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The 7.5 cm Pak 40 (7,5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 40) was a German 75 millimetre anti-tank gun of the Second World War.

Key Information

The gun was developed in 1939–1941 and entered service in 1942. With 23,303 examples produced, the Pak 40 formed the backbone of German anti-tank guns for the later part of World War II, mostly in towed form, but also on a number of self propelled artillery such as the Marder series of Panzerjäger.

A modified version of the gun designed specifically for vehicle-mounting was the 7.5 cm KwK 40, which differed primarily in using more compact ammunition, thereby allowing more rounds to be carried inside the vehicles. The KwK 40 armed many of the German mid-war tank designs such as the Panzer IV, as well as tank destroyer designs, replacing the Pak 40 in the latter role.

The Pak 40 may be referred to as the 7.5 cm L/46, referring to its calibre and the barrel's length in calibres. There were two versions of the KwK 40, which would be referred to as the 7.5 cm L/43 or 7.5 cm L/48.

Development

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Development of the Pak 40 began after reports of new Soviet tank designs began to reach Berlin in 1939. The German army was equipped with the 3.7cm Pak 36 at the time. A replacement 5 cm Pak 38 was still in testing at this point, but it appeared it would not be powerful enough to deal with these newer designs. Contracts were placed with Krupp and Rheinmetall to develop what was essentially a 7.5 cm version of the Pak 38. However, while the Pak 38 made extensive use of light alloys to reduce overall gun weight, these were now earmarked for aircraft production to supply the Luftwaffe. As a result, the Pak 40 used steel throughout its construction and was proportionally heavier than the 5 cm model. To simplify production, the Pak 38's curved gun shield was replaced by one using three flat plates.[4] A version called the 7.5 cm FK 7M59 was proposed towards the end of the war to fill a dual-purpose role of field gun and anti-tank gun. The carriage was modified to provide +35° of elevation which increased maximum range to 13,300 m (14,500 yd).[5] Another dual purpose variant was the 7.5 cm FK 7M85 which used the gun and recoil system of the Pak 40 on the carriage of the 10 cm le FH 18/40.[5]

The project was initially given low priority, but following the invasion of the USSR in 1941 and the appearance of heavily armoured Soviet tanks such as the T-34 and KV-1, it was given an increased priority. The first production guns were delivered in February 1942.[6] In April 1942, the Wehrmacht had 44 guns in service; by 1943, the Pak 40 formed the bulk of German anti-tank artillery.[citation needed]

Operational use

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The Pak 40 was the standard German anti-tank gun until the end of the war, and was supplied by Germany to its allies. Some captured guns were used by the Soviet Red Army.

A Finnish army Pak 40 in firing position during the Continuation War

23,303 Pak 40s were produced, and about 3,500 more were used to arm tank destroyers. The unit manufacturing cost amounted to 2,200 man-hours at 12,000 RM. The usual prime movers were Opel Blitz lorry, Raupenschlepper Ost tracked tractor, SdKfz 11 medium halftrack and SdKfz 251 armoured halftrack.

A lighter version of the Pak 40 was used as the BK 7,5 automatic "weapon system" in the Henschel Hs 129B-3 and the Junkers Ju 88P-1 ground attack aircraft. This version of the Pak 40 was the heaviest of the Bordkanone series of heavy calibre aircraft guns, incorporating a twelve-round magazine. This version of the gun was also intended as a production fitment for a possible He 177A-3/R5 heavy bomber adaptation late in 1942, originally prototyped in the field with BK 5 cannons, themselves adapted from the 5 cm KwK 39 tank gun from the Panzer III.

During the second half of World War II, some Romanian anti-tank platoons each had three Pak 40 guns. These were used interchangeably with Romania's own 75 mm Reșița Model 1943 anti-tank gun.[7]

Performance

[edit]
7,5 cm Pak 40 in Albania in 1943

The weapon was effective against almost every Allied tank until the end of the war, only struggling to penetrate heavier vehicles like the Russian IS tanks, the American M4A3E2 Sherman 'Jumbo' assault tank and M26 Pershing[a], and later variants of the British Churchill tank. The Pak 40 was much heavier than the Pak 38; its decreased mobility meant that it was difficult or even impossible to move without an artillery tractor on boggy ground.

The Pak 40 was first used in the USSR where it was needed to combat the newest Soviet tanks. It was designed to fire the same low-capacity APCBC, HE and HL projectiles that had been standardized for use in the long barrelled Kampfwagenkanone KwK 40 tank-mounted guns of the mid-war and later marks of the Panzer IV medium tank. In addition, there was an APCR shot (Panzergranate 40) for the Pak 40, a munition which - reliant on supplies of tungsten - eventually became very scarce.[b] According to the German Panzertruppen news journal, 5,000 APCR rounds were expected in Dec. 1942 as replenishment for the Winter offensive.[8]

The main differences amongst the rounds fired by 75 mm German guns were in the length and shape of the cartridge cases as well as the primers used. The 7.5 cm KwK 40 (75x495mm) used in tanks had a fixed cartridge case twice the length of that used by the 7.5 cm KwK 37, the short barrelled 75 mm used on earlier tanks, and the 7.5 cm Pak 40 cartridge was a third longer than that used by the KwK 40. The Pak 40 used a percussion primer, while the vehicle mounted 75 mm guns used electrical primers. Other than minor differences with the projectiles' driving bands, all German 75 mm guns used the same 75mm projectiles.

