Microsoft Close Combat manual Mm Antitank Gun Pak, M1 57-mm Antitank Gun

Chapter 5 Weapons 101

50-mm Antitank Gun (Pak 38)

Caliber 50 mm (1.97 in.)

Muzzle velocity	550 to 1,200 mps
(1,800 to 3,940 fps)
Weight 916 kg (2,016 lbs)
Barrel length 3.17 m (10 ft 4.96 in.)
Armor penetration	159 mm (6.25 in.) at

100 m (110 yds)

The German 50-mm Pak 38 antitank gun, introduced in 1941, replaced the earlier 37-mm gun in an effort to keep pace with the increasing thickness of tank armor. The Pak 38 was mounted on a carriage with solid rubber tires, and provided a crew shield made of two 4-mm armor plates spaced 2.5 cm apart. Ammunition types included high-explosive and armor-piercing rounds.

M1 57-mm Antitank Gun

Caliber 57 mm (2.24 in.)

Muzzle velocity 823 mps (2,700 fps)

Weight 1,215 kg (2,700 lbs)

Armor penetration 120 mm (4.7 in.) at 100 m (110 yds)

Based on the British six-pounder, the M1 57-mm antitank gun was the successor to the M3A1 37-mm antitank gun. It fired an armor-piercing round that could penetrate 70 mm of armor at 910 meters (1,000 yards). The 57 mm was light enough (1,215 kg/2,700 lbs) to be manhandled by a crew; however, it was often mounted on the M3 Halftrack and T49 GMC (Gun Motor Carriage) to provide improved mobility.