The improved 8.8 cm gun was fitted with a semi-automatic vertical breech mechanism that greatly reduced recoil.[5] It could also be fired electrically while on its wheels.[5] It had a very flat trajectory out to 914 m (1,000 yd), making it easier for the gunner to hit targets at longer ranges as fewer corrections in elevation were needed. The gun had exceptional penetration and could defeat the frontal armour of any Allied tank to see service during the war at long range, even the Soviet IS-2 tanks and IS chassis-based tank destroyers. The gun's maximum firing range exceeded 15 km (9.3 mi).
KwK 43 and Pak 43s were initially manufactured with monobloc barrels but the extremely high muzzle velocity and operating pressures caused rapid barrel wear, resulting in a change to a two-piece barrel. This did not affect performance but made replacing a worn out barrel much faster and easier than before. A new PzGr.39/43 APCBC-HE projectile was designed, which, apart from the addition of much wider driving bands, was identical to the older 10.2 kg (22 lb) PzGr.39-1 APCBC-HE projectile used by the 8.8 cm KwK 36 and Pak 43 guns. The wider driving bands resulted in an increased weight to 10.4 kg (23 lb) for the PzGr.39/43.[6] The older PzGr.39-1 was used for the KwK & Pak 43 before new PzGr.39/43 rounds came into use but only if the gun had fired no more than 500 rounds. Over this, the expected barrel wear combined with the narrow driving bands could lead to a loss of pressure. The new PzGr.39/43 could be fired without loss of pressure until the barrel was worn out, thus requiring no restriction.
PzGr.39-1 FES & Al all up weight: 10.2 kg (9.87 kg without fuse & bursting charge)
PzGr.39/43 FES & Al all up weight: 10.4 kg (10.06 kg without fuse & bursting charge)
The same 278-gram BdZ 5127 fuse and 59-gram Amatol bursting charge was used for PzGr.39-1 and PzGr.39/43 rounds, requiring armoured targets of 30 mm or thicker to ignite after penetration for maximum effect.
Travel: 4,750 kg (10,470 lb) Combat: 3,650 kg (8,050 lb)
Combat: 4,350 kg (9,590 lb)
Length
9.2 m (30 ft 2 in)
9.144 m (30 ft 0 in)
Barrel length
6.35 m (20 ft 10 in)
6.36 m (20 ft 10 in)
Width
2.527 m (8 ft 3.5 in)
Height
1.7 m (5 ft 7 in)
1.981 m (6 ft 6.0 in)
Pak 43/41 in firing position overlooking a river in Ukraine in September 1943
The main version of the Pak 43 was based on a highly effective cruciform mount, which offered a full 360 degree traverse and a much lower profile than the ubiquitous anti-aircraft 8.8 cm Flak 37. However the manufacture of this version was initially slow and costly, a situation that was made worse by the destruction of the carriage production line by Allied bombing.
As part of the design effort from Krupp to compete with the Flak 41, a barrel had been produced to prove the ballistics and design. This barrel design was developed, via an intermediate design known as the Gerät 42, to become the barrel used with Pak 43/41 design. When the Pak 43 was delayed, Krupp was asked to produce a weapon using this barrel using as many existing components as possible. This previous barrel design was then designated the Pak 41.[8]
The Pak 41 barrel was fitted with a horizontal sliding-block breech mechanism resembling that of the 7.5 cm Pak 40, and the semi-automatic gear was a simplified version of that used on the Pak 43. The two-wheel split-trail carriage was from the 10.5 cm leFH 18 field howitzer, with the wheels from the 15 cm s FH howitzer. The Pak 41 was ballistically identical to the Pak 43 and fired the same ammunition, hence its performance was identical. Sources are unclear as to whether the Pak 41 and the Pak 43 barrels were identical; either way it is responsible for the Pak 43/41 designation for the whole design.[9][10][11][12]
The 43/41 proved heavy and awkward to handle in the mud and snow of the Eastern Front and gunners referred to 43/41 as the "barn door" (German: Scheunentor),[13] a reference to the size and weight of the gun. Nevertheless, the improvised Pak 43/41 proved an effective substitute for the Pak 43 until sufficient numbers of the more complex cruciform mounts could be manufactured to replace it in service.
The Pak 43 was also mounted in German armored vehicles, and this version was known as the 8.8 cm KwK 43. Versions of this gun were mounted in a number of German armored vehicles under different designations, including the Tiger II heavy tank (KwK 43 L/71) and several tank destroyers: the Hornisse/Nashorn (Pak 43/1), Ferdinand/Elefant (Pak 43/2, early name Stu.K. 43/1), and Jagdpanther (Pak 43/3 and Pak 43/4, early name Stu.K. 43). A few examples of the Tiger II-based Jagdtiger were also completed with the 8.8 cm weapon due to a shortage of the 12.8 cm Pak 44, but these tank destroyers are not believed to have seen operational service.