German Panzerjäger use a Pak 40 against Yugoslav partisans in Bosnia on 12 January 1944.

The longer cartridge case of the Pak 40 allowed a larger charge to be used and a higher velocity for the PzGr 39 armour-piercing capped ballistic cap round to be achieved. The muzzle velocity was about 790 m/s (2,600 ft/s) as opposed to 740 m/s (2,400 ft/s) for the KwK 40 L/43 and 750 m/s (2,500 ft/s) for the L/48. The only 75mm fighting vehicle gun in general use by Germany that possessed a longer barrel than the Pak 40, the 7.5 cm KwK 42 on the Panther tank, could achieve a higher muzzle velocity of 935 m/s (3,070 ft/s) using more propellant in a larger cartridge fixed to it for the KwK 42's use.

For unknown reasons, some 75 mm APCBC cartridges appear to have been produced with a charge that gave a muzzle velocity of about 770 m/s (2,500 ft/s). The first documented firing by the US of a Pak 40 recorded an average muzzle velocity of 776 m/s for its nine most instrumented firings.[9] Probably[citation needed] because of these results, period intelligence publications ("Handbook on German Military Forces") gave about 770 m/s as the Pak 40 APCBC muzzle velocity.[citation needed] Post-war publications corrected this.[10]

German sources differ; the Official Firing Table document for the 75 mm KwK 40, StuK 40 and the Pak 40 dated October, 1943, gives 770 m/s on one of the APCBC tables.[11]

General characteristics

[edit]
A Pak 40 displayed at Base Borden Military Museum, Canada, 2006
Pak 40 seen from the rear
  • Caliber: 75 mm
  • Barrel length: L/46
  • Rifling: 32 grooves, right-hand increasing twist, 1/24 to 1/18.
  • Length with the carriage: 6.2 metres (20 ft 4 in)
  • Length: 3.70 metres (12 ft 1.7 in)
  • Width: 2.0 metres (6 ft 7 in)
  • Height: 1.25 metres (4 ft 1 in)
  • Weight (combat ready): 1,425 kilograms (3,142 lb)
  • Traverse: 65°
  • Elevation: -5° to + 22°
  • Rate of fire: 14 rounds per minute
  • Engagement range: 1,800 metres (5,906 ft)
  • Indirect range: 7,678 metres (25,190 ft) (HE shell)
  • Projectile weight: 3.18 to 6.8 kg (7 lb 0.2 oz to 14 lb 15.9 oz)

Ammunition

[edit]
Panzergranate 39 (PzGr. 39)

An armour-piercing, capped, ballistic cap (APCBC) projectile with explosive filler and tracer.

  • Weight of projectile: 6.80 kg (15 lb 0 oz)
  • Muzzle velocity: 790 m/s
Panzergranate 40 (PzGr. 40)

An armour-piercing, composite rigid (APCR) projectile with a sub-calibre tungsten core.

  • Weight of projectile: 4.05 kg (8 lb 15 oz)
  • Muzzle velocity: 990 m/s
Panzergranate 38 HL/B (PzGr. 38 HL/B)

A high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) projectile with a shaped charge.

  • Weight of projectile: 4.57 kg
  • Muzzle velocity: 450 m/s
Penetration at 30 degrees from vertical[12]
Range
Round 100 m 500 m 1000 m 1500 m
PzGr. 39 108 mm 96 mm 80 mm 64 mm
PzGr. 40 143 mm 120 mm 97 mm 77 mm
PzGr. 38 HL/B 75 mm 75 mm 75 mm 75 mm
Penetration of armour 90 degrees incidence at 500 m[citation needed]
Round Muzzle velocity Penetration
Armour-piercing (PzGr. 39) 792 m/s 132 mm
APCR (PzGr. 40) 933 m/s 154 mm
HE 550 m/s n/a

Post-war use

[edit]

After the war, the Pak 40 remained in service in several European armies, including Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Norway, Hungary and Romania. In 1955, the USSR supplied 33 captured guns to Austria. They were kept in service into the 1960s.[13] North Vietnam also received some during the Vietnam War.[14] Six ex-Portuguese Army Pak 40s divided into two artillery detachments were stationed in Dili during the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975.[15]

Survivors

[edit]

Pak 40s are or have been held in several military museums, outside museums or free entrance open-air fields:

