3. REALITY
As noted, by trying numerous hit results by using WW2_APCALC over and over we see:
3. A) With using WH=1
a) - [Acc = 16, Range 13] PzB 38/39 (sometimes 2 at 300m) relatively ineffective (AP Pen <3) beyond 300m, with consistent 4 Pen at 50m;
{Even though 703 PzB 38 were produced in 1939, just 62 of these weapons were used by the german troops in the invasion of Poland 1939. In November 1939 there were only 162 of the PzB 38 available. By 1 May 1940, 1,469 PzB 38/39 were available.}
***** Therefore, the following Unit changes need to be made to reflect the Historical availability of this Wpn as Only Special Forces (Brandenburger) and FJg would have utilized early availability PzB in Poland.
Unit #114 - Panzerbuechse - Change Available Date to 01/040 from 06/038.
Unit #250 - FJgPzBuechse - Change Available Date to 07/039 from 01/039.
Unit #263 - GebJg PzBuechse - Change Available Date to 04/040 from 01/039.
And Unit #471 - Brandenburger (Cdo Eng) Stays as is at 06/039
- they would have been the first users of this Wpn.*****
**Also, - as per 4. DATA below, adjust Ammo Loadout to 40 AP, 10 Sabot for each user of the PzB 38/39.
Plus, also adjust Wpn #88 PzB 38/39 [Sabot Pen = 4, Sabot Range = 9. Pen with Sabot at 50m = 6/7.**
b) - slightly larger calibre PTRD/PTRS
**[Acc = 16, Range 12? vs 14 - see EFFECTIVE RANGE note at end of section 4. DATA]**
with PTRD/PTRS relatively ineffective (AP Pen <3) beyond 300-500m (but always 3 at 500m),
not quite consistent beyond 400m, almost consistent 4 Pen to 250m and 5 Pen at 50m;
While they were initially highly effective against light German armor and the sides of lightly armored medium tanks, another use for the 14,5 mm guns¨was by Soviet infantrymen to break the tracks of heavier vehicles like Tiger or Ferdinand or penetrate viewport armorglass. The only reason the Soviets kept them in production was cheap to manufacture, mass produce and swamp the enemy with lots of harrassing fire. Numerous accounts of German tank battles from mid-late war years reflect this very fact, not that they had any effectiveness in actually killing German armored vehicles, other than light armored car, by that stage of the war - sometime disabling was just as effective if the Germans could not recover their vehicles during a retreat.
c) - the slightly more accurate PzB M SS 41 - consistent 4-3 pen through 300m (vs inconsistent PzB 38/39)
**[Acc 18 vs Incorrect 16]**
with PzB M SS 41 also relatively ineffective (AP Pen <3) beyond 300m,
**Although, with Sabot ammo [Sabot Pen = 4, Sabot Range = 8, PzB M SS 41 Ammo Loadout: 40 AP / 10 Sabot]**
(as also utilized on newly introduced EW141, since PzB M SS 41 retained until end-1943 vs 5/43 for PzB 38/39) gave a respectable up to 7 Pen at 50m using Sabot without changing effective range beyond 300m;
Pretty much the limit on what you could expect in upgraded performance from an ATR of this small calibre.
d) - PzB 770(p)
**[Acc = 18 vs Incorrect 16, Range 9 vs Incorrect Range 13]**
relatively ineffective (AP Pen <3) beyond 50m, with Max 450m range,
but with a consistent 2 Pen to 300m - good vs light armoured cars / tankettes;
{Because the ammunition for this weapon had no hardened core but relied on the high velocity of the bullet, penetration performance dropped significantly at ranges beyond 300m (as Corrected above).
The lack of a hard core in the projectile (weight: 12.8g) this weapon fired is widely regarded as the foremost drawback of this weapon. The high velocity of the bullet made for an extremely staright flight path, therefore sights at a range of 300m were used.
Penetration performance is rated at 22mm of armor at 50m and 15mm at 100m (both at 60° impact angle), which sufficed for the successfull engagement of lightly armored vehicles early in the war,
but like other tank rifles the weapon was practically useless against tanks after 1940.
Some of the weapons were also given to and employed by italian troops.
Per (Good info source)
http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/show...mp-Machineguns. }
e) - PzB 782(e) - relatively ineffective (AP Pen <3) beyond 50m;
***[Acc = 14 vs Incorrect 16 - reflects its historical ineffectiveness,
Range 10 vs incorrect Range 13 - again, reflects its historical ineffectiveness
- plus, matches the range of the other 2 e) obsolete ATRs.
