Difference between revisions of "S.Pz.B.41 (28/20 mm)"
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== Usage in battles == | == Usage in battles == | ||
| − | + | Because of its high velocity shot, low shot drop, and high penetration, this cannon is best used as a sort of sniper rifle, hiding in cover and picking off enemies at a distance. However, since it can only fire APCR, its penetration greatly suffers against angled armor, and its post penetration damage is limited, so you must aim for modules such as crew and ammunition. | |
=== Pros and cons === | === Pros and cons === | ||
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'''Pros:''' | '''Pros:''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | * High penetration | ||
| + | * High velocity | ||
| + | * Good rate of fire | ||
| + | |||
* | * | ||
'''Cons:''' | '''Cons:''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Bad performance against highly angled armor | ||
| + | * Not as much post-penetration damage as others | ||
| + | |||
* | * | ||
| Line 43: | Line 52: | ||
The concept of a squeeze-bore weapon began in the early 20th century under the proposal of German professor Karl Puff. This materialized into a weapon after World War I by Hermann Gerlich. The design used a conical shell in a barrel that had a narrowing calibre width to "squeeze" the shell to make the most of the propellent energy behind the shell. This resulted in extremely high muzzle velocities, which broke records at the time, but the downside to the design was the high production cost and complexity of producing the barrel design, and the short barrel life due to the stresses involved.<ref name="TankArchives_SPzB41">Samsonov 2016</ref> | The concept of a squeeze-bore weapon began in the early 20th century under the proposal of German professor Karl Puff. This materialized into a weapon after World War I by Hermann Gerlich. The design used a conical shell in a barrel that had a narrowing calibre width to "squeeze" the shell to make the most of the propellent energy behind the shell. This resulted in extremely high muzzle velocities, which broke records at the time, but the downside to the design was the high production cost and complexity of producing the barrel design, and the short barrel life due to the stresses involved.<ref name="TankArchives_SPzB41">Samsonov 2016</ref> | ||
| − | After Gerlich's death in 1934, his designs were picked up by Mauser who continued work on the squeeze-bore weapon. Mauser engineers at Obendorf developed a 28/20 mm weapon in 1939, which was designated the ''Gerät 231'' or ''MK.8202''. This was further developed and trialled in the Summer of 1940 by the Wehrmacht. The weapon was eventually accepted into service in 1941 as the '''2,8 cm schwere Panzerbüchse 41''', or shortened as '''s.Pz.B.41'''.<ref name="LoneSentry_SPzB41">Lone Sentry 2016</ref> Production of the weapon by Mauser ran between 1940-1943 with a total of 2,782 units produced, with a unit price of around 4,500 Reichsmarks each.<ref name="TankArchives_SPzB41"/> | + | After Gerlich's death in 1934, his designs were picked up by Mauser who continued work on the squeeze-bore weapon. Mauser engineers at Obendorf developed a 28/20 mm weapon in 1939, which was designated the ''Gerät 231'' or ''MK.8202''. This was further developed and trialled in the Summer of 1940 by the Wehrmacht. The weapon was eventually accepted into service in 1941 as the '''2,8 cm schwere Panzerbüchse 41''', or shortened as '''s.Pz.B.41'''.<ref name="LoneSentry_SPzB41">Lone Sentry 2016</ref> Production of the weapon by Mauser ran between 1940-1943 with a total of 2,782 units produced, with a unit price of around 4,500 Reichsmarks each.<ref name="TankArchives_SPzB41" /> |
[[File:HistoricImage IWM-E-9090 S.Pz.B.41 (28-20 mm).jpg|x250px|thumb|right|A captured s.Pz.B.41 in the hands of an Englishmen during the North African campaign.]] | [[File:HistoricImage IWM-E-9090 S.Pz.B.41 (28-20 mm).jpg|x250px|thumb|right|A captured s.Pz.B.41 in the hands of an Englishmen during the North African campaign.]] | ||
| − | The s.Pz.B.41's benefit was maintaining a high-velocity penetrating shell at a lighter weight than the [[PaK L/45 (37 mm)|37 mm PaK 36]], with the s.Pz.B.41 weighing 223 kg (~492 lb.) altogether,<ref name="TankArchives_SPzB41"/> while the PaK 36 weighed roughly 400 kg (~880 lb.).<ref name="WarDept_PaK36">War Department 1943, pg.113-114</ref> The s.Pz.B.41 could also be disassembled and carried in a crew of five, further enhancing the weapon's mobility. | + | The s.Pz.B.41's benefit was maintaining a high-velocity penetrating shell at a lighter weight than the [[PaK L/45 (37 mm)|37 mm PaK 36]], with the s.Pz.B.41 weighing 223 kg (~492 lb.) altogether,<ref name="TankArchives_SPzB41" /> while the PaK 36 weighed roughly 400 kg (~880 lb.).<ref name="WarDept_PaK36">War Department 1943, pg.113-114</ref> The s.Pz.B.41 could also be disassembled and carried in a crew of five, further enhancing the weapon's mobility. |
