7.5 cm Pak 40 Anti-tank gun (World War II)

Simple History
6 Oct 201805:36
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video script introduces 'War Thunder,' a free-to-play online game that immerses players in World War II combat as tank commanders. Players can start their career with a free premium vehicle and three days of premium time upon using the provided link. The script highlights the 7.5 cm Pak 40, a pivotal German anti-tank gun from the war, detailing its development, capabilities, and use in various battles. The Pak 40, with its 75 mm caliber and L/46 barrel, was a significant upgrade from its predecessors, offering improved armor penetration and range. Despite its heavy weight, it was a popular choice for tank destroyers due to its effectiveness against Allied tanks. The video also mentions the game's vast selection of over 1000 historically accurate vehicles for players to engage in large-scale battles.

Takeaways
  • 🎮 The game War Thunder is a realistic free-to-play online game that allows players to start their own career as an ace tanker during World War II.
  • 🔗 Players can get a free premium vehicle and three days of premium time by using the link provided in the description.
  • 🇩🇪 The 7.5 cm Pak 40 was one of the most successful German anti-tank gun designs of World War II.
  • 🔫 The Pak 40 entered service on the Eastern Front in November 1941 and was used in large numbers on all fronts from 1942 onwards.
  • 🛡️ The development of dedicated anti-tank guns began after WWI to counter the development of tank armor.
  • 📈 The Pak 40 was a significant improvement over previous models, featuring a larger caliber, longer barrel, and thicker armor.
  • ⚙️ The gun was made entirely of steel, providing better ballistic performance with an estimated barrel life of around 6,000 shots.
  • 📐 The Pak 40 had a caliber of 75 millimeters and a barrel length of 3.45 meters, giving it a range of up to 26,500 feet.
  • 🚜 Due to its heavy weight of 1425 kilograms, the Pak 40 was towed by vehicles, such as the 3-ton half-track SdKfz 11.
  • 💣 The Pak 40 fired various types of rounds, including armor-piercing and high-explosive rounds, with some utilizing a tungsten core.
  • 🏭 Over 23,000 Pak 40 guns were built during the war, with production peaking at 1050 guns in October 1944.
  • 🌐 War Thunder features over 1000 realistic tanks, aircraft, and ships for players to engage in large-scale battles with players worldwide.
Q & A

  • What was the German designation for anti-tank guns?

    -The German designation for anti-tank guns was 'Panzerabwehrkanone', often abbreviated as 'pak'.

  • When did the first pre-production models of the Pak 40 enter service?

    -The first pre-production models of the Pak 40 entered service on the Eastern Front in November 1941.

  • What was the caliber of the Pak 40 anti-tank gun?

    -The caliber of the Pak 40 anti-tank gun was 75 millimeters.

  • What was the length of the barrel for the Pak 40 in relation to its caliber?

    -The length of the barrel for the Pak 40 was L/46, which is 3.45 meters or 11 feet, three inches.

  • What was the estimated life of the Pak 40's barrel?

    -The estimated life of the Pak 40's barrel was around six thousand shots.

  • What was the effective firing range for most rounds of the Pak 40?

    -The effective firing range for most rounds of the Pak 40 was 1800 meters or approximately 1969 yards.

  • How heavy was the Pak 40 in its firing position?

    -The Pak 40 was very heavy, weighing 1425 kilograms or 3142 pounds in its firing position.

  • What type of vehicle was intended to tow the Pak 40?

    -The vehicle intended to tow the Pak 40 was the 3-ton half-track, SdKfz 11.

  • What were the different types of rounds the Pak 40 could fire?

    -The Pak 40 could fire several different types of rounds, including armor-piercing and high-explosive rounds. The standard armor-piercing round was the Pzgr. 39 with a steel body, and an improved round with a tungsten core.

  • When did the Pak 40 first see action?

    -The Pak 40 first saw action in the second battle of Kharkov, which took place from May 12 to the 28th, 1942.

  • What was the peak monthly production of Pak 40 guns?

    -The peak monthly production of Pak 40 guns was 1050 units, which was reached in October 1944.

  • How many Pak 40 guns were built during the war?

    -More than 23,000 Pak 40 guns were built during the war.

  • In which game can you virtually operate the Pak 40?

    -You can operate the Pak 40 in the free-to-play military online game called War Thunder, which is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Outlines
00:00
🎮 World War II Anti-Tank Guns: The Pak 40

This paragraph introduces the Pak 40, a German anti-tank gun used extensively during World War II. It discusses the gun's development, starting with the need for a more powerful weapon after the First World War to counter tank armor. The Pak 40 was a significant upgrade from its predecessors, featuring a larger caliber, longer barrel, and thicker armor. It was a heavy piece, weighing over 1.4 tons, and was typically towed by a 3-ton half-track vehicle. The gun had a traverse of 65 degrees and an elevation range from -6 to 22 degrees, allowing it to reach targets up to 26,500 feet. The effective firing range was around 1,800 meters. The Pak 40 used various types of ammunition, including armor-piercing and high-explosive rounds. It was first used in the second battle of Kharkov in 1942 and quickly became a standard due to the obsolescence of the Pak 38. Over 23,000 Pak 40s were built, and they were often abandoned due to their weight. The gun was also mounted on various chassis for better mobility and was a popular choice in panzerjäger units for its effectiveness against Allied tanks.

