page_title: 7.5 cm KwK 40
section_title: Ammunition
hierarchical_section_title: 7.5 cm KwK 40 / Ammunition
context_page_description: The 7.5 cm KwK 40 was a German 75 mm Second World War era vehicle-mounted gun, used as the primary armament of the German Panzer IV medium tank and the Sturmgeschütz III and Sturmgeschütz IV tank destroyers/assault guns.
  The design of the KwK 40 was adapted from the similar towed anti-tank gun, the 7.5 cm Pak 40. It replaced the short-barrel 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 close-support gun, providing a huge improvement in firepower for mid-war tank designs. It came in two versions, with L/43 and L/48 barrel lengths, the former used during 1942 and early 1943, and the latter after that point. Along with the Pak 40, the KwK 40/StuK 40 was the most numerous anti-tank gun of the German army, and remained an effective weapon until the war's end.
context_section_description: KwK 40 used shell 75×495 mm R  
  Pzgr. Patr. 39 KwK 40 (Armour Piercing Capped Ballistic Cap (APCBC) High Explosive round)
  Muzzle velocity: 750 m/s (2,500 ft/s)
  Projectile: Panzergranate 39 (Pzgr. 39)
  Projectile weight: 6.8 kg (15 lb)
  Explosive filler: 18 g (0.63 oz) of RDX/wax
  Fuze: BdZ 5103 or BdZ 5103* base fuze
  Round weight: 11.52 kg (25.4 lb)
  Cartridge case height: 495 mm (19.5 in)
  Propelling charge: 2.41 kg (5.3 lb) of Digl. R.P. G1
  Primer: electric, model C/22 or C/22 St.
  Pzgr. Patr. 40 KwK 40 (Armour Piercing Composite Rigid)
  Muzzle velocity: 930 m/s (3,100 ft/s)
  Projectile: Panzergranate 40
  Projectile weight: 4.1 kg (9.0 lb)
  Explosive filler: none
  Fuze: none
  Round weight: 8.61 kg (19.0 lb)
  Cartridge case height: 495 mm
  Propelling charge: 2.2 kg (4.9 lb) of Gu. R.P. 7,7
  Primer: electric, model C/22 or C/22 St.
  Gr. Patr. 38 HL/B KwK 40 (High Explosive Anti-Tank)
  Muzzle velocity: 450 m/s (1,500 ft/s)
  Projectile: Gr. 38 HL/B
  Projectile weight: 5 kg (11 lb)
  Explosive filler:  0.51 kg (1.1 lb) of RDX/wax
  Fuze: A.Z. 38 St
  Round weight: 7.36 kg (16.2 lb)
  Cartridge case height: 495 mm
  Propelling charge: 0.43 kg (0.95 lb) of Gu. Bl. P.-AO
  Primer: electric, model C/22 or C/22 St.
  Gr. Patr. 38 HL/C KwK 40 (High Explosive Anti-Tank)
  7.5 cm Sprgr.Patr.34 KwK 40 (High Explosive) L/48
  Muzzle velocity: 550 m/s (1,800 ft/s)
  Projectile: Sprgr. 34
  Projectile weight: 5.75 kg (12.7 lb)
  Explosive filler: 0.66 kg (1.5 lb) of amatol (2760 Kilojoules)
  Fuze: kl. A.Z. 23 (0,15) umg. nose fuze
  Round weight: 8.71 kg (19.2 lb)
  Cartridge case height: 495 mm
  Propelling charge: 0.755 kg (1.66 lb) of Gu. Bl. P.-AO
  Primer: electric, model C/22 or C/22 St.
caption: Gun maintenance on a Sturmgeschütz III.
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