Published on
July 24, 2010 in
German.
This deadly device is a hollow charge finned bomb for use on the 37 mm German Pak. It is believed that this type of ammunition was developed for the purpose of making this obsolescent gun more effective for antitank use.
The stick bomb which is made of pressed steel has a steel rod which fits into the bore and a perforated sleeve which fits around the barrel of the gun. The hollow charge is at the rear of the steel cup (or cone) and consists of two blocks of TNT with cyclonite. A nose fuze of the instantaneous percussion type and an instantaneous tail fuze are used. The nose fuze is used for impact against armor and the tail fuze is for graze action. Both fuzes arm on setback. The propelling cartridge consists of a steel case and is charged with tubular stick powder, an igniting charge of granular powder, and a percussion type primer.
Twenty-nine of these grenades were tested at Aberdeen. One was statically detonated against the face of 7-inch homogeneous armor plate. It penetrated completely, leaving a hole 2 1/8 inches wide at the face and 1 1/8 inches at the rear. The other rounds were fired from a German 37 mm A.T. gun for which they were designed. Range was found to be 203 yards at 5° elevation and 857 yards at 25° elevation. Accuracy was hard to determine because of the inexperienced gun crew.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Caliber of rod | | 37 mm |
| Weight of grenade as fired | | 18 lb., 12 oz. |
| Weight of burster | | 5 lb., 5 oz. |
| Weight of propelling cartridge | | 1 lb., 6 oz. |
| Overall length of round | | 29 1/8 ins. |
| Diameter of projectile body | | 6 1/4 ins. |
| Types of fuze | | 1—P. D. Instantaneous
2—B. D. Instantaneous |
| Average velocity | | 350 f/s |
| Average pressure | | 18,600 p.s.i. |
| Range |
| 5° elevation | | 203 yds. |
| 25° elevation | | 857 yds. |
German: p. 306
Published on
July 24, 2010 in
German.
The German Paratroop Rifle, F.G. 42, 7.92 mm (Fallschirmjäger Gewehr 42) is a gas-operated, magazine-fed, semi-automatic or full-automatic weapon. It was designed originally for paratroop use, but undoubtedly will find a wider use with ground troops. It can be employed as a submachine gun, a rifle, or a light machine gun as occasion indicates. The action design is very similar to that of the well-known Lewis light machine gun. The sear mechanism is designed to fire the gun semi-automatic from a closed bolt and full-automatic from an open bolt.
This weapon is unusual in construction and light in weight. The butt is made of stampings of 16 gauge sheet metal, ridged to prevent slipping and to add structural strength. The receiver is of high quality machining. The magazine opening is on the left side and the ejector opening on the right side. The trigger guard and pistol grip are stampings and the whole assembly is inclined at a 10° angle in order to give a comfortable grip to the firer. The hand guard is wood, with holes slotted in the upper side to facilitate cooling, and with milled ridges to prevent slipping in the grasp. The bipod is also a metal stamping and is hinged to the barrel collar. The bipod legs fold forward to form a protective housing for the bayonet underneath the barrel.
The 19-inch barrel is machined with 4 lands and grooves; there is no quick-change barrel feature to this weapon. A combination flash hider and compensator is affixed to the muzzle. The magazine is a removable box type holding 20 rounds. The gun may be operated either semi-automatic or full-automatic by use of a change lever which also acts as a safety lock.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Caliber |
|
7.92 mm (.312 in.) |
| Weight |
|
10 3/4 lb. loaded |
| Length |
|
35 1/2 ins.; with bayonet, 42 3/4 ins. |
| Length of barrel |
|
19 ins. |
| Action |
|
Gas-operated, semi-automatic, or full-automatic |
| Capacity |
|
20 rds. |
| Ammunition |
|
7.92 mm Mauser, ground types |
| Rate of fire |
|
600 rds./min. cyclic |
German: p. 209
Published on
July 24, 2010 in
German.
German nomenclature: leichter Panzerspähwagen (Fu.) (Sd. Kfz. 223) mit Einheitsfahrgestell I für schwerer Panzerkraftwagen.
