Anti-tank rifle PzB M.SS.41 / PzB-41(t) (Czechoslovakia - Germany)

Anti-tank rifle PzB M.SS.41 / PzB-41(t) (Czechoslovakia - Germany)

Anti-tank rifle PzB M.SS.41 / PzB-41(t).

Anti-tank rifle PzB M.SS.41 / PzB-41(t).

The PzB M.SS.41 / PzB-41(t) anti-tank rifle was developed in Czechoslovakia, occupied by German troops, at a plant in Brno, and in 1941 it was adopted by the Waffen SS troops. This anti-tank rifle can be considered the first type of weapon in the bullpup configuration that ever entered service, although not widely. The production of PzB M.SS.41 / PzB-41(t) anti-tank rifles was quite limited. On the basis of this design, Czech engineers developed an experimental single-shot anti-tank rifle W-15 of 15mm caliber, but it was not produced in series. Like other systems of the same class, the PzB M.SS.41 / PzB-41(t) anti-tank rifle had largely lost its effectiveness against Allied tanks (T-34, KV, M4 Sherman, Churchill) by mid-1942.

The PzB M.SS.41 / PzB-41(t) anti-tank rifle is built in a bullpup configuration and has an unusual design to ensure minimal dimensions for a given barrel length. In this gun, the bolt is stationary and rigidly connected to the body of the weapon, and the barrel moves for reloading. Locking is done by turning the barrel clockwise (in the breech of the barrel there are cutouts for the radial lugs of the fixed bolt). After unlocking (by turning the barrel counterclockwise), the barrel moves forward relative to the body of the weapon (stock), while the spent cartridge case is held by the extractor hook on the fixed bolt mirror. After the barrel is pulled forward all the way, the spent cartridge falls out of the weapon, and the barrel can be moved back. When moving backward, the barrel captures the next cartridge from the magazine, “running” into it, and after the barrel reaches its rearmost position, it must be turned clockwise, rigidly engaging the bolt. The movement of the barrel (rotation and movement back and forth) is controlled using a pistol grip attached to it. The cartridges are fed from detachable box magazines attached to the left, at an angle downwards. The PzB M.SS.41 / PzB-41(t) anti-tank rifle is equipped with a developed muzzle brake and a shock-absorbing cushion on the butt, in front of the metal stock there is a folding bipod. Non-adjustable sights are located on folding stands and are sighted at 500 meters.

Around the conical trunk

In 1942, an interesting type of anti-tank weapon, developed for the German army and actively used on all fronts of World War II since 1941, fell into the hands of the Allies. Its main difference from other anti-tank rifles and cannons was the conical barrel, the caliber of which at the breech was greater than the caliber at the muzzle.

Officially, the gun was called “2.8 cm schwere Panzerbüchse 41 (2.8 cm s.Pz.B. 41).” According to German documents, the gun was classified as a small arms weapon, but the Main Artillery Directorate of the Red Army, as well as the military ministries of Great Britain and the United States, classified the s.Pz.B. 41 as an anti-tank gun. The reason for such a different classification was that this type of weapon has all the signs of an artillery gun: a carriage (upper and lower machine), a shield cover, a cradle with a recoil device; however, aiming was carried out manually, by moving the shooter’s body and tilting the barrel up and down using special handles.

Captured anti-tank gun 2.8 cm s.Pz.B. 41 being tested in the USSR (TsAMO)

Samples of the gun were captured by the Allies at different times and tested at test sites independently of each other. In the USSR, the tests were supervised by the State Autonomous Agrarian University. The guns were disassembled and carefully studied, detailed instructions for assembly and disassembly were written on them, and drawings were drawn. It is interesting that the documents of the GAU, the Americans and the British are similar to each other and almost exactly repeat the German data. In the USSR s.Pz.B. 41 was tested and described in 1942; the British included a description of the gun in the list of enemy weapons, which was published in December of the same 1942.

History of creation

At the beginning of the 20th century, in 1903–1907, German professor Karl Puff carried out work to increase the initial speed of the projectile. He proposed making barrels of variable caliber, with a slight taper (the breech has a larger caliber than the muzzle). To ensure that the projectile did not get stuck in the barrel, it had a special guide skirt in the middle of the body, which made it possible to fit tightly to the rifling of the barrel at the beginning of the shot. As the projectile moved along the bore, the skirt was gradually compressed and wrinkled into a special groove on the projectile body. Such a projectile most efficiently used the energy of powder gases and received a higher initial velocity compared to traditional systems. The disadvantages of the design were the complexity of manufacturing the barrel and its short service life.

Gerlich bullet and tapered barrel designs (US Patent 1944883 US Patent and Trademark Office)

After the end of World War I, in the 1920s, Hermann Gerlich continued Karl Puff's experiments in creating rifle-caliber infantry weapons with high muzzle velocity. The main difference from previous designs was that instead of one skirt on the bullet, Gerlich used two: one in the middle and the second at the bottom of the bullet. This made it possible to increase the stability of the bullet in flight, while maintaining its high initial speed. In the late 20s and early 30s, several carbines were created and tested using conical barrels and Gerlich bullets. The records for the muzzle velocity of bullets set when firing from them have not yet been broken, but the main problems (manufacturing cost and low service life) have not been overcome.

In 1934, Gerlich died under rather strange circumstances, and all the technical documentation and the results of his experiments ended up in the hands of engineers in Oberndorf. By 1939, they had created a light infantry universal weapon based on the Gerlich principle, with a conical barrel of 28/20 mm caliber, designated Gerät 231 and MK.8202. Initially, the system was developed as automatic, but later automation was abandoned.

