- For the Steel Division II unit see SD2:PaK 40 75mm
PaK 40 75mm is a towed German Anti-tank unit. It is the successor of the towed PaK 38 50mm.
Overview[ | ]
It is part of the 75mm-family of guns, all being able to use the same ammunition:
- L/24 mounted on Panzer IV A to F
- Panzer IV C
- StuG III F/8, Panzer III N (SD 2 only),
- SPW 234/3 a recon unit
- Sd.Kfz. 251/9 a support unit
- L/46 this weapon, mounted on a split-trail (german: Spreizlafette) with solid rubber tires
- L/43 and L/48 mounted on the
- all Panzer IV ≧ F2, e.g. Panzer IV G, Panzer IV H, Panzer IV J
- StuG III F/8 Ausf. F (not available in-game) and StuG III G
- StuG IV (in-game this weapon has a range of 1200m, through in reality it is an identical gun)
- Jagdpanzer IV
- Jagdpanzer 38(t) (SD2 only)
- the Marder-family: Marder I, Marder II and Marder III (some Marders mounted the soviet 76.2mm)
- S307(f) PaK mounted on a converted Somua MCG
- L/70 mounted on all Panther-models, and the Panzer IV/70
Strategy[ | ]
The PaK 40 75mm is a powerful gun capable of engaging most Allied tanks, whereas the lighter Pak 38 would struggle against Allied medium tanks such as the Sherman. It has average accuracy for an anti-tank gun, but is also capable of shooting HE shells and has a good rate of fire. Penetration is not always 100% guaranteed and some shells might bounce off, but repeated shots are sure to destroy Allied medium armour. This does mean that the Pak 40 is prone to receiving return fire, especially if it is confronting multiple tanks.
The PaK 40 75mm is also a good support unit against soft targets, as it is able to fire HE shells at infantry, support teams and anti-tank guns at 1200m range.
All anti-tank guns are vulnerable to enemy airpower and artillery, and the PaK 40 75mm is no exception.
Historical Background[ | ]
7.5 cm Pak 40 The main anti-tank gun employed by the Wehrmacht in 1940 was the PaK 36 37mm, which had been ineffective against the heavier Allied tanks during the Battle of France. It was succeeded by the Pak 38, a useful weapon which would see use throughout the war. Despite this, the need for a more powerful anti-tank gun became apparent even as the Pak 38 was in development, and became a top priority after German forces were confronted with the new T-34s and KV-1s. This was to be the Pak 40. Production of the new anti-tank gun would start in 1942 and by 1943, it formed the backbone of German anti-tank guns.
Around 23 500 towed Pak 40s were produced in total, and 3500 more were manufactured to be mounted on vehicles. A modified variant was also used as a aircraft cannon on the Henschel Hs 129-B3.
The Anti-tank companies of the Grenadier Regiments of 352. Infanterie were equipped with a platoon of three Pak 40 Anti-tank guns. Panzerjäger Abteilung of the 716. Infanterie had 9 PaK 40s along with two PaK 43 88mm.
In the 3. Fallschirmjäger's Fallschirm-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3 had a mixture of 3 PaK 40 75mm, 4 PaK 36 37mm along with a PaK 38 in each company.
16. Luftwaffe's Luftwaffe-Jägerregiment 31 had in it Anti-Tank Company six Pak 40. Luftwaffe-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 16 in it 1. Kompanie six Pak 40.
Some Panzergrenadier Battalions conspired to keep their anti tank guns which were supposed to be transferred to the Panzerjäger Abteilung with 1944 reorganization. Panzer Division's Panzerjäger Abteilung was planned to have a company of 12 anti-tank guns and two companies of ten or fourteen tank destroyers.
Note to Wikieditors[ | ]
- The PaK 40 75mm is present in every Nazi division. The sheer amount of transclusion makes this the only page on the wiki to break the software's template limit. For this reason, the navboxes have been removed.