Panzerfaust
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The ''Panzerfaust'' (, "armour fist" or "tank fist", plural: ''Panzerfäuste'') was a development family of single-shot
man-portable anti-tank systems Man-portable anti-tank systems (MANPATS or MPATS) are traditionally portable shoulder-launched projectile systems firing heavy shell-type projectiles (although throwing and lunge weapons have existed), typically designed to combat protected targe ...
developed by
Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. The weapons were the first single-use light anti-tank weapons based on a pre-loaded disposable launch tube, a weapon configuration which is still used today (two modern examples being the
AT4 The AT4 is a Swedish unguided, man-portable, disposable, shoulder-fired recoilless anti-tank weapon built by Saab Bofors Dynamics (previously Bofors Anti-Armour Systems and before that FFV Ordance). The AT4 is not considered a rocket launc ...
and
NLAW The Saab Bofors Dynamics NLAW (pronounced: ''"N-LAW"'', ), also known as the MBT LAW or RB 57, is a fire-and-forget, lightweight shoulder-fired, and disposable (single-use) line of sight (LOS) missile system, designed for infantry use. The mi ...
). The ''Panzerfaust''-design consisted of a light
recoilless A recoilless rifle, recoilless launcher or recoilless gun, sometimes abbreviated "RR" or "RCL" (for ReCoilLess) is a type of lightweight artillery system or man-portable launcher that is designed to eject some form of countermass such as propel ...
launcher tube outfitted with a single pre-loaded
high-explosive anti-tank warhead High-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) is the effect of a shaped charge explosive that uses the Munroe effect to penetrate heavy armor. The warhead functions by having an explosive charge collapse a metal liner inside the warhead into a high-velocity ...
protruding from the muzzle, much like a "fist", hence the name. It was an inexpensive, easy-to-use anti-tank weapon for the common infantry man, being issued as a single unit of ammunition meant to be operated by a single soldier. Firing was done from under the arm at an upward angle as the effective firing range was barely beyond that of
hand grenade A grenade is an explosive weapon typically thrown by hand (also called hand grenade), but can also refer to a shell (explosive projectile) shot from the muzzle of a rifle (as a rifle grenade) or a grenade launcher. A modern hand grenade genera ...
s ( max). After use the launcher was disposed of, much like the safety pin in hand grenades. Development of the ''Panzerfaust'' started in 1942. The initial design was dubbed ''Faustpatrone'' ( "fist-cartridge") and was smaller than the later designs. Later dubbed ''Panzerfaust Klein'' ("tank-fist small"), it entered service in 1943, the larger design being named ''Panzerfaust Gross'' ("tank-fist big") and entering service in mid to late 1944. All types saw service with Germany until the end of the war, with the design continuing to see service outside of Germany for a number of years after the war.


Development


''Faustpatrone (Klein)''

