| 3.7 cm Pak 36 Heeresanklopfgerät PanzerAnklopfKanone | |
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| General Historical Information | |
| Place of origin: | Germany |
| Category: | Anti-Tank gun |
| Used by: |
Germany |
| Passengers: | 1 or 2 |
| Calibre: | 37mm |
| Elevation: | -5° +25° |
| Traverse: | 30° |
| Rate of Fire: | 13 rpm |
| Mobile: | Yes |
| Used by vehicles / ships: | Sd.Kfz. 251/10 Towed by: Sd.Kfz. 251 Kettenkrad T-20 |
| Position 1: | Driver or gunner |
| Position 2: |
gunner |
| Historical Picture | |
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Understanding that the future of warfare was in lightning-fast strikes against the enemy, German planners began to refine existing designs for horse-drawn guns. They imagined a lighter, faster gun that would be able to follow front-line troops into enemy territory. But by the early 1930’s, it was evident that a new design was needed.
Utilizing magnesium-alloy wheels, the re-designated 3.7cm PAK-35/36 began to replace older model infantry guns in 1935. It first saw action the following year during the Spanish Civil War and performed well in a variety of conditions.
Despite its success against lightly armored vehicles and tanks, the PAK-36 was outclassed by 1940. It was particularly ineffective heavier British and French tanks, and soon became all but impractical as an anti-tank gun. It fared no better on the Eastern Front, where the fast-moving Soviet T-34 could take countless direct hits from the PAK-36 without effect.
German PAK-36 crews soon named their weapon the Heeresanklopfgerät (literally "army door-knocking device") for its ability to give away the weapons location by harmlessly bouncing rounds off a T-34’s armor. Countless Germans learned this nickname the hard way, leading to the gun being replaced by heavier and heavier anti-tank weapons. However, the PAK-36 could still achieve a kill shot against a T-34, but it required a near point-blank shot aimed at the tank’s side or rear armor.
These guns stayed in service until the end of the war and were frequently turned over the Germany’s allies fighting in the East. Although completely obsolete by 1942, thus production ended early that year. The PAK-36 still proved effective against scout cars, reconnaissance vehicles and enemy infantry units.
There were several projects to utilize PaK 36 design as the demands for higher performance rose. In a move to improve the anti-tank capability the Stielgranate 41 was developed. It was a shaped charge projectile that was put on the barrel and a blank cartridge was loaded into the breech to propel the projectile. The sheer mass and explosive power made it effective, but the effective range was shorter since it was essentially a mortar. An evolution of the design was the 7.5 cm IG 37 which utilized the surplus of gun carriages of the PAK 36 and the barrel design that would have been in the IG 42 infantry support gun. Making an gun that was easy to move and effective against all targets provided the right munition.
37 mm 37M[]
The Pak 36 was both bought and produced under license for the Hungarian army. The domestically produced guns could have different details in parts like the wheels and suspension which made them either suitable just to be drawn by horse or by motor vehicles at higher speeds. In FHSW the model is the same as the regular Pak 36 and only differs in name.
4 cm 40M[]
Hungarian redesign which mounts a 4 cm L/51 barrel (similar to that of the 40M Turán I) that uses the same cartridges as the 40 mm Bofors gun and a Skoda 40mm gun also in inventory which simplified logistics. Stielgranate projectiles were also produced to fit on the slightly larger barrel.
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