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"Penetration Performance of Antitank Guns" from Tactical and Technical Trends

The following intelligence report on German antitank guns was originally printed in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 17, January 28, 1943.

[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]
 

PENETRATION PERFORMANCE OF ANTITANK GUNS

The following report contains the penetration performance of German antitank guns. The figures, in general, are based on performance trials carried out in England. Where no trials have been fired, the table is marked estimated. All figures given are as a result of trials on homogeneous armor.

20-mm AA/AT Guns

AP Shell
              
Muzzle velocity2,625 f/s
Weight of projectile .327 lb
                  
    RangeThickness of armor in mm
(yds)30°Normal
  10031 (1.22 in)48 (1.89 in)
  20029 (1.14 in)44 (1.73 in)
  30027 (1.06 in)41 (1.61 in)
  40025 ( .98 in)38 (1.50 in)

AP 40 Shot
              
Muzzle velocity3,270 f/s
Weight of projectile .223 lb
                  
    RangeThickness of armor in mm
(yds)30°Normal
  10049 (1.93 in)57 (2.24 in)
  20045 (1.77 in)52 (2.05 in)
  30041 (1.61 in)48 (1.89 in)
  40037 (1.46 in)43 (1.69 in)

 
 
28-mm Tapered Bore AT Gun Model 41
              
Muzzle velocity4,580 f/s
Weight of projectile .287 lb
                  
    RangeThickness of armor in mm
(yds)30°Normal
  10069 (2.72 in)84 (3.31 in)
  20063 (2.48 in)77 (3.03 in)
  30057 (2.24 in)70 (2.76 in)
  40053 (2.09 in)65 (2.56 in)

 
 
37-mm AT Gun

AP Shell
              
Muzzle velocity2,500 f/s
Weight of projectile 1.68 lbs
                  
    RangeThickness of armor in mm
(yds)30°Normal
  20042 (1.65 in)56 (2.20 in)
  40038 (1.50 in)51 (2.00 in)
  50036 (1.42 in)48 (1.89 in)
  60034 (1.34 in)46 (1.81 in)

AP 40 Shot (Estimated)
              
Muzzle velocity3,380 f/s
Weight of projectile .786 lb
                  
    RangeThickness of armor in mm
(yds)30°Normal
  10068 (2.68 in)79 (3.11 in)
  20061 (2.40 in)72 (2.83 in)
  30055 (2.16 in)65 (2.56 in)
  40049 (1.93 in)58 (2.28 in)

 
 
42-mm Tapered Bore AT Gun Model 41 (Estimated)
              
Muzzle velocity4,600 f/s
Weight of projectile .796 lb
                  
    RangeThickness of armor in mm
(yds)30°Normal
  20093 (3.66 in)115 (4.52 in)
  50077 (3.03 in) 94 (3.70 in)
  70068 (2.67 in) 83 (3.26 in)
1,00055 (2.17 in) 68 (2.68 in)

 
 
47-mm SP AT Gun (Estimated)

AP Shell
              
Muzzle velocity3,000 f/s
Weight of projectile 3.68 lbs
                  
    RangeThickness of armor in mm
(yds)30°Normal
  30059 (2.32 in)76 (2.99 in)
  50055 (2.16 in)72 (2.83 in)
  60052 (2.04 in)68 (2.67 in)
1,00047 (1.85 in)62 (2.44 in)

 
 
50-mm AT Gun

AP Shell
              
Muzzle velocity2,700 f/s
Weight of projectile 4.53 lbs
                  
    RangeThickness of armor in mm
(yds)30°Normal
  50065 (2.56 in)78 (3.07 in)
  70061 (2.40 in)73 (2.87 in)
1,00056 (2.20 in)67 (2.64 in)
1,20052 (2.04 in)63 (2.48 in)

 
 
76.2-mm AT Gun (Russian)

APCBC Shell (Estimated)
              
Muzzle velocity2,200 f/s
Weight of projectile14.81 lbs
                  
    RangeThickness of armor in mm
(yds)30°Normal
  50079 (3.11 in)94 (3.70 in)
1,00070 (2.75 in)83 (3.26 in)
1,50061 (2.40 in)73 (2.87 in)
2,00053 (2.08 in)64 (2.52 in)

 
 
88-mm Multi-purpose Gun

APCBC Shell
              
Muzzle velocity2,750 f/s
Weight of projectile   21 lbs
                  
    RangeThickness of armor in mm
(yds)30°Normal
  500110 (4.33 in)129 (5.07 in)
1,000101 (3.97 in) 119 (4.68 in)
1,500 92 (3.62 in)110 (4.33 in)
2,000 84 (3.30 in)100 (3.93 in)

 
 


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