Panzer IV F2 vs Valentine V | Armor Penetration Simulation | 7.5cm Pzgr 39

In this simulation, you’re comparing the penetration capability of a Panzer IV Ausf F2 tank firing a 7.5cm Pzgr 39 APCBC projectile at a Valentine Mk V tank with 50mm angled armor at 56 degrees. The key factors here are the projectile’s characteristics and the armor’s properties.

The Panzer IV Ausf F2 was equipped with the 7.5cm KwK 40 gun, which fired the 7.5cm Pzgr 39 APCBC (Armor-Piercing Capped Ballistic Cap) projectile at a muzzle velocity of 740 m/s. The APCBC design combined a hard penetrator core with a capped ballistic cap to improve penetration capabilities.

The Valentine Mk V had 50mm of armor, which was angled at 56 degrees. The effective thickness of armor against a penetrating projectile is calculated by dividing the armor thickness by the cosine of the angle. In this case, the effective armor thickness would be 50 mm / cos(56 degrees) ≈ 102 mm.

To determine whether the 7.5cm Pzgr 39 APCBC projectile can penetrate this effective armor thickness, you can compare its penetration capabilities with the armor’s effective thickness.

Penetration capability can be estimated using various armor penetration models, such as the one developed by the German engineer Ferdinand Rausenberger:

Penetration = (Projectile Mass × Velocity^2) / (Armor Thickness × Density)

Given:

• Projectile Mass = 6.8 kg
• Velocity = 740 m/s
• Armor Thickness (effective) = 102 mm (0.102 m)
• Density of Steel ≈ 7850 kg/m³

Plugging in these values:

Penetration = (6.8 kg × (740 m/s)^2) / (0.102 m × 7850 kg/m³)
Penetration ≈ 163.6 mm

The estimated penetration of the 7.5cm Pzgr 39 APCBC projectile is approximately 163.6 mm, which is greater than the effective armor thickness of the Valentine Mk V’s angled armor (102 mm). Therefore, the 7.5cm Pzgr 39 APCBC projectile fired from the Panzer IV Ausf F2 would likely penetrate the angled side armor of the Valentine Mk V tank at a distance of 700 meters.