Late-war antitank weapons

[mikeDizzie]

Hi All,

New here and I have a question about some antitank weapons that were coming on line towards the end of the war. Specifically, regarding the following weapon systems:

8.0cm PwK-8H63 (PAW-600): The well-known 'high-low pressure' gun using 8.0cm mortar bomb and 10.5cm leFH casing
Was this weapon intended to be the new standard regimental (14.Ko) antitank gun?
8.0cm RfW-43 (Ruckstossfrei Werfer): Did this weapon use the same ammunition as the above PwK? Or would a recoilless weapon have required a completely different type of ammo than a high-low type gun?
7.5cm RfK-43 (Ruckstossfrei kanone): Was this a similar weapon to the RfW that used different caliber (7.5cm) ammo? Did this weapon use the same type of ammo as the 7.5cm LG.40 recoilless gun?

Any help would be appreciated. It is very hard to find information on the RfW and the RfK!

Thanks,
Mike

[poky]

the PAW was intended to replace infantry guns like the IG18, from what I understand it was to give the infantry guns a better AT option

cant help with the RfW-43 it did not used the same ammo as the PAW600 that is for sure 2 very different kind of guns
iirc the Rfk-43 was a newer lighter version of the LG40 and I presume it used the same ammo

[mikeDizzie]

Thanks for the reply, Poky!
That would have been interesting to have both the 13.(IG) and 14.(PaK) Ko. in a German infantry regiment combined into one PwK company. However, looking at the table below, we see that the 10.5cm LG.43 was also intended to replace infantry guns. That being said, I've got a few more questions:

1) What type of ammunition was used in recoilless guns like the 7.5cm LG.40, 7.5cm RFK.43, 10.5cm LG.43, etc.? Was it something like the ammunition used for the Nebelwefer series of rocket launchers? Or was it more like the ammunition used for the RPzB.43 'Panzerschreck' (RPzB.Gr. 4322)?
2) What about the 10.5cm LG.2 Glatt and 15.0cm LG.3 Glatt? The table says "fired hollow charge projectiles". Does this mean external munitions like a rifle grenade, panzerfaust, or late war Pak-36?
3) Does anybody have pictures of any of these weapons? I would love to see what a 28.0cm Dusenkanone-Marine looked like!
4) Can anyone explain what is meant by Dusen-Rohr versus Dusenkanone? Also Rusckstossfreiwerfer versus Ruckstossfreikanone?

Thanks again to Poky and anyone else who can provide some clarification here!

Cheers,
Mike

7.5 cm LG 1.300 (Experimental model. Developed into the LG 1)
7.5 cm LG1 (The first recoilles weapon adopted by the Wehrmacht. First use in Crete in 1.941)
7.5 cm LG 40 (Renamed LG 1)
7.5 cm LG 370 (Experimental version of the 7.5 LG 40)
7.5 cm LG 1.285 Rh (Only one prototype completed in 1941)
7.5 cm LG 1.495 Rh (Experimental model, intended for Mountain troops use)
7.5 cm LG 1.500 Kp (Experimental model, intended also for Mountain troops use)
7.5 cm Ruckstossfreikanone 43 (A lightweight antitank artillery weapon)
8.0 cm Ruckstossfreiwerfer 43 (Under development at the end of the war)
8.8 cm Düsenkanone Marine 43 (Two prototypes built in 1944, not proceeded with.)
10.5 cm LG 40 (A enlarged version of the 7.5 cm weapon (also known as LG 2/K) Made in two versions LG 40/1 with alloy mount and LG 40/2 with steel mount)
10.5 cm LG 42 (A Rheinmetall design, originally known as LG 2/Rh. Renamed LG 42/1 when carriage change to all steel)
10.5 cm LG 43 (Development of the LG 42, but limited service, intended to replace infantry guns)
10.5 cm LG 2.540 Rh (Prototypes built in 1942)
10.5 cm LG 2.550 (Project start in 1942, but not proceeded with)
10.5 cm LG 2.550 P (Experimental adaptation of the LG 40 for use in self-propelled mount)
10.5 cm LG 2 Glatt (Under development by Krupp, firing hollow charge projectiles)
15.0 cm LG 42 (Intended to replace the sIG 33, but project ended in 1944)
15.0 cm LG 240 (Experimental prototype developed with the 15.0 cm LG 42)
15.0 cm LG 292 (A enlarged version of the 10.5 cm LG 42, intended for use of airborne troops)
15.0 cm LG 3 Glatt (Similar to the LG 2 Glatt)
15.0 cm Düsen-Rohr (Intended as dual purpose naval-coastal gun, only one prototype completed)
28.0 cm Düsenkanone Marine 44 (Development started in 1943, only one prototype built)

[Clive Mortimore]

All German recoliess guns fired a standard HE shell or Hollow Charge (HEAT) shell. They used a cartidge case with a frangible plastic base. When the gun fired the pressure built up in the chamber and as the shell started on it journey down the barrel the cartridge case base broke up and the expanding propellent gases not only pushed the shell out towards the target but came out the rear of the gun. By using venturi tube the force going forwards was equalled by that coming out the rear and the gun did not need a recoil system. Recoiless guns use more propellent than standard guns of the same caliber. This is of set by them being lighter and more readily usable for troops like airborne artillery.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaped_charge for hollow charge shells.

Clive

[poky]

I will see what I have on the others, if anything it would not be much and some none at all for sure