length with the carriage: 6.20 m
- Length: 3.45 m
- Width: 2.00 m
- Height: 1.25 m
- Weight (combat ready): 1,425 kg.
- Traverse: 65°
- Elevation: -5° to + 22°
- Rate of fire: 14 rounds per minute
- Muzzle velocity:
- 933 m/s (Tungsten cored round)
- 792 m/s (Standard armour piercing)
- 548 m/s (HE)
- Engagement range: 1,800 m
- Indirect range: 7678 m (HE shell)
- Projectile weight: 3.18 to 6.8 kg
- Armor penetration (at 0 degrees) at 500 m:
- 132 mm (Standard armour piercing)
- 154 mm (Tungsten cored round)
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Hogg, Ian V. (2002): German Artillery of World War II. London: Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-480-X
| German artillery of World War II |
|---|
| Tank guns |
| 2 cm KwK 30 | 3.7 cm KwK 36 | 3.7 cm KwK 38(t) | 5 cm KwK 38 | 5 cm KwK 39 7.5 cm KwK 37 | 7.5 cm KwK 40 | 7.5 cm KwK 42 | 8.8 cm KwK 36 | 8.8 cm KwK 43 |
| Anti-tank guns |
| 2.8 cm sPzB 41 | 3.7 cm PaK 36 | 4.2 cm PaK 41 | 5 cm PaK 38 | 7.5 cm PaK 97/38 7.5 cm PaK 40 | 7.5 cm PaK 41 | 7.62 cm PaK 36(r) | 8.8 cm PaK 43 | 12.8 cm PaK 44 |
| Field, Medium and Heavy guns |
| 7.5 cm Le.IG 18/Le.GebIG 18/IG L/13 | 7.5 cm IG 37 | 10.5 cm leFH 18 | 15 cm sIG 33 15 cm sFH 18 | 21 cm Mrs 18 |
| Other vehicle mounted |
| 7.5 cm PaK 39 | 7.5 cm PaK 40 | 7.5 cm PaK 42 | 8.8 cm PaK 43 | 12.8 cm PaK 44 |
| Anti-aircraft guns |
| 2 cm FlaK 30/38/Flakvierling | 3.7 cm FlaK 36/37/43 | 8.8 cm FlaK 18/36/37/41 | 10.5 cm FlaK 38 12.8 cm FlaK 40 |
