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7.5 cm KwK 40

The 7.5 cm KwK 40 (7.5 cm Kampfwagenkanone 40) was a German 7.5 cm Second World War era vehicle mounted gun, used primarily as the chief weapon of the German medium tank the SdKfz.161 Panzerkampfwagen IV (Ausf. F2 models onwards) and the SdKfz.142 Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) assault guns (Ausf. F models onwards). When mounted on an assault gun the weapon was called Sturmkanone 40 (StuK 40). It came in both the L/43 and L/48 barrel lengths. The gun was fitted with an electric firing mechanism and the breech operated semiautomatically. Only fixed ammunition was used.

Ammunition

• Pzgr. Patr. 39 KwK 40 (Armour Piercing Capped Ballistic Cap High Explosive round)
  • Muzzle velocity: 770 m/s
  • Projectile: Panzergranate 39 (Pzgr. 39)
  • Projectile weight: 6.80 kg
  • Explosive filler: 18 g of RDX/wax
  • Fuze: BdZ 5103 or BdZ 5103* base fuze
  • Round weight: 11.52 kg
  • Cartridge case height: 495 mm
  • Propelling charge: 2.410 kg of Digl. R.P. G1
  • Primer: electric, model C/22 or C/22 St.

• Pzgr. Patr. 40 KwK 40 (Armour Piercing Composite Rigid)
  • Muzzle velocity: 990 m/s
  • Projectile: Panzergranate 40
  • Projectile weight: 4.10 kg
  • Explosive filler: none
  • Fuze: none
  • Round weight: 8.61 kg
  • Cartridge case height: 495 mm
  • Propelling charge: 2.2 kg of Gu. R.P. 7,7
  • Primer: electric, model C/22 or C/22 St.

• Gr. Patr. 38 HL/B KwK 40 (High Explosive Anti-Tank)
  • Muzzle velocity: 475 m/s
  • Projectile: Gr. 38 HL/B
  • Projectile weight: 4.60 kg
  • Explosive filler: n/a
  • Fuze: A.Z. 38 St
  • Round weight: 7.36 kg
  • Cartridge case height: 495 mm
  • Propelling charge: 0.43 kg of Gu. Bl. P.-AO
  • Primer: electric, model C/22 or C/22 St.

• Gr. Patr. 38 HL/C KwK 40 (High Explosive Anti-Tank)

• 7.5cm Sprgr.Patr.34 KwK 40 (High Explosive) L/48
  • Muzzle velocity: 550 m/s
  • Projectile: Sprgr. 34
  • Projectile weight: 5.75 kg
  • Explosive filler: amatol
  • Fuze: kl. A.Z. 23 (0,15) umg. nose fuze
  • Round weight: 8.71 kg
  • Cartridge case height: 495 mm
  • Propelling charge: 0.755 kg of Gu. Bl. P.-AO
  • Primer: electric, model C/22 or C/22 St.

Vehicles mounted on

L/43

• SdKfz.161/1 Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. F/2
• SdKfz.161/1 Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. G
• SdKfz.142/1 Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) Ausf. F

L/48

• SdKfz.161/2 Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. H
• SdKfz.161/2 Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. J
• SdKfz.142/1 Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) Ausf. F/8
• SdKfz.142/1 Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) Ausf. G
• SdKfz.167 Sturmgeschütz IV (StuG IV)