Tag: 75mm

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German

7.5 cm Pak 40: Antitank Gun

7.5 cm Pak 40: Antitank Gun

The Pak 40, an antitank and antipersonnel weapon, has a barrel of monobloc con­struc­tion to which is screwed a two-baffled muzzle brake. The horizontal sliding type breechblock operates semi-automatically. Recoil and counterrecoil are effected by means of a hydraulic buffer and a hydropneumatic recuperator.

The welded steel carriage has tubular trails, light alloy steel wheels with solid rubber tires, and a 5 mm spaced armor shield for the protection of the gun crew. There are two types of brakes: air brakes, which are operated from the prime mover, and hand brakes for placing the gun in firing position.

Although no sighting equipment was captured with the gun, it is assumed that there was a telescopic sight for direct fire, a sight for indirect fire, and an auxiliary open sight. Mounts for these sights are attached to the breechring and the left trunnion.

There is also a gun known as the 7.5 cm Pak 97/40. This gun consists of a French Model 1897 piece mounted on the carriage of a German 7.5 cm Pak 40, but usually on Pak 38 carriage.

A modification of this gun is used on the chassis of the Pz. Kw. II tank and the Czech Pz. Kw. 38 (t) converting these vehicles into gun motor carriages.

The 75 mm tank gun, KwK. 40, used in Pz. Kw. IV is an adaptation of the Pak 40.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber       75 mm (2.95 ins.)
Length of tube126.1 ins.
Weight (travelling position)3,350 lb.
Length (travelling position)19 ft.
Length of bore96.89 ins.
No. of grooves32
Width of grooves.175 in.
Depth of grooves.025 ins.
Width of lands.116 in.
Muzzle velocity (A.P.C. shell)2525 f/s
Traverse65°
Elevation+22°
Depression-5°
Length of recoil35.43 ins.
AmmunitionA.P.-H.E.-H.E. hollow charge
Wt. of projectile (A.P.C.)15 lb.

German: p. 117

Categories
German

7.5 cm I. G. 37: Light Infantry Howitzer

German 7.5 cm I. G. 37: Light Infantry Howitzer

The 7.5 cm I. G. 37, formerly known as the 7.5 cm Pak 37, consists of a short barreled piece fitted with a muzzle brake, and mounted on the carriage of the obsolete 3.7 cm antitank gun. The equipment has been utilized as a close support infantry weapon.

The barrel of monobloc construction is 20 1/2 calibers long. The muzzle brake is in the shape of a rectangular box with four baffles, each at approximately a 45° angle deflecting to the rear. There is a hydrospring recoil mechanism and a breech mechanism of the vertical sliding wedge type. The latter has no provision for semi-automatic operation. A percussion type firing mechanism is cocked automatically when the breech is closed, and the gun is fired by pressing a plunger on the elevating handwheel. There is an auxiliary firing lever on the left side of the breech ring.

The carriage, which is mounted on two rubber-tired wheels, has split tubular trails. The shield is in two main parts, the upper shield and the lower shield. The lower part hinges upward when travelling, and is swung downward when the weapon is in the firing position. The upper shield is in two sections, the upper half being hinged. This section can be folded forward in order to give a lower silhouette.

Traversing, elevating, and sighting are accomplished by one man. Direct sighting is obtained by means of a telescope. A quadrant plane is located on top of the breech ring, and there is also a range drum graduated for firing semi-fixed high explosive and fixed hollow charge ammunition. With the present fire control equipment, the maximum effective range is 2,900 yards.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber       75 mm (2.95 ins.)
Weight (traveling position)
Weight (firing position) 1,124 lbs.
Length (traveling position) 11 ft., 7 ins.
Length (firing position) 11 ft., 1 in.
Height (shield lowered) 38 ins.
Height (shield raised) 46 1/4 ins.
Width (overall) 5 ft., 3 1/2 ins.
Width of trail spread 9 ft., 1 in.
Length of rifling 42 3/4 ins.
Rifling R.H. twist
No. of grooves 24
Muzzle velocity (H.E. shell) 920 f/s*
Max. range 5,630 yds.
Max. range (present fire control) 2,900 yds.
Traverse 60°
Elevation 22 1/2°
Depression 5°
Tires Pneumatic—6.00 x 20
Length of recoil (max.) 17 ins.
Ammunition H.E., Hollow Charge
Wt. of projectile H.E., I. Gr. 18—13.2 lbs.
  HE-AT, I. Gr. 38HI/A—6.6 Ibs.

