5 cm KwK 39
Encyclopedia
The 5 cm KwK 39 L/60 (5 cm Kampfwagenkanone 39 L/60) was a German
50 mm caliber gun used during Second World War, primarily as the main armament of later variants of the German Panzerkampfwagen III tank between 1941-1942. It was developed as a variant of the towed gun 5 cm PaK 38. This gun proved successful in North Africa against British cruiser tanks and light American M3 Stuart tanks. However, it was not sufficient against Soviet T-34
and KV-1 tanks. Rottman says, that for this reason it was phased out in favour of shorter 7.5 cm KwK 37
L/24 gun that could fire HEAT
rounds. Nevertheless, the first gun considered fully effective against these Soviet tanks was 7.5 cm KwK 40
L/43 mounted on Panzer IV Ausf. F2.
This 50 mm gun was mounted as a defensive armament for reconnaissance vehicles like the Puma.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
50 mm caliber gun used during Second World War, primarily as the main armament of later variants of the German Panzerkampfwagen III tank between 1941-1942. It was developed as a variant of the towed gun 5 cm PaK 38. This gun proved successful in North Africa against British cruiser tanks and light American M3 Stuart tanks. However, it was not sufficient against Soviet T-34
T-34
The T-34 was a Soviet medium tank produced from 1940 to 1958. Although its armour and armament were surpassed by later tanks of the era, it has been often credited as the most effective, efficient and influential design of World War II...
and KV-1 tanks. Rottman says, that for this reason it was phased out in favour of shorter 7.5 cm KwK 37
7.5 cm KwK 37
The 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 was a German 75 mm tank gun used during World War II, primarily as the chief weapon of the Panzer IV tank....
L/24 gun that could fire HEAT
Heat
In physics and thermodynamics, heat is energy transferred from one body, region, or thermodynamic system to another due to thermal contact or thermal radiation when the systems are at different temperatures. It is often described as one of the fundamental processes of energy transfer between...
rounds. Nevertheless, the first gun considered fully effective against these Soviet tanks was 7.5 cm KwK 40
7.5 cm KwK 40
The 7.5 cm KwK 40 was a German 7.5 cm Second World War era vehicle mounted gun, used as the primary anti-tank weapon of the German medium tank the SdKfz.161 Panzerkampfwagen IV and the SdKfz.142 Sturmgeschütz III assault guns ...
L/43 mounted on Panzer IV Ausf. F2.
This 50 mm gun was mounted as a defensive armament for reconnaissance vehicles like the Puma.
Ammunition
- PzGr (Armour-piercing)
- PzGr. 39 (Armour-piercing, capped, ballistic cap)
- PzGr. 40 (Armour-piercing, composite, rigid)
- PzGr. 40/1 (Armour-piercing, composite, rigid)
- 5 cm Sprgr.Patr.38 (High explosive)
Vehicles mounted on
- Panzerkampfwagen III (Sd. Kfz. 141/1) Ausf. J to M (serial production). Several earlier models were re-equipped with this gun.
- Sd. Kfz. 234/2 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen "Puma"