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The soviets used anti tank rifles to good use.One of my favorites to study (though they often didn't work at serious anti-tank weapons after 1940, if that at times) was anti-tank rifles. Such as the Germans firing a HV 7.92mm bullet that had a CS gas capsule in it (which often fell off outside the tank it hit, even if the round did manage to penetrate the hull or turret), the SS41 that the SS reportedly sourced from ZB Brno (as the SS weren't high up on the Wehrmacht's armaments priorities, to put it lightly), and some that were basically mini-artillery, like the Solothurn 20mm anti-tank rifles.
These were often ineffective against medium and heavy tanks after 1940 or so (Italy and Japan being excepted to at least an extent), but some light tanks and other lighter AFVs could be damaged to crippled by them if the rounds hit in the right places.
I know that during World War II, the best ways to take out most AFVs involved either other AFVs, aircraft, or artillery. But I'm wondering about members' thoughts on infantry-based anti-tank weapons, be it grenades, anti-tank rifles, rocket launchers and spigot mortars (such as the PIAT). What was at least passively effective, what was a dud, what had some advantages and what had disadvantages? And also the were and when stuff was or wasn't effective.
Yes. The AT rifles were enough of a threat that the Germans installed the 'skirts' (schürzen) on their tanks. Shaped charges e.g. bazookas, were not the reason for these skirts, at least not initially, as the Soviets did not have these until later. The ability of the Soviet AT rifles to penetrate the sides of the Pzkw III's and IV's, when carefully aimed, was the initial reason.The soviets used anti tank rifles to good use.
A hole in the pocket?How you lose a 5 foot long, 36 pound rifle is a mystery that may never
be solved.
Ok. How no one notices a five foot long hole in their pocket is a mystery that may never be solved.A hole in the pocket?
It has been noted by one writer than the British only discovered the CS capsule when they broke down the ammunition for test/inspection. The size of the capsule was described as being about the size of an aspirin tablet. Even if it got inside the tank, the change in atmosphere from the normal engine smells and powder smoke from the guns (many tanks had vent fan) meant the CS went unnoticed. The German AT rifles used a 7.9mm bullet.I myself can't get over the Germans developing anti-tank rifle rounds that had tear gas/CS gas capsules in them. These often broke or fell off the rounds when they hit anything and were just as much, if not more of a liability for infantry trying to disable the tank by close assault as anyone inside the tank. And that's when the round did any damage to the intended target.