7.5 cm KwK 37
The 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 (7.5 cm Kampfwagenkanone 37 L/24) was a short-barreled, howitzer-like German 75 mm tank gun used during World War II, primarily as the main armament of the early Panzer IV tank. Slightly modified as StuK 37, it was also mounted in early StuG III assault guns and Sd.Kfz. 251/9 armored personnel carriers.
Also recorded as 7.5 cm Kampfwagenkanone 37 · 75 mm tank gun KwK 37 · 75 mm L/24 KwK 37 · 75L24 KwK 37
7.5 cm KwK 37
Dörner · Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-783-0117-113 / Dörner / 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
- 7.5 cm KwK 37 (L/24)
- Field
- tank gun · 75 mm gun
- Region
- Nazi Germany
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
The 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 (7.5 cm Kampfwagenkanone 37 L/24) was a short-barreled, howitzer-like German 75 mm tank gun used during World War II, primarily as the main armament of the early Panzer IV tank. Slightly modified as StuK 37, it was also mounted in early StuG III assault guns and Sd.Kfz. 251/9 armored personnel carriers.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for 7.5 cm KwK 37. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
In this article
Overview
Overview
It was designed as a close-support infantry gun firing a high-explosive shell (hence the relatively short barrel) but was also effective against the tanks it faced early in the war. From March 1942, new variants of the Panzer IV and StuG III had a derivative of the 7.5 cm PaK 40 anti-tank gun, the longer-barreled 7.5 cm KwK 40. When older Panzer IVs were up-gunned, their former KwK 37 guns were reused to arm later Panzer III tanks and other infantry support vehicles. In 1943, depleted stocks and demand for the Panzer III Ausf. N required restarting production of a slightly revised 7.5 cm K 51 L/24 (7.5 cm Kanone 51 L/24).
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — 7.5 cm KwK 37 (L/24) • Origin — Germany • Type — Kampfwagenkanone • Is Ranged — YES • Is Artillery — YES • Service — 1937–1945 • Used By — Nazi Germany • Wars — World War II • Designer — Krupp • Design Date — 1934 • Manufacturer — Krupp • Unit Cost — 8000 RM • Production Date — 1934-1945 • Part Length — bore (23.5 calibers) • Cartridge — Fixed QF 75×243mm R • Rate — 12–15 round per minute • Elevation — -10° to +20°
Ammunition
Ammunition
The KwK 37 used 75×243 mmR caliber. • Kt. Kw. K. - Canister • Nbgr. Kw. K. - Smoke • Gr.38 Hl - High Explosive Anti-Tank • Gr.38 Hl/A - High Explosive Anti-Tank • Gr.38 Hl/B - High Explosive Anti-Tank • Gr.38 Hl/C - High Explosive Anti-Tank
7.5 cm Sprgr.34 - High Explosive
7.5 cm Sprgr.34 - High Explosive
• Projectile weight: • Explosive weight: (2080 Kilojoules)
K.Gr.rot.Pz. - Armour-piercing
K.Gr.rot.Pz. - Armour-piercing
Source: • Projectile weight: • Muzzle velocity: Penetration figures • Range||Penetration|| Hit probability (%) • 100 • 100 • 97 • 82
Pzgr 39. - Armour-piercing
Pzgr 39. - Armour-piercing
• Projectile weight: • Muzzle velocity: Penetration figures given for an armoured plate 30 degrees from vertical • Range||Penetration|| Hit probability (%) • 100 • 100 • 97 • 82 • NA
Penetration comparison
Penetration comparison
Calculated penetration figures (90 degrees impact) • Ammunition type ||rowspan=2|Muzzle velocity||colspan=10|Distance • 100 m — 500 m — 1000 m — 1500 m — 2000 m • Pzgr. 39/1 (APCBC) — 35 mm • Pzgr. 39/2 (APCBC) — 50 mm — 44 mm — 38 mm — 33 mm • Gr.38 Hl (HEAT) — 52 mm • Gr.38 Hl/A (HEAT) • Gr.38 Hl/B (HEAT) • Gr.38 Hl/C (HEAT)
7.5 cm KwK 37 / 7.5 cm K 37
7.5 cm KwK 37 / 7.5 cm K 37
• Neubaufahrzeug • Panzer III Ausf. N • Panzer IV Ausf. A to F1 • StuG III Ausf. A to E • Sd.Kfz. 233 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen • Sd.Kfz. 251/9 Schützenpanzerwagen
7.5 cm K 51
7.5 cm K 51
• Sd.Kfz. 234/3 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen • Sd.Kfz. 250/8 Schützenpanzerwagen • Sd.Kfz. 251/9 Schützenpanzerwagen (Late-production Ausf. D)
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Militaria
6,095 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- 7.5 cm Infanteriegeschütz 37Terminology
- 7.5 cm Infanteriegeschütz 42Terminology
- 7.5 cm Kampfwagenkanone 40Terminology
- 7.5 cm kanon PL vz. 37Terminology
- 7.5 cm KwK 42Terminology
- 7.5 cm L/45 M/16 anti aircraft gunTerminology
- 7.5 cm L/45 M/32 anti aircraft gunTerminology
- 7.5 cm Leichtgeschütz 40Terminology
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own an object connected with 7.5 cm KwK 37?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.