English designation: Light armored scout car with standard chassis I for heavy armored car.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Net weight |
|
3,950 kg |
|
8,707 lb. |
| Pay load |
|
450 kg |
|
193 lb. |
| Gross weight |
|
4,400 kg |
|
9,700 lb. |
| Weight: Front axle |
|
1,650 kg |
|
3,637 lb. |
| Weight: Rear axle |
|
2,750 kg |
|
6,062 lb. |
| Length (overall) |
|
4,800 mm |
|
15 ft., 9 ins. |
| Width (overall) |
|
1,950 mm |
|
6 ft., 5 ins. |
| Height (overall) |
|
1,750 mm |
|
5 ft., 9 ins. |
| Ground clearance |
|
230 mm |
|
9 ins. |
| Tread centers |
|
1,610 mm |
|
5 ft., 3 ins. |
| Wheelbase |
|
2,800 mm |
|
110 ins. |
| Wheel width |
|
190 mm |
|
7 1/2 ins. |
| Angle of approach |
|
|
|
50° |
| Angle of departure |
|
|
|
35° |
| Seating capacity |
| Fording depth |
|
600 mm |
|
23 ins. |
| Climbing ability |
|
|
|
20° |
| Overturn gradient (lengthwise) |
|
|
|
40° |
| Overturn gradient (crosswise) |
|
|
|
30° |
| Turning radius |
|
14 meters (front wheel) |
|
46 ft., 4 ins. |
| |
|
8 meters (all wheels) |
|
26 ft., 3 ins. |
| Trailer load |
| Engine horsepower |
|
75 c-v |
|
74 hp |
| Piston displacement |
|
3,500 cu cm |
|
210 cu. ins. |
| Fuel tank capacity |
|
110 liters |
|
29 gal. |
| Highway fuel consumption |
|
|
|
6.7 m.p.g. |
| Average terrain full consumption |
|
|
|
4.3 m.p.g. |
German: p. 74.62
Published on
July 24, 2010 in
German.
German nomenclature: leichter Panzerspähwagen (Sd. Kfz. 222) mit Einheitsfahrgestell I für schwerer Panzerkraftwagen.
English designation: Light armored scout car with standard chassis I for heavy armored car.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Net weight |
|
3,750 kg |
|
8,267 lb. |
| Pay load |
|
1,050 kg |
|
2,315 lb. |
| Gross weight |
|
4,800 kg |
|
10,582 lb. |
| Weight: Front axle |
|
1,850 kg |
|
4,078 lb. |
| Weight: Rear axle |
|
2,950 kg |
|
6,503 lb. |
| Length (overall) |
|
4,800 mm |
|
15 ft., 9 ins. |
| Width (overall) |
|
1,950 mm |
|
6 ft., 5 ins. |
| Height (overall) |
|
2,000 mm |
|
6 ft., 7 ins. |
| Ground clearance |
|
230 mm |
|
9 ins. |
| Tread centers |
|
1,610 mm |
|
5 ft., 3 ins. |
| Wheelbase |
|
2,800 mm |
|
110 ins. |
| Wheel width |
|
190 mm |
|
7 1/2 ins. |
| Angle of approach |
|
|
|
50° |
| Angle of departure |
|
|
|
35° |
| Seating capacity |
| Fording depth |
|
600 mm |
|
23 ins. |
| Climbing ability |
|
|
|
20° |
| Overturn gradient (lengthwise) |
|
|
|
40° |
| Overturn gradient (crosswise) |
|
|
|
30° |
| Turning radius |
|
14 meters (front wheels) |
|
46 ft., 4 ins. |
| |
|
8 meters (all wheels) |
|
26 ft., 3 ins. |
| Engine horsepower |
|
75 c-v |
|
74 hp |
| Piston displacement |
|
3,500 cu cm |
|
210 cu. ins. |
| Fuel tank capacity |
|
110 liters |
|
29 gal. |
| Highway fuel consumption |
|
|
|
6.5 m.p.g. |
| Average terrain fuel consumption |
|
|
|
4 m.p.g. |
German: p. 74.62
Published on
July 24, 2010 in
German.
This gun, entirely of Bofors design, has been in service in Poland, Finland, and Norway, and, to a limited extent, in Sweden. A flash hider is screwed to the muzzle of the tube which is of forged alloy steel. The barrel is good for about 1,500 rounds, and may be changed very easily. The gun is fed by two four-round clips.