Country Place Location
Australia Australian Armour & Artillery Museum, Cairns, Australia
Belgium Atlantic Wall Open Air Museum, Raversijde Ostend
Brazil Museu do Exp Curitiba, Brazil
Brazil Museu Conde de linhares Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Bulgaria National Museum of Military History Sofia, Bulgaria
Bulgaria Monument to those who fell in the wars 2 pieces Byala, Bulgaria
Canada Base Borden Military Museum Borden, Ontario
Canada The Central Museum of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery Shilo, Manitoba
Denmark Danish War Museum Copenhagen
Finland Salpa Line Museum Miehikkälä, South Karelia
Finland Bunker Museum Virolahti, South Karelia
Finland Parola Tank Museum Parola, Kanta-Häme
Finland Infantry Museum Mikkeli, South Savo
Finland Northern Brigade (Pohjan prikaati) memorial area, 2 pieces Oulu, Northern Ostrobothnia
Finland Cannons at Torp, museum Ingå, Uusimaa
Finland The Artillery Museum of Finland Hämeenlinna, Kanta-Häme
Finland Hanko Front Line Museum[16] Hanko, Uusimaa
Finland Military Museum of Finland, Suomenlinna filial Helsinki
France Musée Mémorial Bataille de Normandie Bayeux
France Musée des Blindés or Association des Amis du Musée des Blindés[17][failed verification] Saumur
France Centre village Le Dézert
Germany Deutsches Panzermuseum Munster
Netherlands Atlantikwall-Museum Hook of Holland
Netherlands Centre village green Zandoerle
Netherlands In front of town hall Valkenburg aan de Geul
Romania Oarba de Mureș heroes monument, 2 pieces in open air between Sfântu Gheorghe and Oarba de Mureș villages, on road 120, Mureș County
Romania National Military Museum, Romania, 1 piece Bucharest
Romania Military Museum, 1 piece Dej
Serbia Belgrade Military Museum Belgrade
Spain Museo de Unidades Acorazadas, and others El Goloso, Madrid
Spain Museo Histórico Militar de Canarias Centro de Historia y Cultura Militar de Canarias, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Spain Museo Histórico Militar de Cartagena Cartagena, Murcia
Syria Military Museum, 2 pieces[18] Damascus
USA American Armoured Foundation Tank Museum Danville, Virginia
USA VFW Lodge Claremont, NH
USA Academy Square Park Seneca Falls, NY
USA Privately owned collection Tooele, Utah
USA American Heritage Museum Stow, Massachusetts
USA VFW[19] Collingswood, New Jersey
USA American Legion 2179 Whiteford Rd Whiteford, Maryland
USA Privately Owned Collection[20] Uvalde, TX
USA US Army National Guard armory Memorial Parkway Utica, NY
UK Imperial War Museum Duxford[21] Duxford
Ukraine National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War Kyiv
Vietnam Artillery Museum Hanoi

See also

[edit]

Weapons of comparable role, performance and era

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ Rada, Tibor (2001). A Magyar Királyi Honvéd Ludovika Akadémia és a Testvérintézetek Összefoglalt Története (1830-1945) (in Hungarian). Vol. II. Budapest: Gálos Nyomdász Kft. p. 1114. ISBN 963-85764-3-X.
  2. ^ a b "7,5 cm Pak 40". Panzerworld. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e Foss, Christopher (1977). Jane's Pocket Book of Towed Artillery. New York: Collier. p. 27. ISBN 0020806000. OCLC 911907988.
  4. ^ Bishop, Chris (2002). The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. Sterling Publishing. pp. 183–185.
  5. ^ a b Hogg, Ian (1997). German Artillery of World War Two. London: Greenhill Books. pp. 43–44. ISBN 1853672610. OCLC 36705743.
  6. ^ Hahn, Fritz (1998). Waffen und Geheimwaffen des deutschen Heeres 1933 - 1945 [Weapons and Secret Weapons of the German Army 1933–1945] (in German) (3. Aufl., Sonderausg. in einem Bd ed.). Bonn: Bernard und Graefe. p. 102. ISBN 3-7637-5915-8.
  7. ^ Ronald L. Tarnstrom, Trogen Books, 1998, Balkan Battles, p. 407
  8. ^ Nachrichtenblatt zur Panzerbeschusstafel 7,5 cm Pak 40 L/46 dated Nov. 1942
  9. ^ "First Report of Test of a German 75 mm Pak 40 Antitank Gun and Seventeenth Report on Ordnance Program No. 5772
  10. ^ Department of the Army Pamphlet No. 30-4-4, "Foreign Military Weapons and Equipment (U) Vol. 1 Artillery (U) dated August of1955
  11. ^ "Schusstafel für die 7,5cm Kampfwagenkanone 40"
  12. ^ Nachrichtenblatt zur Panzerbeschusstafel 7,5 cm Pak 40 L/46 dated Nov. 1942
  13. ^ "Rearming Austria: WWII weapons". wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com. 14 June 2015.
  14. ^ Grandolini, Albert (1998). Armor of the Vietnam War (2) Asian Forces. Armor at War 7017. Concord Publications. p. 17. ISBN 9789623616225.
  15. ^ Haryadi, Yosafat Robert (2019). Sejarah Kavaleri Korps Marinir (in Indonesian). Surabaya: Penerbit Karunia. p. 330. ISBN 9789799039972.
  16. ^ "Museot.fi - Hanko Front Line Museum". www.museot.fi.
  17. ^ "Le char Hotchkiss H 39 - le musée des blindés". Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  18. ^ "Damascus Military Museum (2): The Artillery". wordpress.com. 31 March 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  19. ^ "German 7.5 CM PAK 40 Anti Tank Gun - Collingswood, NJ - Military Ground Equipment Displays on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com.
  20. ^ "Big Guns".
  21. ^ "75cm Pak 40 L60 (ORD 151)". Imperial War Museums.

