7.5 cm PaK 39 (L/48) (7.5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 39) was a 7.5 cm German Second World War era AT (Anti-Tank) gun. The gun was used to equip SdKfz.162 Jagdpanzer IV/48 and SdKfz.138/2 Jagdpanzer 38(t) "Hetzer" tank destroyers; no towed version of the weapon was made. The Pak 39 was an electrically fired weapon fitted with a semiautomatic breech mechanism and a 48 caliber barrel. It was a formidable gun, able to destroy the most common allied tanks from up to 1,000 meters. It used the same 75 x 495R ammunition as the 7.5 cm KwK 40 of Sdkfz.161 Panzerkampfwagen IV and 7.5 cm StuK 40 gun fitted on the Sturmgeschütz-series assault guns. The Pak 39 was manufactured from 1943 onwards by Rheinmetall-Borsig AG in Unterlüß and by Seitz-Werke GmbH in Bad Kreuznach. The main types of ammunition used were: Panzergranatpatrone 39 (APCBC), Sprenggranatpatrone 37 (HE) and different versions of the Granatpatrone 39 HL (HEAT).
Technical Data[]
- Complete designation: 7.5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 39 (L/48)
- Type: Anti-tank gun
- Caliber: 7.5 cm / 75 mm (2.95 in)
- Cartridge: 75×495 mm. R
- Barrel Length: 48 calibers (3615 mm) (11 ft 10.3 in)
- Muzzle Velocity: 750 m/s (Panzergranate 39 AP shell)
- Weight: 1235 kg
- Barrel Life: 5000-7000 rounds
- Main types of ammunition:
- Panzergranatpatrone 39 (Pzgr.Patr. 39)
- Sprenggranatpatrone 37 (Sprgr. Patr. 37)
- Granatpatrone 39 HL (Gr. Patr. 39 HL)
Armor penetration at 30 degrees from vertical using Pzgr. 39 AP shell[]
- 500 m: 91 mm
- 1000 m: 82 mm
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The original article can be found at 7.5 cm PaK 39 and the edit history here.