| − | The weapon proved useful in the Eastern Front as a weapon against the Soviet's new T-34 and KV-1 tank. Several were also sent to the North African theatre.<ref name="Zaloga2005">Zaloga 2005, pg.6-7</ref> However, the increasing armour on tanks eventually made the s.Pz.B.41 obsolete as a front-line anti-tank weapon by 1943. The s.Pz.B.41's armour-piercing shell being built from tungsten also complicated the weapon's longevity as the material became scarce in Germany.<ref name="LoneSentry_SPzB41"/> However, the weapon remained as a anti-materiel weapon against infantry fortifications and thin-skinned or lightly armoured vehicles.<ref name="TankArchives_SPzB41"/> | + | The weapon proved useful in the Eastern Front as a weapon against the Soviet's new T-34 and KV-1 tank. Several were also sent to the North African theatre.<ref name="Zaloga2005">Zaloga 2005, pg.6-7</ref> However, the increasing armour on tanks eventually made the s.Pz.B.41 obsolete as a front-line anti-tank weapon by 1943. The s.Pz.B.41's armour-piercing shell being built from tungsten also complicated the weapon's longevity as the material became scarce in Germany.<ref name="LoneSentry_SPzB41" /> However, the weapon remained as a anti-materiel weapon against infantry fortifications and thin-skinned or lightly armoured vehicles.<ref name="TankArchives_SPzB41" /> |
| − | Captured samples of the s.Pz.B.41 by the Allies revived interest in development of tapered-bore designs on the American [[M3 (37 mm)|37 mm cannon]] and the British [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|2-pounder cannon]], with the overall goal of improving armour penetration on the same lightweight platforms. However, the design issues of short barrel life and complexity in manufacturing were never overcame, and so none of the experimental designs were accepted into US service.<ref name="Zaloga2005"/> | + | Captured samples of the s.Pz.B.41 by the Allies revived interest in development of tapered-bore designs on the American [[M3 (37 mm)|37 mm cannon]] and the British [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|2-pounder cannon]], with the overall goal of improving armour penetration on the same lightweight platforms. However, the design issues of short barrel life and complexity in manufacturing were never overcame, and so none of the experimental designs were accepted into US service.<ref name="Zaloga2005" /> |
== Media == | == Media == | ||
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== See also == | == See also == | ||
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:'' | ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:'' | ||
| + | |||
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;'' | * ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;'' | ||
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' | * ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' | ||
| Line 64: | Line 74: | ||
* ''topic on the official game forum;'' | * ''topic on the official game forum;'' | ||
* ''other literature.'' --> | * ''other literature.'' --> | ||
| + | |||
* [http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2016/08/schwere-panzerbuchse-41.html [Tank Archives<nowiki>]</nowiki> Schwere Panzerbüchse 41] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20210525130840/http://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/08/schwere-panzerbuchse-41.html Web Archive]) | * [http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2016/08/schwere-panzerbuchse-41.html [Tank Archives<nowiki>]</nowiki> Schwere Panzerbüchse 41] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20210525130840/http://www.tankarchives.ca/2016/08/schwere-panzerbuchse-41.html Web Archive]) | ||
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.php?smallarms_id=1079 [Military Factory<nowiki>]</nowiki> Mauser 2.8cm schwere Panzerbuchse 41 (sPzB 41)] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20210525130825/https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.php?smallarms_id=1079 Web Archive]) | * [https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.php?smallarms_id=1079 [Military Factory<nowiki>]</nowiki> Mauser 2.8cm schwere Panzerbuchse 41 (sPzB 41)] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20210525130825/https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.php?smallarms_id=1079 Web Archive]) | ||
| Line 71: | Line 82: | ||
;Bibliography: | ;Bibliography: | ||
| + | |||
* Lone Sentry. "'German Antitank Weapons' from ''Intelligence Bulletin'', November 1944." ''Lone Sentry'', n.d., [http://www.lonesentry.com/german_antitank/index.html Website] Accessed 25 May 2021 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20201118073317/http://www.lonesentry.com/german_antitank/index.html Archive]). | * Lone Sentry. "'German Antitank Weapons' from ''Intelligence Bulletin'', November 1944." ''Lone Sentry'', n.d., [http://www.lonesentry.com/german_antitank/index.html Website] Accessed 25 May 2021 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20201118073317/http://www.lonesentry.com/german_antitank/index.html Archive]). | ||