Bibliography

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

7.5 cm Pak 40

View on Grokipedia
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The 7.5 cm Pak 40 (Panzerabwehrkanone 40) was a German 75 mm towed anti-tank gun that served as the backbone of the Wehrmacht's anti-tank defenses from 1942 until the end of World War II. Designed to counter heavily armored Soviet tanks like the T-34 and KV-1 encountered on the Eastern Front, it featured a long-barreled L/46 gun capable of firing high-velocity armor-piercing rounds at up to 792 m/s, enabling penetration of up to 106 mm of armor at 100 meters, or approximately 96 mm at 500 yards. With a weight of approximately 1,425 kg and a rate of fire of 14 rounds per minute, it was typically operated by a crew of five to seven and towed by half-track vehicles such as the Sd.Kfz. 10 or 11 for mobility in combat. Development of the Pak 40 began in 1939 under contracts to Krupp and Rheinmetall, but it received low priority until 1941, when reports of superior Soviet armor prompted accelerated production following the invasion of the Soviet Union. The first prototypes were tested that year, with initial deliveries to frontline units occurring in November 1941, and full-scale deployment ramping up by early 1942 as an upgrade over the inadequate 3.7 cm Pak 36 and 5 cm Pak 38 guns. Engineers addressed challenges like recoil management and barrel length to fit the weapon into a semi-automatic horizontal sliding breech system, ensuring reliability under field conditions. Key specifications included a barrel length of 3.45 m, a maximum range of 7.68 km for indirect fire (though optimized for direct anti-tank engagements at 1,000–1,500 yards), and ammunition types such as the PzGr 39 armor-piercing shell (6.8 kg projectile weight, penetrating 74–106 mm depending on range and angle) and high-explosive variants for infantry support. Its split-trail carriage allowed for a low silhouette in firing position, enhancing concealment, while the gun shield provided partial protection for the crew. Despite its effectiveness, the Pak 40's 1.5-ton weight limited rapid repositioning without mechanical towing, making it vulnerable to counter-battery fire or flanking maneuvers. Over 23,303 units were produced between 1942 and 1945, primarily in towed form but also adapted for mounting on vehicles like the Marder II and III tank destroyers (Sd.Kfz. 131 and 138), the Sd.Kfz. 234/4 armored car, and later assault guns such as the StuG III and Jagdpanzer IV. Deployed across all theaters, including the Eastern Front, North Africa, and Western Europe, it equipped anti-tank battalions in infantry divisions and Panzergrenadier units, often in batteries of four to twelve guns. By 1943, it had largely replaced earlier models, contributing significantly to defensive actions against Allied advances, though shortages in ammunition and prime movers hampered its late-war performance. The Pak 40 proved highly effective against medium tanks like the Soviet T-34 (penetrating up to 78 mm at 1,250 yards) and American M4 Sherman, but struggled against heavy types such as the IS-2 or M26 Pershing without specialized tungsten-core rounds, which were limited due to resource constraints. Its combination of accuracy, firepower, and relative simplicity made it one of the most successful anti-tank guns of the war, influencing post-war designs in nations like Czechoslovakia and Romania until the 1960s. Variants like the KwK 40 tank gun further extended its legacy in armored vehicles.

Development and Production

Development

The development of the 7.5 cm Pak 40 was initiated in 1939 by the Heereswaffenamt, Germany's army ordnance office, as part of a program to create a more effective anti-tank gun to replace existing models like the 3.7 cm Pak 36. The project's priority increased in 1941 following encounters with advanced Soviet armored vehicles such as the T-34 and KV-1 during Operation Barbarossa. Development contracts were awarded to Rheinmetall-Borsig AG and Krupp-Grusonwerk AG to design a weapon capable of penetrating thicker armor than existing guns like the 3.7 cm Pak 36 or 5 cm Pak 38, with Rheinmetall's proposal ultimately selected for its balance of performance and manufacturability. Key design decisions focused on enhancing ballistic performance and operational efficiency, including the selection of a 75 mm caliber—chosen for its proven effectiveness in earlier artillery pieces—with a long L/46 barrel (approximately 3.45 meters) to achieve higher muzzle velocities exceeding 790 m/s for armor-piercing rounds, a marked improvement over the shorter-barreled Pak 38. The breech mechanism employed a semi-automatic horizontal sliding block, allowing for a rate of fire up to 14 rounds per minute by automating the extraction and reloading process after each shot. For mobility and stability, the gun was mounted on a split-trail carriage with pneumatic tires on steel-spoke wheels and torsion bar suspension, enabling quick deployment in high-angle firing positions while providing a stable platform for long-range engagements. These features were informed by operational lessons from captured French 75 mm field guns, such as the Canon de 75 modèle 1897, which highlighted the advantages of the 75 mm caliber for anti-tank roles, as well as refinements from prior German 7.5 cm designs like the Pak 38. The first prototype was completed by Rheinmetall in late 1940, followed by extensive field trials in 1941 at the Döberitz proving grounds and other sites, where it demonstrated significantly enhanced armor penetration—roughly doubling the capabilities of the Pak 38 against sloped armor at typical combat ranges. These tests confirmed the gun's reliability and effectiveness, leading to its official acceptance into Wehrmacht service on November 18, 1941, despite ongoing refinements to the recoil system and shield design. Initial pre-production units began delivery to frontline anti-tank units in November 1941, as German forces faced escalating armored threats on the Eastern Front.

