47MM MLE1937 ATG

The 47mm Mle1937 was a very powerful  anti tank gun for 1940, it was able to knock out any 
German tank from 800 to 1000 meters and beyond.

There are reports of these same guns mounted on the Laffly W15 TCC destroying 
4 German tanks at a range of 2000 meters.

Excerpt from the Book Tank Fighter Team By Robert M Gerard
"When the first German tank came close enough, approximately 800 yards, the 47-mm.antitank-gun crew opened fire. At this position I had placed the crew I considered most efficient, because antitank gun (1) was the most important spot in our defense. This crew really knew how to fire. In two shots it hit the first German tank in the column and put it out of action. The shell seemed to have gone through the tank like butter. But our feeling of complacency over this did not last long. The second tank was shooting high-explosive shells against the edges of the village. One of the shells fell not very far away. 
The 47-mm antitank-gun crew, however, opened fire again and got this second tank. 
The German column then hesitated a little."
(In the end this 47mm gun crew accounts for 4 of the 7 tanks killed.)


Pictures from Tanks In France Website

Side Schematic

Specifications:
Canon de 47mm L/53 Mle1937 (SA37)
Caliber : 47x380R mm
Crew : 1 NCO + 5 men
Weight : 1070kg
Length : 4.10m
Width : 1.62m
Height : 1.10m
Barrel length : 2497mm (2350mm rifling)
Rate of fire : 15-20 rpm
Traverse : 68°
Elevation : -13° to +16.50°
Telescopic sight : 4x (field of view 10.13°, + reticle, adjustable drum up to 3500m)
V° : 855 m/s

Ammuntion:
Obus de rupture Mle1936 (APCBC)
Caliber : 47x380R mm
Weight of projectile : 1.726 kg (1.710 kg without ballistic cap)
Length of projectile : 192 mm (APC 144.5mm + BC 92mm, total length of the shell : 555.5mm)
V° = 855 m/s

Penetration:
60mm 30° at 600 yards
80mm 15° at 200 yards

British Documents

Close up

Obus explosif Mle1932 M39 (HE)
Caliber : 47x380R mm
Weight of projectile : 1.410 kg (142g explosive)
V° = 590 m/s