Difference between revisions of "KwK38 (20 mm)"

Latest revision as of 21:30, 10 March 2023

Description

The 20 mm KwK38 is a German anti-tank cannon. It is an improved version of the 20 mm KwK30, having almost double the fire rate than its predecessor. It is used on the later version of the Panzer II - the Pz.II F.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

General info

The KwK38 has an extremely high rate of fire - 450 rounds per minute. It also has very good penetration, up to 48 mm at point-blank range. However, the penetration rate falls drastically at 500 m.

Available ammunition

Default: API-T · HEFI-T* - Half of the shells (HEFI-T) are useless against tanks while the other 50% (API-T) is useless against planes. However, this belt is reliable against open-topped or lightly-armoured vehicles like SPAA vehicles.
Sprgr.: HEFI-T*
PzGr: API-T - This belt offers a good transition from the Default to the PzGr 40 APCR belt. The round offers decent use and damage against lightly-armoured tanks, especially at close range. Due to lack of high-explosive filler however, it is better to focus on the PzGr 40 belt to maximize penetration power.
PzGr 40: HVAP-T - This belt is best for fighting tanks. While the damage effects post-penetration are quite poor, the rapid-fire from the autocannon will wreck most tanks at this BR. In close combat, these shells should be used against modules and crew members to make the most of each shell. Against angled armour, however, the APCR ammo may not be very effective, just like any other APCR shell.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
Ammunition	10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
HEFI-T*	5	4	3	2	2	2
API-T	37	34	23	14	9	6
HVAP-T	48	45	31	20	13	8

Shell details
Ammunition	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
Ammunition	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	0%	50%	100%
HEFI-T*	900	0.12	0.1	0.1	10.2	79°	80°	81°
API-T	800	0.15	-	-	-	47°	60°	65°
HVAP-T	1,050	0.1	-	-	-	66°	70°	72°

Comparison with analogues

Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.

Usage in battles

The extremely high fire rate and excellent penetration of the KwK38 allows enemy tanks to be killed quickly. Try not to "spray-n-pray", as you will quickly use up all your ammo, and allow enemies to fire back and destroy you during your long reload time. After shooting at enemies, take cover to reload. Try to avoid long-range engagements, as the penetration rate drops off rapidly at around 500 m.

Pros and cons

Pros:

Extremely high fire rate
High penetration at close/medium ranges when using PzGr 40 belt with HVAP-T
Better fire rate and penetration when compared to other 20 mm cannons at its rank

Cons:

Relatively long reload of 7.8 seconds when stock
Small magazine, only has 10 shells
Because of the high fire rate and small magazine, it is easy to waste all your ammo in a few seconds

History

Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

topic on the official game forum;
other literature.

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)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 == Description ==
-''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell about the history of the devekopment and combat using of the weaponry and also about it's features. Make a air or ground vehicles list on which this weapon is installed in our game.''
+<!-- ''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.'' -->
+The '''20 mm KwK38''' is a German anti-tank cannon. It is an improved version of the [[KwK30 (20 mm)|20 mm KwK30]], having almost double the fire rate than its predecessor. It is used on the later version of the Panzer II - the [[Pz.II F]].
 === Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
+<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' -->
+* {{Specs-Link|germ_pzkpfw_38t_Aufklarungspanzer}}
+* {{Specs-Link|germ_sdkfz_222}}
+* {{Specs-Link|germ_sdkfz_234_1}}
+* {{Specs-Link|germ_pzkpfw_II_ausf_F}}
 == General info ==
-''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''
+<!-- ''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.'' -->
+The KwK38 has an extremely high rate of fire - 450 rounds per minute. It also has very good penetration, up to 48 mm at point-blank range. However, the penetration rate falls drastically at 500 m.
+=== Available ammunition ===
+<!-- ''Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).'' -->
-=== Available shells ===
+* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}} - Half of the shells (HEFI-T) are useless against tanks while the other 50% (API-T) is useless against planes. However, this belt is reliable against open-topped or lightly-armoured vehicles like SPAA vehicles.
-''Describe the shells that are available for the cannon and their features and purpose. If it iconcerns autocanons or machine guns, so write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).''
+* '''Sprgr.:''' {{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}}
+* '''PzGr:''' {{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}} - This belt offers a good transition from the ''Default'' to the ''PzGr 40'' APCR belt. The round offers decent use and damage against lightly-armoured tanks, especially at close range. Due to lack of high-explosive filler however, it is better to focus on the ''PzGr 40'' belt to maximize penetration power.
+* '''PzGr 40:''' {{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}} - This belt is best for fighting tanks. While the damage effects post-penetration are quite poor, the rapid-fire from the autocannon will wreck most tanks at this BR. In close combat, these shells should be used against modules and crew members to make the most of each shell. Against angled armour, however, the APCR ammo may not be very effective, just like any other APCR shell.
+{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|HEFI-T*, API-T, HVAP-T}}
 === Comparison with analogues ===
-''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns, that have firepower equal to these type of weapons.''
+''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''
-== Usage in the battles ==
+== Usage in battles ==
-''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against the main opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''
+<!-- ''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.'' -->
+The extremely high fire rate and excellent penetration of the KwK38 allows enemy tanks to be killed quickly. Try not to "spray-n-pray", as you will quickly use up all your ammo, and allow enemies to fire back and destroy you during your long reload time. After shooting at enemies, take cover to reload. Try to avoid long-range engagements, as the penetration rate drops off rapidly at around 500 m.
 === Pros and cons ===
-''Summarize and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.''
+<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.'' -->
 '''Pros:'''
-*
+* Extremely high fire rate
+* High penetration at close/medium ranges when using PzGr 40 belt with HVAP-T
+* Better fire rate and penetration when compared to other 20 mm cannons at its rank
 '''Cons:'''
-*
-== Historical part ==
+* Relatively long reload of 7.8 seconds when stock
-''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of this weapon. If the historical reference turns out to be big one, take it into a separate article and add a link to it by using the "main" template. In the end be sure to include references to sources.''
+* Small magazine, only has 10 shells
+* Because of the high fire rate and small magazine, it is easy to waste all your ammo in a few seconds
+== History ==
+''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''
 == Media ==
-''An excellent addition to the article would be a video guide, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
-== Read 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;''
-* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''
+* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' -->
-''ETC.''
+* [[KwK30 (20 mm)]] - Germany
+* [[20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)]] - Great Britain
-== Sources ==
+== External links ==
 ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
-* ''topic on the official game forum''
+* ''topic on the official game forum;''
-* ''page on the Wikipedia''
+* ''other literature.''
-* ''page on aircraft or gorund forces encyclopedia''
-* ''other literature''
 {{Germany tank cannons}}
 [[Category:Tank cannons]]

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