7.5 cm Pak 39

7.5 cm Pak 39 (L/48) (7.5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 39) was a 7.5 cm German Second World War era anti-tank gun. The gun was used to equip Jagdpanzer IV/48 and Jagdpanzer 38(t) "Hetzer" tank destroyers; no towed version of the weapon was made. The Pak 39 was an electrically fired weapon fitted with a semi-automatic breech mechanism and a 48 caliber long barrel. It was a formidable gun, able to destroy the most common allied tanks at up to 1,000 meters. It used the same 75 x 495R ammunition as the 7.5 cm KwK 40 of Panzer IV and 7.5 cm StuK 40 gun fitted on the Sturmgeschütz assault guns. The Pak 39 was manufactured from 1943 onwards by Rheinmetall-Borsig AG in Unterlüß and by Seitz-Werke GmbH in Bad Kreuznach. The main types of ammunition used were: Panzergranatpatrone 39 (APCBC), Sprenggranatpatrone 37 (HE) and different versions of the Granatpatrone 39 HL (HEAT).

Technical Data

• Complete designation: 7.5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 39 (L/48)
• Type: Anti-tank gun
• Caliber: 7.5 cm / 75 mm (2.95 in)
• Cartridge: 75×495 mm. R
• Barrel Length: 48 calibers (3615 mm) (11 ft 10.3 in)
• Muzzle Velocity: 750 m/s (Panzergranate 39 AP shell)
• Weight: 1235 kg
• Barrel Life: 5000-7000 rounds
• Main types of ammunition:
  • Panzergranatpatrone 39 (Pzgr.Patr. 39)
  • Sprenggranatpatrone 37 (Sprgr. Patr. 37)
  • Granatpatrone 39 HL (Gr. Patr. 39 HL)

Armor penetration at 30 degrees from vertical using Pzgr. 39 AP shell

• 500 m: 91 mm
• 1000 m: 82 mm