The ''Faustpatrone'' ( "fist cartridge") was the initial development of what eventually became the ''Panzerfaust''-family. The ''Faustpatrone''-design was much smaller than the later ''Panzerfäuste''-designs. Development of the ''Faustpatrone'' started in the summer of 1942 at the German company
Hugo Schneider AG HASAG (also known as Hugo Schneider AG, or by its original name in german: Hugo Schneider Aktiengesellschaft Metallwarenfabrik) was a German metal goods manufacturer founded in 1863. Based in Leipzig, it grew from a small business making lamps ...
(HASAG) with the development of a smaller prototype called ''Gretchen'' ("little Greta") by a team headed by Dr. Heinrich Langweiler in
Leipzig Leipzig ( , ; Upper Saxon: ) is the most populous city in the German state of Saxony. Leipzig's population of 605,407 inhabitants (1.1 million in the larger urban zone) as of 2021 places the city as Germany's eighth most populous, as wel ...
. The basic concept was that of a
recoilless gun A recoilless rifle, recoilless launcher or recoilless gun, sometimes abbreviated "RR" or "RCL" (for ReCoilLess) is a type of lightweight artillery system or man-portable launcher that is designed to eject some form of countermass such as propel ...
; in the ''Faustpatrone'' and the ''Panzerfaust'' a propellent charge pushed the warhead out the front of the tube while the blast also exited the rear of the tube balancing forces, and therefore there was no recoil force for the operator. The following weapon, the ''Faustpatrone Klein'', 30 m ("fist-cartridge small") weighed 3.2 kg (7.1 lb) and a total length of 98.5 cm (38¾ in); its projectile had a length of 36 cm (14¼ in). The diameter of warhead was a
shaped charge A shaped charge is an explosive charge shaped to form an explosively formed penetrator (EFP) to focus the effect of the explosive's energy. Different types of shaped charges are used for various purposes such as cutting and forming metal, init ...
of of a 50:50 mix of
TNT Trinitrotoluene (), more commonly known as TNT, more specifically 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, and by its preferred IUPAC name 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, is a chemical compound with the formula C6H2(NO2)3CH3. TNT is occasionally used as a reagen ...
and tri-
hexogen RDX (abbreviation of "Research Department eXplosive") or hexogen, among other names, is an organic compound with the formula (O2N2CH2)3. It is a white solid without smell or taste, widely used as an explosive. Chemically, it is classified as a ...
. The
propellant A propellant (or propellent) is a mass that is expelled or expanded in such a way as to create a thrust or other motive force in accordance with Newton's third law of motion, and "propel" a vehicle, projectile, or fluid payload. In vehicles, the e ...
was of 54 g (1.9 oz, 830 grains) of
black powder Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). Th ...
, the metal launch tube had a length of 80 cm (31½ in) and a diameter of 3.3 cm (1.3 in) (early models reportedly 2.8 cm (1.1 in)). Fitted to the warhead was a wooden shaft with folded stabilizing
fin A fin is a thin component or appendage attached to a larger body or structure. Fins typically function as foils that produce lift or thrust, or provide the ability to steer or stabilize motion while traveling in water, air, or other fluids. Fin ...
s (made of 0.25 mm (0.01 in) thick spring metal). These bent blades straightened into position by themselves as soon as they left the launch tube. The warhead was accelerated to a speed of 28 m/s (92 ft/s), had a range of about 30 m (100 ft) and an
armour Armour (British English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or fr ...
penetration of up to 140 mm (5½ in) of plain steel. Soon a crude aiming device similar to the one used by the ''Panzerfaust'' was added to the design; it was fixed at a range of 30 m (100 ft). Several designations of this weapon were in use, amongst which ''Faustpatrone'' 1 or ''Panzerfaust'' 30 ''klein''; however, it was common to refer to this weapon simply as the ''Faustpatrone''. Of the earlier model, 20,000 were ordered and the first 500 ''Faustpatronen'' were delivered by the manufacturer, HASAG, Werk Schlieben, in August 1943.


''Panzerfaust (Gross)''

Development began in 1942 on a larger version of the ''Faustpatrone''. The resulting weapon was the ''Panzerfaust'' 30, also known as ''Panzerfaust Gross'' ( "tank-fist big") and the like, with a total weight of and total length of . The launch tube was made of low-grade
steel Steel is an alloy made up of iron with added carbon to improve its strength and fracture resistance compared to other forms of iron. Many other elements may be present or added. Stainless steels that are corrosion- and oxidation-resistant ty ...
in diameter, containing a charge of black powder propellant. Along the side of the tube were a simple folding rear sight and a trigger. The edge of the warhead was used as the front sight. The oversize warhead ( in diameter) was fitted into the front of the tube by an attached wooden tail stem with metal stabilizing fins. The warhead weighed and contained of a 50:50 mixture of TNT and hexogen explosives, and had armour penetration of . The ''Panzerfaust'' often had warnings written in large red letters on the upper rear end of the tube, the words usually being "''Achtung. Feuerstrahl.''" ("Beware. Fire jet."). This was to warn soldiers to avoid the backblast. After firing, the tube was discarded, making the ''Panzerfaust'' the first disposable anti-tank weapon. The weapon, when correctly fired from the crook of the arm, could penetrate the armour of any
armoured fighting vehicle An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is an armed combat vehicle protected by armour, generally combining operational mobility with offensive and defensive capabilities. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked. Examples of AFVs are tanks, armoured car ...
of the period.