Captured 2.8 cm s.Pz.B gun. 41 on a carriage of the first type, tested in the USSR (TsAMO)

In the summer of 1940, an experimental batch was produced and sent for military testing. Based on the test results, after minor modifications, the gun was adopted by the Wehrmacht in February 1941 under the designation 2.8 cm schwere Panzerbüchse 41.

During the war against the USSR, the Wehrmacht encountered T-34 and KV tanks, and it turned out that, although under certain conditions the s.Pz.B. 41 and can knock out these types of tanks, but the likelihood of this is very low. By 1943, it became obvious that the gun did not meet the requirements for anti-tank weapons at all, so production was discontinued in 1943. However, it continued to be used by troops until the end of the war as a means of combating lightly armored targets and trucks, as well as suppressing machine gun nests and guns.

Gun s.Pz.B. 41 on a carriage with wheels. The carriage structure and the layout of the shield cover are visible (https://ww2photo.se)

Production of the 2.8 cm schwere Panzerbüchse 41 was carried out in Oberndorf, the cost per unit was 4,500 Reichsmarks, by year of production the output was distributed as follows:

• 1940 - 90 pieces;
• 1941 - 339 pieces;
• 1942 - 1029 pieces;
• 1943 - 1324 pieces.

In 1942, based on the 2.8 cm s.Pz.B. 41, a tank version was made - 2.8 cm Kampfwagenkanone (2.8 cm KwK 42), intended for installation instead of the 2 cm Kampfwagenkanone (2 cm KwK) tank gun. A total of 24 units were produced, but in 1942 it was inappropriate to equip tanks with them, and they were abandoned.

Technical characteristics of 2.8 cm s.Pz.B. 41

The weapon is designed to combat tanks and armored vehicles, as well as to destroy armored and unarmored firing points. Thanks to the ease of aiming and loading and the relatively low weight and size, the gun met the requirements for maximum mobility and maneuverability.

Diagram of a barrel with a breech (Enemy weapons. Part III. German light anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns. The War Office. December 1942)

The gun was equipped with a quarter-automatic mechanism that closed the bolt, which ensured a rate of fire of 10 rounds per minute (according to German data), but according to the GAU KA the number of aimed shots was slightly higher - 12-15 (non-aimed - 20). The opening force of the shutter on the handle is about 5 kg. The loading operation was completed in 0.8–1 second.

The barrel was quick-detachable, was a monoblock pipe with a removable muzzle brake, and was connected to the breech using a cracker connection, which, in turn, was locked with a latch.

Longitudinal section of the trunk of s.Pz.B. 41 (TsAMO)

The breech was connected to a cradle, inside of which there were recoil devices. The wedge bolt, with horizontal movement, was equipped with a safety catch for triggering and prolonged shots. The shutter opened manually and closed automatically when the cartridge was chambered.

The first samples were equipped with an open sight with a permanent installation at all ranges, mounted on the counterweight of the cradle. Later s.Pz.B. 41 began to be equipped with an optical sight. With any type of sight, shooting was carried out only at direct fire.

For delivery to the position where s.Pz.B. 41 could not get on wheels; it was disassembled (without the use of tools) into parts that could be carried by crews. Regardless of the type of carriage, there were five main parts: a shield cover (two shields), a barrel with a muzzle brake, a cradle with a breech, a counterweight and a bolt, a lower and upper machine, a wheel drive/trailer.

The crew of the gun consisted of five people: the commander, the first number (gunner), the second number (loader), the third and fourth numbers (ammunition carriers). The shot was very loud, so earplugs had to be worn during shooting.

Transportation of s.Pz.B. 41 disassembled to a position in the mountains (https://tonnel-ufo.ru)

When carrying a disassembled gun, the commander carried the barrel with a muzzle brake, the first and second number transported the upper and lower carriage, the third number took the cradle with the breech, the fourth number was responsible for the shields. Wheel drive or trailer were not carried. Ammunition was carried in a 12-shot box (the box was externally identical to that for the 3.7 cm Pak, only the markings on the lid were different).

The gun had the following characteristics:

• initial projectile speed - about 1400 m/s;
• practical firing range – up to 500 m;
• trunk length – 1.7 m;
• number of grooves – 12;
• caliber (conical) – 28/20 mm;
• projectile weight: armor-piercing - 121 g, high-explosive fragmentation - 91 g (according to GAU KA - 93 g);
• barrel weight with muzzle brake (according to GAU KA) – 37 kg;
• weight of the shield cover (both shields) – 22 kg;
• barrel survivability - 500 shots.

Shells 2.8 cm Sprgr.-Patr. 41 and 2.8 cm Pzgr.Patr. 41 – illustration from “Artillery ammunition of the former German army. Directory. GAU USSR Armed Forces. Military publishing house of the USSR Ministry of Armed Forces, 1946"

Types of ammunition used:

• 2.8 cm Panzergranatpatrone 41 (2.8 cm Pzgr.Patr. 41) – armor-piercing;
• 2.8 cm Panzergranatpatrone 41 (Üb) (2.8 cm Pzgr.Ptr. 41 (Üb)) – practical;
• 2.8 cm Sprenggranatpatrone 41 (2.8 cm Sprgr.-Patr. 41) – high-explosive fragmentation;
• 2.8 cm Platzpatrone (2.8 cm Pl. Patr) – single;
• 2.8 cm Exerzierpatrone (2.8 cm Ex. Patr.) – training.

Armor penetration of the 2.8 cm Pzgr.Patr. gun. 41 was as follows:

Armor penetration, according to Soviet data, was not determined on the basis of actual firing, but was calculated using Jacob de Marre's formula for cemented armor with a coefficient of K = 2400.