* Military Intelligence Service: War Department, ''German Infantry Weapons''. Washington: United States War Department, 25 May 1943. | * Military Intelligence Service: War Department, ''German Infantry Weapons''. Washington: United States War Department, 25 May 1943. | ||
Revision as of 16:37, 7 June 2023
Contents
Description
The 2.8/2 cm s.Pz.B.41 (Full designation: schwere Panzerbüchse; English: heavy tank hunting rifle) is a German anti-tank gun that utilizes a squeeze-bore principle for the projectile's kinetic energy. The squeeze-bore principle has a varying barrel diameter from the chamber to the muzzle, which "squeezes" the projectile as it propels through the "bore" in order to obtain a higher muzzle velocity. This results in the strange calibre naming for the weapon, which starts at 28 mm diameter at the chamber that steadily decreases to 20 mm by the muzzle end.
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
General info
The 2.8/2 cm s.Pz.B.41 is hindered by the fact that it only has one type of ammunition available in-game, the Pzgr.41 APCR ammunition. However, the squeeze-bore principle does indeed propels the ammunition at an extremely high velocity of 1,400 m/s
Available ammunition
| Penetration statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm) | |||||
| 10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 2,000 m | ||
| 2.8/2cm Pzgr.41 | APCR | 90 | 84 | 63 | 44 | 31 | 21 |
| Shell details | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Velocity (m/s) |
Projectile mass (kg) |
Fuse delay | Fuse sensitivity (mm) |
Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g) |
Ricochet | |||||
| 0% | 50% | 100% | ||||||||||
| 2.8/2cm Pzgr.41 | APCR | 1,400 | 0.12 | - | - | - | 66° | 70° | 72° | |||
Comparison with analogues
The s.Pz.B.41 is a one-of-a-kind squeeze-bore weapon in the game that presents high velocity and penetration for the calibre.
A similar weapon that retains a "lightweight" construction and small-calibre shell is the Italian Fucile Controcarri S Mod.39 anti-tank rifle inside the L3/33 CC.
However, in terms of a weapon that have similar penetration power as the s.Pz.B.41 is the British 40 mm OQF 2-pounder, with the Shot Mk.1 APCBC/T that can penetrate 96 mm at point-blank range at perpendicular armour. The firepower parity at such a difference of calibre is testament on just how much faster the s.Pz.B.41 shell is going due to the squeeze-bore principle.
Usage in battles
Because of its high velocity shot, low shot drop, and high penetration, this cannon is best used as a sort of sniper rifle, hiding in cover and picking off enemies at a distance. However, since it can only fire APCR, its penetration greatly suffers against angled armor, and its post penetration damage is limited, so you must aim for modules such as crew and ammunition.
Pros and cons
Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.
Pros:
- High penetration
- High velocity
- Good rate of fire
Cons:
- Bad performance against highly angled armor
- Not as much post-penetration damage as others
History
The concept of a squeeze-bore weapon began in the early 20th century under the proposal of German professor Karl Puff. This materialized into a weapon after World War I by Hermann Gerlich. The design used a conical shell in a barrel that had a narrowing calibre width to "squeeze" the shell to make the most of the propellent energy behind the shell. This resulted in extremely high muzzle velocities, which broke records at the time, but the downside to the design was the high production cost and complexity of producing the barrel design, and the short barrel life due to the stresses involved.[1]
After Gerlich's death in 1934, his designs were picked up by Mauser who continued work on the squeeze-bore weapon. Mauser engineers at Obendorf developed a 28/20 mm weapon in 1939, which was designated the Gerät 231 or MK.8202. This was further developed and trialled in the Summer of 1940 by the Wehrmacht. The weapon was eventually accepted into service in 1941 as the 2,8 cm schwere Panzerbüchse 41, or shortened as s.Pz.B.41.[2] Production of the weapon by Mauser ran between 1940-1943 with a total of 2,782 units produced, with a unit price of around 4,500 Reichsmarks each.[1]
.jpg)
The s.Pz.B.41's benefit was maintaining a high-velocity penetrating shell at a lighter weight than the 37 mm PaK 36, with the s.Pz.B.41 weighing 223 kg (~492 lb.) altogether,[1] while the PaK 36 weighed roughly 400 kg (~880 lb.).[3] The s.Pz.B.41 could also be disassembled and carried in a crew of five, further enhancing the weapon's mobility.