The automatic breechblock is of the vertical sliding type. A recuperator spring is assembled near the breech end of the tube. The hydrospring recoil system is housed in a cylinder underneath the recuperator spring, and is held in position by a supporting bracket secured to the breech casing.
Fire control equipment includes one elevation telescope, one azimuth telescope, a Le Prieur-Bofors ballistic corrector, sights, data receivers, and a fuze setter.
The elevating and traversing mechanism of this gun is hand-operated; firing is accomplished by a foot trigger on the lower left-hand side of the carriage.
The four-wheeled mount, which is standard for all calibers of antiaircraft gun up to 10.5 cm, is extremely maneuverable over all kinds of roads and terrain. Construction is simple and, with an experienced crew, the gun can be put in or taken out of action in approximately 30 seconds.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Caliber |
|
4 cm (1.57 ins.) |
| Weight (travelling position) |
|
3,800 lbs. |
| Weight (firing position) |
|
3,800 lbs. |
| Length (travelling position) |
|
23 ft. |
| Length of tube |
|
7.8 ft. (60 cals.) |
| Width (overall) |
|
5 ft., 10 ins. |
| Height (travelling position) |
|
6 ft., 8 ins. |
| Height (firing posltion) |
|
3 ft., 9 ins. (mounted flush) |
| Rate of fire |
|
120 to 180 r.p.m. |
| Muzzle velocity (A.P. shell) |
|
2,780 f.s. |
| Range (maximum) |
| Horizontal |
|
9,846 yds. |
| Vertical |
|
7,330 yds. |
| Elevation |
|
90° |
| Depression |
|
-5° |
| Traverse |
|
360° |
| Ammunition |
|
H.E. shell tracer effect Bofors (u);
Incendiary H.E. shell tracer effect |
| Wt. of projectile |
|
Magazine clip with 4 rds—4.6 lbs. |
German: p. 129
Published on
July 24, 2010 in
German.
The 4.7 cm Skoda semi-automatic, antitank gun is now apparently obsolescent.
The tube, of monobloc construction, is threaded to take a single baffled muzzle brake and flash hider; the rear is screwed on to the breech ring. The gun recoils on vertical slides riveted to the piece. The breechblock is of the vertical sliding wedge type. The piece is cocked automatically when the breechblock is opened, but provision for cocking by hand is also made.
The recoil mechanism, housed in a cylinder above the piece, consists of a spring recuperator and a buffer cylinder containing water and glycerine.
The top carriage which pivots in traverse on the lower carriage consists of a circular steel base housing machined to hold the trunnion seats for the cradle. The traversing mechanism consists of a handwheel, flexible joint, worm and worm wheel. A grip handle acts as a separate clutch for disengaging the free traverse. The elevating mechanism has a handwheel, beveled gears, flexible joints, shaft, worm and worm wheel.
The carriage has split trails of welded steel construction spread to an angle of about 52° for firing support. In traveling position, they are locked to the axle, and the piece which is rotated through an angle of 180° rests over the trail legs. The wooden-spoked wheels are fitted with steel rims and mechanical brakes which are operated by a hand lever.
The shield is rectangular with a double curve on the top and a cut-away portion for the wheels on either side. It is constructed of a thin 5 mm sheet of armor and has a rectangular sighting aperture on the left-hand side.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Caliber |
|
47 mm (1.85 ins.) |
| Weight (complete) |
|
800 lb. (approx). |
| Length (overall), (travelling position) |
|
162 ins. |
| Length of tube |
|
6.25 ft. |
| Breech mechanism |
|
Vertical sliding wedge; semi-auto. |
| Firing mechanism |
|
Inertia |
| Recoil mechanism |
|
Hydro-spring |
| Rifling |
|
20 lands and grooves; R.H. twist |
| Muzzle velocity |
|
(A.P.) Wt. 3.6 lb.—2540 f/s |
| Elevation |
|
30° |
| Depression |
|
-4° |
| Traverse |
|
45° scaled—360° free |
| Ammunition |
|
H.E.; A.P. (Uncapped) |
| Penetration |
| A.P. shot against homogeneous armor |
| Range |
|
Thickness of armor in inches |
| Yards |
|
30° |
|
Normal |
| 300 |
|
2.3 |
|
3.0 |
| 500 |
|
2.2 |
|
2.8 |
| 700 |
|
2.0 |
|
2.6 |
| 1000 |
|
1.8 |
|
2.4 |
|
German: p. 127
Published on
July 24, 2010 in
German.
