5 cm Pak 38

The 5 cm Pak 38 (L/60) (5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 38 (L/60)) was a German anti-tank gun of 50 mm calibre. It was developed in 1938 by Rheinmetall-Borsig AG as a successor to the 3.7 cm Pak 36, and was in turn followed by the 7.5 cm Pak 40. The unique curved gun-shield design differed from most WWII anti-tank guns which had either one flat or two angled and one flat gun-shield plates for ease of manufacturing.

5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 38 (L/60)
German soldiers with 5cm Pak 38 during the Tunisian Campaign
TypePanzerabwehrkanone
Place of originNazi Germany
Service history
In service1940–1945
Used byNazi Germany
Italy
Finland
Romania
Bulgaria
First Slovak republic
WarsWorld War II
Continuation War
Production history
Designed1937–1939
ManufacturerRheinmetall-Borsig
Unit cost10,600 
Produced1940–1943
No. built9,566
Specifications
Mass
  • 1,000 kg (2,200 lb)
  • 1,062 kg (2,341 lb) w/carriage
Length4.75 m (15.6 ft)
Barrel length300 cm (120 in) bore (60 calibres)
Width1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Height1.05 m (3 ft 5 in)
Crew5

ShellFixed QF 50×420mm R

5 cm Pzgr.
5 cm Pzgr. 39
5 cm Pzgr. 40
5 cm Pzgr. 40/1

5 cm Sprgr. 38
Shell weight2.25 kg (4 lb 15 oz)
Caliber50 mm (2.0 in)
ActionSemi-automatic
BreechHorizontal sliding-wedge
RecoilHydro-pneumatic
CarriageSplit-trail
Elevation-8° to +27°
Traverse65°
Rate of fire13 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity550-1,130 m/s (1,804-3,707 ft/s)
Maximum firing range2,700 m (3,000 yd)
Feed systemManual
SightsZ.F. 3x8°
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