BK 3.7 (37 mm)

Description

The 37 mm BK 3.7 is a German autocannon that was used by the Luftwaffe during World War II. It was mounted on a variety of aircraft and also used by the Soviet Union, who captured a number of the guns from the Germans.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

Bf 110 G-2 (Suspended)
Hs 129 B-2 (Suspended)
Hs 129 B-2 (Romania) (Suspended)
▄Hs 129 B-2 (Romania) (Suspended)
Ju 87 G-1
Ju 87 G-2

General info

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Available ammunition

Default: HVAP-T · HEF-T
Armored targets: HVAP-T
Air targets: HEF-T

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
Ammunition	10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
HVAP-T	108	101	75	51	35	24
HEF-T	7	7	5	4	4	4

Shell details
Ammunition	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
Ammunition	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	0%	50%	100%
HVAP-T	1,150	0.41	-	-	-	66°	70°	72°
HEF-T	914	0.55	0.4	0.2	108	79°	80°	81°

Comparison with analogues

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Usage in battles

Against armour, the 37 mm cannon should be used to fire at the roof or sides of medium tanks and light tanks. Against heavy tanks, the 37 mm should be used to knock out the engine, tracks or other important modules as it would not have sufficient penetration.

Pros and cons

Pros:

HVAP-T shells have excellent penetration against armour

Cons:

Packs a small amount of ammo in all but the Bf 110 G-2 gun pod
HEF-T shell doesn't have as much effect as Minengeschoss from 30 mm
Too slow rate of fire to be practical in a dogfight

History

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Media

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External links

[Wikipedia] Bordkanone 3,7 (BK 3,7)

Germany aircraft cannons
15 mm	MG 151
20 mm	MG 151 · MG C/30L · MG FF · MG FF/M
27 mm	Mauser BK27
30 mm	Hispano HS 825 · MK 101 · MK 103 · MK 108
37 mm	BK 3.7
50 mm	BK 5 · Mk.214a
75 mm	BK 7.5
	Foreign:
20 mm	Hispano Mk.V ^(Britain) · M24A1 ^(USA) · M61A1 ^(USA) · ShVAK ^(USSR)
23 mm	GSh-23L ^(USSR) · NR-23 ^(USSR) · VYa-23 ^(USSR)
30 mm	DEFA 552 ^(France) · GSh-30-1 ^(USSR) · GSh-30-2K ^(USSR) · NR-30 ^(USSR)
37 mm	N-37D ^(USSR)

Italy aircraft cannons
20 mm	TM197B
30 mm	Hispano HS 825
37 mm	Breda Model 39 37/54
102 mm	102/35 mod 14
	Foreign:
20 mm	B-20E ^(USSR) · B-20M ^(USSR) · B-20S ^(USSR) · Hispano 404 ^(France) · Hispano Mk.II ^(Britain) · Hispano Mk.V ^(Britain) · M24A1 ^(USA) · M61A1 ^(USA) · MG 151 ^(Germany) · MG FF ^(Germany) · MG FF/M ^(Germany) · ShVAK ^(USSR)
23 mm	GSh-23L ^(USSR) · NR-23 ^(USSR) · NS-23 ^(USSR)
27 mm	Akan m/85 ^(Sweden) · Mauser BK27 ^(Germany)
30 mm	DEFA 552 ^(France) · GSh-30-1 ^(USSR) · GSh-30-2K ^(USSR) · MK 103 ^(Germany) · MK 108 ^(Germany) · NR-30 ^(USSR)
37 mm	BK 3.7 ^(Germany) · N-37 ^(USSR) · N-37D ^(USSR)