7.62 cm Pak 36(r)

7.62 cm Feldkanone 36(russisch) and Panzerabwehrkanone 36(russisch)

FK 36(r) anti-tank gun, displayed on the grounds of CFB Borden.
Type Anti-tank gun
Place of origin Nazi Germany
Service history
Used by Nazi Germany
Wars World War II
Production history
Number built 560 ?
Specifications
Weight 1,710 kg (3,770 lbs)
Barrel length Bore: 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in) L/48.4
Overall: 3.895 m (12 ft 9 in) L/51.2 (without muzzle brake)
Crew 6
Caliber 76.2 mm (3 in)
Breech vertical block
Recoil hydropneumatic
Carriage split trail
Elevation 60°
Traverse -6° to 18°
Rate of fire 10-12 rounds per minute

The 7.62 cm FK 36(r) and Pak 36(r) (7.62 cm Feldkanone (Field gun)/36 (russisch) and Panzerabwehrkanone (Anti-tank gun) 36(russisch)) were German anti-tank guns used by the Wehrmacht in World War II. The first guns were conversions of the Soviet 76-mm divisional gun M1936 (F-22). Later in the war, the Soviet USV and ZiS-3 76 mm divisional guns were also converted.

Description

The FK36(r) and Pak 36(r) both had a split-trail carriage, with a transverse leaf spring axle suspension, and steel wheels, with foam rubber filled tires. The guns were equipped with a semi-automatic vertical breech block; the recoil mechanism consisted of a hydraulic recoil buffer and a hydropneumatic recuperator. There was no limber; therefore the gun could not be towed by a horse team.

Development history

Soon after the German invasion of the USSR in 1941, Wehrmacht units encountered new Soviet tanks: the medium T-34 and the heavy KV. The thick sloped armor of these vehicles gave them a good degree of protection against German anti-tank weapons. The situation eventually led to requests for more powerful guns that would be able to destroy the aforementioned tanks from long range. Germany already had a suitable design, the 7.5 cm Pak 40, entering production in late 1941, but the first pieces were not delivered until 1942. Until enough of these could be manufactured, expedient solutions were required.

In the early stages of Operation Barbarossa, the Germans captured a large number (approximately 1,300) of Soviet 76-mm divisional guns model 1936 (F-22). Developed with anti-tank abilities in mind, this Soviet gun had powerful ballistics; it was also originally intended to use a more powerful cartridge than the one eventually adopted. However, the design had some shortcomings in the anti-tank role: the shield was too high, the two man laying was inconvenient and the sighting system was more suitable for the F-22 original divisional field gun role. Using considerable thrift, German engineers were able to quickly modify the F-22, which by that time had been adopted in original form as the FK296(r) by the Wehrmacht. In late 1941, German engineers developed a modernization program. The initial modifications that brought the guns to FK36(r) standard included:

FK 36(r), CFB Borden.

The first of these converted F-22s retained the original Russian ammunition (confirmed by measuring the chamber length of 15.2 inches or 385 mm) and were still designated FK296(r) on the sight's range drum. These early anti-tank conversions are discernible as they have not been fitted with a muzzle brake. These intermediate guns had various designations, but appear mainly to have been referred to as "FK36(r)", despite their dedicated anti-tank role seeming to warrant the designation "Pak" rather than "FK". The conversion work was performed by HANOMAG, with sight blocks made by Kerner & Co in 1942 (ggn42).

Later up-grades were designated as the Pak36(r), and:

Production

FK 36(r), CFB Borden.

The first guns were delivered in February 1942. By the end of 1942, the Germans had converted 358 pieces, with another 169 in 1943 and 33 in 1944. Additionally, 894 barrels were prepared for use in self-propelled guns. It is likely that these numbers include Pak 39(r), a similarly upgraded 76-mm M1939 (up to 300 pieces).

Production of the ammunition for PaK 36(r) and PaK 39(r)[1]
Shell type 1942 1943 1944 Total
HE-Frag 769,400 1,071,300 857,700 2,698,400
AP, all types 359,400 597,300 437,300 1,394,000

Employment

The FK36(r) and PaK 36(r) saw combat on the Eastern Front and in North Africa. The first employment of the FK36(r) was noted as early as March 1942 at Bir Hacheim in Libya; and, by May 1942, 117 are recorded as being in use by the Afrika Korps. The gun was well proven in combat, as demonstrated by Gunner Günter Halm (Knights Cross), who destroyed nine Valentine Tanks in a single action. The Pak 36(r) was used later in the North African campaign. The gun was actively used in both anti-tank and field artillery roles until the end of the war. As late as March 1945, the Wehrmacht still possessed 165 Pak 36(r) and Pak 39(r). The scale of use can be illustrated by the amount of ammunition consumed: 49,000 AP and 8,170 subcaliber AP shells in 1942, and 151,390 in 1943. For the sake of comparison, in 1942 the aforementioned Pak 40 fired 42,430 AP and 13,380 HEAT shells; in 1943 the numbers grew significantly, to 401,100 AP and 374,000 HEAT.

The modernized barrels were also mounted in the following self-propelled guns:

A number of Pak 36(r) guns were captured by the Red Army (e.g. in the Battle of Stalingrad) and were adopted by anti-tank battalions.

Summary

When the FK36(r) and Pak 36(r) reached the battlefield, they were able to destroy any contemporary tank at normal combat ranges. Although the guns were heavier and had somewhat smaller penetration figures than the purpose-built Pak 40, there is no doubt that the modernization of the F-22 provided the Wehrmacht with a very effective anti-tank gun at only a fraction of the cost of producing one from scratch.

Ammunition

Available ammunition[1]
Type Model Weight (kg) HE weight (g) Muzzle velocity (m/s) Range (m)
Armor-piercing shells
APCBC/HE 7.62 cm Pzgr.39 7.6 24, phlegmatized RDX 740 4,000
APCR 7.62 cm Pzgr.40 4.065 - 990 700
HEAT shells
HEAT 7.62 cm Gr.38 Hl/B 4.62 510 450 1,000
HEAT 7.62 cm Gr.38 Hl/С 5.05 510 450 1,000
High explosive and fragmentation shells
HE-Frag 7.62 cm Gr.34 6.25 550, amatol 40/60 550 10,000
 
Armor penetration table[1]
7.62 cm Pzgr.39
Range (m) Contact angle 60°, mm Contact angle 90°, mm
0 108 133
457 98 120
915 88 108
1,372 79 97
1,829 71 87
7.62 cm Pzgr.40
Range (m) Contact angle 60°, mm Contact angle 90°, mm
0 152 190
457 118 158
915 92 130
1,372 71 106
1,829 55 84
These data were obtained using German methodics of armor penetration measurement. Exact figures depend on the production batch of the projectiles and the technology used in the manufacture of the armour.

The HEAT projectiles penetrated about 100–115 mm at a contact angle of 90°.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Shirokorad A. B. - The God of War of the Third Reich.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to PaK 36(r).

Hogg, Ian V. The Guns 1939-451st UK edition, Macdonald & Co. 1970.

 
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