Production

Production of the 7.5 cm Pak 40 began in 1942, following its acceptance into service earlier that year, with a total of approximately 23,303 units manufactured by the end of World War II in 1945. Production ramped up significantly after initial low output, reaching a peak in 1943 and 1944 when annual figures exceeded 7,000 guns, driven by the urgent need to counter increasingly heavily armored Allied and Soviet tanks. Primary manufacturing was handled by Rheinmetall-Borsig AG at facilities in Unterlüß and Düsseldorf, with subcontracting to other firms including Carl Gustloff Werke and Spreewerke to distribute production and mitigate risks. Each unit cost around 12,000 Reichsmarks and required about 2,200 man-hours to assemble, though wartime adaptations simplified components for faster output to meet escalating demand. In later years, production increasingly relied on forced labor, including prisoners of war, deported civilians, and concentration camp inmates, as conscription depleted the skilled workforce. Allied bombing campaigns severely disrupted operations, particularly at the Düsseldorf plant, where repeated air raids from 1943 onward damaged facilities and reduced efficiency, forcing relocations and repairs amid ongoing production pressures. After 1945, the gun continued in limited service in several Eastern European countries, including Romania and Bulgaria, using captured or refurbished wartime examples.

Design and Specifications

Barrel and Firing Mechanism

The barrel of the 7.5 cm Pak 40 was a 75 mm caliber weapon with a rifled bore length of 3.45 meters, equivalent to L/46 designation. It featured semi-monobloc construction incorporating an autofrettaged outer jacket and a loose inner liner, facilitating straightforward replacement of the liner during maintenance without requiring full barrel disassembly. A double-baffled muzzle brake was fitted to reduce recoil forces, and with standard armor-piercing capped ballistic cap (APCBC) rounds, the muzzle velocity reached 790 m/s. The firing mechanism employed a horizontal sliding wedge breech block that operated semi-automatically, where recoil from the previous shot ejected the spent casing, recocked the firing pin, and readied the breech for reloading. This design, combined with manual loading by the crew, enabled a practical rate of fire of 12 to 14 rounds per minute under optimal conditions. The recoil system utilized a hydraulic buffer to absorb the gun's rearward motion over a length of approximately 90 cm, paired with a hydropneumatic recuperator to return the barrel to battery swiftly and reliably. The gun was mounted on a two-wheeled split-trail carriage constructed from welded steel, with tubular trails that could be spread for stability during firing or closed for transport. The wheels featured light alloy rims with solid rubber tires and were suspended by semi-elliptic leaf springs, contributing to the carriage's overall weight of about 1,425 kg and balanced distribution that allowed towing by half-tracks, trucks, or even horses at speeds up to 15 km/h on roads. A spaced armor shield, typically 5 mm thick in two angular plates, provided partial protection for the five-man crew from small-arms fire and shrapnel. The carriage permitted an elevation range of -5° to +22° and a total traverse of 65° (32.5° to either side) when the trails were emplaced in the firing position. Maintenance was supported by the modular barrel design, particularly the loose liner, which could be swapped in the field to extend service life and address wear from high-pressure firings. The overall construction emphasized durability and ease of repairs, with accessible components like the breech and recoil systems allowing quick adjustments using standard tools, minimizing downtime in combat environments.

Ammunition

The 7.5 cm Pak 40 utilized fixed ammunition consisting of a projectile fitted to a cartridge case containing the propellant charge, designed specifically for its high-pressure chamber to achieve consistent muzzle velocities. Primary anti-armor rounds included the Panzergranate 39 (PzGr. 39), an armor-piercing capped ballistic capped (APCBC) projectile with high-explosive burster, weighing 6.8 kg with a muzzle velocity of 790 m/s (retaining approximately 637 m/s impact velocity at 1,000 m range); the Panzergranate 40 (PzGr. 40), an armor-piercing composite rigid (APCR) round featuring a tungsten carbide core for enhanced penetration against heavily armored targets, at 4.15 kg and 990 m/s; and the Granate 38 HL/B (Gr. 38 HL/B), a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shaped-charge projectile capable of 75 mm penetration irrespective of range, weighing 4.57 kg with a lower muzzle velocity of 450 m/s to optimize the hollow-charge effect. The ammunition employed brass or steel cartridge cases, typically designated as model 6340 or 6354 (steel variants marked "St"), filled with tubular diglycol powder charges— a double-base propellant incorporating nitrocellulose and diethylene-glycol-dinitrate—to ensure uniform burning and muzzle velocities under the Pak 40's elevated chamber pressures of up to 3,000 kg/cm². Total round weights ranged from 10 to 11 kg, depending on the projectile type, with the fixed design allowing semi-automatic loading for a practical rate of fire up to 14 rounds per minute. Compatibility with earlier 75 mm guns, such as the Pak 38, was limited due to the higher pressures, which could damage lower-strength breeches. Special-purpose rounds expanded the Pak 40's versatility beyond anti-armor roles. The Sprenggranate 34 (SprGr. 34) served as the high-explosive (HE) round for anti-infantry and soft-target engagement, with a 5.75 kg projectile at 550 m/s containing an amatol bursting charge. The Nebelgranate 39 (NbGr. 39) provided smoke-screen capability through a 6.17 kg projectile dispersing oleum-based mixture upon airburst. Limited variants included incendiary rounds and additional APCR types like the PzGr. 41, though production was constrained by tungsten shortages. Logistically, rounds were issued in wooden crates accommodating two to six projectiles with their cases, often supplemented by metal liners or wicker baskets for transport, facilitating efficient supply to field units while protecting against environmental damage.