*Muzzle velocity with hollow charge ammunition is 1,165 f/s. Range, 5,410 yds.

German: p. 122.2 (May 1, 1945)

Categories
German

7.5 cm Gebirgs Kanone 15 (Geb. K. 15): Mountain Howitzer

7.5 cm Gebirgs Kanone 15 (Geb. K. 15): Mountain Howitzer

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber        75 mm (2.95 ins.)
Weight (traveling position) 2,449 lbs.
Weight (firing position) 1,351 lbs.
Length (traveling position)
Length (firing position)
Height (firing position)
Height of trunnions 27.7 ins.
Width of carriage 37.4 ins.
Length of bore 13 cals.
Length of barrel and breech ring 43.8 ins.
Rifling R.H. polygroove plain section
Length of rifling 31.2 ins.
No. of grooves 28
Width of grooves 5 mm
Depth of grooves .68 mm
Width of lands 3.5 mm
Muzzle velocity (H.E. shell) 1,270 f/s
Wt. of projectile 12 lbs.
Max. range (horizontal) 7,270 yds.
Max. range (vertical)
Rate of fire
Traverse 7°
Elevation 50°
Depression -10°
Length of recoil (max.) 35.4 ins.
Ammunition H. E. & Hollow Charge

German: p. 122.1 (May 1, 1945)

Categories
German

Pz. Jäg. IV für 7.5 cm Pak 39 (L/48): Self-Propelled Antitank Gun

Pz. Jäg. IV für 7.5 cm Pak 39 (L/48): Self-Propelled Antitank Gun

This equipment consists of a Pz. Jäg. IV chassis upon which is mounted a 7.5 cm Pak 39 (L/48). The chassis is a modified Pz. Kpfw. IV, designed to mount either the 7.5 cm Pak 39 (L/48) or the 7.5 cm Stu. K. 42 (L/70).

The chassis has upper and lower nose plates sloped at 45° and 57° respectively. The all-welded construction of the hull is retained, and this structure is strengthened by limited interlocking of the front plates. The main armament is mounted in the sloping front plate of a squat all-welded superstructure, and is offset 8 inches to the off-side of the center line. The mounting is of gimbal type, and is protected externally by a heavy casting. The superstructure is bolted through angle sections to the lower hull. The sloping sides of the superstructure are extended beyond the vertical hull sides over the width of the tracks, and the rear edges of the floor of the sponsons so formed are locked upon the hull angle section. The rear superstructure and engine cover plates are similar to those of the Pz. Kpfw. IV. Spaced plates of 5 mm armor are bolted to brackets welded to the basic side plates of the rear superstructure sides. The armor is treated with Zimmerit. Mechanically, the vehicle is similar to the Pz. Kpfw. IV, but with small modifications. The final spur gear carries 41 teeth instead of the 40 on the tank. The final drive sprockets are of cast steel with webs of flat section instead of the rounded spokes of the tank sprockets.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight      
Length 19 ft., 4 ins.
Width 9 ft., 7 ins.
Height
Ground clearance 15 ins.
Tread centers 7 ft., 11 ins.
Ground contact 11 ft., 6 ins.
Width of track 15 ins.
Pitch of track 4 3/4 ins.
Track links 98
Fording depth 3 ft.
Theoretical radius of action:
   Roads 130 miles
   Cross country 80 miles
Speed:
   Roads 28 m.p.h.
   Cross country 15 m.p.h.
Armor:
   Front plate of superstructure 60 mm at 50° angle
   Sides of superstructure 30 mm at 30° angle
Armament 7.5 cm Pak 39 (L/48)
Ammunition (Rds.)
Engine Maybach HL 120 TRM, 320 hp.
Transmission Synchromesh—6 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Epicylic, clutch brake
Crew 5

German: p. 34.2 (August 1, 1945)