12.8 cm Pak 44 (Pak from the German Panzerabwehrkanone "anti-tank gun") is a German anti-tank gun used during World War II. It was developed as a result of experience on the Eastern Front in 1943. The German army encountered Soviet 122-mm field guns and issued a demand for similar weapons. Initially, development focused on a field gun known as the Kanone K 44. However, once heavier Soviet tanks such as the IS-2 began to appear, the design requirements were changed to include anti-armor. The Pak 44 has short and medium range performance similar to the 8.8 cm Pak 43, but the 12.8 cm Pak 44 maintains its anti-tank performance better at long and very long ranges of 1,800–2,700 m (2,000–3,000 yd) and beyond - at the same time, it is an effective field gun when firing high-explosive shells.