Shield cover

The crew's protection consisted of two shields independent of each other - the main shield and the gunner's shield. Each of them, in turn, consisted of two sheets of armor 4.5 and 5.5 mm thick, located with a gap from each other. The armor plates of the shields were fastened to each other with bulletproof bolts, similar to those used in the shields of the Pak 38 and Pak 40 guns. The gap between the armor at the main shield was 46 mm. The edges of the shield were wavy and irregular in shape, which contributed to better camouflage of the gun.

Two s.Pz.B guns 41 show a slight difference in shields: on the left of the first type, on the right of the second (Canadian War Museum in Ottawa and the French Tank Museum in Saumur, respectively)

The main shield was located in front and covered the crew, and was attached by means of spring-loaded pins to the upper machine of the carriage. The gunner's shield was installed on the breech and was intended to protect the gunner's head when firing. Both shields are removable; during transportation, the gunner's shield was attached on top of the main shield. The main shield of the first 90 guns differed slightly from that of the later s.Pz.B. 41 (the shape of the gun loophole has been changed)

Cradle

Box-type, the pins attached to the upper machine were permanently connected to the cradle. The top cover of the cradle served as a guide for the movement of the sliding parts. A copier for cocking the firing pin during recoil and a counterweight for balancing the swinging part of the gun were attached to the cradle. The trigger mechanism and sight were assembled on the counterweight. The counterweight is hollow; spare parts and accessories were placed inside the counterweight boxes.

Cradle with counterweight (TSAMO)

At the rear, the counterweight formed two handles that served to direct the gun at the target; the trigger mechanism was connected to them to fire a shot. The design of the handles was very comfortable; the size and shape of the handles corresponded to the shape and size of the hand. The gunner held the gun firmly and reliably and had the opportunity to press the trigger at any necessary moment without taking his hands off the handles.

To point the barrel in a vertical plane, it was necessary to apply a force of 3–5 kg to the counterweight handles, and to rotate it in a horizontal plane – only 1–2 kg. Due to the ease of aiming, the gunner could rotate the gun 60–70° horizontally in one second, while similar actions using a rotating mechanism took 15–20 seconds. An experienced gunner aimed the gun at a newly designated target in 2–3 seconds, whereas the 3.7 cm Pak or the Soviet 45 mm anti-tank gun with a lifting and rotating mechanism took 6–12 seconds (average time 8–9 seconds).

Gun carriage

Two types of carriages were developed for the gun, which differed from each other (the barrel and cradle were the same). The upper and lower machines were different.

Lafette mit Fahrgestell

– carriage with wheels. It consisted of a cradle with recoil devices, an upper movable machine with dampers, a lower fixed machine with sliding frames, a shield cover, sighting devices and a sprung combat wheel.

Sprung combat wheel travel (CAMO)

The box-section beds were exactly the same, with the exception of the parts connecting them together in the stowed position. In the middle part they were connected by a hinged beam, limiting the angle of separation. Openers were welded to the rear ends of the frames.

The beds were attached to the lower machine, which served as the basis for the upper machine with mechanisms and for connection with the wheel drive.

Beds, upper and lower machine (TsAMO)

The upper machine could rotate relative to the lower one and was intended to install the swinging part of the gun (cradle with breech and barrel), vibration damper and main shield.

Firing could be carried out either with or without wheels when the lower machine was installed on the ground (this significantly reduced the profile of the gun); in both cases, sliding frames were used for emphasis. The wheels were unified with the Infanteriekarren 8 infantry cart.

The gunner's working posture depended on the position in which the gun was installed (with or without wheels). In the first case, the gunner worked from his knee; in the second case, shooting was possible only from a prone position.

Firing position with wheels removed (TSAMO)

The wheel drive was equipped with a spring and rubber tires filled with a sponge chamber, and was intended for the movement of s.Pz.B. 41 for short distances. Very often the gun was attached to an Infanteriekarren 8 trolley, which was used as a charging box. Two people could easily transport a gun on wheels over a distance of 300–500 meters or more, sometimes walking and sometimes running. At the GAU KA training ground, fighters moved the gun over loose sand over a distance of 500 meters in 5.5 minutes. Bringing s.Pz.B. 41 to the “combat” position when firing from a wheeled vehicle took only 5–7 seconds.

For long-distance transportation on roads, the Sd.Ah.32/2 trailer (Sonderanhänger für schwere Panzerbüchse 41) was used, equipped with special ladders for rolling up the s.Pz.B. 41 on wheels.

Gun s.Pz.B. 41 and the Infanteriekarren 8 trolley - in this form it was transported from location to position (https://www.istmira.com)

Only 90 of these carriages were produced. Surprisingly, it is on this version of the carriage that the s.Pz.B. 41 were captured by both the Red Army and the British.

Technical characteristics of s.Pz.B. 41 on a carriage of the first type:

• gun length with carriage – 2580 mm;
• weight with wheels – 223.2 kg;
• weight without wheels – 162.22 kg;
• horizontal firing angle – 60°;
• vertical firing angle – from +25° to −15°;
• the weight of the lower and upper machine is 57 kg.

Gun s.Pz.B. 41 mountain rangers in transport position on Sd.Ah.32/2 (https://forum.ioh.pl)

After the release of the first 90 units and their testing, it became clear that the design solution used up to that point did not meet the requirements of the army and was too heavy. Therefore, from the 91st unit of s.Pz.B. 41 began to be equipped with a different type of carriage.

