7.5 cm PaK 39

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 were 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 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 Panzerjägerkanone 39 (L/48)
*Type: Anti-tank gun
*Caliber: 7.5 cm / 75 mm
*Cartridge case length: 495 mm
*Barrel length: 48 calibers (3615 mm)
*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 60 degrees from horizontal using Pzgr. 39 AP shell

*500 m: 91 mm
*1000 m: 82 mm