5 cm PaK 38

Infobox Weapon
name=5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 38 (L/60)


caption=Panzerabwehrkanone 38
origin=Germany
type=Anti-Tank Gun
is_ranged=yes
is_artillery=yes
service=December 1940 - 1945
used_by=Germany
wars=Second World War
designer=
design_date=1938
manufacturer=Rheinmetall-Borsig
production_date=1940 -
number=
variants=
weight=830 kg (1,829 lbs)
length=4.75 m (15.58 ft)
part_length=60 calibers, 3 m (9.84 ft)
width=1.85 m (6 ft)
height=1.05 m (3.44 ft)
crew=5
cartridge=5 cm Pzgr. 5 cm Pzgr.39 5 cm Pzgr.40 5 cm Pzgr.40/1 Sprgr. Pak 38
caliber=50 mm (1.96 in)
action=semiautomatic
rate=13 RPM
velocity=550-1,130 m/s (1,804-3,707 ft/s)
range=
max_range=
feed=manual
sights=Z.F. 3x8°
breech=horizontal sliding wedge
recoil=
carriage=split-trail
elevation=-8° - +27°
traverse=65°

The 5 cm PaK 38 (L/60) ("5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 38 (L/60)") was a German anti-tank gun of 50 mm calibre. It was developed in 1938 by Rheinmetall-Borsig AG as a successor to the 37 mm PaK 36, and was in turn followed by the 75 mm PaK 40.

The PaK 38 was first used by the German forces in the Second World War on April 1941. When the Germans faced Soviet tanks in 1941 during Operation Barbarossa, the PaK 38 was one of the few early guns capable of effectively penetrating the 45 mm armor of the formidable T-34. Additionally, the gun was also equipped with Panzergranate 40 APCR shots featuring a tungsten core, in an attempt to penetrate the armor of the heavier KV-1 tank. Although it was replaced by more powerful weapons, it remained a potent and useful weapon and remained in service with the German infantry until the end of the war.

References

* 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 ISBN 0-385-15090-3

* Hogg, Ian V. "German Artillery of World War Two". 2nd corrected edition. Mechanicsville, PA: Stackpole Books, 1997 ISBN 1-85367-480-X

External links

* [http://www.lemaire.happyhost.org/armes/artillerie/3323.html LemaireSoft's 50 mm Pak 38]
* [http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/50mm/index.html Intelligence report on PaK 38 at Lonesentry.com]
* [http://www.panzerworld.net/armourpenetration.html Armor penetration table at Panzerworld]