PanzerArt GB35-008 Pz. Kpfw V “Panther” Ausf. A/G Mantlet with KwK42 Gun

The KwK42 (full designation: 7.5 cm KwK 42 L / 70) is a German 75mm tank gun from the Second World War. The weight of the gun was up to 1000 kilograms, and the length of the gun barrel was 70 calibers, i.e. 525 centimeters. The average rate of fire was up to 10 shots per minute with a well-trained crew, and the maximum range was about 9,800 meters. Maximum recoil was 43 centimeters. The gun was developed and manufactured at the Rheinmetall-Borsig AG plants. The presented tank gun was developed almost from scratch, and in its design, particular emphasis was placed on countering armored targets. Finally, an extremely successful structure was created with very good accuracy and very high ability to penetrate the armor of enemy vehicles. Many studies suggest that it was the best or one of the best tank guns of WWII. It is worth adding that the cannon was electrically fired and its slide was in fact semi-automatic. The KwK42 cannon fired various types of projectiles, e.g .: Panzergranate (PzGr.) 39/42, PzGr. 40/42 Hk, but also Sprenggranate 42 (Sprgr. 42). It was the main armament of the Pz.Kpfw. V Panther, but was also used in the A and V versions of the Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer.