Skoda 37 mm A7
Encyclopedia
The Škoda A7 was a 37 mm tank gun designed by the Skoda Works
in Czechoslovakia
prior to World War II
.
The gun was the primary armament of the Czech TNH-PS light tank design, known in service with Germany
as the Panzer 38(t)
.
The primary user of the A7 was the German Army
during World War II
where the weapon went by the name 3.7 cm Kampfwagenkanone 38(t).
In German service, in addition to conventional high explosive ammunition, the weapon fired two anti-tank rounds. The primary round was the Panzergranate 39 armor-piercing composite ballistic cap (APCBC) which could penetrate 41 mm of armor plate at 100 m and 35 mm at 500 m. Penetration dropped to 29 mm at 1000 m and 24 mm at 1500 m. The APCBC round was ineffective at 2000 m. The rarer tungsten
Panzergranate 40 armor-piercing composite rigid (APCR) round could penetrate 64 mm at 100 m, but only 34 mm at 500 m. The APCR round was not effective at 1000 m or beyond.
Škoda Works
Škoda Works was the largest industrial enterprise in Austro-Hungary and later in Czechoslovakia, one of its successor states. It was also one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Europe in the 20th century...
in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
prior to 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...
.
The gun was the primary armament of the Czech TNH-PS light tank design, known in service with Germany
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...
as the Panzer 38(t)
Panzer 38(t)
The Panzerkampfwagen 38 was originally a Czech tank of pre-World War II design. After Czechoslovakia was taken over by Germany, it was adopted by the German Army, seeing service in the invasions of Poland and Russia. Production ended in 1942, when its armament was deemed inadequate. In all, over...
.
The primary user of the A7 was the German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
during 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...
where the weapon went by the name 3.7 cm Kampfwagenkanone 38(t).
In German service, in addition to conventional high explosive ammunition, the weapon fired two anti-tank rounds. The primary round was the Panzergranate 39 armor-piercing composite ballistic cap (APCBC) which could penetrate 41 mm of armor plate at 100 m and 35 mm at 500 m. Penetration dropped to 29 mm at 1000 m and 24 mm at 1500 m. The APCBC round was ineffective at 2000 m. The rarer tungsten
Tungsten
Tungsten , also known as wolfram , is a chemical element with the chemical symbol W and atomic number 74.A hard, rare metal under standard conditions when uncombined, tungsten is found naturally on Earth only in chemical compounds. It was identified as a new element in 1781, and first isolated as...
Panzergranate 40 armor-piercing composite rigid (APCR) round could penetrate 64 mm at 100 m, but only 34 mm at 500 m. The APCR round was not effective at 1000 m or beyond.