Leichter
Feldlafette (leFl)
- a lightweight field carriage, distinguished by a different upper and lower machine and a modified wheel travel. Due to the use of a tubular structure and light alloys, it was possible to significantly reduce the weight of the carriage. Due to the different design of the carriage, the angles of vertical and horizontal aiming have changed.

Lightweight s.Pz.B gun carriage 41, below are boxes of ammunition (Waffen Revue No. 19)

Instead of a sprung wheel travel, removable wheels of small diameter were attached to the lower machine in a lightweight version; the weight of each wheel with an axle was only 5 kg. Small wheels were enough to move from location to position.

Sliding frames were also abandoned. Instead, there was one removable tubular bipod, reinforced at the bottom with a brand, ending in a wide coulter. Two oval pipes, bent into a complex profile, were welded to the lower machine as side supports. And the lower machine itself was simplified as much as possible. The top machine was now a cast swivel. The functions of the lower and upper machines have not changed.

Gun s.Pz.B. 41 on a lightweight carriage. The wheels are folded, the structure of the rear bipod of the carriage is visible

Firing was possible both with and without attached wheels (in this case, the profile of the gun was reduced and stability increased). To install the carriage on the ground, it was not necessary to completely remove the wheels; it was enough to loosen the corresponding screw (no tools were required for this) and turn the wheel around the axis. The total length of the gun with the carriage remained the same, the weight of the gun with and without wheels was 147 and 137 kg, respectively.

For long-distance travel, a lightweight Sonderanhänger für schwere Panzerbüchse 41 auf leichter Feldlafette (Sd. Ah. 32/3) trailer was developed, weighing 85 kg. Wheels from the Infanteriekarren 8 trolley were used as wheels.

Lightweight trailer Sd. Ah. 32/3 for transportation of s.Pz.B. 41 with a lightweight carriage (Tank Museum of Saumur)

Thus, the s.Pz.B. gun 41 with a new carriage and trailer for road transport Sd. Ah. 32/3 began to weigh a little more than the gun on the carriage of the first version on wheels without taking into account the weight of the Sd trailer. Ah. 32/2.

After the s.Pz.B. was put into service. 41 were supplied to motorized formations, tank divisions, SS troops, separate anti-tank divisions, parachute and mountain ranger units.

Gun s.Pz.B. 41 on an armored personnel carrier Sd.Kfz. 250 of the Grossdeutschland Division (“Schützenpanzer” by Bruse Culver & Uwe Feist. Ryton Publications)

The practice of installing these guns in lightly armored vehicles on various homemade devices and stands has become widespread. There are a lot of photographs with installation options for various modifications of Sd.Kfz.250, Sd.Kfz.251, Sd.Kfz.221.

The last time this type of weapon was used in World War II was in street fighting in Berlin in 1945.

Detailed photo review of the museum specimen s.Pz.B. 41 can be viewed here.

Sources and literature:

1. Documents of the GAU KA Foundation, TsAMO
2. Schützenpanzer" by Bruse Culver & Uwe Feist, Ryton Publications
3. Lehrmaterial. Grundlehrgang für Truppführer. Deutsche Artilleriewaffen des 2. Weltkrieges und ihre Geschosse. Sprengschule Dresden
4. Documentation W 127: Datenblätter für Heeres Waffen Fahrzeuge Gerat. Karl. R. Pawlas, publizistisches Archiv für Militär- und Waffenwesen
5. Enemy weapons. Part III. German light anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns. The War Office. December 1942
6. Handbook on German military forces. War Department technical manual TM-E 30–451. War Department 03/15/1945. US Government Printing Office. Washington, 1945
7. Waffen Revue No. 19. Dez.-Febr. 1975/1976
8. Handbook of German artillery. Military publishing house NPO. Moscow, 1945
9. Artillery ammunition of the former German army. Directory. GAU USSR Armed Forces. Military Publishing House of the USSR Ministry of Armed Forces, 1946

Heavy anti-tank rifle 2.8 cm PzB 41

File:Drawing spzb41.jpg Drawing 2.8 cm schwere Panzerbüchse 41

Structurally, the s.Pz.B.41 is a light anti-tank gun with a conical barrel. The main parts of the gun are a barrel with a breech and bolt, a cradle with recoil devices, an upper machine, a lower machine with a stabilizer and frames, a shield cover, a wheel drive with suspension, and sighting devices.

Barrel and recoil devices

The barrel of the gun is rifled, monoblock manufacturing technology, has a mass of 37 kg together with the muzzle brake. A feature of the barrel design is the presence of a conical part - at its beginning the diameter of the barrel (along the rifling fields) is 28 mm, at the end, at the muzzle - 20 mm. This barrel design provides a significant increase in pressure in the barrel bore when fired and, accordingly, achieves a high initial speed (1400 m/s), but requires the use of specially designed projectiles with crushable belts. The barrel consists of a pipe, a breech and a muzzle brake. The pipe consists of a rear cylindrical and a front conical part. Inside the pipe there is a channel consisting of a chamber, a connecting cone and a threaded part. The chamber is used to accommodate the cartridge case; its volume is 0.171 dm³. With the help of a connecting cone, the chamber communicates with the threaded part of the conical outline. The length of the rifled part is 1270 mm, it has 12 grooves. The survivability of the rifled part of the barrel is low and amounts to 500 shots[11][12][13][11].

The muzzle brake is single-chamber, screwed onto the muzzle of the pipe and locked with a lock nut. The function of the muzzle brake is to absorb part of the recoil energy by removing part of the powder gases through specially shaped side windows. The breech serves to house the bolt and connect the barrel with recoil devices. The barrel tube is connected to the breech with a cracker-type lock, which allows, if necessary, a quick replacement of the barrel tube in the field. To secure the pipe in the breech there is a special latch[13].

