View source for 8.8 cm KwK 36

{{Short description|88 mm tank gun used by the German Army during World War II}}
{{about|the Tiger I tank gun|the renowned German "8.8"|8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37/41}}
{{multiple issues|
{{More footnotes|date=January 2015}}
{{Refimprove|date=January 2015}}
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{{Infobox weapon
| name               = 8.8 cm KwK 36
| image              = TigerITankTunis.jpg
| caption            = A captured [[Tiger I]] tank fitted with the 8.8 cm KwK 36
| origin             = [[Nazi Germany|Germany]]
| type               = [[Kampfwagenkanone]]
<!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged          = YES
| is_bladed          = 
| is_explosive       = 
| is_artillery       = YES
| is_vehicle         = 
| is_UK              = yes <!-- British spelling of calibre in infobox to match text -->
<!-- Service history -->| service            = 
| used_by            = Nazi Germany
| wars               = [[World War II]]
<!-- Production history -->| designer           = [[Krupp]]
| design_date        = 
| manufacturer       = 
| unit_cost          = {{Reichsmark|18,000|link=yes}}
| production_date    = 
| number             = 
| variants           = <!-- General specifications -->
| weight             = 
| part_length        = {{cvt|492.8|cm}} bore (56 [[Caliber#Caliber as measurement of length|calibres]])
| width              = 
| height             = 
| crew               = <!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge          = [[Glossary of British ordnance terms#Fixed QF|Fixed QF]] 88 × 571mmR
| cartridge_weight   = {{cvt|10.2|kg}} Pzgr 39 [[Armor-piercing, capped, ballistic capped shell]]  <br>
{{cvt|7.3|kg}} Pzgr 40 [[Armor-piercing shell#Armor-piercing composite rigid|Armor-piercing composite rigid (APCR)]]
| caliber            = {{cvt|88|mm|sigfig=3}}
| action             = 
| rate               = 10 round per minute
| velocity           = {{cvt|780|m/s}} APCBC <br> {{cvt|930|m/s}} APCR
| range              = 
| max_range          = {{cvt|10500|m|0}}
| feed               = 
| sights             = <!-- Artillery specifications -->
| breech             = 
| recoil             = 
| carriage           = 
| elevation          = -8° to +15°
| traverse           = 
}}

The '''8.8&nbsp;cm KwK 36''' ({{langx|de|8,8 cm [[Kampfwagenkanone]] 36}}) was an {{convert|88|mm|adj=on}} tank gun used by the [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|German Army]] during [[World War II]]. This was the primary armament of the [[Tiger I|PzKpfw VI Tiger I]] [[tank]]. It was developed and built by [[Krupp]].

==Design==
The 8.8 cm KwK 36 was derived from the [[8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37/41|8.8 cm Flak 36]] anti-aircraft gun by adapting/modifying it to the limited space available in tank turrets. Parts of the KwK&nbsp;36 were built to practically the same design as the {{convert|75|mm|adj=on}} and {{convert|50|mm|adj=on}} guns already used in German tanks. The breech ring was square in section and {{convert|320|mm}} on a side. The breech block was of vertical falling wedge type and operated semi-automatically, meaning that after firing the empty cartridge case was automatically ejected, while the breech cocked itself and remained open, ready to receive the next round.

The "L/56" in the designation is descriptor of barrel length; the [[Caliber_(artillery)#Barrel_length|ratio of the length of the barrel in proportion to the width of the bore]]. The designation "L/56" means the barrel is 56 times 88&nbsp;mm - about {{convert|4.9|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The longer the tube is in relation to its bore, the higher the [[muzzle velocity]] it can generate on fixed charge. A longer gun barrel allows the expanding gas from the shell's charge to act on the projectile longer than a short barrel, imparting it more velocity and force. For the [[Tiger II]]'s [[8.8 cm KwK 43|8.8&nbsp;cm KwK 43 L/71]], barrel length is {{convert|6.25|m|ftin|abbr=on}} generating a higher velocity.

==Performance==
[[File:8.8 cm KwK 36 Base Borden Military Museum 3.jpg|thumb|8.8 cm KwK 36 at Base Borden Military Museum]]
The KwK 36 was very accurate and high-powered, and its high muzzle velocity produced a very flat trajectory. This allowed its gunners a higher margin of error in estimating range.

