Germany 2.0cm Kwk 38 L/55 2.0cm Kampfwagenkanone 38 L/55 (translates as Tank Gun)

Showing the details of the shells used(where known)   Tweet Weapon Details 2.0cm Kwk 38 L/55 2.0cm Kampfwagenkanone 38 L/55 (translates as Tank Gun) History Improved version of the 2.0cm KwK 30 L/55 used on the Panzer II Ausf J and onward Manufactured 1940 - 1945 Calibre 20mm Length L/55 Rate of Fire 220 rpm   2.0cm PzGr 39 (AP Armor Piercing) 20mm 0.12Kg 899M/Sec Quoted Penetration 23mm @ 100mtr/30° ( ≈ 26mm/0°) Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.12 0.25 0.59 1.68 Penetration(mm@30°) 18 13 9 5 Penetration(mm@0°) 21 16 11 6 Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 81 2.0cm PzGr 40 (APCR Armor Piercing Composite Rigid) 20mm 0.115Kg 1060M/Sec Quoted Penetration 40mm @ 100mtr/0° Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.1 0.21 0.47 1.26 2.88 7.67 Penetration(mm@30°) 35 31 25 17 10 4 Penetration(mm@0°) 41 36 30 20 12 5 Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 93 34 2 2 cm Sprgr. 39 (HE High Explosive) 20mm 0.132Kg 995M/Sec 0.006Kg explosive Maximum Range 2000 Mtr Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.11 0.22 0.5 1.35 3.05 8.12 Direct Fire Range(Mtr) 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 Flight Time(Secs) 0.11 0.22 0.5 1.35 3.05 8.12 Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 90 25 2 Blast/Fragmentation Effects Burst radius Infantry in open 99% kill 0 mtr Burst radius Infantry in open 66% kill 0 mtr Burst radius Infantry in open 33% kill 1 mtr  Armour Penetration inc roof at 1 mtr 0 mm An explosion within 0 mtr of infantry in the open will cause > 66% casualties and could damage some AFV's. An explosion within 1 mtr of infantry in the open will cause 33% casualties. The blast effect of this shell exploding within 1 mtr of an armoured vehicle will not cause any significant armour damage. Vehicles in our database using this gun Vehicle Name Common Name   2cm Kwk L/55 Gw 38(t) Aufklarungspanzer     PzKpfw II Ausf A,B,C Panzer II     PzKpfw II Ausf D,E Panzer II     PzKpfw II Ausf F Panzer II     PzKpfw II Ausf J Panzer II     PzKpfw II Ausf L Luchs     SdKfz 250/ 9 2cm KwK38 Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle     SdKfz 251/23 Ausf D Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle Hanomag     SdKfz 222     SdKfz 231 Schwere Panzerspähwagen 8 rad     SdKfz 232 Schwere Panzerspähwagen 8rad     SdKfz 234/1

Hit probability is based on a static 2 x 2.4 metre panel at 0 degrees(vertical) at the range specified.

The data that has been used to create these records has come from Wikipedia, The Lone Sentry, The Bundes Archive and numerous books and websites that have provided the detailed information that has not been available anywhere else. The information we use to calculate the penetration tables, flight times and the hit probability comes from the Gun Calibre, the Shell Mass(Kg) and the muzzle velocity, plus range reductions to allow for gravity and wind resistance. This calculation originally came from a pre-war Krupp calculation which has been modified, and seems to fit the actual test results.

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