The gun is equipped with a horizontal wedge quarter-automatic bolt (opens manually, closes automatically when chambering a cartridge). The bolt consists of a locking, cocking, firing, ejection mechanism, and also includes a safety device against prolonged shots and a trigger safety device. The shot is fired using the trigger lever[11][14].

Recoil devices are mounted in a cradle under the barrel on a skid. When fired, the barrel rolls back along with the slide; the normal length of the rollback is 241 mm, the maximum length is 280 mm. Recoil devices are represented by a hydraulic recoil brake and a spring knurl. A counterweight is attached to the rear of the cradle, designed to balance the swinging part of the implement. Structurally, it is made in the form of a metal part with handles, holding which the gunner aims the gun at the target. The swinging part of the gun includes a barrel with a bolt, recoil devices and a cradle with a slide [15][11][12].

The artillery system is equipped with two types of sighting devices: an open sight with a rear sight and a front sight, constant at all ranges, and a ZF 1×11 optical sight from the Pak 35/36 anti-tank gun.

Carriage

Top view of the breech of the gun.
The gun has a carriage with sliding frames, formed by the upper and lower machines. The swinging part of the gun is placed on the trunnions of the upper machine, and the shield cover and damper are also attached to it. Together, these structural elements make up the rotating part of the tool, which is connected to the lower machine using a ball strap. The artillery system does not have vertical and horizontal guidance mechanisms; guidance is carried out by turning the rotating and swinging parts of the gun manually[11].

The damper is designed to dampen barrel vibrations during shooting and aiming; it consists of a cast body with valve devices, two covers, a rod with two pistons and a rod head with a latch. The shield cover, designed to protect the crew from bullets, small fragments and shock waves from close explosions, is formed by two parallel armor plates, each 4 mm thick, with a gap of 35 mm between them. This design, implemented on the principle of spaced armor, provides better resistance against bullets and small shell fragments compared to a single armor plate of the same geometric shape and mass. In addition to the main shield, in the area of ​​the breech, a small additional shield is attached to the cradle, also made of two parallel armor plates[11][16].

A sprung wheel drive is attached to the lower machine, of which two frames with coulters are part. The wheel drive is connected to the machine using a pin with a stopper. The wheels are iron disc wheels, with rubber tires filled with sponge rubber. The presence of suspension allows you to tow the gun at speeds of up to 40 km/h[11][12].

A special feature of the gun is the ability to fire both from the wheels and directly from the lower machine. In the latter case, the wheel drive is removed (which takes 30-40 seconds), and the crew is placed in a lying position. If necessary, the gun can be easily disassembled into 5 parts without any tools: shield cover (20 kg), barrel with muzzle brake (37 kg), cradle with recoil devices, breech, bolt and counterweight (45 kg), wheel travel with spring (62 kg ), upper and lower machines with beds (57 kg)[11].

Classification

In the Wehrmacht, the 2.8 cm s.Pz.B.41 was officially classified as a heavy anti-tank rifle. At the same time, in official publications published by the Main Artillery Directorate of the Red Army[17][12][18], official American publications during the war[19], as well as in modern sources[2][5], including German[20 ], it is classified as an artillery piece.

The system has the following design features of an artillery gun:

• fairly large caliber (28 mm);
• the use of ammunition classified (including by the Wehrmacht itself) as shells (and not bullets)[2][21];
• the presence of leading belts (more precisely, centering conical protrusions) on the projectile [22] [18];
• the presence of a carriage with sliding frames, wheels, and shield cover;
• the presence of recoil devices;
• significant (for an anti-tank rifle) mass, which does not allow crews to carry the system without disassembling it;
• a crew of 3-5 numbers (an anti-tank rifle crew usually consists of two people);

The system is similar to an anti-tank rifle only in the absence of mechanisms for vertical and horizontal aiming, which was carried out directly by swinging the barrel and turning the rotating part of the gun by the gunner. At the same time, this type of guidance method is also typical for some small-caliber artillery pieces, in particular for guns mounted on pedestal mounts[23]. A modification of the gun, intended for installation on armored vehicles, was officially classified as a tank gun - 2.8/2 cm KwK 42[2].

History of PTR

HISTORY OF ANTI-TANK RIFLE

Methods of warfare improved as society developed. Huge amounts of money were invested in the development of means of warfare (and killing their own kind). And the twentieth century does not stand out much from the general background - there have only been more victims and more destructive consequences of the use of weapons. Combat tactics, weapons and means of defense changed, but one thing remained unchanged - the confrontation between the projectile and the armor.

Until the beginning of the 20th century, almost all military companies used maneuver warfare tactics. They switched to positional warfare only during the siege of fortresses. For military theorists, it seemed unshakable that the outcome of the war would be decided by attacks by cavalry divisions and massive infantry attacks. They did not notice the birth of new types of weapons. The machine gun, which appeared on the battlefield during the Boer War, showed all its capabilities during the siege of the Port Arthur fortress. Even the small number and discovered design flaws could not hide the high effectiveness of the machine gun in repelling attacks. Qualitative changes are also taking place in artillery. Equipping the guns with semi-automatic bolts and unitary projectiles resulted in an increase in the rate of fire to 9-12 rounds per minute (and in some cases up to 16-18).

