The 7.5 cm Pak 40 formed the backbone of German anti-tank guns for the latter part of World War II, so it was the standard German anti-tank gun. Following the invasion of the USSR in 1941 and the appearance of heavily armoured Soviet tanks such as the T-34 and KV-1, its development, which had started in 1939, was given an increased priority. The first pre-production guns were delivered in November 1941. By 1943 the 7.5 cm Pak 40 formed the bulk of German anti-tank artillery. 

FOR SALE: Unrestored but in good, very complete condition. Gun is currently live so an appropriate FAC would be required. De-activation work can be carried out if required at an extra charge. Price: £27,750

The 7.5 cm Pak 40 was effective against almost every Allied tank until the end of the war with the exception of the Soviet IS-2 and the American M26 Pershing. It was supplied by Germany to its allies. It was heavy and with low mobility. It meant that it was difficult or even impossible to move without an artillery tractor on boggy ground, so it was mostly towed.  

The 7.5 cm Pak 40 was development by Rheinmetall, and it was similar in appearance to the 5 cm Pak 38. The monobloc tube was fitted with a double-baffle muzzle brake, and the breech mechanism was semiautomatic with a horizontal sliding block. The carriage, with tubular split trail, had solid-rubber-tired wheels and torsion bar suspension and could be towed at about 25 miles an hour. The shield consisted of two 4-mm armor plates spaced about 1 inch apart.

Characteristics:

It could fire 75 mm shells at a distance of up to about 7.6 kilometers maximum. It required a crew of five men and a small gun shield was added for protection for the crew.

• Caliber: 75 mm (2.95 inches).
• Length of tube: 11 feet 4 inches.
• Weight in action: 3,136 pounds.
• Rate of fire: 14 rounds per minute 
• Muzzle velocity (AP40): 3,250 feet per second.
• Muzzle velocity (APCBC): 2,530 feet per second.
• Muzzle velocity (HE): 1,800 feet per second.
• Muzzle velocity (hollow charge): 1,476 feet per second.
• Engagement range:1,800m 
  Indirect range: 7678m (HE shell)
• Traverse: 65°.
• Elevation-5° to +22°.
• Traction: Motor-drawn.

Ammunition: 

The 7.5 cm Pak 40 was capable of firing Armor Piercing, High Explosive, and APCR rounds. Weights of projectiles fired from this gun were: HE, 12.54 pounds; APCBC, 15 pounds; AP shot, 9.125 pounds; hollow charge, 9.97 pounds; and smoke 13.7 pounds. With APCBC ammunition, penetration of homogeneous armor was 102 mm (4.02 inches) at 30 degrees from normal, at 1,000 yards.

 German 7.5 cm PaK 40 gun and crew in Northern France, Oct 1943 [Via]

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