German nomenclature: leichter Panzerspähwagen (Sd. Kfz. 221) mit Einheitsfahrgestell I für schwerer Panzerkraftwagen.
English designation: Light armored scout car with standard chassis I for heavy armored car.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Net weight |
|
3,750 kg |
|
8,267 lb. |
| Pay load |
| Gross weight |
|
4,000 kg |
|
8,818 lb. |
| Weight: Front axle |
|
1,500 kg |
|
3,307 lb. |
| Weight: Rear axle |
|
2,500 kg |
|
5,512 lb. |
| Length (overall) |
|
4,800 mm |
|
15 ft., 9 ins. |
| Width (overall) |
|
1,950 mm |
|
6 ft., 5 ins. |
| Height (overall) |
|
1,700 mm |
|
5 ft., 7 ins. |
| Ground clearance |
| Tread centers |
|
1,610 mm |
|
5 ft., 3 ins. |
| Wheelbase |
|
2,800 mm |
|
110 ins. |
| Wheel width |
|
190 mm |
|
7 1/2 ins. |
| Angle of approach |
|
|
|
50° |
| Angle of departure |
|
|
|
35° |
| Seating capacity |
| Fording depth |
|
600 mm |
|
23 ins. |
| Climbing ability |
|
|
|
22° |
| Overturn gradient (lengthwise) |
|
|
|
40° |
| Overturn gradient (crosswise) |
|
|
|
30° |
| Turning radius |
|
15/8 meters |
|
49 ft., 2 ins./26 ft., 3 ins. |
| Trailer load |
| Engine horsepower |
| Piston displacement |
| Fuel tank capacity |
|
110 liters |
|
29 gal. |
| Highway fuel consumption |
|
|
|
7.1 m.p.g. |
| Average terrain fuel consumption |
|
|
|
4.3 m.p.g. |
German: p. 74.61
Published on
July 24, 2010 in
German.
German nomenclature: schwerer geländegängig gepanzerte Personenkraftwagen (Sd. Kfz. 247) mit Einheitsfahrgestell II für schwerer Panzerkraftwagen.
English designation: Heavy cross-country armored personnel car with standard chassis II for heavy armored car.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Net weight |
|
3,700 kg |
|
8,157 lb. |
| Pay load |
|
760 kg |
|
1,675 lb. |
| Gross weight |
|
4,460 kg |
|
9,832 lb. |
| Weight: Front axle |
|
2,260 kg |
|
4,982 lb. |
| Weight: Rear axle |
|
2,200 kg |
|
4,850 lb. |
| Length (overall) |
|
5,000 mm |
|
16 ft., 5 ins. |
| Width (overall) |
|
2,000 mm |
|
6 ft., 7 ins. |
| Height (overall) |
|
1,800 mm |
|
5 ft., 11 ins. |
| Ground clearance |
|
230 mm |
|
9 ins. |
| Tread centers |
|
1,640 mm |
|
5 ft., 4 ins. |
| |
|
1,640 mm |
|
5 ft., 4 ins. |
| Wheelbase |
|
3,000 mm |
|
118 ins. |
| Wheel width |
| Angle of approach |
|
|
|
50° |
| Angle of departure |
|
|
|
35° |
| Seating capacity |
|
|
|
6 |
| Fording depth |
|
500 mm |
|
20 ins. |
| Climbing ability |
|
|
|
21° |
| Overturn gradient (lengthwise) |
|
|
|
40° |
| Overturn gradient (crosswise) |
|
|
|
35° |
| Turning radius |
|
13.50/9 meters |
|
44 ft., 3 ins./29 ft., 6 ins. |
| Trailer load |
| Engine horsepower |
|
75 c-v |
|
74 hp |
| Piston displacement |
|
3,500 cu cm |
|
210 cu. ins. |
| Fuel tank capacity |
|
160 liters |
|
42.2 gal. |
| Highway fuel consumption |
|
|
|
6.7 m.p.g. |
| Average terrain fuel consumption |
|
|
|
4.3 m.p.g. |
German: p. 74.61
Published on
July 23, 2010 in
German.