The weapon proved useful in the Eastern Front as a weapon against the Soviet's new T-34 and KV-1 tank. Several were also sent to the North African theatre.[4] However, the increasing armour on tanks eventually made the s.Pz.B.41 obsolete as a front-line anti-tank weapon by 1943. The s.Pz.B.41's armour-piercing shell being built from tungsten also complicated the weapon's longevity as the material became scarce in Germany.[2] However, the weapon remained as a anti-materiel weapon against infantry fortifications and thin-skinned or lightly armoured vehicles.[1]
Captured samples of the s.Pz.B.41 by the Allies revived interest in development of tapered-bore designs on the American 37 mm cannon and the British 2-pounder cannon, with the overall goal of improving armour penetration on the same lightweight platforms. However, the design issues of short barrel life and complexity in manufacturing were never overcame, and so none of the experimental designs were accepted into US service.[4]
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;
- references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.
External links
- [Tank Archives] Schwere Panzerbüchse 41 (Web Archive)
- [Military Factory] Mauser 2.8cm schwere Panzerbuchse 41 (sPzB 41) (Web Archive)
- References
- Bibliography
- Lone Sentry. "'German Antitank Weapons' from Intelligence Bulletin, November 1944." Lone Sentry, n.d., Website Accessed 25 May 2021 (Archive).
- Military Intelligence Service: War Department, German Infantry Weapons. Washington: United States War Department, 25 May 1943.
- Samsonov, Peter. "Schwere Panzerbüchse 41." Tank Archives, Blogger, 20 Aug. 2016, Website. Accessed 25 May 2021 (Archive).
- Zaloga, Steven J. US Anti-tank Artillery 1941-45. Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2005.
| Germany tank cannons | |
|---|---|
| 20 mm | KwK30 · KwK38 · Rh202 |
| 28/20 mm | s.Pz.B.41 |
| 30 mm | MK 30-2/ABM |
| 37 mm | KwK34(t) · KwK36 · KwK38(t) · PaK L/45 |
| 47 mm | Pak.(t)(Sf.) |
| 50 mm | KwK39 · KwK L/42 · PaK38 |
| 57 mm | Bofors L/70 Mk.1 |
| 75 mm | K51 L/24 · KwK37 · KwK40 L43 · KwK40 L48 · KwK42 · KwK44 · KwK44 L/36.5 · PaK39 L48 · PaK40/3 L46 · PaK42 · StuK37 · StuK40 L43 · StuK40 L48 |
| 76 mm | PaK36 (r) |
| 88 mm | Flak.37 · Flak 41 · KwK36 · KwK43 · PaK43 |
| 90 mm | BK90 |
| 105 mm | CN105-57 · Cockerill HP · FMK.4 Modelo 1L · K.18 · KwK L/68 · L7A3 · PzK M57 · StuH42 |
| 120 mm | Rh120 L/44 · Rh120 L/55 · Rh120 L/55 A1 |
| 128 mm | K.40 · KwK44 · PaK44 |
| 150 mm | s.I.G.33 · Stu.H 43 L/12 |
| 380 mm | RW61 |
| Foreign: | |
| 30 mm | Bushmaster 2 Mk.44 (USA) · HSS 831L (Britain) |
| 57 mm | 6pdr OQF Mk.V (Britain) |
| 73 mm | 2A28 (USSR) |
| 75 mm | M3 (USA) |
| 76 mm | F-32 (USSR) · F-34 (USSR) · M32 (USA) |
| 90 mm | M36 (USA) · M41 (USA) |
| 105 mm | GT-3 (South Africa) |
| 125 mm | 2A46 (USSR) |
| 152 mm | M-10T (USSR) · XM150E5 (USA) |
| 155 mm | M126 (USA) |