Pak 43 on cruciform mount, in towing configuration8.8 cm Pak 43/41 at US Army Ordnance Museum
Service
There were 578 88mm Pak in German army service on 1 October 1944 and 829 on 1 January 1945.[5]
Ammunition and penetration
Pak 43 from the rear
The Pzgr. 39/43 and HE shells were generally available. Pzgr. 40/43 were in severely short supply.
Pzgr. 39/43 APCBC-HE
Type: Armour-piercing Capped with Ballistic Cap - High Explosive
Gander, Terry and Chamberlain, Peter. Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939–1945. New York: Doubleday, 1979 ISBN0-385-15090-3
Hogg, Ian V. German Artillery of World War Two. 2nd corrected edition. Mechanicsville, PA: Stackpole Books, 1997 ISBN1-85367-480-X
Wolfgang Fleischer. Die Deutsches Panzerjägertruppe Waffen, Munition und Fahrzeuge 1935–1945. — Eggolsheim: Dörfler im Nebel GmbH, 2003 ISBN978-3-89555-439-1.
H.Dv. 119/329 ± Vorläufige Schußtafel für die 8,8 cm Kampfwagenkanone 43 (L/71) (8,8 cm Kw.K 43), 8,8 cm Panzerjägerkanone 43/1 (L/71) (8,8 cm Pak 43/1), 8,8 cm Panzerjägerkanone 43/2 (L/71) (8,8 cm Pak 43/2), 8,8 cm Panzerjägerkanone 43/3 (L/71) (8,8 cm Pak 43/3) und 8,8 cm Panzerjägerkanone 43/41 (L/71) (8,8 cm Pak 43/41), Juni 1943 mit eingearbeiteten Deckblättern Nr. 1 bis 9 (Ausgabe 1944).
New Vanguard 46: 88mm Flak 18/36/37/41 & Pak 43 1936-45 (Osprey Publishing). Written by John Norris, illustrated by Mike Fuller.
this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, april, 2009, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, panzerabwehrkanone,. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations April 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Pak 43 Panzerabwehrkanone 43 and Panzerjagerkanone 43 2 3 4 was a German 88 mm anti tank gun developed by Krupp in competition with the Rheinmetall 8 8 cm Flak 41 anti aircraft gun and used during World War II The Pak 43 was the most powerful anti tank gun of the Wehrmacht to see service in significant numbers also serving in modified form as the 8 8 cm KwK 43 main gun on the Tiger II tank the open top Nashorn and fully enclosed casemate hulled Elefant and Jagdpanther tank destroyers 8 8 cm Pak 438 8 cm Pak 43 41 on display at a weapons show on the northern sector of the Eastern Front in 1943 TypeAnti tank gunPlace of originGermanyService historyIn service1943 1945Used byGermanyWarsWorld War IIProduction historyDesignerKruppManufacturerKruppRheinmetall BorsigHenschel amp SonUnit cost26 000 RMProduced1943 1945No built 2 100VariantsPak 43Pak 43 41KwK 43SpecificationsMass3 650 kg 8 050 lb Pak 43Barrel length628 cm 20 ft 7 in bore 71 calibres Pak 43Shell88 822mm R 1 Shell weight7 3 kg 16 lb Armor piercing composite rigid APCR Pzgr 40 43Caliber88 mm 3 46 in BreechSemi automatic vertical sliding blockRecoilHydro pneumaticCarriageCruciform mount Pak 43Split trail Pak 43 41Elevation 8 to 40 Pak 43 5 to 38 Pak 43 41Traverse360 Pak 4356 Pak 43 41Rate of fire6 10 rounds per minuteMuzzle velocity1 030 m s 3 400 ft s Pzgr 40 43Maximum firing range15 150 m 49 705 ft Pak 43The improved 8 8 cm gun was fitted with a semi automatic vertical breech mechanism that greatly reduced recoil 5 It could also be fired electrically while on its wheels 5 It had a very flat trajectory out to 914 m 1 000 yd making it easier for the gunner to hit targets at longer ranges as fewer corrections in elevation were needed The gun had exceptional penetration and could defeat the frontal armour of any Allied tank to see service during the war at long range even the Soviet IS 2 tanks and IS chassis based tank destroyers The gun s maximum firing range exceeded 15 km 9 3 mi Contents 1 Design 2 Versions 3 Service 4 Ammunition and penetration 4 1 Pzgr 39 43 APCBC HE 4 2 Pzgr 40 43 APCR 4 3 Gr 39 3 HL HEAT 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksDesign EditKwK 43 and Pak 43s were initially manufactured with monobloc barrels but the extremely high muzzle velocity and operating pressures caused rapid barrel wear resulting in a change