2 cm KwK 30
Encyclopedia
The 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 (2 cm Kampfwagenkanone 30 L/55) was a German
2 cm cannon
used primarily as the chief weapon of the German SdKfz.121 Panzerkampfwagen II
light tank
. It was used in vehicles that saw action in the Spanish Civil War
, and the Second World War.
The KwK 30 also served as the basis for the 20 mm C/30, an aircraft version that was mounted experimentally in some Heinkel He 112
fighters and proved to make an excellent ground-attack weapon during the Spanish Civil War. Direct ground-attack was not considered a priority for the Luftwaffe
, however, and the cannon was not used on other designs.
An improved version the, 2 cm KwK 38 L/55 (2 cm Kampfwagenkanone 38 L/55) was used on the SdKfz.121 Panzerkampfwagen II
(Ausf. J models onwards).
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
2 cm cannon
20 mm caliber
The 20 mm caliber is a specific size of cannon or autocannon ammunition, commonly the smallest caliber which is unambiguously a cannon and not a heavy machine gun....
used primarily as the chief weapon of the German SdKfz.121 Panzerkampfwagen II
Panzer II
The Panzer II was the common name for a family of German tanks used in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen II...
light tank
Light tank
A light tank is a tank variant initially designed for rapid movement, and now primarily employed in low-intensity conflict. Early light tanks were generally armed and armored similar to an armored car, but used tracks in order to provide better cross-country mobility.The light tank was a major...
. It was used in vehicles that saw action in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, and the Second World War.
The KwK 30 also served as the basis for the 20 mm C/30, an aircraft version that was mounted experimentally in some Heinkel He 112
Heinkel He 112
The Heinkel He 112 was a fighter aircraft designed by Walter and Siegfried Günter. It was one of four aircraft designed to compete for the Luftwaffes 1933 fighter contract, which was eventually won by the Messerschmitt Bf 109...
fighters and proved to make an excellent ground-attack weapon during the Spanish Civil War. Direct ground-attack was not considered a priority for the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
, however, and the cannon was not used on other designs.
An improved version the, 2 cm KwK 38 L/55 (2 cm Kampfwagenkanone 38 L/55) was used on the SdKfz.121 Panzerkampfwagen II
Panzer II
The Panzer II was the common name for a family of German tanks used in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen II...
(Ausf. J models onwards).
Ammunition
The 2 cm KwK 30 used the 20 x 138B cartridge.- PzGr. (Armour Piercing)
- PzGr.40 (Armour Piercing Composite Rigid) (Can go through 40mm of armor at 100 meters and 20mm of armor at 500 meters)
- s.Pz.B.41 (Armour Piercing Composite Rigid)
- 2 cm Sprgr. 39 (High Explosive)
Vehicles mounted on
- Bergepanther SdKfz.179
- SdKfz.121 Panzerkampfwagen IIPanzer IIThe Panzer II was the common name for a family of German tanks used in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen II...
- SdKfz.222 Leichter Panzerspähwagen
- SdKfz.223 Leichter Panzerspähwagen
- SdKfz.231 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen
- SdKfz.232 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen