Kampfwagenkanone

Kampfwagenkanone (short: KwK, literally "fighting vehicle cannon") was the designation to any type of tank gun mounted in an armoured fighting vehicle or infantry fighting vehicle of the German-Wehrmacht until 1945. The wording was derived from the German nouns Kampfwagen (fighting vehicle) and Kanone (cannon or gun). However, the present-day designation in German speaking armed forces to this particular weapon system is Panzerkanone (en: tank gun).[1]

Historical 5 cm KwK 39 in front to the Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz. 234

Kampfwagenkanonen, developed in Germany, were normally derived from the construction concept of anti tank guns (German: Panzerabwehrkanonen, short Pak). Modifications were used in the anti-aircraft artillery (de: Flakartillerie) as well.

Examples

The following table contains examples of Kampfwagenkanonen, operated by the Wehrmacht in World War II.

Designation
(codename)		 Caliber
(length)		Barrel length
(in cm)		Operational platforms
Sonderkraftfahrzeug
(Sd.Kfz.)		as Pakas FlakOthers
2 cm KwK 30L/55110.0 2 cm Flak 302 cm Flak C/30
Kriegsmarine
2 cm KwK 38PzKpfw II Ausf. J-L
  • 2 cm Flakvierling 38
  • 2 cm Gebirgsflak 38
3.7 cm KwK 36L/45166.5PzKpfw III Ausf. A-F3.7 cm Pak 36
5 cm KwK 38L/42210.0PzKpfw III Ausf. F-H
5 cm KwK 39L/60300.0PzKpfw III Ausf. J-M[2]5 cm Pak 38BK 5 cannon
7.5 cm KwK 37L/24180.0
7.5 cm KwK 40L/43322.5PzKpfw IV Ausf. F2/G7.5 cm StuK 40 L/43
L/48360.0 7.5 cm Pak 39 L/487.5 cm StuK 40 L/48
7.5 cm KwK 42L/70525.0 7.5 cm Pak 42 (on Jagdpanzer)7.5 cm Pjk 42
8.8 cm KwK 36L/56492.8Tiger I8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37
8.8 cm KwK 43L/71624.8 8.8 cm Pak 43
12.8 cm KwK 44L/55704.0 12.8 cm Pak 4412.8 Pjk 44

See also

References
  1. Panzerkanone – tank gun. Teil II/ Teil III Deutsch – Englisch. In: Bundessprachenamt (Hrsg.): Militärisches Studienglossar Englisch. Januar 2001, S. 284.
  2. The first 1540 tank of the Ausführung J were equipped with the shorter 5 cm KwK 38.
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