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CHAPTER 9

OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Operational charactenstics demonstrate the effective-ness of a mam bałtle tank by relatmg the capabilities to effectively deliver firepower, maneuver. and sur-vive on the battlefield 9 1 FIREPOWER

The effectiveness of firepower that can be delivered by the main gun is dependant upon the penetration ability of the armor piercmg rounds. inherent accuracy of the gun. charac-teristics of the gun sights. and ability to get quickly and accu-rately on target

German penetration statistics for armor piąte were ex-pressed in terms of the thickness in mm that could be perfo-rated when the piąte was laid back at an angle from the ver-tical of 30 degrees The penetrating ability of armor piercing rounds fired from the 7,5 cm Kw.K.42 L/70 was determmed by tests conducted at firing ranges which proved that the re* sults shown in Table 9.1.1 could be achieved.

P/.Bef.Wg.    03 plus 1 on the M.G.)

Pz.Bef.Wg.    (32 plus 2 on the M.G.'s)

Ammunition Stowage in the Pz.Kpfw.Panther Ausf.G

79 mam gun rounds in the Ausf.D and A. 82 rounds m the Ausf.G.

Ammunition Stowage in the Pz.Kpfw.Panther Ausf.D & A

The ammunition stowage arrangements in the Panthers allowed for and 64 rounds in the Befehls-Panther.

CHARTER 9: OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTIC8

Table 9.1.1: ARMOR PERFORATION

Ammunition Type	Pzgr.39	Pzgr.40
Shell Weight	6 8 kg	4 75 kg
Imtial Velocity:	935 m/s	1120 m/s
Rangę
100 m	138 mm	194 mm
500 m	124 mm	174 mm
1000 m	111 mm	149 mm
1500 m	99 mm	127 mm
2000 m	89 mm	106 mm

The Sprgr 42 (high explosive round) and the Pzgr.39/42 (armor piercmg capped with high explosive filier round) for the 7 5 cm Kw K 42 L 70 gun (APG)

Of the total ammunition load (79 rounds in the Ausf D and A, 82 rounds in the Ausf .G. and 64 rounds in the Befehls-Panther). the recommended ratio was 50 percent Pzgr.39/

42 (armor piercing, capped. ballistic capped with explosive filier and tracer) and 50 percent Sprgr. (high explosive shells). Occasionally. when available. a few rounds of Pzgr.40/42 (high velocity, sub-caliber, tungsten core with tracer) were carried for use agamst the heaviest armored Russian tanks and tank destroyers The Pzgr.40/42. without an explosive filier charge, was not as lethal after penetration as the Pzgr.39/

42

The 7,5 cm Kw.K.42 L/70 was a very accurate gun ca-pable of first round hits at ranges exceedmg 1000 meters The estimated accuracy is given as the probability (in per-centage) of hitting a target 2 meters high and 2 5 meters wide. representing the target presented by the front of an opposing tank These accuracy tables are based on the assumptions that the actual rangę to the target has been correctly deter-mined and that the distribution of hits is centered on the aim- ■ mg point. The first column shows the accuracy obtamed dur-mg controlted test firing of the gun to determine the pattern of ł dispersion. The second column mcludes the variation ex- m pected durmg practice firing due to differences between guns, ■ ammunition. and gunners Both columns were reported in the I accuracy tables from an original report on the 7,5 cm Kw.K.42 f L/70 as shown in Table 9.1.2 (page 126). These accuracy tables do not reflect the actual probability of hitting a target ™ under battlefield conditions. Due to errors in estimating the rangę and many other factors, the probability of a first round hit was much lower than shown in these tables. However. the average, calm gunner. after sensing the tracer from the first round. could achieve the accuracy shown in the second column.

The sight in the Panther Ausf .D and Ausf A produced up to November 1943 was the articulated. binocular Turmzielfernrohr 12 mounted parallel and on the same axis as the mam gun Each of the two sight tubes had a different sight reticle. The pattern in the left reticle consisted of 7 tri-angles. separated by 4 mils Placmg the target on the point of a triangle allowed the gunner to aim without obstructing the view of the target. The distances between triangles were used to lead moving targets The triangle height and separation distances in mils were also used as an aid in estimating the rangę to a target. The pattern in the nght reticle also con-tamed the 7 triangles plus adjustable rangę scales that allowed the gunner to register the exact rangę to the target. The rangę scalę was graduated at 100 meter intervals out to

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