General Characteristics

The 7.5 cm Pak 40 was a towed anti-tank gun characterized by its compact design for rapid deployment in combat, featuring a split-trail carriage that allowed for quick setup and repositioning by a small crew. Its overall dimensions in traveling configuration measured 6.20 m in length, 1.98 m in width, and 1.25 m in height, contributing to its maneuverability on varied terrain. The combat weight was 1,425 kg, which balanced portability with stability during firing, though it required mechanical or animal assistance for transport over longer distances. The gun was operated by a crew of 5 to 6 personnel, typically including a commander, gunner, loader, fuse setter, and ammunition bearer, with an additional assistant occasionally assigned for heavy lifting. For mobility, it was primarily towed by the Sd.Kfz. 7 half-track at speeds up to 50 km/h on roads, or by teams of horses achieving a maximum road speed of approximately 13 km/h in less mechanized units. Emplacement could be completed in about 60 seconds by an experienced crew, enabling swift transitions from travel to firing position. Optical systems included the standard Zielfernrohr 3x8 telescopic sight, offering 3x magnification and an 8° field of view for precise targeting, with an optional Panzerkorps rangefinder available for enhanced distance estimation in certain configurations. The design incorporated environmental adaptations suitable for frontline use, operating effectively in temperatures from -40°C to +50°C and featuring corrosion-resistant finishes on metal components to withstand exposure to moisture and field conditions.

Performance

Armor Penetration

The armor penetration performance of the 7.5 cm Pak 40 was a key factor in its effectiveness as an anti-tank gun, primarily determined by the type of ammunition employed, the angle of impact, and the engagement range. The standard armor-piercing round, PzGr. 39 (APCBC), provided reliable penetration against medium armor at typical combat distances, while the high-velocity PzGr. 40 (APCR) offered superior performance against heavier targets, though its production was constrained by tungsten shortages from 1943 onward. Penetration values, derived from German ballistic calculations such as Krupp formula approximations for homogeneous armor plate, illustrate the gun's capabilities at a 30° obliquity angle (equivalent to 60° plate angle from horizontal). For the PzGr. 39 round (6.8 kg projectile, muzzle velocity 792 m/s), penetration was approximately 80 mm at 1,000 m and 50 mm at 2,000 m. The PzGr. 40 round (4.15 kg projectile, muzzle velocity 990 m/s) achieved around 97 mm at 1,000 m under similar conditions, though its scarcity limited widespread use to critical engagements. These figures represent 50% penetration probability against rolled homogeneous armor (RHA).
AmmunitionAngleRange (m)Penetration (mm RHA)
PzGr. 3930°1,00080
PzGr. 3930°2,00050
PzGr. 4030°1,00097
The Pak 40 demonstrated strong effectiveness against contemporary medium tanks. It could reliably defeat the front armor of the Soviet T-34 (nominal 45 mm at 60° slope from horizontal, equivalent to ~90 mm vertical) at up to 1,000 m using PzGr. 39, and the sides or rear of the American M4 Sherman (50-38 mm flat) at distances exceeding 2,000 m. However, against heavy tanks like the Soviet IS-2 (120 mm front at 60° slope, equivalent to ~240 mm vertical), penetration was marginal beyond 500 m even with PzGr. 40, often requiring flanking shots or closer ranges. The gun also employed high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds like Gr. 38 Hl/B (penetration ~75 mm, independent of range) and Hl/C (~100 mm), providing consistent capability against heavy armor up to 1,000 m or more. In comparative terms, the Pak 40 roughly doubled the armor penetration of its predecessor, the 5 cm Pak 38, which achieved only about 46 mm at 1,000 m (30° angle) with its PzGr. 39 round—making the Pak 40 far more capable against sloped medium tank armor. Despite this, the gun's relatively low rate of fire (12-14 rounds per minute) posed vulnerabilities against fast-moving targets, as crews struggled to track and engage maneuvering vehicles effectively. These performance metrics were established through extensive German trials at the Kummersdorf Proving Ground between 1941 and 1942, where prototype barrels and ammunition were tested against various armor plates to validate ballistic models and refine production standards.

