4.2 cm PaK 41
Encyclopedia
The 4.2 cm Pak 41 was a light anti-tank gun issued to German airborne units
in World War II
. This gun was externally similar to the 3.7 cm Pak 36, and used a modified version of the latter's carriage, but used the squeeze bore principle (in German called Gerlich after Hermann Gerlich who developed the principle in the 1920s, reportedly for a hunting rifle) to boost its velocity, and hence armor-piercing ability. The bore had a diameter of 42 mm at the chamber, but tapered down to 28 mm at the muzzle.
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....
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. This gun was externally similar to the 3.7 cm Pak 36, and used a modified version of the latter's carriage, but used the squeeze bore principle (in German called Gerlich after Hermann Gerlich who developed the principle in the 1920s, reportedly for a hunting rifle) to boost its velocity, and hence armor-piercing ability. The bore had a diameter of 42 mm at the chamber, but tapered down to 28 mm at the muzzle.
Specifications
- Projectile weight: AP 0.336 kg (12 ounces)
- Armour penetration: 87 mm (3.425 in) at 500 m (550 yards)