to a two piece barrel This did not affect performance but made replacing a worn out barrel much faster and easier than before A new PzGr 39 43 APCBC HE projectile was designed which apart from the addition of much wider driving bands was identical to the older 10 2 kg 22 lb PzGr 39 1 APCBC HE projectile used by the 8 8 cm KwK 36 and Pak 43 guns The wider driving bands resulted in an increased weight to 10 4 kg 23 lb for the PzGr 39 43 6 The older PzGr 39 1 was used for the KwK amp Pak 43 before new PzGr 39 43 rounds came into use but only if the gun had fired no more than 500 rounds Over this the expected barrel wear combined with the narrow driving bands could lead to a loss of pressure The new PzGr 39 43 could be fired without loss of pressure until the barrel was worn out thus requiring no restriction PzGr 39 1 FES amp Al all up weight 10 2 kg 9 87 kg without fuse amp bursting charge PzGr 39 43 FES amp Al all up weight 10 4 kg 10 06 kg without fuse amp bursting charge The same 278 gram BdZ 5127 fuse and 59 gram Amatol bursting charge was used for PzGr 39 1 and PzGr 39 43 rounds requiring armoured targets of 30 mm or thicker to ignite after penetration for maximum effect Versions EditPak 43 and Pak 43 41 specifications 7 Specification Pak 43 Pak 43 41Weight Travel 4 750 kg 10 470 lb Combat 3 650 kg 8 050 lb Combat 4 350 kg 9 590 lb Length 9 2 m 30 ft 2 in 9 144 m 30 ft 0 in Barrel length 6 35 m 20 ft 10 in 6 36 m 20 ft 10 in Width 2 527 m 8 ft 3 5 in Height 1 7 m 5 ft 7 in 1 981 m 6 ft 6 0 in Pak 43 41 in firing position overlooking a river in Ukraine in September 1943The main version of the Pak 43 was based on a highly effective cruciform mount which offered a full 360 degree traverse and a much lower profile than the ubiquitous anti aircraft 8 8 cm Flak 37 However the manufacture of this version was initially slow and costly a situation that was made worse by the destruction of the carriage production line by Allied bombing As part of the design effort from Krupp to compete with the Flak 41 a barrel had been produced to prove the ballistics and design This barrel design was developed via an intermediate design known as the Gerat 42 to become the barrel used with Pak 43 41 design When the Pak 43 was delayed Krupp was asked to produce a weapon using this barrel using as many existing components as possible This previous barrel design was then designated the Pak 41 8 The Pak 41 barrel was fitted with a horizontal sliding block breech mechanism resembling that of the 7 5 cm Pak 40 and the semi automatic gear was a simplified version of that used on the Pak 43 The two wheel split trail carriage was from the 10 5 cm leFH 18 field howitzer with the wheels from the 15 cm s FH howitzer The Pak 41 was ballistically identical to the Pak 43 and fired the same ammunition hence its performance was identical Sources are unclear as to whether the Pak 41 and the Pak 43 barrels were identical either way it is responsible for the Pak 43 41 designation for the whole design 9 10 11 12 The 43 41 proved heavy and awkward to handle in the mud and snow of the Eastern Front and gunners referred to 43 41 as the barn door German Scheunentor 13 a reference to the size and weight of the gun Nevertheless the improvised Pak 43 41 proved an effective substitute for the Pak 43 until sufficient numbers of the more complex cruciform mounts could be manufactured to replace it in service The Pak 43 was also mounted in German armored vehicles and this version was known as the 8 8 cm KwK 43 Versions of this gun were mounted in a number of German armored vehicles under different designations including the Tiger II heavy tank KwK 43 L 71 and several tank destroyers the Hornisse Nashorn Pak 43 1 Ferdinand Elefant Pak 43 2 early name Stu K 43 1 and Jagdpanther Pak 43 3 and Pak 43 4 early name Stu K 43 A few examples of the Tiger II based Jagdtiger were also completed with the 8 8 cm weapon due to a shortage of the 12 8 cm Pak 44 but these tank destroyers are