HEAT = 3 vs 4 - again, reflects its historical ineffectiveness.]***
**This Wpn is nearly similar to both other Obsolete ATRs Wpn #90 & Wpn #142 and requires change in Spob07 Great Britain, 15 Anzac, 30 Canada, and any other applicable nations also.**
g) - Meanwhile, with the Modern EW 141
***[Acc = 17 vs 16,
Range 18 vs 24 (heavier AP shell would likely not travel as far as HE, just common sense),
No HE Kill Value as designed for ATR use ONLY,
Sabot Pen = 4 , Sabot Range = 12 (was designated to use majority of available Sabot ammo - more plentiful in this calibre as uses minimal amount compared to say 50mm to 75mm Sabot shell
- as PzB 38/39 ATR was being phased out anyway in early 1943),
Ammo Loadout: 30 AP / 90 Sabot / No HE]***
with respectable 450m effective range (AP Pen = 3) to 450 using AP and/or Sabot,
although Sabot could Pen up to 7 at 50m,
5 Pen at 100m and consistent 4 Pen through 200m.
This pretty much displays the absolute upper limit on what could be achieved with a Modernized ATR converted from a MG and accurately reflects why most nations phased them out in favour of shaped charge weapons.
Not at all ineffective when used within accepted EFFECTIVE RANGE - per 4. DATA.
3. B) With using WH=2 [and even using Incorrect Values per Default OOB]
a) - PzB 38/39 - relatively ineffective (AP Pen <3) beyond 300m, Consistent 4 Pen at 50m,
Very Minor differences - Consistent 3 to 300m & 2 Pen to 650 (vs 600m with WH=1).
Plus, No Sabot capability! ;
b) - PTRD/PTRS - relatively ineffective (AP Pen <3) beyond 450-500m,
and 5 Pen at 50m, almost consistent 4 Pen to 250m.
Very Minor differences - not quite consistent at 300m & not quite consistent at 200m;
c) - PzB M SS 41 - also relatively ineffective (AP Pen <3) beyond 250-300m,
Very Minor differences - not quite (vs) consistent to 300m.
Plus, No Sabot capability! ;
d) - PzB 770(p) - relatively ineffective (AP Pen <3) beyond 300m,
Major Differences - Consistent 4 Pen at 50m, Consistent 3 to 300m.
Thus, making this almost equivalent to the PzB 38/39 - Which it WAS NOT! ;
e) - PzB 782(e) - relatively ineffective (AP Pen <3) beyond 50m,
Minor differences - nearly (vs) not quite consistent 2 Pen to 450m (vs 350m).
Thus, negligible effect other than increased plinking (harrassment) range.
g) - EW 141 - Major Differences and Inconsistencies!
With an astounding 600m (vs 450m) effective range (AP Pen = 3) using AP (but also 50% HE which it should Not have!),
Consistent 4 Pen to 100m (vs Farther 200m per ** above) using AP (but also 50% HE which it should Not have!),
Nealy consistent 3 Pen to 600m (vs 450m) using AP (but also 50% HE which it should Not have!),
Plus, yet again, No Sabot capability! ;
And with Correct WH=2,
f) - sPzB 41 - Only Ineffective (AP Pen <4) after 1,250m,
Respectable 6 Pen up to 900m,
Impressive 10 Pen up to 200m,
and a Very Impressive 13 Pen to 100m,
all using Sabot - as this is what the weapon was designed around from the start, with HE capability (which is completely missing from the game) added slightly later in 1941.
[But,
*****Adjust Ammo Loadout of Following sPzB 41 Units as follows to reflect 1 HE : 3 Sabot Ratio
- per 5. PRODUCTION:
Unit #115 - 28/20mm sPzB41 - Revise name to '28/20mm sPzB41' - see VIP Note at end,
NOTE re: HTs - Revision Data Tentative as awaiting Panzer Tracts 15-1/2/3
in regards to correct ammo loadout and crew/passenger size.
Current #'s seem off as SkKfz 250 type HTs should not have lrgr AMMO loadout than 251 type HTs.
Unit #166 - SdKfz 250/11 - Tentatively Revise Ammo Loadout to 30 HE, 60 Sabot,
Unit #218 - SdKfz 251/10a - Tentatively Revise Ammo Loadout to 40 HE, 60 Sabot,
Also requires new LBM as picture shown is incorrect - 251/9.
Unit #423 - SdKfz 221/2 - Revise as to both Name 'SdKfz 221/2 MG' and AMMO loadout to 30 HE, 60 Sabot,
Unit #426 - SdKfz 221/2 - Revise as to both Name 'SdKfz 221/2 MG' and AMMO loadout to 30 HE, 60 Sabot.]*****
[CONT]