Infantry Anti-Tank Weapons

[wiltaz]

I've read several sources listing the types of anti-tank weapons the infantry carried. They all say basically the same thing but I was looking for alittle more info on when these weapons were issued. All say that the Germans captured American bazookas in Africa or Russia depending on the source which they based the Raketenpanzerbüchse 43 on. All say they made these in limited numbers and in October of 1943 the Raketenpanzerbüchse 54 succeeded it. But when did the Raketenpanzerbüchse 43 start production or enter service???

Also, the Panzerfaust 30 came out in August of 43 and then a larger warhead was designed and the first model was designated Panzerfaust 30 (klein). Does anyone know when the new Panzerfaust 30 with the larger warhead entered service? I know it was before 44 but not what month.

[Christian]

Check out the following:

http://www.geocities.com/Augusta/8172/panzerfaust2.htm

Panzerfaust 30
"Deliveries on the first order of 50,000 began in August 1943 with 6,800 pieces. Production ran until August 1944, then it was switched over to successor, the Panzerfaust 60. The first large quantity of this weapon made available to the Wehrmacht, the german armed forces, was the delivery of 8700 pieces in September 1943."

Christian

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more......................

Close combat (Nahkampf)!

Panzerfaust 60: This was the most common version and was completed in early 1944. However, it did not reach full production until September 1944, when 400,000 were to be produced each month. It had a much more practical range of 60 m (66 yd), although with a muzzle velocity of only 45 m (148 ft) per second, the warhead would take 1.3 seconds to hit a tank at that distance. To achieve higher speed, the tube diameter was increased to 5 cm (2.0 in) and 134 g (4.7 oz) of propellant was used with a total length of 104 cm (41 in). It also had an improved flip-up rear sight and trigger mechanism. The weapon now weighed 6.1 kg (13 lb). It could pierce 200 mm (7.9 in) of armor.

Source: https://www.nevingtonwarmuseum.com/panzerfaust5.html
https://www.catawiki.com/en/l/12446711- ... -1960-1988

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more......................

The last defense.

Source: https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/artic ... ird-reich/

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little more....................

Men Against Tanks - German Method.

The machine gun and cannon of a tank can cover a full circle horizontally by the rotation of the turret and the turning of the tank itself. But vertically the sweep of both guns is very limited and thus there results an "unprotected angle" downwards ("a" in sketch 1) and consequently a "dead circle" (b) within which the tank cannot be protected by its weapons. Furthermore, the tank with its hatches and observation ports closed for battle has only slight possibilities of surveying its immediate vicinity through its narrow peepholes. The "tank hunter, " therefore, allows the tank to approach as near as possible and then dives into the "dead circle" where defensive weapons are not effective.

In the sketch 2 the more vulnerable parts of the tank are indicated. The relatively thin top armor ( A) is easily vulnerable to aerial bombs, and the underside ( B) to powerful mines. The parts always aimed at by the " tank hunter" are the chain drive (C) , the tracks ( D) , the peephole ( E) , the observation ports ( F) , the joint between turret and body (G) , and the poorly protected motor ( H) .

Skilled "tank hunters" first throw smoke bombs at the tank which is thus blinded in a shroud of clinging, earthbrown smoke. By means of smoke screens laid between advancing vehicles , even tanks traveling in close columns can be isolated and deprived of mutual protection by cross-fire.

Heavy disk mines are then thrown at the monster, shattering its treads, while old hands at the game are able to throw their disks right on the peep- hole or the motor, totally destroying the tank. The machine gun can be put out of action by striking it with an iron rod, but the masterpiece of tank destruction is achieved when the "tank hunter" jumps on the rear of the tank and shoves his disk between the turret and the body, ripping the turret with its heavy cannon from its track and fastenings.

Today, every German grenadier is trained in this risky business, and is familiar with all the special weapons used in tank destruction.

Sources: Military Review. August 1943.

Cheers. Raúl M .