In British firing trials during the war, a British gunner scored five successive hits from {{convert|1200|yd}} at a {{convert|16|by|18|in|cm|adj=on}} target. Another five rounds were fired at targets moving at {{convert|15|mph}}, and, although smoke obscured the gunners' observation, three hits were scored after directions given by the commander. The sighting system resulted in excellent firing accuracy for the 8.8 cm KwK 36 gun on the Tiger I.<ref> Green, 2005, p. 121</ref>

===Capability===
The gun's performance was highly dependent on distance to target and type of ammunition loaded. For kinetic penetration, the speed of the projectile upon impact is crucial, and the cumulative effect of air resistance decreases the velocity of the shell as the distance to the target increases. The accuracy achieved during controlled test firing to determine the pattern of dispersion gives a greater accuracy than the variation expected during practice firing on a range due to differences between guns, ammunition and gunners; both at precisely known distances.<ref name="Jentz, 1996, p. 9">Jentz, 1996, p. 9</ref>
Due to errors in estimating the range and many other factors, the probability of a first shot hit under battlefield conditions was much lower than at the firing range. Observing the tracer from the first round in battle, the average, calm gunner might achieve the firing range accuracy shown in the second column with the second round fired at the same target.<ref name="Jentz, 1996, p. 9">Jentz, 1996, p. 9</ref>

This gun used the same size [[8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37/41#Versions|88 x 571R mm cartridge]], with the exception of being electrically primed compared to the percussion primed cases employed by the [[8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37/41|Flak 18/36/37]].

====Panzergranate 39 (PzGr. 39)====
[[Image:8,8 cm Panzergranatpatrone 39 Kw.K. 36.JPG|thumb|right|Finnish training chart for ''KwK 36'', shows an 88 mm ''PzGr. 39 (APCBC round'').]]
* Type: [[Armour-piercing, capped, ballistic cap]] (APCBC) projectile with explosive filler and tracer.
* Projectile weight: {{convert|10.2|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="JH.Dv. 481/60, p. 24">H.Dv. 481/60, p. 24</ref>
* Muzzle velocity: {{convert|773|m/s|abbr=on}} 
* Explosive filler: {{convert|0.059|kg|abbr=on}}
* Propellant weight: {{convert|2.5|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="JH.Dv. 481/60, p. 24"/>

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|+Penetration figures given for an armoured plate 30 degrees from vertical
! || ||colspan=2|Hit probability versus<br> 2.5 x 2 m target<ref name="Jentz, 1996, p. 9"/>
|-
!Range||Penetration||Test bed ||Firing range
|-
|100&nbsp;m || 132&nbsp;mm || 100% || 100%
|- 
|500&nbsp;m || 110&nbsp;mm || 100% || 100%
|-
|1000&nbsp;m || 99&nbsp;mm || 100% || 93%
|- 
|1500&nbsp;m || 91&nbsp;mm || 98% || 74%
|-
|2000&nbsp;m || 83&nbsp;mm || 87% || 50%
|-
|2500&nbsp;m || n/a || 71% || 31%
|-
|3000&nbsp;m || n/a || 53% || 19%
|}

====PzGr. 40 (APCR)====
* Type: [[Armour-piercing, composite rigid]] (APCR) projectile had a sub-calibre [[tungsten carbide]] core. 
* Projectile weight: {{convert|7.3|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="JH.Dv. 481/60, p. 24"/>
* Muzzle velocity: {{convert|930|m/s|abbr=on}} 
* Propellant weight: {{convert|2.85|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="JH.Dv. 481/60, p. 24"/>

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|+Penetration figures given for an armoured plate 30 degrees from vertical
! || ||colspan=2|Hit probability versus <br>2.5 x 2 m target<ref name="Jentz, 1996, p. 9"/>
|-
!Range||Penetration||Testbed ||Firing range
|-
|100&nbsp;m || 171&nbsp;mm || 100% || 100%
|- 
|500&nbsp;m || 156&nbsp;mm || 100% || 100%
|-
|1000&nbsp;m || 138&nbsp;mm || 99% || 80%
|- 
|1500&nbsp;m || 123&nbsp;mm || 89% || 52%
|-
|2000&nbsp;m || 110&nbsp;mm || 71% || 31%
|-
|2500&nbsp;m || n/a || 55% || 19%
|}

====Hl.39 (HEAT)====
* Type: [[high explosive anti-tank]] (HEAT) round with a shaped charge.
* Projectile weight: {{convert|7.65|kg|abbr=on}} 
* Muzzle velocity: {{convert|600|m/s|abbr=on}} 

