KWK 30/38 semi-automatic or automatic
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KWK 30/38 semi-automatic or automatic
Hi All
The book "Leichte Panzers In Action", book no. SSP2010 in the squadron/signal series of books states that the panzer IIs main gun is semi-automatic. This agrees with my thinking as I dont think the vehicle carries enough amunition to allow for automatic fire. However elsewhere the gun is mentioned as being automatic.
I wonder if anyone can solve this for me?
Best Regards Chuck.
The book "Leichte Panzers In Action", book no. SSP2010 in the squadron/signal series of books states that the panzer IIs main gun is semi-automatic. This agrees with my thinking as I dont think the vehicle carries enough amunition to allow for automatic fire. However elsewhere the gun is mentioned as being automatic.
I wonder if anyone can solve this for me?
Best Regards Chuck.
Didn't the vehicle carry something like 180 rounds for the main gun? It's quite enough to allow automatic fire. Since the rate of fire wasn't quite too high (~400-500 rpm), it was most likely easy to fire single shots if required. I don't know if anybody has the Waffen Arsenal "book" about the German tank guns. It could have some info.
It would be interesting to know from which gun was the 2 cm KwK 30 developed (MG FF, MG 151 or an AA gun), or was it an independent project.
It would be interesting to know from which gun was the 2 cm KwK 30 developed (MG FF, MG 151 or an AA gun), or was it an independent project.
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AFAIK the KwK 30 had a rate of fire of 300rds/min and the KwK 38 had 480rds/min. The Panzer II carried 180 rounds for it's main cannon. The weapon was derived from the Flak version and could fire both in full automatic and semi-automatic. But I don't think there was any control for switching between the two fire-modes, instead the gunner had to press the trigger really fast to fire single rounds. But since the KwK 30 fired 5rds/sec it seems almost impossible to fire "single shots" so maybe there were a control to switch anyway. If you've seen some movies from the Battle of France in 1940 one can see a Sd.Kfz.231 (8rad) firing single shots with it's KwK 30.
A good post. I'd like to point out ,however, that it's possible to fire single shots using the full automatic mode while shooting even faster-firing weapons than KwK 30 or 38. By first-hand experience I can tell that it is possible to fire single shots on full auto with weapons that have a rate of fire of 700 rpm (7,62 Rk 62 [assault rifle]) or 650 rpm (PKM [LMG]). Sometimes it was possible to fire single shots even with the 7,62 KvKK 62 LMG, whose rate of fire is appr. 1000 rpm.PPoS wrote:...since the KwK 30 fired 5rds/sec it seems almost impossible to fire "single shots" so maybe there were a control to switch anyway.
Does anybody know if the KwK 30/38 used electric or percussion-primed rounds? What about the firing mechanism, was it operated mechanically by pushing a firing button/pulling the trigger or was a solenoid fitted?
You had some good info about the KwK 30/38. Could you probably recommend any websites or books?
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Pz II semi
Hi Chuck
I am not an expert in weapons but anything automatic that early, doesn't sound right to me. Semi is better.
Was it a 20 or 50 mm gun?
If it's a 20 mm, it sounds better, but not 50 mm.
kind regards
Tommy
I am not an expert in weapons but anything automatic that early, doesn't sound right to me. Semi is better.
Was it a 20 or 50 mm gun?
If it's a 20 mm, it sounds better, but not 50 mm.
kind regards
Tommy
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Strictly speaking, the KwK and FlaK 30 were developed in parallel with each other - one wasn't developed from the other. The starting point was a 1920s Rheinmetall design which they handed over to Solothurn, their Swiss subsidiary, in 1929. Solothurn developed it as the S5-200 and sold some abroad, in small numbers, before Rheinmetall further developed it into the FlaK and KwK 30 (and the much rarer MG C30/L). The initial starting point for these guns was the late-WW1 20mm Ehrhardt; the mechanism bore no relationship to the MG 151 or MG-FF.
The 20x138B ammunition was percussion-primed.
The only book I know which provides details of the 20th century automatic cannon (and their ammunition) used by all three services, is my own: details on my website
Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum
The 20x138B ammunition was percussion-primed.
The only book I know which provides details of the 20th century automatic cannon (and their ammunition) used by all three services, is my own: details on my website
Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum
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Chuck
I split your inquiry about the PM system out and answered it:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=119987
All the best
Andreas
I split your inquiry about the PM system out and answered it:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=119987
All the best
Andreas
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