7.5 cm Pak 39

7,5 cm Pak 39
Jagdpanzer IV / "Panzerjäger 39" with 7.5 cm Pak 39 (L/48) gun
TypeAnti-tank gun
Place of originGermany
Service history
Used by Nazi Germany
WarsWorld War II
Specifications
Mass1,235 kg (2,723 lb)
Barrel length360 cm (140 in) bore (48 calibres)
ShellFixed QF 75 × 495mm R
Shell weight4.1 kg (9.0 lb) Armor-piercing composite rigid (APCR) Pzgr 40
Calibre75 mm (2.95 in)
Elevation-8° to +15°
Traverse24°
Rate of fire10–15 round per minute
Muzzle velocity930 m/s (3,100 ft/s)
Maximum firing range6,600 m (21,654 ft)

7.5 cm Pak 39 (L/48) (7.5 cm Panzerjägerkanone 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 tank destroyers;[1] 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. The gun was 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).[2]

Technical data

  • Complete designation: 7.5 cm Panzerjägerkanone 39 (L/48)
  • Type: Anti-tank gun
  • Caliber: 7.5 cm (2.95 in)
  • Cartridge: 75×495 mm. R
  • Barrel length: 48 calibers 3,615 mm (11 ft 10.3 in)
  • Muzzle velocity: 750 m/s (2,500 ft/s) (Panzergranate 39 AP shell)
  • Weight: 1,235 kg (2,723 lb)
  • 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 the vertical [a][1]
Range
Round 100 m 500 m 1000 m 1500 m 2000 m
PzGr. 39 106 mm 96 mm 82 mm 74 mm 64 mm

Notes

  1. ^ Vertical penetration against 30° sloped armor, using a PzGr 39 shell

References

  1. ^ a b Bergström, Christer (2014). "Appendix 3 Tanks and Anti-tank Guns in the Ardennes Battle". The Ardennes, 1944-1945. Casemate. p. 451. ISBN 978-1-61200-277-4.
  2. ^ "7,5 cm Pak 39 (L/48)". Panzer World. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
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