75 PstK/40 antitank gun - Merikarvia, Finland
Posted by: 
Neofytos
N 61° 51.626 E 021° 30.600
34V E 526834 N 6858737
75 PstK/40 antitank gun. (75 mm antitank gun M/40)(7.5 cm Pak 40)
Waymark Code: WM9509
Location: Finland
Date Posted: 06/29/2010
Views: 39
Calibre: 75 mm x 714 R
Length: 584 cm
Barrel length: 345 cm aka L/48
Battle-station weight: 1425 kg
Rate of fire: 12 - 14/min
Muzzle velocity: 475 - 990 m/sec
Magazine: None
Traverse: 65 degrees
Elevation: - 6 degrees, + 22 degrees
Max. range: Direct fire: 2000 m, Indirect fire: 10500 m
Width: 198 cm
Height: 126 cm
Country of origin: Germany
Ammunition types:
APHE (Pzgr.39 & Pzgr. 39 AL) 6800 g projectile 750 m/s
APCR-T (Pzgr.40) 4100 g projectile 930 - 990 m/sec
HEAT-T (Pz Patr. 39 HL/B) 4600 g projectile 475 m/sec
HE (Spr. Gr. 34) 5750 g projectile 550 m/sec
Finnish use: 190 Guns bought from Germany and delivered 1943 - 1944. They were mainly used to replace smaller antitank guns and remained in Finnish frontline antitank guns even long after World War 2.
Finnish troops lost 60 guns of this type in battles of summer 1944. At that time this gun type was the best antitank-gun in Finnish use. However large weight of these guns made pushing them to position and off with men only almost impossible. Captured Komsomolets A-20 towing tractors (which the Finns used as towing vehicles of antitank guns in many units) barely had enough power for towing them. From those 60 guns lost in summer of 1944 48 belonged to 4th Army Corps (in Carelian Isthmus),11 belonged to Aunus Group (located north of Lake Ladoga) and only 1 belonged to 3rd Army Corps (in northern parts of Carelian Isthmus). PstK/40 was the last at-gun acquired by Finnish Armed Forces and remained as backbone of Finnish long-range antitank weaponry until being replaced by recoilless rifles and antitank missiles. In 1960's they remained as only antitank gun type which the Finns still maintained for antitank use. PstK/40 were kept in training use also after the war and remained in antitank weapons inventory of Finnish military until being declared obsolete in year 1986. After that most of the remaining 141 guns were sold to collectors, given to museums or used as monuments.
What type of artillery is this?: Antitank
Where is this artillery located?: Park
What military of the world used this device?: Finnish army
Date artillery was in use: 03/01/1943
Artillery is no longer operational: no
Still may work: no
Are there any geocaches at this location?:
Archived
Date artillery was placed on display: Not listed
Parking location to view this Waymark: Not Listed
Cost?: Not Listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Two pictures are required for this Waymark. Please take a close up picture of the artillery. Take a second with the artillery in the distance and capture as much of the surroundings as possible. Name the Waymark with first the name of the area and second what the artillery is. An example would be if it were a cannon in front of the Montgomery Armory you would name the Waymark: Montgomery Armory Cannon.