Improvised tank destroyer ?

system · August 8, 2021, 2:53pm

This appears to be an early German tank destroyer improvisation, consisting of a PAK 35/36 37mm antitank gun, crudely mounted on a Krupp Kfz 81 light truck (? Netherlands, 1940). If so, it prefigured a long posterity of field modifications combining later PAK and (usually) armoured carriers and half-tracks. Some divisional engineering shops made a bit of a speciality of such conversions. Best regards, JR.

This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/german-armored-forces-vehicles/36873/improvised-tank-destroyer

_JR · January 21, 2011, 1:10pm

Looking at this 'photo again, the greatcoats, ground conditions etc. probably suggests that “Netherlands 1940” is likely to be wrong. It could actually be earlier - perhaps Germany, Winter/Spring 1939/'40. The crudeness of the arrangement, and the use of a Kfz 81 truck, both suggest a relatively early date, in any case. Best regards, JR.

system · August 8, 2021, 2:53pm

Evillittlekenny · January 21, 2011, 6:22pm

Heh, where do you find such pics?

But I wonder how it would take the recoil of the gun? Since the “legs” of the gun are not stuck to the ground and are more “hanging around”, they couldn’t catch recoil at all I think. Is the backslide mechanism really enough on it’s own?

leccy · January 21, 2011, 7:11pm

The British mounted 2 pdr and Bofors Anti tank guns ‘Portee’ originally to prevent them being damaged when towed over the rough ground in North Africa.
Invariably they were used from the backs of the trucks despite their higher profile and lower accuracy as the speed which they could be repositioned was seen as an advantage by the crews