7.5 cm KwK 37
| 7.5 cm KwK 37 | |
|---|---|
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| General Information | |
| Military designation: | 75 mm chariot cannon |
| Manufacturer country: |
.svg){kind=small} German Empire
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| Developer / Manufacturer: | Rheinmetall - Borsig |
| Production time: | 1937 to 1945 |
| Weapon Category: | cannon |
| Technical specifications | |
| Pipe length: | 1800 mm |
| Caliber : |
75 mm |
| Caliber length : | L / 24 |
| Side straightening area: | 12 ° |
The 7.5 cm KwK 37 and 7.5 cm K 51 were combat vehicle cannons with a caliber length of L / 24 (nickname: "Stummel") that were used as the main armament / turret cannon primarily in early versions of the Panzer IV , Sturmgeschütz III and in other special vehicles (Sd.Kfz.) were brought into use in the Second World War .
The weapon was designed for immediate support of the infantry and tank grenadiers, for which the short cannon barrel and the available fragmentation / explosive shells were sufficient. However, the tank cannon also proved to be efficient against main battle tanks at the start of the war. As early as the beginning of 1942, improved Panzer IV and Sturmgeschützen III with the upgraded 7.5 cm KwK 40 (long barrel L / 43 or L / 48) came to the front. The older short-barreled L / 24 version was used to increase combat value for the Panzer III and various armored personnel carriers, among other things .
Types of ammunition
The following types of ammunition could essentially be fired with the 7.5 cm KwK 37.
- PzGr. 39 - also K.Gr.rot.Pz. Cannon grenade "red" (tracer) tank (breaking with protective cap)
- Kt.Kw.K. - Grappling chariot cannon
- Nbgr.Kw.K. - Smoke grenade cartridge, chariot cannon
- Size 38HL / A to C - Grenade 1938 with shaped charge, versions HL / A, HL / B and HL / C
- 7.5 cm sprg. 34 - 7.5 cm high explosive grenade 1934
- The grenade and cartridge were firmly connected, whereby the 75 × 243 mm R cartridge, developed for all 75 mm combat vehicle cannons, could be fired.
Average penetration force against homogeneous, rolled armored steel plates at an angle of impact of 30 ° to the vertical of the armored vehicle.
| ammunition | Type | Weight (projectile) |
Muzzle velocity () |
Penetration after ... | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 500 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | 2000 m | ||||
| PzGr. 39 | K.Gr.rot.Pz. | 6.8 kg | 385 m / s | 41 mm | 39 mm | 35 mm | 33 mm | 30 mm |
| Size 38HL | Grenade 1938 with shaped charge | 4.5 kg | 452 m / s | 45 mm | 45 mm | 45 mm | 45 mm | - |
| Size 38HL / A | … Shaped charge type A | 4.4 kg | 450 m / s | 70 mm | 70 mm | 70 mm | 70 mm | - |
| Size 38HL / B | … Shaped charge type B | 4.57 kg | 450 m / s | 75 mm | 75 mm | 75 mm | 75 mm | - |
| Size 38HL / C | … Shaped charge type C | 5.00 kg | 450 m / s | 100 mm | 100 mm | 100 mm | 100 mm | - |
Carrier platforms
- New build vehicle
- Panzerkampfwagen III ( Sd.Kfz. 141/2 ) Ausf. N
- Panzerkampfwagen IV ( Sd.Kfz. 161 ) Ausf. A to F
- Sturmgeschütz III ( Sd.Kfz. 142 ) Ausf. A to E
- Heavy armored car Sd.Kfz. 233 , Sd.Kfz. 234 /3
- Armored personnel carrier Sd.Kfz. 250 /8
- Medium armored infantry fighting vehicle Sd.Kfz. 251 /9
- super heavy Panzer VIII Maus (as secondary armament for self-defense)
New build vehicle
Panzer III Ausf. N
Panzer IV Ausf. A
Assault Gun III
Sd.Kfz. 234/3
Sd.Kfz. 251/9
Panzer VIII Maus with secondary armament
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See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ The nickname "stub" for this chariot cannon is due to the relatively short cannon barrel of 1.8 m (caliber length = L / 24).
- ↑ Finkel “On Flexibility”, p. 143.
- ↑ Armor Penetration Table. Retrieved February 14, 2020 .