In 1940 Rheinmetall-Borsig and Krupp were both given contracts to develop a new 8.8cm anti-aircraft gun to replace Flak 37, and one of the terms of the specification was that weapon should be capable of firing in a ground role. Outstanding anti-tank weapon entered service in 1943 as the PAK 43. To that time situation in Russia urgently demanded more anti-tank guns. Since the barrels of the PAK 43 were easy to made, but the carriage manufacture was lagging, a temporary expedient was produced. PAK 43/41 is a simplified PAK 43 on a new carriage (collection of suitable modified stock components). |
