7.5 cm KwK 40

The 7.5 cm KwK 40 (7.5 cm Kampfwagenkanone 40) was a German 7.5 cm Second World War era vehicle mounted gun, used as the primary weapon of the German Panzer IV (F2 models onwards) medium tank and the Sturmgeschütz III and Sturmgeschütz IV assault guns (F models onwards).

The KwK was adapted from the similar towed anti-tank gun, the 7.5 cm Pak 40. It replaced the short-barrel 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 close-support gun, providing a huge improvement in firepower for mid-war tank designs. It came in two versions, with L/43 and L/48 barrel lengths, the former used during 1942 and early 1943, and the latter after that point. Along with the Pak 40, the KwK 40/StuK 40 was the most numerous anti-tank gun of the German army.

History

When mounted on a casemate-armored assault gun-designated vehicle (Sturmpanzer) instead of a turreted tank, the weapon was called Sturmkanone 40 (StuK 40). Both the KwK 40 and StuK 40 was developed from the towed 7.5 cm Pak 40 anti-tank gun. Ammunition was shortened in length to allow easy storage for KwK 40 and StuK 40.