Junkers Ju 87 G „Kanonenvogel“, gefilmt aus einem Mitstuka, während er 1943 die sowjetischen Fahrzeuge während der zweiten Schlacht von Kiew engagiert hat

[extended footage](https://rumble.com/v6rhp93-ju-87-stukas-engage-soviet-targets-with-bombs-and-cannon-fire-during-the-2n.html)

With the G variant, the ageing airframe of the Ju 87 found new life as an anti-tank aircraft. This was the final operational version of the Stuka, and was deployed on the Eastern Front. With Soviet tanks the priority targets, the development of a further variant as a successor to the Ju 87D began in November 1942. On 3 November, Erhard Milch raised the question of replacing the Ju 87, or redesigning it altogether. It was decided to keep the design as it was, but the power-plant was upgraded to a Junkers Jumo 211J, and two 37mm cannon in the form of the [Bordkanone 3,7 (BK 3,7)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BK_3,7).

The 37mm caliber was more or less the world standard before WWII but had been obsolete as an ground based anti-tank weapon from virtually the beginning the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union, however when mounted on an aircraft it could achieve good results regardless for several reasons:

– from the air one can approach the tank from any angle, and can therefore target the more vulnerable sides, rear and top which is much harder to do if maneuvering a vehicle on the ground or from a static anti-tank gun position

– gravity is on your side, as well as the fact that the shell muzzle velocity is [normal shell velocity + aircraft velocity]. An increase in velocity results in an exponential increase in kinetic energy. The shell not only leaves the muzzle faster than it would fired from the ground, but because of gravity it also slows down at a lower rate.

– the extreme firing angle negates any advantages that sloped armor might have compared to when it is struck by fire at ground level. The [side armor on a T-34](https://i.imgur.com/Vy7EyXK.jpg) for example is angled at 40 degrees, and an aircraft is making a firing run coming down in a dive, then it’s practically hitting the plate vertically. For the cannon visible in action in this footage, firing APCR [*Hartkernpanzergranatpatrone*](https://i.imgur.com/o1hXaUC.jpg) ammunition with a tungsten alloy core, the projectiles could punch through 69mm of armor sloped at 30 degrees at a range of 100 meters. This would give the aircraft a chance of disabling even the heaviest of Soviet tanks of the period.

In the last segment of the footage, only the shadow of the attacking Stuka can be seen in the top center of the frame but it’s apparent that a direct hit causes a catastrophic explosion in the vehicle being targeted.