Range and Accuracy

The 7.5 cm Pak 40 achieved a theoretical maximum range of 7,678 meters when employing high-explosive shells in indirect fire, though practical applications were limited by the gun's primary anti-tank role. Its effective direct-fire range against armored targets extended to 1,800 meters, with point-blank engagements—where precision was maximized against close threats—typically occurring between 100 and 500 meters. These distances reflected the gun's balance of velocity and trajectory stability, enabling reliable engagement of moving vehicles at extended ranges under optimal conditions. Accuracy metrics for the Pak 40 were impressive for its era, with a lateral dispersion of 0.5 mils at 1,000 meters when firing the PzGr. 39 armor-piercing round, corresponding to a probable error of approximately 0.5 meters. Under simulated combat conditions accounting for crew fatigue and minor errors, trained operators achieved a first-round hit probability of about 50% against a standard 2.5 m by 2 m target at 1,000 meters. The Zeiss TZF 5 telescopic sight, with its 2.5x magnification and graduated reticle, supported these levels by allowing precise elevation and azimuth adjustments. Several factors influenced the Pak 40's range and accuracy in field use, including proper sight calibration to maintain zeroing, progressive barrel wear that degraded performance over time (with an overall barrel life of approximately 6,000 rounds), and environmental variables such as wind and uneven terrain that could increase dispersion. The sustained rate of fire, typically 12-14 rounds per minute for a well-trained crew, also impacted accuracy by introducing heat buildup and minor vibrations after prolonged bursts, though the gun's semi-automatic loading mechanism minimized this effect compared to manual systems. In comparative terms, the Pak 40's lighter recoil—owing to its 1,425 kg carriage weight—provided superior stability and practical accuracy at medium ranges (500-1,500 meters) over the heavier British 17-pounder, which suffered from greater muzzle climb and repositioning delays.

Operational History

World War II Service

The 7.5 cm Pak 40 entered service with the German Army in late 1941, with pre-production models seeing first combat use on the Eastern Front during Operation Barbarossa in November 1941. By late 1942, the gun had become widely employed on the Eastern Front, including during the Battle of Stalingrad, where it provided critical anti-tank support to encircled German forces against massed T-34 assaults, helping to blunt Soviet breakthroughs in urban and open terrain. Its rapid proliferation continued into 1943, forming the backbone of German anti-tank defenses as production exceeded 1,300 units in 1942. The Pak 40 saw extensive use across multiple theaters, including the Eastern Front, North Africa, Italy, and Western Europe. On the Western Front, following the Allied Normandy landings in June 1944, the Pak 40 contributed to defensive actions against advancing Allied armor in bocage hedgerows and open fields. During the Ardennes Offensive in December 1944, known as the Battle of the Bulge, Pak 40s supported defensive efforts along key routes against Allied counterattacks. Tactically, the Pak 40 was typically employed in dug-in positions to maximize concealment and survivability, often organized into Pakfronts—concentrated batteries of three platoons with three guns each—covering likely avenues of enemy tank approach, supported by infantry screens to protect against flanking maneuvers. These formations were issued to Panzerjäger (tank hunter) battalions and infantry divisions at the regimental or divisional level, allowing for flexible deployment either towed by half-tracks for rapid repositioning or emplaced for prolonged engagements; the gun's crews emphasized ambush tactics, firing at ranges of 500 to 1,000 meters to exploit its penetration capabilities before relocating to avoid counter-battery fire. Overall, the Pak 40 served as the Wehrmacht's primary towed anti-tank weapon from 1941 to 1945. Germany supplied the Pak 40 to several Axis allies, including Finland, which received 210 units between 1943 and 1944 for use against Soviet forces on the Karelian Isthmus during the Continuation War; Romania and Hungary also obtained smaller numbers for their armies, integrating them into divisional anti-tank units to bolster defenses on the Eastern Front. The Soviets captured numerous Pak 40s during their advances, redesignating them as the 75 mm pak 40(r) and incorporating them into Red Army formations, where they were valued for their effectiveness against German Panzers in late-war operations.

Post-War Service

Following the end of World War II, captured 7.5 cm Pak 40 anti-tank guns were incorporated into the inventories of several Allied and former Axis-aligned armies for occupation duties and continued military operations. The French Army utilized seized Pak 40s during post-war occupation tasks in Germany. In Eastern Europe, nations such as Albania and Bulgaria maintained small numbers of the guns in active service through the early 1950s, primarily for territorial defense and training purposes. The Soviet Union, having captured up to 20,000 Pak 40s during the war, refurbished and stored many for redistribution to allies, with several thousand entering service across occupied states and satellite countries in the immediate post-war period. By the mid-1950s, the USSR transferred approximately a dozen of these captured guns to North Vietnam in 1959, where they equipped Viet Minh units in anti-tank and coastal defense roles against French colonial forces, remaining in use through the Vietnam War until the early 1970s. Czechoslovakia also supplied Pak 40s to allies like Syria post-war, where the guns served in training and reserve capacities into the 1960s before being phased out in favor of recoilless rifles and anti-tank guided missiles. Similarly, Norway retained Pak 40s for training exercises during the early Cold War era, reflecting their transitional role in doctrines shifting toward more mobile anti-armor systems.

