Canon antichar de 47 mm modèle 1931
| Canon antichar de 47 mm modèle 1931 | |
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| General Information | |
| Military designation: | Canon antichar de 47 mm modèle 1931 |
| Manufacturer country: | Belgium |
| Developer / Manufacturer: | Fonderie Royale de Canons ( Herstal ) |
| Development year: | 1931 |
| Number of pieces: | more than 750 |
| Weapon Category: | Anti-tank gun |
| Technical specifications | |
| Caliber : |
4.7 cm |
| Elevation range: | -3 ° to + 20 ° angular degrees |
| Side straightening area: | 40 ° |
| Furnishing | |
| Ammunition supply: | Manually |
The Canon antichar de 47 mm modèle 1931 (complete: Canon anti-char de 47mm Fonderie Royale de Canons Modèle 1931) was an anti-tank gun that had been developed for the Belgian army in 1931 . Named "'Quat'sept" (four seven) by the soldiers because of its caliber, the cannon was first used in Belgium in 1940 during the western campaign .
Versions
The infantry and light troops ( cavalry , cycling troops , motorcyclists, etc.) were equipped with slightly different models. While the infantry model had heavier solid rubber wheels, the light version was fitted with pneumatic tires for better mobility. The gun could also be installed in fixed defensive positions such as bunkers. It was also found in the fortifications on the Albert Canal . The gun was also used in the Belgian T13 tank destroyer in versions 1.2C, B2.2C and B3 and in the Canon antichar automoteur Vickers-Carden-Loyd Mk. VI .
description
By the time the cannon was being developed, it was already achieving impressive performances, especially when it came to its French and German counterparts - the 3.7 cm PaK 36 and the Canon léger de 25 antichar SA-L mle 1937 . In terms of penetration at medium distances, it also surpassed the British Ordnance QF 2-pounder .
- Penetration: 47 mm of armor steel at 300 meters with a 1.52 kg AP shell
- Gun weight: 515 kilograms (German 3.7 cm anti-tank gun: 327 kilograms)
- Pipe length: 1.6 meters (L 33)
- Cartridge: QF 47 × 280 mm R
- Tractor:
- "Vickers Utility B armored tractor" in the infantry units
- "Ford Marmon Herrington armored tractor" in the cavalry units
Mission history
Belgium
More than 750 of the guns were delivered to the Belgian army and were in use during the German offensive. All active units of the infantry and cavalry as well as those of the first reserve and the units of the border guards were equipped with it. Each of the infantry regiments consisted of three rifle battalions and one heavy battalion. The heavy battalion was divided into three heavy companies, one of which was equipped with twelve of the 47 mm cannons. Thanks to their high penetration power, the cannon's projectiles were able to penetrate the front of the German Panzer III and Panzer IV from a distance of 500 meters.
Germany
The German designation for the captured artillery was: 4.7 cm Pak 185 (b) . A few were positioned in the Atlantic Wall on the Belgian coast and on the Channel Islands .
Hungary
Several hundred of the guns captured by the Germans were given to Hungary in 1940/1941 to remedy their lack of anti-tank guns during Operation Barbarossa . The effectiveness was limited, as the Soviet tanks were now so heavily armored that the effectiveness of the cannons deteriorated more and more. They were then withdrawn from use and only used for training purposes.
Footnotes
- ↑ De Achttiendaagse Veldtocht - 1st line ( page no longer available , search in web archives ).
literature
- Peter Chamberlain, Terry Gander: Anti-tank weapons. Arco Pub. Co, New York 1974, ISBN 0-668-03607-9 , OCLC 1299755 ( limited preview in Google Book Search).
- Leo Niehorster: Belgian Armed Forces. Planned Mobilized Organization. In: World War II Armed Forces. Orders of Battle and Organizations .
Web links
- C 47 L / 30 D - 47 mm Anti-Tank Gun Technical Data. In: World War II Armed Forces. Orders of Battle and Organizations
- Hungarians with Belgian 47mm ATGs. In: WWII in Color