Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Russian Anti-Tank Rifles: Suicidal or Unstoppable Weapon?” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/russian-anti-tank-rifles/.
Russian Anti-Tank Rifles: Suicidal or Unstoppable Weapon?
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
Talyn
SAINT
Anti-Tank Rifles wre an artifact of WW1 and pre-WW2 thinking since tanks of those periods had very light armor.
...but I was also certain that the Soviets had no indigenous anti-tank rocket launchers in WWII (and the Bazooka and PIAT of the Western Allies were not included in lend-lease).
Not quite...
The Soviets were supplied with Bazookas in 1942.
en.wikipedia.org
In late 1942, numbers of early-production American M1 bazookas were captured by German troops from Red Army forces who had been given quantities of the bazooka under lend-lease. There were also examples captured during the Operation Torch invasions in the North African Campaign. The Germans promptly developed their own version of the weapon called the Panzerschreck.
the-past.com
Ironically, 8,500 Lend Lease bazookas were sent to the Soviet Union in 1942, where a number were captured and subsequently used by the Germans in the development of their Panzerschreck system.
Note: This number is a combination of ~3,500 launchers & ~5,000 rds.
After testing the Soviets decided they didn't like the weapon and so declined further deliveries. They considered the warhead to be not very effective, extremely short ranged, and they disliked the large rocket blast from the rear of the tube.
After their experience with the US bazooka and the German the Panzerfaust they developed & fielded the RPG-2 after WW2.
en.wikipedia.org
Studying German and US anti-tank rocket designs, in 1944 the Soviets began development of the RPG-1 with the goal of combining the best features of the German Panzerfaust single shot recoilless weapon with the US Bazooka rocket launcher.
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Many early anti-tank rockets had a piezoelectric fuse for their shaped-charge warheads, and one way to cause an anti-tank rocket to explode early was a simple wire screen. This screen would cause the rocket to detonate prematurely, thus increasing the "jet" stand-off distance & dispersion.
Regarding mesh/perforated side armor, and shaped warhead defense, a little light reading.
www.mdpi.com
Schuerzen was initially added to provide increased protection against kinetic energy rounds fired from the Soviet 14.5 mm anti-tank rifles, but during its application, it also proved very effective against American M6 Bazooka-shaped charge anti-tank rocket launchers.
A similar type of non-homogenous armour appeared on Soviet T-34/85 tanks during the Battle of Berlin in 1945. It was in the form of bed frames with 1 mm diameter wire net to offer additional protection against shaped charges of German Panzerfaust recoilless weapons. Panzerfaust used an early generation shaped—charge warhead, just as was the M6 Bazooka and the German Panzerschreck, both very sensitive to increasing stand-off distance. At longer standoff distances, the jet defocuses and even fragments, degrading penetration effectiveness.
BTW- The Soviets/Russians were/have been suicidal in both WW2 and the current war.
...but I was also certain that the Soviets had no indigenous anti-tank rocket launchers in WWII (and the Bazooka and PIAT of the Western Allies were not included in lend-lease).
Not quite...
The Soviets were supplied with Bazookas in 1942.
Bazooka - Wikipedia
In late 1942, numbers of early-production American M1 bazookas were captured by German troops from Red Army forces who had been given quantities of the bazooka under lend-lease. There were also examples captured during the Operation Torch invasions in the North African Campaign. The Germans promptly developed their own version of the weapon called the Panzerschreck.
The Battle of Berlin: aircraft and infantry | The Past
David Porter analyses the balance of forces in the Third Reich’s final battle.
the-past.com
Ironically, 8,500 Lend Lease bazookas were sent to the Soviet Union in 1942, where a number were captured and subsequently used by the Germans in the development of their Panzerschreck system.
Note: This number is a combination of ~3,500 launchers & ~5,000 rds.
After testing the Soviets decided they didn't like the weapon and so declined further deliveries. They considered the warhead to be not very effective, extremely short ranged, and they disliked the large rocket blast from the rear of the tube.
After their experience with the US bazooka and the German the Panzerfaust they developed & fielded the RPG-2 after WW2.
RPG-2 - Wikipedia
Studying German and US anti-tank rocket designs, in 1944 the Soviets began development of the RPG-1 with the goal of combining the best features of the German Panzerfaust single shot recoilless weapon with the US Bazooka rocket launcher.
-----------------------
Many early anti-tank rockets had a piezoelectric fuse for their shaped-charge warheads, and one way to cause an anti-tank rocket to explode early was a simple wire screen. This screen would cause the rocket to detonate prematurely, thus increasing the "jet" stand-off distance & dispersion.
Regarding mesh/perforated side armor, and shaped warhead defense, a little light reading.
Perforated Plate for Ballistic Protection—A Review
In recent years, the interest of the scientific community in perforated plates for ballistic protection has increased. Perforated plates do not represent protection by themselves, rather, they are used in the armour systems of armoured vehicles, in conjunction with base armour, since they are...
www.mdpi.com
Schuerzen was initially added to provide increased protection against kinetic energy rounds fired from the Soviet 14.5 mm anti-tank rifles, but during its application, it also proved very effective against American M6 Bazooka-shaped charge anti-tank rocket launchers.
A similar type of non-homogenous armour appeared on Soviet T-34/85 tanks during the Battle of Berlin in 1945. It was in the form of bed frames with 1 mm diameter wire net to offer additional protection against shaped charges of German Panzerfaust recoilless weapons. Panzerfaust used an early generation shaped—charge warhead, just as was the M6 Bazooka and the German Panzerschreck, both very sensitive to increasing stand-off distance. At longer standoff distances, the jet defocuses and even fragments, degrading penetration effectiveness.
BTW- The Soviets/Russians were/have been suicidal in both WW2 and the current war.
Last edited:
barefootcavalrydotcom
Alpha
The Barrett Sniper Rifle in .50 BMG was developed for civilian shooters... the Military became interested in the 1990's
Icepick Mike
Operator
Excellent article. Enjoyed the information as I have never read anything about these weapons before.