8.8 cm KwK 43

The 88 mm KwK 43 L/71 (Kampfwagenkanone —"fighting vehicle cannon") was an 88 mm 71 calibre tank gun designed by Krupp and used by the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War. It was the primary armament of the Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. B Tiger II and was also widely used as an anti-tank gun, known as the 8.8 cm PaK 43.

Design and development

At 6.24 m (20.5 ft) the barrel of the KwK 43 was over 1.3 meters longer than that of the 88 mm KwK 36 L/56 used for the Tiger I. The cartridge was also considerably longer (at 82.2 cm) and wider than that of the KwK36, allowing for a much heavier propellant charge. All guns of the PaK/KwK 43 series could use the same ammunition.

The KwK 43 and PaK 43 were initially manufactured with monobloc barrels. However, the weapons' extremely high muzzle velocity and operating pressures caused accelerated barrel wear, resulting in a change to a two-piece barrel. This had no effect on performance but made replacing a worn-out barrel much faster and easier than before.