The First World War, which began in 1914, at the first stage seemed to justify the theorists’ expectations from the General Staff. But already in 1915 the situation changed dramatically. Machine-gun fire thwarted all attempts by infantry and cavalry to attack enemy positions. And it was not for nothing that the famous “three-inch” was nicknamed the “Death Scythe”. Rapid fire from shrapnel shells inflicted terrible losses on the advancing infantry in chains. The situation at the fronts has changed. The infantry dug into the ground and surrounded their positions with thick rows of barbed wire. I had to forget about the dashing cavalry attacks. And the infantry attacks began to resemble an attempt at mass suicide. For every kilometer of positions captured from the enemy, the advancing side paid with tens of thousands of dead and huge expenditures of ammunition. By 1916 it became clear that the war had reached a stalemate. A new weapon was needed that could turn the tide of the sluggish trench warfare.

The war of 1914 - 1918 gave humanity many new means of killing. Chemical warfare agents, aircraft, armored vehicles. But to overcome numerous, well-fortified lines of defense, the opposing sides needed more effective weapons. The use of toxic substances (chlorine in 1915; mustard gas in 1917) showed their great dependence on weather conditions and the availability of chemical defense means among enemy troops. Armored vehicles have proven themselves well as reconnaissance and patrol vehicles, but have proven to be of little use as a means of supporting infantry. Low maneuverability did not allow them to follow infantry on the battlefield. Wire fences and shell craters held back the advance of armored vehicles, and the trench turned into an insurmountable obstacle.

The appearance of a tank on the battlefield was able to change the current situation. Invulnerable to small arms fire, armed with machine guns and rapid-fire guns, crushing barbed wire barriers - these iron monsters caused terror among the defending infantry. The first use of tanks justified all the hopes placed on them. Even the tank’s “childhood illnesses” could not spoil the overall impression of its use. England and France began to increase tank production. During its use, a new type of tank emerged from the sluggish infantry support tanks - the “cavalry” tank. His task included deep raids deep into enemy defenses and supporting cavalry.

The lack of attention on the part of the German command to the development of tank forces led to a serious lag in their production from the Entente states. It should not be surprising that the first anti-tank rifles appeared in the German army. Forced to fight against tanks, the German infantry needed a simple, and most importantly mobile, means of fighting them. The anti-tank guns that appeared in service were quite heavy, but they were not enough. To get out of this situation, German designers developed an anti-tank rifle in 1918. The world's first PTR turned out to be an analogue of the Mauser infantry rifle of the 1898 model, only without a magazine for cartridges and more massive. It was given the official name "Tankgever - 18".

"Tankgewehr M1918"

Since the gun's armor penetration left much to be desired, it was recommended to fire at tanks from a distance of no more than 100 meters. Strong recoil also made it difficult to shoot accurately. All this did not allow Takgever-18 to become a sufficiently effective means of anti-tank weapons. If we add to this the lack of tactical techniques for using “armor-piercing guns,” it becomes clear why they only had 7 French tanks. In five months of 1918, 15,800 of the first anti-tank rifles were produced. Only 4800 made it to the front.

After the end of the war, this type of weapon was forgotten, due to the emergence of more powerful anti-tank artillery. However, the designers remembered the advantages of “armor-piercing guns”. These included low mass, which means high maneuverability of crews, and the ability to quickly and reliably camouflage. Therefore, they returned to them already in the early 30s - design began in several countries at once. Now it was not an “ersatz” wartime gun, but a product with newly created components, thoroughly tested and with high combat capabilities. The success of the second generation PTR was also facilitated by ammunition with a high muzzle velocity, which guaranteed significant penetrating power.

Poland was one of the first to design and adopt an anti-tank rifle in 1935. In order to ensure secrecy, the gun was given the name “export anti-tank gun” with the addition of the index “Ur”. This was supposed to indicate export to Uruguay. The designers of the gun, officer Felstin and engineer Maroschuk, in order to ensure that its weight did not exceed 10 kg, chose a rifle caliber, and the bullet speed was increased to 1275 m/s. This was achieved thanks to the long barrel length in combination with a powerful powder charge of an armor-piercing cartridge. Tests showed that the gun could be effectively used against 70% of Wehrmacht armored vehicles. To increase the rate of fire, the gun was equipped with a 5-round magazine. Due to high loads, the service life of the barrel was 500 shots (according to other sources, only 200). In October 1938, the Polish army received the first 2,000 rifles.

Polish gun Ur.
Model 1935 In August 1939, there were already 3,500 of them, which was approximately 45% of the planned 7,610 pieces. Excessive secrecy measures led to the fact that this powerful anti-tank weapon remained undeveloped and was not used properly in September 1939. Most of the guns went to the Wehrmacht as trophies and were used in the war against the USSR.

The first German anti-tank rifle after 1918 was the PzB-38, created by engineers in Suhl.

Crew of Panzerbüchse PzB-38, 1941.

Taking into account the experience of using the 1918 model gun during the First World War, the weight of which was considered too large, it was decided to design the new gun for a newly developed cartridge. The dimensions and powder charge of the 318 armor-piercing cartridge corresponded to a 13-mm bullet. The gun was equipped with a vertical wedge bolt, which was opened by moving the pistol grip forward and down. It was single-shot and, to increase the rate of fire, was equipped with a drum container with a capacity of 36 rounds. After military tests, the weight of the gun was reduced from 16.2 kg to 12.6 kg, and the drum container was replaced with two clips of 10 rounds each. The modified gun was put into mass production under the designation PzB-39. In June 1941, the Wehrmacht had 25,298 such guns in service.

The PzB-39 shotgun was used with some success at the initial stage of the war to combat tanks, wedges, and armored vehicles that had bulletproof armor. It was ineffective against heavily armored tanks, such as the French B-1, British Matilda and Churchill, American Sherman and, especially, Soviet T-34 and KV.

