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In 1943 the US introduced measuring shell velocity using the chronograph. I don't know what was used before and how accurate were the measurements.

ORIGINAL: Elron Hubbub
Re: PaK 40:
Documentation for summer of 1944 shows the same powerweight.

Do you have this document?
I'd like to see the charge data.

Because look at post #20 this thread.

Why is this website not allowing web links or uploading pics?

I don't follow you about post #20?

ORIGINAL: Mobius

Yes, zeroing would be a problems. The Germans regularly zeroed their guns. But if the nerfed ammo was introduced after a certain date then all replacement ammo after that had the same ballistics. Guns in places where there was no fighting probably had the old ammo and never got the new type.

Is this post 20? It doesn't make sense considering the amount of ammunition that was in stock. Ammunition that is produced takes time to travel to the front. You are speculating at best.

ORIGINAL: Boozername

The 'powder bag', that is the silk bag that is inside the cartridge that holds the powder, also has info printed on it. As an example, a 75mmL48 bag...

7.5 cm StuK 40
7.5cm KWK 40
2.51 Kg
Digl RP....etc
ktz 1943/27
Son 23.6.44

This calls out the ammo as used in 75mmL48 tank and assault guns, powder weight, powder type,
powder manufacture date, and manufacturer code and finally the manufacture date. Noteworthy is the nearly a year between powder manufacture and the shell being made.

The website is www....

wk2ammo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5646&d=1171751156

AND...just to be absolutely clear...It was made on June 23, 1944...The powder was made the 27th week of 1943.

So, as far as German documentation regarding KWK 40/StuK 40 weapons, there is the initial summer 1942 and also the October 1944 Merkblatts. The 1942 shows the initial charge was 2.43 Kg and the 1944 charge is INCREASED to 2.5 Kg. I find it preposterous that it was nerfed or reduced for anything but the documented 'Fur Tropen' hot climate.

There is just one Merkblatt for the PAK 40 (1942) and it is referenced for all weapons that use it...PAK, SP and even the very late armored cars/halftrack.

There is a December 1942 document that states the PAK 40 had a 2.75 Kg charge also. It also states the PzGr 40 round had a 2.7 Kg charge. I will have to get the info and type itt out since I can't even upload screen shots.

Note the summer 1942 Merkblatt for the PAK 40 PzGr 40 round claims 2.35 Kg for the tungsten round.

This part of a document. I mean post #22 and also #23.


I can't access ww2ammo site.

ORIGINAL: Mobius

I found this in the German Anti-Tank Troops book by Fleischer and Eiermann.
Line 'G' seems to be the weight in grams. Line 'K' is the date.

Looks hand drawn...the date is January 1942? It actually would then predate the first Merkblatt, and would also predate the first use of the weapon????

I can't access ww2ammo site.

You might want to join...

You might be able to post an image on screen shot of the day thread.

posted

Here it is.

You can delete it from the screen shot thread. It served its purpose.

But, I am interested in the 1944 data. We have this data in the 7/42 PaK 40 pdf from the old German doc site.

I think there is a misunderstanding. The Germans did not produce a Merkblatt every year? The 1942 and 1944 KWK/StuK 40 are unusual in that there were even two. Do you have a H Dv # you are looking for?

I will post the PSW 234/4 screenshot. This calls out the manuals, booklets, etc. for the vehicle. Again, it uses the 1942 Merkblatt. I have seen no other information as far as the PAK 40 using anything but that information.

Finnish use

http://www.waffenlager.net/WW2/pak/75pa ... messa.html

Nice picture, 1942 data sheet

http://cartucheria.es/Artilleria/75x495R.html

I thought you had charge weights for 1944.

Also, look at the line H.Dv 119/324 'with Changes 1-17'

That's great, you have H. Dv. 119/324?

Charge weights for 1944? The charge weights are found in H. Dv. 481/77.

ORIGINAL: Elron Hubbub

That's great, you have H. Dv. 119/324?

Charge weights for 1944? The charge weights are found in H. Dv. 481/77.

Listing the title of a manual isn't quite prove that the charge weight was unchanged.

I am afraid that you have things backwards. It is you that is claiming that it was changed. But you want someone that does not believe it was changed, to prove it? I would even be willing to see a second hand source at this point.

Do you have the full report from Aberdeen?

I think this is as primary as it gets as far as KWK 40/StuK 40 in 1944. This ammunition was recovered and the disassembly showed the interior bag inside the cartridge. The powder was made in 27th week of 1943 and bagged in this cartridge in 1944. One might actually come to the logical conclusion that there were two Merkblatts for the KWK/StuK 40 because there were changes. That is, an increase in powderweight as well as other changes.