WW II Ballistics Tank Gun Penetration


	WW II Ballistics Tank Gun Penetration - Germany


	The following is my choice of German gun penetration data. Penetration in this case is known as the Naval Ballistic Limit Penetration criteria (NBL) or in the case of British data 'The Thickness against Critical Velocity for Perforation'. Either criteria is based on a 50% probability of a successful penetration. A successful penetration for the US is one where more than 50% of the shell mass (excluding windscreen) passes through the armor. For British it is at least 20% of the shell mass passes through the armor 'as a free missile'. The criteria statistically are almost the same. Tests of German guns that produced firing graphs or curves were generally carried out under the British system. Firing tables were made from these graphs and distributed to various boards. Some of these tables were sent to Aberdeen and are thus called Aberdeen data.

Anti-Tank Guns Penetration figures uses American and British 50% success criteria.
Gun Type	Ammunition	Angle	Muzzle velocity	Penetration (mm)
Gun Type	Ammunition	Angle	Muzzle velocity	0 yd	250 yd	500 yd	1000 yd	1250 yd	1500 yd	2000 yd	2500 yd
37mm PaK 35/36	Pzgr. Pat ²	0°	2499 ft/s ( 762 m/s)	61		48
""	Pzgr. Pat ²	30°	2499 ft/s ( 762 m/s)	46		36
""	Pzgr. 40 ²	0°	3378 ft/s (1030 m/s)	86
""	Pzgr. 40 ²	30°	3378 ft/s (1030 m/s)	75
4.2cm le. PaK 41	Pzgr. 41 ²	0°	4149 ft/s (1265 m/s)	124	105	87	61
4.2cm le. PaK 41	Pzgr. 41 ²	30°	4149 ft/s (1265 m/s)	95	83	72	53
50mm PaK 38	Pzgr. 39 ²	0°	2700 ft/s ( 823 m/s)	99	88	78	61	53	47
""	Pzgr. 39 ²	30°	2700 ft/s ( 823 m/s)	73	67	61	50	45	40
""	Pzgr. 40 ^2,3	0°	3930 ft/s (1198 m/s)	165	141	120	84	70
""	Pzgr. 40 ^2,3	30°	3930 ft/s (1198 m/s)	143	109	86	55	44
75mm PaK 40	Pzgr. 39 ²	0°	2598 ft/s ( 792 m/s)	149		135	121		109	98
""	Pzgr. 39 ²	30°	2598 ft/s ( 792 m/s)	121		106	94		83	75
""	Pzgr. 40 ²	0°	3060 ft/s ( 933 m/s)	176		154	133		115	98	83
""	Pzgr. 40 ²	30°	3060 ft/s ( 933 m/s)	137		115	96		80	66	53
75mm PaK 41	Pzgr. 41 ²	0°	3969 ft/s (1210 m/s)	245	226	209	177	162	149	124
""	Pzgr. 41 ²	30°	3969 ft/s (1210 m/s)	200	185	171	145	133	122	102
76.2mm PaK 36	Pzgr. 39 ²	0°	2427 ft/s ( 740 m/s)	133		120	108		97	87	78
""	Pzgr. 39 ²	30°	2427 ft/s ( 740 m/s)	108		98	88		79	71	64
""	Pzgr. 40 ²	0°	3249 ft/s ( 990 m/s)	190		158	130		106	84	64
""	Pzgr. 40 ²	30°	3249 ft/s ( 990 m/s)	152		118	92		71	55	43

Anti-Tank Guns Penetration figures uses American and British 50% success criteria.
Gun Type	Ammunition	Angle	Muzzle velocity	Penetration (mm)
Gun Type	Ammunition	Angle	Muzzle velocity	0 yd	250 yd	500 yd	1000 yd	1250 yd	1500 yd	2000 yd	2500 yd
88mm/L56 FlaK 36	Pzgr. Patr ^4,5	0°	2657 ft/s ( 810 m/s)			129	119	114	110	100	90
88mm/L56 FlaK 36	Pzgr. Patr ^4,5	30°	2657 ft/s ( 810 m/s)			110	101	98	92	84	80
88mm PaK 43/41	Pzgr. 39/43 ^2,6	0°	3285 ft/s (1001 m/s)	225		207	190		174	159	145
88mm PaK 43/41	Pzgr. 39/43 ^2,6	30°	3285 ft/s (1001 m/s)	198		182	167		153	139	127
88mm PaK 43/41	Pzgr. 40/43 ²	0°	3708 ft/s (1130 m/s)	311		274	224		211	184	159
88mm PaK 43/41	Pzgr. 40/43 ²	30°	3708 ft/s (1130 m/s)	265		226	192		162	136	114

