Use Occam's razor. What is a simple answer? The Germans designed a lot of guns after 1939 and they couldn't all be Pak 42-44-45 so maybe a couple of larger numbers were used to clear up nomenclature confusion.

Germans are into precision unlike the US Army with the M3 halftracks, light tank, medium tank and submachine gun.

A German general said war is chaos and the reason Americans are so good at is because Americans practice chaos on a great scale.

You're not the only one to ask

https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=59792

H.P.

5cm X 60 is much more than 90 cm it is 300 5cm x 10 is 50 X6 =300

Germans are into precision unlike the US Army with the M3 halftracks, light tank, medium tank and submachine gun.

He's talking about the difference in length .
60-42 calibers
18 times 5 = 90 cm difference in length .

Spielberger only says the gun's name was changed to the 80 , but not why .
I imagine it's like ASTM #'s ,, administrative - too many guns with '43 & '44 ?

EDIT -- I see Peter was typing at the same time !
Cheers

So, do you agree the number "80" is basically just a sequence number without a particular meaning such as the found in, for example, the PAK 40?
thanks
DJ

The length in calibres refers to the bore, not to the barrel as a whole. It is therefore of limited use to a modeller buyind that if a tank is upgraded to an L/60 version of the same calibre L/42 weapon, it tells you how much longer the barrel is (unless one had a muzzle brake of course). For a 5cm weapon, that would be 5 x (60 - 42) = 90cm.

As is common at this time, this weapon underwent several name changes. At various times it was known as K 44, Pak 44, Kanone 81, Pak 80 and Pjk 80.

Equipment numbered in the 8x range were temporary items usually issued in small numbers and not regarded as standard issue service weapons. Hence Pak 80 and Pjk 80 were temporary names, as were K81/x.[/i][/b]

Had this equipment been accepted into full service, it would have had a Pak 4x designation attached. The only difference between the Pak 44 and the K 44 was the mode of operation—the weapon itself was identical.