2 cm KwK 30

2 cm KwK 30
2 cm KwK 30 in the turret of a Panzer II
General Information
Military designation:	2 cm chariot cannon
Manufacturer country:	German Empire
Developer / Manufacturer:	Rheinmetall AG
Production time:	1930 to 1945
Weapon Category:	Chariot cannon
Technical specifications
Pipe length:	110 cm
Caliber :	20 mm (ammunition: 20 × 138 mm B )
Caliber length :	L / 55
Elevation range:	-10 ° to + 20 ° angular degrees
Side straightening area:	360 °

The 2-cm-KwK 30 was a combat vehicle cannon with the caliber length L / 55, which served as the main armament in the light Panzerkampfwagen II . The weapon was first used in the Spanish Civil War and was used in large numbers and in various variations until the end of the Second World War .

Modifications and combat use

The KwK 30 served as a basic model for later modifications such as the 20 mm C / 30 , as a version of an airborne on-board cannon , which was installed on a trial basis in Heinkel He 112 fighters and was able to demonstrate excellent ground combat properties in the Spanish Civil War. Direct ground combat with on-board weapons was initially not prioritized as a type of combat by the German Air Force , which is why this development was not pursued any further.

Version 2 cm KwK 38

A version with enhanced combat value in the form of the 2-cm-Kampfwagenkanone 38 (2-cm-KwK 38), also with the caliber length L / 55, was also used as turret armament in the SdKfz.121 (Panzer II / Ausf. J upwards).

Types of ammunition

For the 2 cm KwK 30, the 20 × 138 mm B grenade cartridge served as the basic version, which was mainly used with the following types of tank grenades (PzGr).

used abbreviations

• Br . : fire
• L / track : tracer
• PzGr. : Tank shell
• SprGr. : HE grenade
• m. : With
• Ex . : Exercise
• vk .: shortened (tracer with shortened distance)
• W .: Warm transmission (tracer causes the projectile to detonate after a certain time.)
• Zerl. : Decomposition (projectile with self-decomposition)

designation	Type	description	Mass (g)	V 0 (m / s)
SprGr.Patr.L / track	2 cm splinters / explosive grenade cartridge with tracer cartridge and impact light detonator	Introduction since December 7, 1937	115	888
SprGr.Patr.Br.	2 cm high explosive grenade cartridge with incendiary device	Explosive device ignites with white phosphorus	100	1050
Br.SprGr.Patr. vk L / track W.	2 cm incendiary / HE grenade cartridge with shortened tracer, warm transmission	Explosive device ignites with white phosphorus, self-destruction after 5.5 s (about 2,000 m)	132	995
Br.SprGr.Patr.L / Spur	2 cm incendiary / HE grenade cartridge tracer	Explosive device ignites with white phosphorus (mass with tracer = g)	100	1050
SprGr. 39	2 cm HE grenade 39	Projectile with fragmentation explosive device	132	995
PzGr. L / lane	2 cm tank shell, armor-piercing with tracer cartridge and impact light detonator	Introduction since December 7, 1937	148	780
PzGr. L / track m. Zerl.	2 cm tank shell, armor piercing with tracer and self-destruct	Introduction since December 7, 1937, self-decomposition after 2 s (about 1,000 m)	146	830
PzGr. 39	2 cm tank shell 39, armor piercing	Modification of the armor-piercing charge in 1939	148	780
PzGr. 40	2 cm tank grenade 40, armor piercing, sub-caliber	armor-piercing charge with a tungsten core	100	1050
SprGr.Patr.L / track transfer	Training ammunition / training grenade	Simulated effect: HE grenade cartridge with tracer cartridge	148	995
SprGr.Patr.Üb.	Training ammunition / training grenade	Simulated effect: HE grenade cartridge	148	995

Use as an on-board cannon (BK)

• 20 mm C / 30 on- board cannon based on aircraft

Carrier platforms

• Panzerkampfwagen II
• Light armored car (Sd.Kfz. 222)
• Heavy armored car 6-wheel, 8-wheel (Sd.Kfz. 231)
• Heavy armored car 8-wheel (Sd.Kfz. 234/1)
• Bergepanther (Sd.Kfz. 179)

Chariot with a 2 cm KwK 30

• 

  Panzer II Ausf. C

• 

  Panzer II Ausf. L ("Luchs")

• 

  Sd.Kfz. 222

• 

  Sd.Kfz. 231 (6-rad)

• 

  Bergepanther

See also

• Chariot cannon
• Special motor vehicle
• List of special vehicles of the Wehrmacht

Remarks

1. ↑ Special vehicles (short: SdKfz or Sd.Kfz. )