Weapons · Germany · 1936-1945
3.7cm PaK 36
anti-tank gun
Germany's standard anti-tank gun at the outbreak of the war, the PaK 36 was light and easy to maneuver, and effective against the thin-skinned tanks of the Polish and French campaigns. It proved hopelessly outmatched by Soviet T-34 and KV-1 tanks during Operation Barbarossa, its rounds bouncing off their armor, earning it the bitter nickname "Heeresanklopfgerat" (army door-knocker); a shaped-charge Stielgranate 41 round introduced in 1942 improved its punch but only at very short range.
| caliber | 37mm |
|---|---|
| weight | 327 kg (combat) |
| penetration | ~30mm at 500m (standard round) |
| produced | ~20,000 |
Western Europe, Eastern Front, Mediterranean and North Africa
![PaK 36 with Stielgranate 41, displayed at Military Vehicle Technology Foundation [1]](/photos/3.7cm-pak-36-4.jpg)
