3.7 cm KwK 36
The 3.7 cm KwK 36 L/45 (3.7 cm Kampfwagenkanone 36 L/45) was a German 3.7 cm cannon used primarily as the main armament of earlier variants of the German Sd.Kfz. 141 Panzerkampfwagen III medium tank. It was used during the Second World War.
Also recorded as 37 mm KwK 36 · 3.7 cm Kampfwagenkanone 36 L/45 · 37 mm L/45 KwK 36 · KwK 36
3.7 cm KwK 36

Rascheit · Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-318-0083-30 / Rascheit / CC-BY-SA 3.0 · This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv) as part of a cooperation project. The German Federal Archive guarantees an authentic representation · CC BY-SA 3.0 de
- Name
- 3.7 cm KwK 36
- Field
- tank gun
- Region
- Nazi Germany
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Documentary summary
The 3.7 cm KwK 36 L/45 (3.7 cm Kampfwagenkanone 36 L/45) was a German 3.7 cm cannon used primarily as the main armament of earlier variants of the German Sd.Kfz. 141 Panzerkampfwagen III medium tank. It was used during the Second World War.
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Overview
Overview
It was essentially the 3.7 cm Pak 36 modified for use in a rotating enclosed turret.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — 3.7 cm KwK 36 • Origin — Nazi Germany • Type — Tank gun • Is Ranged — yes • Is Artillery — yes • Used By — Nazi Germany • Wars — World War II • Production Date — 1930s • Cartridge — 37 × 249 mm. R • Caliber — 37 mm (1.45 in) • Velocity — 762 m/s (2,500 ft/s) • Range — 300 m (328 yds) • Max Range — 5,484 m (5,997 yds) • Carriage — Turret • Traverse — 360°
Ammunition
Ammunition
The 3.7 cm KwK 36 used the 37 x 249 mm. R cartridge. Average penetration performance established against rolled homogeneous steel armor plate laid back at 30° from the vertical. • PzGr.18 (Armour-piercing) • Weight of projectile: 0.658 kg • Muzzle velocity: 745 m/s • 100 m — 500 m — 1000 m — 1500 m — 2000 m • 34 mm — 29 mm — 23 mm — 19 mm — -- • PzGr.40 (Armour-piercing composite rigid) • Weight of projectile: 0.368 kg • Muzzle velocity: 1020 m/s • 100 m — 500 m — 1000 m — 1500 m — 2000 m • 64 mm — 31 mm — -- — -- — -- PzGr.39 - Armour-piercing Sprgr.Patr.34 - High-explosive Calculated penetration (at 90 degrees) using American and British 50% success criteria, and allowing comparison to performance of other guns. • Ammunition type — Muzzle velocity||colspan=10|Penetration • 100 m — 500 m — 1000 m — 1500 m • Pzgr. APHE — 745 m/s • Pzgr. 40 APCR — 1,020 m/s — -- — -- Revised penetration statistics due to HE burster size, projectile weight, and possible decreases of early war metal quality. • Ammunition type — Muzzle velocity|| colspan="11" |Penetration • 100 m — 250 m — 500 m — 750 m — 1000 m — 1250 m — 1500 m — 1750 m — 2000 m — 2500 m • Pzgr. APHE — 745 m/s
Vehicles mounted on
Vehicles mounted on
• Leichttraktor • Neubaufahrzeug • Sd.Kfz. 141 Panzerkampfwagen III versions A until E (de: Ausfertigung A bis E) • Sd.Kfz. 141 Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. F (the last 100 Ausf. F mounted the 5 cm KwK 38 L/42 gun) • Sd.Kfz. 141 Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. G (the first 50 Ausf. G)
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