not believed to have seen operational service Pak 43 on cruciform mount in towing configuration 8 8 cm Pak 43 41 at US Army Ordnance MuseumService EditThere were 578 88mm Pak in German army service on 1 October 1944 and 829 on 1 January 1945 5 Ammunition and penetration Edit Pak 43 from the rearThe Pzgr 39 43 and HE shells were generally available Pzgr 40 43 were in severely short supply Pzgr 39 43 APCBC HE Edit Type Armour piercing Capped with Ballistic Cap High Explosive Projectile weight 10 4 kg 22 92 lbs Muzzle velocity 1 000 m s 3 300 ft s Performance Penetration Hit probability versus 2 5 m x 2 m target 14 Range RHA plate at30 from vertical in training in combat100 m 202 mm 100 100 500 m 185 mm 100 100 1 000 m 165 mm 100 85 1 500 m 148 mm 95 61 2 000 m 132 mm 85 43 2 500 m n a 74 30 3 000 m n a 61 23 3 500 m n a 51 17 4 000 m n a 42 13 Pzgr 40 43 APCR Edit Type Armour Piercing Composite Rigid Projectile weight 7 3 kg 16 lbs Muzzle velocity 1 130 m s 3 707 ft s Penetration figures established as average against a rolled homogeneous armour plate laid back 30 degrees from the vertical Hit probability versus 2 5 m x 2 m target 14 Range Penetration in training in combat100 m 238 mm 100 100 500 m 217 mm 100 100 1000 m 193 mm 100 89 1500 m 171 mm 97 66 2000 m 153 mm 89 47 2500 m n a 78 34 3000 m n a 66 25 Gr 39 3 HL HEAT Edit Type High explosive anti tank Projectile weight 7 65 kg 17 lbs Muzzle velocity 600 m s 1 968 ft s Penetration 110 mmSee also Edit8 8 cm Flak 18 36 37 41 90 mm gun M1 M2 M3 Ordnance QF 32 pounderNotes Edit Williams Anthony G 78 100 mm calibre cartridges Military Guns amp Ammunition Archived from the original on 13 August 2017 Retrieved 19 June 2019 D 2030 8 8 cm Panzerjagerkanone 43 2 L 71 Beschreibung 28 1 1944 Berlin D97 1 Geratliste Oberkommando des Heeres Heereswaffenamt s 45 Berlin 1 7 43 Geratliste s 45 Archived from the original on 17 November 2015 Retrieved 21 November 2015 a b c Haupt 1990 p 39 US Army Technical Manual TM9 1985 3 United States Government Printing Office Washington 1953 Haupt 1990 pp 40 44 I V Hogg German Artillery WW2 pp 217 218 I V Hogg German Artillery WW2 pp 217 218 T Gander German 88 pp 114 115 Bob Carruthers German Tank Hunters p 174 New Vanguard 46 88mm Flak 18 36 37 41 amp Pak 43 Gander and Chamberlain 1979 p 119 a b Jentz Thomas L Kingtiger Heavy Tank 1942 1945 ISBN 185532 282 XReferences EditGander Terry and Chamberlain Peter Weapons of the Third Reich An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939 1945 New York Doubleday 1979 ISBN 0 385 15090 3 Haupt W 1990 1989 Panzerabwehrgeschutze 1935 1945 German Anti Tank Guns 1935 1945 Translated by Force E West Chester PA Schiffer Publishing ISBN 978 0887402418 Hogg Ian V German Artillery of World War Two 2nd corrected edition Mechanicsville PA Stackpole Books 1997 ISBN 1 85367 480 X Wolfgang Fleischer Die Deutsches Panzerjagertruppe Waffen Munition und Fahrzeuge 1935 1945 Eggolsheim Dorfler im Nebel GmbH 2003 ISBN 978 3 89555 439 1 H Dv 119 329 Vorlaufige Schusstafel fur die 8 8 cm Kampfwagenkanone 43 L 71 8 8 cm Kw K 43 8 8 cm Panzerjagerkanone 43 1 L 71 8 8 cm Pak 43 1 8 8 cm Panzerjagerkanone 43 2 L 71 8 8 cm Pak 43 2 8 8 cm Panzerjagerkanone 43 3 L 71 8 8 cm Pak 43 3 und 8 8 cm Panzerjagerkanone 43 41 L 71 8 8 cm Pak 43 41 Juni 1943 mit eingearbeiteten Deckblattern Nr 1 bis 9 Ausgabe 1944 New Vanguard 46 88mm Flak 18 36 37 41 amp Pak 43 1936 45 Osprey Publishing Written by John Norris illustrated by Mike Fuller Bob Carruthers German Tank Hunters Pen and Sword 2013 ISBN 1781591326 ISBN 9781781591321 Terry Gander German 88 The Most Famous Gun of the Second World War Pen and Sword 2009 ISBN 1783374799 ISBN 9781783374793External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to PaK 43 8 8 cm Pak 43 L 71 Panzerworld 8 8 cm Pak album flickr D97 1 Geratliste 1943 p 45 guns ru Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 8 8 cm Pak 43 amp oldid 1171055584, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
