KwK44 (128 mm)

The KwK44 (128 mm) on the Maus gun mantlet.

Description

The 128 mm KwK44 is a German tank cannon. It was designated PaK44 when mounted in tank destroyers.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

KwK44

• Maus
• E-100

PaK44

• Jagdtiger

General info

The KwK44 is a variant of the heavy anti-tank gun PaK44. Firing a 28 kg projectile at 880 m/s, the KwK44 is able to produce heavy kinetic energy for above par penetration capabilities with armour-piercing shells.

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
PzGr	APC	252	249	237	222	208	195
Sprgr. L/5	HE	37	37	37	37	37	37
PzGr 43	APCBC	272	269	257	242	228	215
12,8/8,8 Pzgr.TS	APCBC	312	307	288	266	245	226

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
PzGr	APC	930	26.35	1.2	19	786.5	48°	63°	71°
Sprgr. L/5	HE	750	28	0	0.1	3,700	79°	80°	81°
PzGr 43	APCBC	940	28.3	1.2	19	786.5	48°	63°	71°
12,8/8,8 Pzgr.TS	APCBC	1,230	9.85	1.2	19	108.8	48°	63°	71°

Comparison with analogues

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

Usage in battles

Pros and cons

Pros:

• High muzzle velocity
• High penetration values
• Outstanding post-penetration damage

Cons:

• Slow reload
• Sluggish gun movement

History

Historically, the 128 mm was in use by the German navy (Kriegsmarine) as a medium-calibre gun for destroyer in the form of the SKC/34, and in use by the air force (Luftwaffe) for the Flak corps as a static defensive weapon to protect the German skies. The German army (Heer) began looking into a 128 mm gun after being inspired by the Soviet 122 mm heavy artillery gun, especially after the introduction of heavy Soviet tanks like the IS-2. In the eyes of high command, a heavy anti-tank gun was needed to fight against these new generation of Soviet tanks rather than the original dual purpose howitzer gun. Thus the PaK44 and the tank version KwK44 were developed. The gun could double as an artillery piece by the use of fewer charges giving the shells curvature. At the end of the war, a total of 51 units were produced.

Media

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

See also

• PaK44 (128 mm) - The anti-tank gun that the KwK44 is based off of.
• D-25T (122 mm) - The Soviet counterpart where the KwK/PaK44 was inspired from.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.