Page 360 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

358 ANTI-TANK WEAPONS

1914–1945 The advent of the tank forced arms designers to come up Armored shield Rectangular

frame sight
with weapons powerful enough to counter this threat. For the infantry,
who bore the brunt of the armored assault, armor-piercing rifles
successful, but improvements in tank armor during World War II
ARS came as a solution. Weapons such as the Panzerbüsche were also ◀ PAK 36 ANTI-TANK GUN
rendered them obsolete. Lightweight, short-range weapons
firing shaped-charge projectiles became more useful. The most
Date 1934
Origin Germany
effective anti-tank weapon, however, was a
ORLD W high-velocity artillery piece. The Boys anti-tank rifle Weight 723lb (328kg) 1
1
Length 5 ⁄2ft (1.66m)
Caliber 37mm
Armor penetration 1 ⁄2in (38mm)
▼ BOYS MK1
THE W ANTI-TANK RIFLE fired a heavy tungsten- Tubular at 400 yards (365m)
steel round, and had a
Date 1937
Designed for warfare in the 1930s, the
split trail
correspondingly violent
light PAK 36 was obsolete by 1940.
Origin UK
recoil. However, it was
It was nicknamed the “doorknocker”
Weight 36lb (16.33kg)
armor, and was replaced
Barrel 35 ⁄4in (91cm) only able to pierce light Multi-section barrel for the way its shells bounced off the
3
armor of Allied tanks.
by the PIAT.
Caliber .55in
3
Armor penetration ⁄4in
(21mm) at 330 yards (302m)
Box magazine
holds five rounds
Muzzle brake
T-shaped monopod
supports weight of rifle

▶ FLAK 36 AA/AT GUN Designed as an anti-aircraft (AA) gun,
Date 1936 the famed “88,” as it was known,
was found to be highly effective as
Origin Germany an anti-tank gun. It could be put in
Weight 8.1 tons (7.4 tonnes) position very quickly—within three
Length 19ft (5.79m) minutes—although its bulk and
height made it difficult to conceal.
Caliber 88mm
It was able to fire up to 20 rounds
1
Armor penetration 6 ⁄4in per minute.
(159mm) at 1,094 yards (1,000m)
Road wheels
Ten-round
box magazine

▲ LAHTI L39 ANTI-TANK RIFLE ▼ PANZERBÜSCHE 39 The PanzerbÜsche 39 relied
Date 1939 ANTI-TANK RIFLE on its very high muzzle
Origin Finland Plywood skis Date 1940 velocity and tungsten-cored
bullet to penetrate enemy
Weight 109lb (49.5kg) for balance Origin Germany armor. It was, however,
3
1
Barrel 4 ⁄4ft (1.3m) Weight 27 ⁄4lb (12.6kg) expensive to manufacture,
1
Caliber 20 × 138Bmm Barrel 3 ⁄2ft (1.08m) and was only produced in
small numbers.
Armor penetration 1 ⁄4in (30mm) Caliber 7.92 × 94mm
1
at 109 yards (100m) Armor penetration 1in
(25mm) at 328 yards (300m)
The L39’s enormous size and weight Folding stock
gave it the nickname “Elephant Gun.” (extended)
It was used to good effect during the
Winter War of 1939–40.
Barrel with integral
recoil mechanism