Tank Guns Penetration figures use American and British 50% success criteria.
Gun Type	Ammunition	Angle	Muzzle velocity	Penetration (mm)
Gun Type	Ammunition	Angle	Muzzle velocity	0 yd	250 yd	500 yd	1000 yd	1250 yd	1500 yd	2000 yd	2500 yd
75mm/L24 KwK 37	Gr. Patr. KwK ⁷	0°	1300 ft/s ( 396 m/s)	50	47	45	40	39	37	35	33
75mm/L24 KwK 37	Gr. Patr. KwK ⁷	30°	1300 ft/s ( 396 m/s)	46	44	41	38	36	35	33	31
75mm/L48 KwK 40	Pzgr. 39 ⁸	0°	2460 ft/s ( 750 m/s)	138		124	113		102	91	82
75mm/L48 KwK 40	Pzgr. 39 ⁸	30°	2460 ft/s ( 750 m/s)	110		97	86		76	67	59
75mm/L70 KwK 42	Pzgr. 39 ⁸	0°	3110 ft/s ( 948 m/s)	196	186	178	161		148	132
75mm/L70 KwK 42	Pzgr. 39 ⁸	30°	3110 ft/s ( 948 m/s)	171	161	151	133		118	104
88mm/L56 KwK 36	Pzgr. 39 FES ⁶	0°	2559 ft/s ( 780 m/s)	155	149	143	133		122	110	101
88mm/L56 KwK 36	Pzgr. 39 FES ⁶	30°	2559 ft/s ( 780 m/s)	138	131	127	116		107	97	88


	Citations 1. US Aberdeen or British Ordnance Board tabulated data. 2. GERMAN TANK and ANTITANK by E.J.Hoffschmidt 1979 (Aberdeen tables) 3. British Ordnance Board December 15,1943 German 5cm Arrowhead shot AP 40 curve OB/43/CV 23 4. TM E9-369A German 88-MM Antiaircraft Gun Material 29 June 1943 5. British Ordnance Board December 14,1943 German 88mm A.P.C.B.C. shell (large capacity) curve OB/43/CV 21 6. British Ordnance Board December 15,1944 German 88mm small capacity A.P.C.B.C. shell curve curve OB/44/CV 52 7. British Ordnance Board December 14,1943 German 75mm. large capacity A.P.C.B.C. Shell curve OB/43/CV 20 8. British Ordnance Board December 7,1945 German 75mm. small capacity A.P.C.B.C. Shell curve OB/45/CV 50 German data on gun penetration can be found at the Panzer World site.