In this regard, on the basis of the PzB-39, the GzB-39 anti-tank grenade launcher was developed for firing a cumulative grenade at heavily armored targets. When creating the grenade launcher, the barrel of the PzB -39 rifle was shortened, and a mortar was screwed onto its muzzle, which was in principle similar to the mortar of the rifle grenade launcher installed on the Mauser 98 rifle and 98k carbine. Like the PzB-39 anti-tank rifle, the grenade launcher had a bipod folding in the stowed position and a metal butt turning downward and forward. To carry the grenade launcher, a handle attached to the weapon was used.

German anti-tank grenade launcher Gz.B.-39

In addition to the listed rifles, the German army was armed with the Czechoslovak MSS-41 anti-tank rifle. Developed by designers in the early 1930s, the MSS-41 shotgun stands out in its class. Structurally, the gun is made according to the “bullpup” design and is a relatively short, easy-to-maintain, self-loading weapon.

Czechoslovakian rifle M.SS-41

Automation mechanisms operate using the recoil energy of a short-stroke barrel. The gun fires German 7.92 318 armor-piercing cartridges fed from a detachable box magazine with a capacity of 10 rounds. The MSS-41 shotgun was intended to combat light tanks and other lightly armored targets, as well as to fire at the embrasures of long-term firing points. After the occupation of Czechoslovakia, the gun entered service with the SS troops in large quantities. The main disadvantage of the PTR is that the gun was powerless against medium and heavy tanks of the Allies.

PTR designers did not limit themselves to the development of rifle-caliber shotguns. Since the mid-1930s, there has been an increase in the armor protection of tanks, to defeat which it was necessary to increase the caliber of anti-tank rifles to 12.7-20 mm.

In 1934, British Army Captain Boyce proposed an experimental version of the “armor-piercing gun.”

English gun Boys Mk.1

Experimental firing showed that its effect on the target was not as significant as expected, and in 1936 the caliber was increased to 13.9 mm. To increase the rate of fire, the gun was equipped with a 5-round magazine, and the following year it began to be supplied to the troops. They also arrived in armored units - they were installed on Mk VIC b tanks and Vickers Universal armored personnel carriers. During World War II, more than 1 thousand “boys” were delivered to the USSR.

American poster depicting a British soldier with Boyce's anti-tank rifle, 1942.

The first anti-tank rifle designed by I.V. Rukavishnikov, chambered for a 14.5 mm cartridge specially designed in 1938, was adopted by the Red Army on October 7, 1939. But mass production was never established. The reason for this was an incorrect assessment of the new weapon by the leadership of the People's Commissariat of Defense and, above all, by the head of the GAU Kulik. Moreover, on August 26, 1940, he excluded the PTR from the weaponry.

An attempt to organize mass production of Rukavishnikov rifles at the beginning of the war was not successful, and in July 1941, V.A. Degtyarev and G.S. Simonov were involved in the design of new models.

Degtyarev anti-tank rifle

Of the two samples developed by Degtyarev, a simplified, single-shot, with an incomplete automation cycle was approved.

To operate the automation, Simonov used the energy of powder gases, partially removed from the barrel after the shot. The gun itself was equipped with a 5-round magazine. After testing on August 29, the State Defense Committee decided to adopt them.

Simonov anti-tank rifle

The production of the simpler "Degtyarevsky" was established faster, and in 1941 the plant in Kovrov produced 17,688 PTRDs, and the following year - 10 times more. The production of PTRS required special preparation and material costs, so by the end of 1941, the Saratov plant delivered only 77 units to the army. But already in 1942, 63,308 Simonov PTRs were produced.

Soviet anti-tank rifles received their baptism of fire in the Battle of Moscow. Anti-tank rifle crews successfully fought with all types of Wehrmacht armored vehicles, including medium tanks. However, after the appearance of heavy vehicles with thicker armor in the Wehrmacht's arsenal, the effectiveness of these weapons began to decline. Anti-tank rifles began to be used more for shooting at armored personnel carriers, embrasures of bunkers, and servants of artillery guns.

PTRS crew at the firing position

In addition to rifle anti-tank rifles, they were also in service with cavalry units. To transport the PTRD, packs for a cavalry saddle and a pack saddle model 1937 were used here. The gun was mounted on a pack above the horse's croup on a metal block with two brackets. The rear bracket could be used as a camel support for firing from a horse at air and ground targets. The shooter stood behind the horse, held by the handler.

Shooting a PTRD from a horse

To release anti-tank missiles to the landing forces and partisans, an elongated UD-MM parachute bag with a parachute chamber and a shock absorber was used. The cartridges could be dropped without a parachute from a strafing flight in closures. wrapped in burlap. Soviet anti-tank rifles were transferred to foreign formations formed in the USSR like this. 6786 anti-tank rifles were transferred to the Polish Army. 1283 – to Czechoslovak units. Already during the Korean War of 1950-1953, North Korean soldiers and Chinese volunteers used Soviet 14.5-mm anti-tank guns to combat light armored vehicles and hit pinpoint targets at long ranges (they adopted this experience from Soviet snipers).

In pursuit of high armor penetration, designers sometimes lost their sense of proportion. By increasing the caliber to 20-28 mm, they deprived the PTR of maneuverability. Burdened with a multi-kilogram burden, the crews could not keep up with the infantry they were supposed to protect. On the other hand, only large-caliber bullets could hit medium or even heavy tanks. They were developed in Switzerland, Hungary, Finland and Japan. Automation of loading was achieved using the energy of powder gases. Among the anti-tank guns there were both original designs and conversions from aircraft guns - the Swiss Solothurn cannon can be cited as an example.

