3.7 cm KwK 36

3.7 cm KwK 36
Type	Tank gun
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Service history
Used by	Nazi Germany
Wars	World War II
Production history
Produced	1930s
Specifications
Shell	37 × 249 mm. R
Caliber	37 mm (1.45 in)
Carriage	Turret
Traverse	360°
Muzzle velocity	762 m/s (2,500 ft/s)
Effective firing range	300 m (328 yds)
Maximum firing range	5,484 m (5,997 yds)

The 3.7 cm KwK 36 L/45 (3.7 cm Kampfwagenkanone 36 L/45) was a German 3.7 cm cannon used primarily as the chief weapon of variants of the German SdKfz.141 Panzerkampfwagen III medium tank. It was used in vehicles that saw action in the Second World War.

It was essentially the 3.7 cm PaK 36 used as a tank gun.

Ammunition

The 3.7 cm KwK 36 used the 37 x 249 mm. R cartridge. Average penetration performance established against rolled homogenous steel armor plate laid back at 30° from the vertical.^[1]

PzGr.18 (Armour-piercing)

• Weight of projectile: 0.658 kg (1 lb 7.2 oz)
• Muzzle velocity: 745 m/s (2,440 ft/s)

100 m	500 m	1000 m	1500 m	2000 m
34 mm	29 mm	22 mm	20 mm

PzGr.40 (Armour-piercing, composite, rigid)

• Weight of projectile: 0.368 kg (13.0 oz)
• Muzzle velocity: 1,020 m/s (3,300 ft/s)

100 m	500 m	1000 m	1500 m	2000 m
64 mm	31 mm

PzGr.39 - Armour-piercing

Sprgr.Patr.34 - High-explosive

Vehicles mounted on

• Leichttraktor
• Neubaufahrzeug
• Sd.Kfz. 141 Panzerkampfwagen III versions A until E (de: Ausfertigung A bis E)
• Sd.Kfz. 141 Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. F (the last 100 Ausf. F mounted the 5 cm KwK 38 L/42 gun)
• Sd.Kfz. 141 Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. G (the first 50 Ausf. G)

Notes

1. Ankerstjerne, Christian. "Armor Penetration Table". Panzerworld. Retrieved 23 October 2016.