Armor Basis is Averaged and Normalized to RHA BHN 270 Penetration figures use 50% success criteria.
Gun Type	Ammunition	Angle	Muzzle velocity	Penetration (mm)
Gun Type	Ammunition	Angle	Muzzle velocity	100 m	300 m	500 m	1000 m	1500 m	2000 m	2500 m	3000 m
20mm/L55 KwK	Pzgr. Patr.	0°	780 m/s (2559 ft/s)	31	25	20	11	5
20mm/L55 KwK	APCR	0°	1006 m/s (3301 ft/s)	58	41	24	9
28/20 sPzB 41	APCNR	0°	1402 m/s (4600 ft/s)	82	69	57	30	18
37mm/L40 KwK 34	APCHE Pzgr. (t) umg	0°	690 m/s (2264 ft/s)	45	41	37	28	23
37mm/L40 KwK 34	APCHE Pzgr. (t)	0°	675 m/s (2215 ft/s)	47	42	38	30	25
37mm/L45 PaK 36	APHE Pzgr. Patr.	0°	745 m/s (2444 ft/s)	49	44	40	29	21
37mm/L45 PaK 36	APCR Pzgr. 40	0°	1030 m/s (3379 ft/s)	75	61	43	15	9
37mm/L45 PaK 36	HEAT Stiel-Granate 42	0°	110 m/s ( 361 ft/s)	208	208
37mm/L46.5 KwK 35/38	APHE Pzgr. Patr.	0°	745 m/s (2444 ft/s)	49	44	40	29	21
37mm/L47.8 KwK 38	APCHE Pzgr. (t) umg	0°	750 m/s (2461 ft/s)	54	49	43	29	21
37mm/L47.8 KwK 38	APCHE Pzgr. (t)	0°	741 m/s (2431 ft/s)	51	46	42	35	30
47mm/L43.4 KwK 38	APCHE Pzgr. 36 (t)	0°	775 m/s (2543 ft/s)	64	61	57	49	40
50mm/L42 KwK 38,40	APHE Pzgr. Patr.	0°	685 m/s (2247 ft/s)	67	61	54	41	30	19
50mm/L42 KwK 38,40	APCHE Pzgr. 39	0°	685 m/s (2247 ft/s)	70	64	58	43	32	21
50mm/L42 KwK 38,40	APCR Pzgr. 40	0°	1050 m/s (3445 ft/s)	106	89	74	45	24	14
50mm PaK 38	APHE Pzgr. Patr.	0°	835 m/s (2740 ft/s)	80	75	69	56	44	32
50mm PaK 38	APCHE Pzgr. 39	0°	835 m/s (2740 ft/s)	85	78	71	57	44	32
50mm PaK 38	APCR Pzgr. 40	0°	1180 m/s (3871 ft/s)	138	111	85	47
50mm PaK 38	APCR Pzgr. 40/1	0°	1130 m/s (3707 ft/s)	132	109	90	52
75mm/L24 KwK 37	Gr. Patr. KwK	0°	385 m/s (1263 ft/s)	53	52	50	44	40	35
75mm/L24 KwK 37	HEAT Gr. 38 Hl	0°	452 m/s (1483 ft/s)	52	52	52	52	52
75mm/L24 KwK 37	HEAT Gr. 38 Hl/A	0°	450 m/s (1476 ft/s)	81	81	81	81	81
75mm/L43 KwK 40	Pzgr. 39	0°	740 m/s (2428 ft/s)	121	116	111	97	85	73	62	50
75mm/L48 KwK 40	Pzgr. 39	0°	750 m/s (2461 ft/s)	124	119	113	99	87	75	64	54
75mm/L48 KwK 40	Pzgr. 39	0°	770 m/s (2526 ft/s)	126	121	115	101	89	79	65
75mm/L48 KwK 40	Pzgr. 40	0°	930 m/s (3051 ft/s)	156	145	134	109	88	66	45
75mm/L46 PaK 40	Pzgr. 39	0°	790 m/s (2592 ft/s)	131	125	118	104	91	79	67	55
75mm/L48 KwK 40	HEAT Gr. 38 Hl/B	0°	450 m/s (1476 ft/s)	85	85	85	85
75mm/L48 KwK 40	HEAT Gr. 38 Hl/C	0°	450 m/s (1476 ft/s)	115	115	115	115
75mm/L70 KwK 42	Pzgr. 39	0°	925 m/s (3035 ft/s)	173	164	156	137	121	108	88	74
76.2mm/L51.5 PaK 36	Pzgr. 39 rot	0°	710 m/s (2329 ft/s)	120	115	110	99	88	78	69	59
76.2mm/L51.5 PaK 36	Pzgr. 40	0°	990 m/s (3248 ft/s)	154	141	129	102	80	62	43	25
88mm/L56 Flak 36	Pzgr. Patr.	0°	810 m/s (2657 ft/s)	127	123	119	111	101	91	81	72
88mm/L56 KwK 36	Pzgr. 39 FES	0°	780 m/s (2559 ft/s)	148	142	135	121	109	98	87	75
88mm/L71 KwK 43	Pzgr. 39/1	0°	1000 m/s (3281 ft/s)	222	214	206	185	167	150	132	115
128mm/L55 PaK 80	Pzgr. 43	0°	920 m/s (3018 ft/s)	272	265	259	242	226	210	193	178
15 cm s I G 33	HEAT Gr. 39 Hl/A	0°	280 m/s ( 919 ft/s)	185	185	185	185


	Entire data collection each individually normalized to RHA hardness of BHN 270 and US NBL criteria. Czech pre-war 37mm and 47mm AP caps were elongated and rather large. In some ways this acted like a ballistic cap and had better ballistics than German 37mm and 50mm shells.