S 18/100 Soloturn

The Japanese made their gun fully automatic, firing only in bursts. Due to the strong recoil, shooting accuracy left much to be desired. When changing positions, a crew of 4 fighters had to place the gun on special poles. The Red Army soldiers first became acquainted with it in the summer of 1937 in the battles of Khalkhin Gol, and with similar Finnish, Hungarian, and Swiss soldiers during the Great Patriotic War.

Of all the large-caliber “armor-piercing guns,” the German 28/20mm anti-tank rifle PzB-41 stands out, resembling an artillery gun in appearance.

German PzB-41 rifle in position for firing from the ground

...and for shooting from wheels

The gun is equipped with a conical barrel, the initial diameter of which is 28 mm, and at the end of the barrel - 20 mm. Moving under the pressure of powder gases, a projectile with guide belts in this barrel is compressed. The belts, made of relatively soft metal, act as a seal, ensuring the transfer of all the energy of the powder gases to the projectile. In addition, when a projectile passes through the barrel, these belts take on an optimal shape from a ballistics point of view. This method of increasing projectile speed was patented by K. Ruff in 1903.

The anti-tank rifle was put into service in the second half of 1940. The PzB-41 shotgun is a single-shot weapon with a wedge breech. Firing was carried out both from a wheeled artillery-type carriage and from the ground. The gun did not have a lifting or turning mechanism. Aiming was carried out in the vertical direction by directly swinging the barrel, and in the horizontal direction by turning the barrel with the cradle on the ball chase of the lower machine. The gun was equipped with a shield cover. If necessary, the PzB-41 gun was disassembled into 4 parts, adapted for carrying this very heavy weapon on the battlefield (weight with carriage - 229 kg). For use in the Airborne Forces there was a lightweight modification weighing 118 kg.

Despite relatively good performance for an anti-tank rifle, the PzB-41 had serious shortcomings. These disadvantages were the heavy weight (13 times heavier than the Soviet PTRD) and the fact that the production of each projectile required the consumption of 50 g of tungsten, which was extremely scarce in Nazi Germany. For these reasons, a small number of these guns were produced and used in some motorized elite divisions and in the Airborne Forces. On November 1, 1944, the German army had 833 PzB-41 rifles.

During the war in the USSR, attempts were made to create a more powerful gun than the PTR currently in service. By the end of the war, a 25 mm anti-tank rifle was developed and tested. Similar in design to the PzB-41, it was somewhat lighter and easier to manufacture due to the abandonment of the conical barrel. But the new anti-tank rifle was not adopted for service.

Characteristics of anti-tank rifles

*at a distance of 50 m - 22 mm, at a meeting angle of 60 degrees

**at a distance of 500 m - 25 mm, at a meeting angle of 60 degrees

***at a meeting angle of 90 degrees ****mortar caliber *****total weight

The appearance of medium and heavy tanks with armor reaching 100 mm or more during World War II negated the effectiveness of the use of anti-tank rifles. They were replaced by anti-tank grenade launchers - the English Piat, the American Bazooka, the German Panzerschreck and the disposable RPG Faustpatron. In military circles, there was an opinion that the time of anti-tank rifles was irrevocably passed.

"Panzerfaust" (top) and "Panzerschreck"

PTG "Pantsersek"

Large-caliber sniper rifle ASVK KORD (Russia)

In the 1980s, anti-tank rifles returned, but in a different capacity and for other purposes. Attempts to use anti-tank guns in conjunction with an optical sight were made during the Second World War. Then the idea of ​​a large-caliber sniper rifle was not developed. Although there are still legends about a British army officer who, during the Korean War, used a homemade single-shot rifle with a 12.7 mm machine gun barrel.

Steyr AMR IWS2000 (Austria)

The significantly greater firing range and effectiveness of the ammunition gives the large-caliber sniper rifle an advantage over normal-caliber rifles. They can be used by counter-terrorism groups in conditions where it is impossible to approach an object within the firing range of a “regular” rifle, and by intelligence services when committing “acts of retaliation.” At the same time, they are also useful as a counter-sniper weapon in combat conditions.

PGM Hecate II (France)

Large-caliber sniper rifles can be used to destroy protected firing points, radars, satellite communications antennas, light armored vehicles and vehicles. It is believed that self-loading large-caliber rifles can be used to combat low-flying air targets and destroy external equipment of tanks. Such weapons are convenient for use by sabotage groups, small airborne units, and foot deep reconnaissance groups. The successful use of the American 12.7-mm M82A1 sniper rifle in combat operations in the Persian Gulf region contributed to the adoption of such weapons by the armies of many countries around the world.

М82А1 Barett (USA)

characteristics of large-caliber rifles

* weight without cartridges ** total weight *** modification of the AMR rifle

Modern large-caliber rifles are chambered for heavy machine guns or specially designed ammunition. Soviet 12.7x108 cartridges are noticeably superior to American 12.7x99 cartridges in power, and 14.5x114 is considered the strongest small arms ammunition in service. Of the specially developed ammunition, the 15mm AMR rifle cartridge should be highlighted. Its 20-gram bullet with a core with a diameter of 6.5 mm penetrates armor at a distance of 800 m.

Large-caliber sniper rifle OSV-96 (Russia)

characteristics of cartridges

The end of the twentieth century brought back to life the large-caliber rifle - essentially the same anti-tank gun. The next round of weapons development has ended, but at a new, higher level.