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|+Penetration figures given for an armored plate 30 degrees from vertical
! || ||colspan=2|Hit probability versus<br> 2.5 x 2m target<ref name="Jentz, 1996, p. 9"/>
|-
!Range||Penetration||Testbed||Firing range
|-
|100&nbsp;m || 90&nbsp;mm || 100% || 100%
|- 
|500&nbsp;m || 90&nbsp;mm || 100% || 98%
|-
|1000&nbsp;m || 90&nbsp;mm || 94% || 62%
|- 
|1500&nbsp;m || 90&nbsp;mm || 72% || 34%
|-
|2000&nbsp;m || 90&nbsp;mm || 52% || 20%
|}

====Sprgr. L/45 (HE)====
* Type: [[high explosive]] (HE) round
* Projectile weight: {{convert|9|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="Jentz, 1996, p. 9"/><ref name="JH.Dv. 481/60, p. 24"/>
* Explosive filler: 0.9 kg of amatol (3765 Kilojoules)<ref>{{cite book|title=German Explosive Ordnance (Projectiles and Projectile Fuzes) - Department of the Army Technical Manual TM-9-1985-3|year=1953|page=445 https://archive.org/details/TM9-1985-3}}</ref><ref name="JH.Dv. 481/60, p. 24"/>
* Propellant weight: {{convert|2.55|kg|abbr=on}}–{{convert|2.95|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="Jentz, 1996, p. 9"/><ref name="JH.Dv. 481/60, p. 24"/>

== Penetration comparison ==

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|+Penetration figures (90 degrees) uses American and British 50% success criteria,<br>and allowing direct comparison to foreign gun performance.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bird |first1=Lorrin Rexford|last2=Livingston|first2=Robert D.|title=WWII Ballistics: Armor and Gunnery|date=2001|publisher=Overmatch Press|page=61}}</ref>
! rowspan=2|Ammunition type||rowspan=2|Muzzle velocity<br>(m/s)||colspan=11|Penetration (mm)
|-
! 100 m
! 250 m
! 500 m
! 750 m
! 1000 m
! 1250 m
! 1500 m
! 2000 m
! 2500 m
! 3000 m
|-
|style="text-align:center"|PzGr. 39 (APCBC)
|style="text-align:center"|{{convert|780|m/s|abbr=on}} 
| 162
| 158
| 151
| 144
| 138
| 132
| 126
| 116
| 106
| 97
|-
|style="text-align:center"|PzGr. 40 (APCR)
|style="text-align:center"|{{convert|930|m/s|abbr=on}} 
| 219
| 212
| 200
| 190
| 179
| 170
| 160
| 143
| 128
| 115
|-
|style="text-align:center"|Hl.39 (HEAT)
|style="text-align:center"|{{convert|600|m/s|abbr=on}} 
| 110
| 110
| 110
| 110
| 110
| 110
| 110
| 110
| 110
| 110
|}

==See also==
* [[8.8 cm KwK 43|8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71]] - the direct successor to this gun, and the one mounted on the [[Tiger II]]
* [[8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37/41]], the prominent anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapon the 8.8 cm KwK 36 is often confused with.

===Weapons of comparable role, performance, and era===
* British [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder]] 
* Romanian [[Vickers Model 1931#Romanian 88 mm anti-tank variant|88 mm 1944 anti-tank gun]]
* Soviet [[85 mm air defense gun M1939 (52-K)|85 mm D-5T/ZiS-S-53]]
* United States [[90 mm Gun M1/M2/M3|90 mm Gun M3]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
==Bibliography==
* Green Michael, ''Panzers at War''. London: Zenith Press, 2005. {{ISBN|0-7603-2152-3}}
* Thomas L. Jentz, ''Germany's Tiger Tanks: Tiger I and Tiger II - Combat Tactics''. London: Schiffer Publishing, 1996. {{ISBN|0-7643-0225-6}}
* H.Dv. 481/60 Merkblatt für die Munition der 8,8 cm Kampfwagenkanone 36

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.alanhamby.com/tiger.html Information about the Tiger I and its KwK 36 gun at the Tiger I Information Center]
*[http://www.fprado.com/armorsite/tiger1.htm Historical and technical data on the 88 mm FlaK 36 and KwK 36, as well as on the PzKpfw VI Tiger I at the Armorsite]

{{WWIIGermanGuns}}

[[Category:Tank guns of Germany]]
[[Category:World War II artillery of Germany]]
[[Category:World War II tank guns]]
[[Category:88 mm artillery]]
[[Category:Tank guns]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced from 1940 to 1944]]
[[Category:Tiger I]]