German APCR ammunition, which used tungsten cores, was in production since the autum of 1940. Even though the Germans were not aware of the difficulties that would be encountered against the Russian T-34 medium tank and KV-1 heavy tank during Unternehmen Barbarossa, it was understood that the stock of APCR ammunition had to be increased.

The tables below describe the production plan from July to December 1941.

Tungsten Requirement

In June 1941, the total tungsten stock available to the Heer (German army) was 579 tons, 482 tons of which were tungsten cores in 7,92 mm S. m. K. H. ammunition, and the rest being raw tungsten stock. The planned production of tungsten-cored ammunition from July to December 1941 was, as of June 1941, the following:

Planned production and the required amount of tungsten in tons (W) of selected tungsten-cored ammunition, July to December 1941.
Month Pz B 38 and Pz B 39 2 cm Kw K 3,7 cm Pak and 3,7 cm Kw K (t) 4,7 cm Pak (t) Sfl, 5 cm Pak 38, and 5 cm Kw K Total
Planned W Planned W Planned W Planned W W
July 1 000 000 10.0 100 000 7.0 90 000 14.4 120 000 40.8 72.2
August 1 000 000 10.0 100 000 7.0 90 000 14.4 120 000 40.8 72.2
September 500 000 5.0 50 000 3.5 90 000 14.4 120 000 40.8 63.7
October 500 000 5.0 50 000 3.5 90 000 14.4 120 000 40.8 63.7
November 250 000 2.5 50 000 3.5 70 000 9.1 120 000 40.8 55.9
December 250 000 2.5 50 000 3.5 70 000 9.1 120 000 40.8 55.9
Total 3 500 000 35.0 400 000 28.0 500 000 75.8 720 000 244.8 383.6

Planned Production

Gun Gun Stock, 1 June 1941 Ammunition Stock, 1 June 1941 Actual Planned
May June July August September October November December
Pz B 38 and Pz B 39 25 298 2 339 600 394 500 807 000 1 000 000 1 000 000 500 000 500 000 250 000 250 000
s Pz B 411Additional tungsten was not required, as the ammunition cores were already manufactured. 183 347 500 177 800 179 400 60 000 80 000 80 000 80 000 65 000 65 000
2 cm Kw K 2 0002Approximate, including armored cars. 0 130 000 51 100 100 000 100 000 50 000 50 000 50 000 50 000
3,7 cm Pak 14 459 938 800 161 700 102 900 40 000 40 000 40 000 40 000 20 000 20 000
3,7 cm Kw K (t) 738 170 600 0 22 500 50 000 50 000 50 000 50 000 50 000 50 000
4,7 cm Pak (t) 202 0 1 540 5 600 5 000 10 000 10 000 10 000 10 000 10 000
5 cm Kw K 1 090 121 300 40 000 72 500 70 000 70 000 70 000 70 000 70 000 70 000
5 cm Pak 38 1 047 50 300 20 000 20 000 40 000 40 000 40 000 40 000 40 000 40 000

Notes

  1. Additional tungsten was not required, as the ammunition cores were already manufactured. Back
  2. Approximate, including armored cars. Back

Sources

  1. Abnahme von Waffen und Gerät. WaA/Stab Ia. 569 p. NARA T78 R152 H 15/11.
  2. Munition - Heer : Juni 1941. Berlin, 1941. 10 p. NARA T78 R143.
  3. Munition - Heer : Mai 1941. Berlin, 1941. 3 p. NARA T78 R143.
  4. Waffen u. Geräte : Juli 1941. Berlin, 1941. 2 p. NARA T78 R143.