KwK43 (88 mm)

Description

The Kampfwagenkanone 43 (AKA: KwK 43 (88 mm)) was the improved, longer version of the KwK 36 (88 mm). The gun had different names depending on its purpose: Tank destroyers, for example, were equipped with the PaK 43 (88 mm). It was produced from 1942 to 1945 and was used in the Tiger II and under the name PaK 43 in various tank destroyers. It was one of Germany's most famous guns during WWII

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

• Panther II
• Tiger II (P)
• Tiger II (H)
• Tiger II (H) Sla.16

General info

Available shells

Pzgr. 39/43 (Panzergranate 39/43)

APCBC round with high- explosive filler (Armor-piercing capped ballistic capped shell)

• The Pzgr. 39/43 one of the two standard rounds of the KwK 43 (88 mm). This round can be used against nearly all kinds of medium or heavy tanks and is thank to its huge high- explosive filler capable of destroying most of its targets with only one shot.

PzGr 39/43
Caliber	88 mm
Projectile Mass	10.16 kg
Muzzle Velocity	1000 m/s
Explosive Type	H.10
Explosive Mass	64 g
TNT equivalent	108.8 g
Fuse delay	0.8 m
Fuse Sensitivity	28 mm
Angle of attack with 0% chance of a ricochet	48°
Angle of attack with 50% chance of a ricochet	63°
Angle of attack with 100% chance of a ricochet	71°

Pzgr. 40/43 (Panzergranate 40/43)

APCR round (Armor-piercing composite rigid shell)

• The Pzgr. 40/43 is one of the researchable shells for the KwK 43 (88 mm). Like other APCR shells, it is a round made out of a dense core sitting in a soft metal shell, making it useful against heavy tanks. Since it creates only a small bit of shrapnel it is important to aim at the enemy's modules and crew members.

• 1 x Pzgr. 40/43 costs 60 SL.

Pzgr. 40/43
Caliber	88 mm
Projectile Mass	7.3 kg
Muzzle Velocity	1200 m/s
Angle of attack with 0% chance of a ricochet	66°
Angle of attack with 50% chance of a ricochet	70°
Angle of attack with 100% chance of a ricochet	72°

Hl.Gr 39 (Hohlladungsgranate 39)

HEAT round (High explosive anti-tank shell)

• The Hl.Gr 39 is one of the researchable shells for the KwK 43 (88 mm). The composition of a metal core in a high explosive surrounding makes it effective against both vehicles with light or no armour (light tanks/trucks) and armoured vehicles like medium tanks. Its HEAT characteristics (not losing power over long ranges) make it very useful for sniping over extreme distances). Due to the fact that the Pzgr. 39/43 is free and penetrates more armour, it is wise to carry only a few Hl.Gr 39s' into battle since you won't use it very often.

• 1 x Hl.Gr 39 costs 60 SL.

Hl.Gr 39
Caliber	88 mm
Projectile Mass	7.64 kg
Muzzle Velocity	600 m/s
Explosive Type	H.5
Explosive Mass	646 g
TNT equivalent	1.1 kg
Fuse Sensitivity	0.3 mm
Angle of attack with 0% chance of a ricochet	62°
Angle of attack with 50% chance of a ricochet	69°
Angle of attack with 100% chance of a ricochet	73°

Sprgr. L/4,5

HE round (High-explosive fragmentation shell)

• A basic HE round that is used by all German 88 mm guns. It is recommended to carry 2 - 5 of these into battle for various reasons. For example, you can use it to destroy vehicles with no or very thin armour or for removing obstacles out of your line of fire. Very skilled gunners can try to use it for shooting down aircraft.

Sprgr. L/4,5
Caliber	88 mm
Projectile Mass	9 kg
Muzzle Velocity	820 m/s
Explosive type	Fp.02
Explosive Type	698 g
TNT equivalent	698 g
Fuse Delay	0.1 m
Fuse Sensitivity	0.5 mm
Angle of attack with 0% chance of a ricochet	79°
Angle of attack with 50% chance of a ricochet	80°
Angle of attack with 100% chance of a ricochet	81°

Comparison with analogues

Give a comparative description of cannons/allternative weapons/ machine guns, that have firepower equal to these type of weapons.

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.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Flatter trajectory than the preceding KwK36 (88 mm)
• High penetration

Cons:

• Reload is a bit longer

History

The 88 mm KwK 43's initial pitch in the German armoured forces started as far back in the Tiger I tank. Hitler had desired the KwK 43 gun to be in the Tiger I, but the tank design and dimensions prevented easy installment of the long KwK 43 gun, and so this was delayed as a tank mount until the Tiger II design.

Media

An excellent addition to the article would be a video guide, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

See also

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• reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;
• references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.

External links

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• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on weapon;
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