 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2016) |
| 12.8 cm Pak 44 | |
|---|---|
 Pak 44 in firing position | |
| Type | Anti-tank gun |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1944—1945 |
| Used by | Nazi Germany |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Krupp |
| Designed | 1943 |
| Manufacturer | Krupp |
| Produced | 1944 |
| No. built | 51 |
| Variants |
|
| Specifications | |
| Mass |
|
| Barrel length | 7.02 m (23 ft 0 in) bore (55 calibres) |
| Shell | Semi-fixed 128x869mmR |
| Shell weight | |
| Caliber | 128 millimetres (5.0 in) |
| Breech | semi-automatic horizontal sliding-block |
| Recoil | Hydro-pneumatic |
| Carriage | cruciform (some were split trail) |
| Elevation | −7° 51' to +45° 27' |
| Traverse | 360° (some were about 90°, or less) |
| Rate of fire |
|
| Muzzle velocity | 950 m/s (3,100 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range |
|
| Sights | Winkelzielfernrohr 2/1 12.8 cm Pak 80 |
The 12.8 cm Pak 44 (Pak from German Panzerabwehrkanone "anti-tank gun") is a German anti-tank gun used during World War II. It was designed as a result of experiences on the Eastern front in 1943. The German Army came upon the Soviet 122 mm field guns and issued a requirement for a similar weapon. Development initially concentrated on a field gun known as the Kanone K 44. However, once heavier Soviet tanks such as the IS-2 started to appear, the design requirements were altered to include an anti-armour role.
The Pak 44 has short to medium-range performance similar to the 8.8 cm Pak 43, but the 12.8 cm Pak 44 better maintained its anti-tank performance over long to extreme-long ranges – 1,800–2,700 m (2,000–3,000 yd) and beyond - while also doubling as an effective field gun when firing high-explosive shells.