Kampfwagenkanone

Historical 5 cm KwK 39 in front to the Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz. 234

Kampfwagenkanone (KwK) (German, 'fighting vehicle cannon') was the designation given to any type of tank gun mounted in an armoured fighting vehicle or infantry fighting vehicle of the German-Wehrmacht until 1945. The wording was derived from the German nouns Kampfwagen (fighting vehicle) and Kanone (cannon or gun). However, the present-day designation in German speaking armed forces to this particular weapon system is Panzerkanone ('tank gun').[1]

Kampfwagenkanonen, developed in Germany, were normally derived from the construction concept of anti tank guns (Panzerabwehrkanone). Modifications were used in the anti-aircraft artillery (Flakartillerie) as well.

Examples

The following table contains examples of Kampfwagenkanonen, operated by the Wehrmacht in World War II.

Designation
(codename) 		Caliber
(length)		 Barrel length
(in cm)		 Operational platforms
Sonderkraftfahrzeug
(Sd.Kfz.)		 as Pak as Flak Others
2 cm KwK 30 L/55 110.0 2 cm Flak 30 2 cm Flak C/30
Kriegsmarine
2 cm KwK 38 PzKpfw II Ausf. J-L
  • 2 cm Flakvierling 38
  • 2 cm Gebirgsflak 38
3.7 cm KwK 36 L/45 166.5 PzKpfw III Ausf. A-F 3.7 cm Pak 36
5 cm KwK 38 L/42 210.0 PzKpfw III Ausf. F-H
5 cm KwK 39 L/60 300.0 PzKpfw III Ausf. J-M[2] 5 cm Pak 38 BK 5 cannon
7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 180.0
7.5 cm KwK 40 L/43 322.5 PzKpfw IV Ausf. F2/G 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/43
L/48 360.0 7.5 cm Pak 39 L/48 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/48
7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70 525.0 7.5 cm Pak 42 (on Jagdpanzer) 7.5 cm Pak 42
8.8 cm KwK 36 L/56 492.8 Tiger I 8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37
8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 624.8 8.8 cm Pak 43
12.8 cm KwK 44 L/55 704.0 12.8 cm Pak 44 12.8 Pak 44

See also

References

  1. ^ Panzerkanone – tank gun. Teil II/ Teil III Deutsch – Englisch. In: Bundessprachenamt (Hrsg.): Militärisches Studienglossar Englisch. Januar 2001, S. 284.
  2. ^ The first 1540 tank of the Ausführung J were equipped with the shorter 5 cm KwK 38.