Variants and Legacy

Vehicle-Mounted Variants

The 7.5 cm Pak 40 was adapted for vehicle mounting to enhance German anti-tank capabilities during World War II, with modifications to the barrel and recoil system to fit confined casemates while retaining compatibility with standard towed ammunition. These variants typically featured a shortened L/43 barrel variant of the gun to accommodate space limitations in vehicle superstructures, reducing overall length from the standard L/46 while maintaining effective muzzle velocity. One of the most prolific ground vehicle integrations was the 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/43 mounted in the casemate of the StuG III Ausf. F assault gun, produced by Alkett from March to September 1942. This version addressed the limitations of the earlier short-barreled 7.5 cm StuK 37 by providing superior penetration against medium tanks, with ammunition casings thickened and shortened for easier handling in the vehicle's interior and reduced recoil to prevent structural damage. Approximately 366 Ausf. F vehicles were built initially with the L/43 gun, many of which were later retrofitted with the longer L/48 version; overall, more than 10,000 StuG III variants armed with the StuK 40 series were produced through 1945, serving in both assault and tank destroyer roles. The 7.5 cm PaK 40/3 was mounted on the Marder III Ausf. M tank destroyer, utilizing the reliable Panzer 38(t) chassis with a rear-engine layout and open-topped fighting compartment for a crew of four. Introduced in May 1943, this adaptation prioritized mobility over protection, with thin 6-15 mm armor vulnerable to small-arms fire and achieving a road speed of 47 km/h. A total of 942 units were manufactured by BMM through May 1944, using surplus Ausf. K and M chassis, and it saw extensive use on the Eastern Front for flanking attacks against Soviet armor. Early development of the Nashorn tank destroyer began as the Hornisse project in 1942, initially proposed with the 7.5 cm PaK 40 mounted on a hybrid Panzer III/IV chassis to counter Soviet heavy tanks like the KV-1. However, due to the gun's perceived inadequacy against emerging threats such as the T-34-85, the design was revised to accommodate the more powerful 8.8 cm PaK 43 before production; only prototypes featured the 7.5 cm configuration, highlighting the rapid evolution of German anti-tank requirements. Half-track mounts included the Sd.Kfz. 251/22, where the PaK 40 was bolted directly onto the troop compartment with a trimmed shield, carrying just 22 rounds due to space constraints. This late-war improvisation suffered from excessive weight and recoil that often damaged the chassis, limiting its deployment to ad hoc anti-tank support units from late 1944. The RSO self-propelled variant mounted the PaK 40 on the Raupenschlepper Ost tracked tractor chassis, a lightweight prime mover adapted in 1943 for low-volume production to improve towing and deployment in rough Eastern Front terrain. This open-topped design emphasized simplicity and cross-country mobility over armor, with approximately 80-90 units built by Steyr-Daimler-Puch to bolster infantry anti-tank detachments. An aircraft adaptation derived from the PaK 40 was the 5 cm BK 5, experimentally fitted to the Me 410 A-1/U4 heavy fighter from 1943 to 1944 for anti-bomber roles. This ventral-mounted cannon aimed to engage formations from range but saw limited operational use due to accuracy issues and aircraft vulnerability, with production numbers unknown but low. Post-war, some captured PaK 40s were used by Eastern Bloc countries, including Romania and Bulgaria, which integrated them into their armies until the 1950s.

Survivors and Modern Displays

Several intact examples of the 7.5 cm Pak 40 anti-tank gun are preserved in museums around the world, serving as key artifacts for understanding German defensive tactics in World War II. Notable displays include one at the Imperial War Museums in London, where it is cataloged as a standard late-war model used extensively from 1941 onward. In Australia, the Australian War Memorial holds a captured example with its original split-trail carriage, highlighting its role in Pacific theater engagements. The Royal Canadian Artillery Museum in Shilo, Manitoba, exhibits another, emphasizing its deployment as the primary German anti-tank weapon from late 1941. Restored Pak 40s appear in private collections and are occasionally used for historical demonstrations. The Lovett Artillery Collection in the United States maintains a fully restored example complete with original optics and ammunition, allowing for operational study. Firing replicas, often based on original components, support reenactments; for instance, preserved guns have been demonstrated at events by historical groups, recreating battlefield conditions to educate on its 75 mm high-velocity performance. In modern culture, the Pak 40 features prominently in educational and media contexts, underscoring its tactical legacy in anti-tank warfare. It appears in the 2014 film Fury, where two examples are used in a hedgerow ambush scene against Allied tanks, accurately depicting its armor-piercing capabilities. Museums like the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, Massachusetts, incorporate it into immersive WWII exhibits, focusing on its role in halting armored advances. Post-2000 analyses, such as those in military history publications, highlight its innovations in mobility and penetration, crediting it with influencing subsequent towed artillery designs. Preservation faces challenges, particularly from post-war conflicts; a small number supplied to North Vietnam by the Soviet Union in 1955 for coastal defense were largely retired by 1972, with many likely lost or destroyed during the Vietnam War, though one survives at the Vietnam Military History Museum in Hanoi. Conservation efforts by institutions like The Tank Museum in Bovington, UK, include detailed archival work and public programming on WWII anti-tank guns, aiding broader preservation of such artifacts.

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