German nomenclature: schwerer geländegängig gepanzerte Personenkraftwagen (Sd. Kfz. 247) mit Fahrgestell des leichter geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen (o).
English designation: Heavy cross-country armored personnel car with special chassis of the light cross-country truck.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Net weight |
|
4,600 kg |
|
10,194 lb. |
| Pay load |
|
600 kg |
|
1,269 lb. |
| Gross weight |
|
5,200 kg |
|
11,463 lb. |
| Weight: Front axle |
|
1,400 kg |
|
3,086 lb. |
| Weight: Rear axle |
|
1,900 kg |
|
4,188 lb. |
| Length (overall) |
|
4,600 mm |
|
15 ft., 1 in. |
| Width (overall) |
|
1,960 mm |
|
6 ft., 5 ins. |
| Height (overall) |
|
1,700 mm |
|
5 ft., 7 ins. |
| Ground clearance |
|
240 mm |
|
9 1/2 ins. |
| Tread centers |
|
1,580 mm |
|
5 ft., 2 ins. |
| |
|
1,565 mm |
|
5 ft., 1 in. |
| |
|
1,565 mm |
|
5 ft., 1 in. |
| Wheelbase |
|
2,445/900 mm |
|
96/35 ins. |
| Wheel width |
|
190 mm |
|
71 ins. |
| Angle of approach |
|
|
|
50° |
| Angle of departure |
|
|
|
40° |
| Seating capacity |
|
|
|
6 |
| Fording depth |
|
600 mm |
|
23 ins. |
| Climbing ability |
|
|
|
20° |
| Overturn gradient (lengthwise) |
|
|
|
50° |
| Overturn gradient (crosswise) |
|
|
|
35° |
| Turning radius |
|
16 meters |
|
52 ft., 6 ins. |
| Trailer load |
|
1,000 kg |
|
2,205 lb. |
| Engine horsepower |
|
65 c-v |
|
64.1 hp |
| Piston displacement |
|
3,500 cu cm |
|
210 cu. ins. |
| Fuel tank capacity |
|
110 liters |
|
29 gal. |
| Highway fuel, consumption |
|
|
|
7.8 m.p.g. |
| Average terrain fuel consumption |
|
|
|
4.7 m.p.g. |
German: p. 74.60
Published on
July 23, 2010 in
German.
German nomenclature: Funkkraftwagen (Kfz. 14) mit Fahrgestell des mittleren Panzerkraftwagen (o).
English designation: Radio car with special chassis of the medium armored car.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Net weight |
|
1,900 kg |
|
4,188 lb. |
| Pay load |
|
350 kg |
|
772 lb. |
| Gross weight |
|
2,250 kg |
|
4,960 lb. |
| Weight: Front axle |
|
900 kg |
|
1,984 lb. |
| Weight: Rear axle |
|
1,350 kg |
|
2,975 lb. |
| Length (overall) |
|
4,200 mm |
|
13 ft., 9 ins. |
| Width (overall) |
|
1,700 mm |
|
5 ft., 7 ins. |
| Height (overall) |
|
1,500 mm |
|
4 ft., 11 ins. |
| Ground clearance |
|
180 mm |
|
7 1/8 ins. |
| Tread centers |
|
1,430 mm |
|
4 ft., 8 ins. |
| Wheelbase |
|
2,840 mm |
|
112 ins. |
| Wheel width |
|
170 mm |
|
6 3/4 ins. |
| Angle of approach |
|
|
|
55° |
| Angle of departure |
|
|
|
35° |
| Seating capacity |
|
500 mm |
|
20 ins. |
| Fording depth |
| Climbing ability |
|
|
|
15° |
| Overturn gradient (lengthwise) |
|
|
|
50° |
| Overturn gradient (crosswise) |
|
|
|
30° |
| Turning radius |
|
15 meters |
|
49 ft., 2 ins. |
| Trailer load |
| Engine horsepower |
|
60 c-v |
|
59.2 hp |
| Piston displacement |
|
3,000 cu cm |
|
180 cu. ins. |
| Fuel tank capacity |
|
70 liters |
|
18.5 gal. |
| Highway fuel consumption |
|
|
|
9.4 m.p.g. |
| Average terrain fuel consumption |
|
|
|
6.7 m.p.g. |
German: p. 74.60