05:00
🚀 War Thunder: The Ultimate Military Online Game

The second paragraph is a promotional segment for the free-to-play military online game, War Thunder. Available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, the game offers a vast selection of over 1,000 realistic tanks, aircraft, and ships for players to engage in large-scale battles with tens of thousands of players worldwide. The user is encouraged to register using the link provided in the description to receive a free premium tank or aircraft and a bonus of three days of premium account time. The promotion emphasizes the game's immersive experience and the opportunity for players to start their own career as an ace tanker in the context of World War II.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡War Thunder
War Thunder is a free-to-play online military game that allows players to engage in epic battles using realistic tanks, aircraft, and ships. It is available on multiple platforms including PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. In the context of the video, it serves as a backdrop for showcasing historical military equipment and tactics, specifically the Pak 40 anti-tank gun.
💡Pak 40
The Pak 40, short for 'Panzerabwehrkanone 40', was a 75 mm German anti-tank gun used during World War II. It was a significant weapon due to its heavy caliber and solid construction, which provided better ballistic performance. The video discusses its development, use, and specifications in detail, highlighting its importance in the German military arsenal.
💡Anti-Tank Gun
An anti-tank gun is a weapon specifically designed to penetrate and disable tanks. The concept is central to the video, as it explains the evolution of such weapons from the aftermath of World War I to the development of the Pak 40 during World War II. The Pak 40 is an example of a dedicated anti-tank gun designed to counter increasingly armored enemy tanks.
💡Eastern Front
The Eastern Front refers to the theater of war between the Axis and Allies during World War II that took place in Eastern Europe. The video mentions that the first pre-production models of the Pak 40 entered service on the Eastern Front in November 1941, indicating the strategic importance of this weapon in the conflict.
💡Armor-Piercing Rounds
Armor-piercing rounds are types of ammunition designed to penetrate armored targets. The video describes the different types of rounds used by the Pak 40, including the Pzgr. 39 with a steel body and the improved Pzgr. 40 with a tungsten core, illustrating the technological advancements in ammunition to counter enemy armor.
💡Towed Vehicle
A towed vehicle is a piece of equipment that is drawn by another vehicle. In the context of the video, the Pak 40 was towed by vehicles like the 3-ton half-track SdKfz 11 to its firing position. This highlights the logistical aspect of deploying such heavy artillery during warfare.
💡High-Explosive (HE) Rounds
High-explosive rounds are a type of ammunition that detonates upon impact or penetration, causing significant damage. The video mentions the Pak 40's use of the Pzgr. 38 HLB, a high-explosive hollow charge round, showcasing the versatility of the weapon to engage different types of targets.
💡Barbarossa Campaign
The Barbarossa Campaign refers to the German invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II. The video notes that the campaign demonstrated the obsolescence of the Pak 38, leading to the increased production of the more powerful Pak 40 to meet the evolving needs of the war.
💡Record Production
The term refers to the peak output of manufacturing. In the video, it is mentioned that the production of Pak 40 reached a record of 1050 guns in October 1944, underscoring the urgency and demand for this anti-tank weapon on the battlefield.
💡Tank Destroyer
A tank destroyer is a vehicle or unit designed to hunt and destroy enemy tanks. The video invites viewers to fire the Pak 40 in one of the many tank destroyers within the War Thunder game, emphasizing the interactive experience of using historical military equipment in a modern gaming context.
💡Camouflage
Camouflage refers to the use of coloring or patterns to make military equipment blend in with its surroundings. The video describes how the Pak 40 was initially produced in standard Panzergrau color, but later models featured the 'Dunkelgelb' color with green and brown applied by troops in the field for better concealment.
Highlights

The Pak 40 was one of the most successful German anti-tank gun designs of World War II.

Pre-production models of the Pak 40 entered service on the Eastern Front in November 1941.

The Pak 40 was used in large numbers on all fronts from 1942 onwards.

The development of dedicated anti-tank guns by Germany began after World War I to counter tank armor.

The Pak 35/36, a 37mm gun, was the standard anti-tank weapon at the start of World War II.

The Pak 38, a 50mm gun, replaced the Pak 35/36 and was used until the end of the war.

Rheinmetall and Krupp were contracted to build a new 75mm anti-tank gun in early 1941.

The Pak 40 featured a larger caliber, longer barrel, and thicker armor plate compared to the Pak 38.

The caliber of the Pak 40 was 75 millimeters, classifying it as heavy artillery.

The Pak 40 had a barrel length of L/46, approximately 11 feet, 3 inches.

The estimated barrel life of the Pak 40 was around 6,000 shots due to its high-quality steel construction.

The gun had a traverse of 65 degrees and an elevation arc from -6 to 22 degrees.

The effective firing range for most rounds was around 1,800 meters.

The Pak 40 was very heavy, weighing 1,425 kilograms, and was towed by vehicles like the 3-ton half-track SdKfz 11.

Different types of rounds, including armor-piercing and high-explosive, were fired by the Pak 40.

The Pak 40 was first used in the second battle of Kharkov in May 1942.

By October 1944, a record 1,050 Pak 40 guns were produced in a single month.

Over 23,000 Pak 40 guns were built during the war, making it a widely used and popular anti-tank weapon.

The Pak 40 was also used as a mounted gun on various chassis, such as the SD KFC 234 and captured chassis.

War Thunder is a free-to-play military online game featuring over 1000 realistic tanks, aircraft, and ships.

Transcripts

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