Pak 43 Anti-Tank Gun Print
Written by David Boyd   
Sunday, 04 January 2009 14:55

The Pak 43 Anti-Tank Gun

Both Krupp and Rheinmetall-Borsig had been asked to develop 88mm anti-aircraft guns that were capable of firing in a ground role, the Rheinmetall-Borsig gun was completed first and designated the Flak 41. Due the Flak 41 displaying some issues it was decided to keep the Krupp gun in development, the aim being to develop a weapon that could be used in both tank and anti-tank mountings. The result was the Pak 43.

The Pak 43 entered production in 1943 and was an extremely powerful weapon, capable of dealing with any tank it would face. It was however a massive weapon, well beyond the reasonable weight for an anti-tank weapon. The weight coupled with the immense size - the gun alone being over 6 meters long, this meant that it was extremely difficult to handle on the field.

The Pak 43 is often stated to be the best anti-tank weapon of the war, in terms of raw firepower it is probably right, however its size and weight limited its combat efficiency.

Pak 43 Statistics

Total Length  920cm

 Length of Gun

 635cm

 Calibre

 8.8cm

 Elevation

 -8°, +40°

 Transverse

 360°

 Rate of fire  6-10
 Rifling  32 grooves

 Weight in Action

 3600kg

Performance of the Pak 43 Anti-Tank Gun

Ammunition

Weight of shot/shell

Complete Weight

Bursting Charge

Propellant Charge

Muzzle Velocity

Angle

Plate

100m

500 m

1000m 1500m

2000m 

Pzgr Patr 39-1

10kg

23kg

-

6.83kg

1000m/s

30

MQ

203

185

165 148

132

Pzgr Patr 39/43

10.16kg

23.35kg

-

6.83kg

1000m/s

30

MQ

203

185

165 148

132

Pzgr 40

7.3kg

-

-

-

1130m/s

30

MQ

237

217

193 171

153

Spgr Patr L/4.7 9.4kg 19.3kg - 3.4kg 750m/s - - - - - - -
Spgr Patr 43 9.4kg 19.3kg - 3.4kg 750m/s - - - - - - -
Production of Pak 43 Anti-Tank Guns and Ammunition by year (Ammunition in thousands)
 19411942194319441945(Jan/Feb
Pak 43007801,870247
AP Types008401,01920
HE001,0441,078168

Sources - Germany Artillery of World War Two, German Anti-Tank Guns, Enemy Weapons - War Office 1942