8.8cm PaK43 Gun (x2) (GBX27)

8.8cm PaK43 Gun (x2) (GBX27) Panzerabwehrkanone 43 The PaK 43 (Panzerabwehrkanone 43) was a German 8.8cm anti-tank gun developed in competition to the Rheinmetall Flak 41 8.8cm anti-aircraft gun. Krupp’s Gerät 42 (designed as a replacement for the 8.8cm FlaK36) was developed into a dedicated anti-tank gun in 1943. Initially the design was to be on a low sitting cruciform mounting, this model simply known as the PaK43, but due to manufacturing constraints a simplified version mounted on the trail of a field gun was put into production as the PaK43/41 first. It weighed 4.9 tonnes. However later the complete cruciform mounted gun was eventually put into production. The main version of the PaK 43 was based on a highly efficient cruciform mount, which offered a full 360 degree traverse and a much lower profile than the anti-aircraft version of the 88. The PaK43 was able to penetrate about 200mm of armour at 1000m, letting it defeat any tank currently in service with the Allies. The barrel was 71 calibres long and the cartridge case was 822mm long. The PaK43 was an improved 8.8cm gun with a very high muzzle velocity. It allowed gunners to target distant moving targets with considerable ease.

The trajectory of the projectile was very flat so that with good sights the gunner could make elevation calculations for long ranges without ranging shots. The armour-penetration capabilities of the PaK43 were remarkable. With the PzGr.39/43 (APCBC-HE) 10.2kg capped armour-piercing shell (with ballistic cap to provide streamlining), the following could be achieved: (Penetration figures given for an armoured plate 30 degrees from the horizontal) Range Penetration 100m 202mm 500m 185mm 1000m 165mm 1500m 148mm 2000m 132mm With the newer, but usually unavailable, 7.3kg PzGr.40/43 round it was even more effective. Range Penetration 100m 238mm 500m 217mm 1000m 193mm 1500m 171mm 2000m 153mm

It also had available the Gr.39/3 HEAT (high explosive anti-tank) round. It was the most powerful anti-tank gun of the Wehrmacht to see service in significant numbers. It was an excellent weapon that able to penetrate the heaviest Allied armour at combat ranges, including the Soviet IS-2 and the American M-26 Pershing. In Flames Of War These powerful guns were just not doled out willy-nilly to any old anti-tank units, but were kept with army level detachments to support other units where they were most needed.

They can support German companies with access to the Divisional Support Anti-tank Gun Platoon from Fortress Europe. They can also be found supporting German companies in Cobra, and Monty’s Meatgrinder. It is a Immobile gun with a range of 40”/100cm, ROF 2, Anti-tank 16 and Firepower 3+. It is fitted with a Gun shield and Turntable. Designed by Evan Allen Painted by Jeremy Painter