5 cm PaK 38

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 38 (L/60)
Panzerabwehrkanone 38
Type	Anti-Tank Gun
Place of origin	Germany
Service history
In service	December 1940 - 1945
Used by	Germany
Wars	Second World War
Production history
Designed	1938
Manufacturer	Rheinmetall-Borsig
Produced	1940 -
Specifications
Weight	830 kg
Length	4.75 m
Barrel length	60 calibers, 3 000 mm
Width	1.85 m
Height	1.05 m
Crew	5

Shell	5 cm Pzgr. 5 cm Pzgr.39 5 cm Pzgr.40 5 cm Pzgr.40/1 Sprgr. Pak 38
Caliber	50 mm
Action	semiautomatic
Breech	horizontal sliding wedge
Carriage	split-trail
Elevation	-8° - +27°
Traverse	65°
Rate of fire	13 RPM
Muzzle velocity	550 - 1,130 m/s
Feed system	manual
Sights	Z.F. 3x8°

The 5 cm PaK 38 (L/60) (5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 38 (L/60)) was a German anti-tank gun of 50 mm calibre. It was developed in 1938 by Rheinmetall-Borsig AG as a successor to the 37 mm PaK 36, and was in turn followed by the 75 mm PaK 40.

The PaK 38 was first used by the German forces in the Second World War on April 1941. When the Germans faced Soviet tanks in 1941 during Operation Barbarossa, the PaK 38 was one of the few early guns capable of effectively penetrating the 45 mm armor of the formidable T-34. Additionally, the gun was also equipped with Panzergranate 40 APCR shots featuring a tungsten core, in an attempt to penetrate the armor of the heavier KV-1 tank. Although it was replaced by more powerful weapons, it remained a potent and useful weapon and remained in service with the German infantry until the end of the war.