Blank blank WWII Vehicle and Gun Database
   
left corner World War 2 Tank and Gun Database corner lower right outer
   

Germany
2cm Kwk L/55 Gw 38(t) Aufklarungspanzer
Ordnance classification - SdKfz 140/1

Share with Facebook
 

The 2cm Kwk L/55 Gw 38(t) Aufklarungspanzer was designed in 1943, manufactured by Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik AG based on the existing fully tracked Czech LT Vz 38 and was in use from 1944 to 1945.

Flag of World War 2 Germany
Photo of 2cm Kwk L/55 Gw 38(t) Aufklarungspanzer
2cm Kwk L/55 Gw 38(t) Aufklarungspanzer scale illustration

General Details
Specifications
Operational Date(s)1944 - 1945
Ordnance classificationSdKfz 140/1
Quantity Produced50
Weight9.75 tonne
Crew4
M.G's small1
M.G's large(>10mm)n/a
Length4.51 mtr
Width2.14 mtr
Height2.17 mtr
Engine Details/Performance
Max Road Speed26 mph
Max Cross Country Speed10 mph
Range Road131 miles
Range Cross Country52 miles
Fuel TypePetrol
Fuel Capacityunknown
Horse Power140 hp
Power/Weight14 hp/tonne
General Information
The 2cm Kwk L/55 Gw 38(t) Aufklarungspanzer was designed in 1943, manufactured by Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik AG based on the existing fully tracked Czech LT Vz 38 and was in use from 1944 to 1945.

The vehicle was powered by Praga 'EPA/2' petrol powerplant producing 140 HP which could drive the vehicle on roads at up to 26 mph with a range of about 131 miles before refuelling. Its cross country performance was adequate providing a max speed of about 10 mph and a range of about 52 miles.

It was armed with 1 light machine gun. Its main armament consisted of a 2.0cm Kwk 38 L/55 which could penetrate 18 mm of flat plate at 100 metres

This vehicle utilised the 2cm Hangelafette 38 turret which was designed for the Sdkfz 250/9, Skfz 251/23 and the Sdkfz 234/1.

Armour Details
Turret
Front30mm@40°(39mm)
Side8mm@40°(10mm)
Rear8mm@40°(10mm)
Topn/a
Superstructure
Front50mm@25°(55mm)
Side15mm@30°(17mm)
Rear15mm@(15mm)
Top8mm@90°(8mm)
Hull
Front50mm@15°(52mm)
Side15mm@(15mm)
Rear15mm@12°(15mm)
Top8mm@90°(8mm)
Armour (x)mm @ (y)° (Effective mm @ 0°)
Effective Armour - Maximum 55 mm - Minimum 8 mm



Weapon Details
Flag
2.0cm Kwk 38 L/55
2.0cm Kampfwagenkanone 38 L/55
(translates as Tank Gun)
Blank
History
Improved version of the 2.0cm KwK 30 L/55 used on the Panzer II Ausf J and onward
Manufactured1940 - 1945
Calibre20mm
LengthL/55
Rate of Fire220 rpm
 
Ammunition Details
Name/Id Calibre Weight MVelocity Explosive Content
2.0cm PzGr 39
(AP Armor Piercing)
20mm 0.12Kg 899M/Sec
Quoted Penetration 23mm @ 100mtr/30° ( ≈ 26mm/0°)
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
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)1002004008001200160020002400
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)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.11 0.22 0.5 1.35 3.05 8.12
Direct Fire
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
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% kill0 mtr Burst radius Infantry in open 66% kill0 mtr
Burst radius Infantry in open 33% kill1 mtr  Armour Penetration inc roof at 1 mtr0 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.

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.

© WWIITanks 1980-2024

VillageNet Hosting