PaK 38 50mm (PanzerAbwehrKanone) is a German Anti-tank unit. It is the foremost German anti-tank gun fielded in phase A, available to almost every German division. It is capable of dealing with vehicles, light tanks as well as the lightly armoured Cromwell medium tanks. It is very similar (but very slightly inferior) to the British 6-pdr and the American 57mm in that they all provide early game anti-tank capacity against the still light threat of enemy armour.
Overview[ | ]
The Pak 38 was developed in 1939 as it became clear that the Pak 36 would be insufficiently powerful for future military engagements. Production of the AT gun started in 1940 and it was first used in limited numbers on the Eastern front in April 1941, where it was one of the few German guns back then capable of dealing with T-34s. While it was superseded by the Pak 40, the Pak 38 still remained useful throughout the war and would see action until the end of the Second World War. In total, around 9500 Pak 38 systems were produced during the war.
In 16. Luftwaffe's Luftwaffe-Jägerregiment 32 and 46 Anti-Tank Companies has 6 PaK 38. Luftwaffe-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 16's 1. Kompanie: had three Pak 38 and six PaK 40.
Strategy[ | ]
Phase A is where the Allies generally have the upper hand over the Axis. The pak 38 is an inexpensive bread-and-butter unit to prevent German forces being overwhelmed by Allied forces and provides good early AT capacities. Unfortunately, its accuracy is mediocre and like all early anti-tank guns, its shells can only fire up to 1000m range. The AT gun will often miss its first shot, allowing the enemy to return fire. Nevertheless, a supported Pak 38 should have no trouble dealing with vehicles and tanks, though a few Allied units in particular will prove to be bothersome: the Cromwell VI which outranges the Pak 38, the Sherman M4A1 fielded by US 3rd Armored and the British heavy tank AVRE.
The Pak 38's usefulness drops off in phase B, as it starts to be hampered by its 1000m range and many Allied divisions start fielding tanks whose armour will be too thick for the Pak to penetrate. This especially rings true for the Sherman tank, available to many Allied divisions.