Comparison of models


Combat use

To use the ''Panzerfaust'', the soldier removed the safety, tucked the tube under their arm and aimed by aligning the target, the sight and the top of the warhead. Unlike the Americans' original M1 60 mm
bazooka Bazooka () is the common name for a Man-portable anti-tank systems, man-portable recoilless Anti-tank warfare, anti-tank rocket launcher weapon, widely deployed by the United States Army, especially during World War II. Also referred to as the ...
and the Germans' own heavier 88 mm ''
Panzerschreck ''Panzerschreck'' (lit. "tank fright", "tank's fright" or "tank's bane") was the popular name for the ''Raketenpanzerbüchse'' 54 ("Rocket Anti-armor Rifle Model 54", abbreviated to RPzB 54), an 88 mm reusable anti-tank rocket launcher dev ...
'' tube-type rocket launchers based on the American ordnance piece, the ''Panzerfaust'' did not have the usual trigger. It had a pedal-like lever near the projectile that ignited the propellant when squeezed. Because of the weapon's short range, not only enemy tanks and infantry, but also pieces of the exploding vehicle, posed dangers to its operator. As such, the usage of ''Panzerfäuste'' required relatively great personal courage. The backblast from firing went back around 2 m behind the operator. When used against tanks, the ''Panzerfaust'' had an impressive
beyond-armour effect Beyond-armour effect is a term coined by Försvarets Fabriksverk (FFV), a semi-governmental Swedish defense firm, while developing the AT4. From the 1980s this phrase was used in its brochures, press releases, weapon instruction manuals and other d ...
. Compared to the bazooka and the ''Panzerschreck'', it made a larger hole and produced massive
spall Spall are fragments of a material that are broken off a larger solid body. It can be produced by a variety of mechanisms, including as a result of projectile impact, corrosion, weathering, cavitation, or excessive rolling pressure (as in a ball ...
ing that killed or injured (via burns and shrapnel) the crew and destroyed equipment. One informal test found that the ''Panzerfaust'' made an entry hole in diameter, whereas the ''Panzerschreck'' made an entry hole at least in diameter; contrastingly, the bazooka made an entry hole that was only in diameter). Much of this can be attributed not only to the size of the ''Panzerfaust''s warhead but also its horn-like shape, as opposed to the traditional cone-shaped warheads of rockets used in the bazooka and ''Panzerschreck''. This design was later copied in the modern-day
AT-4 The AT4 is a Swedish unguided, man-portable, disposable, shoulder-fired recoilless anti-tank weapon built by Saab Bofors Dynamics (previously Bofors Anti-Armour Systems and before that FFV Ordance). The AT4 is not considered a rocket launc ...
anti-tank weapon to produce the same effect against modern main battle tanks.


Germany

In the
Battle of Normandy Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II. The operation was launched on 6 June 1944 (D-Day) with the Norma ...
, only 6% of British tank losses were from ''Panzerfaust'' fire despite the close-range combat in the thick ''
bocage Bocage (, ) is a terrain of mixed woodland and pasture characteristic of parts of Northern France, Southern England, Ireland, the Netherlands and Northern Germany, in regions where pastoral farming is the dominant land use. ''Bocage'' may als ...
'' landscape. However, the threat from the ''Panzerfaust'' forced Allied tank forces to wait for infantry support before advancing. The portion of British tanks taken out of action by ''Panzerfäuste'' later rose to 34%, a rise probably explained by the lack of German anti-tank guns late in the war and the increased numbers of ''Panzerfäuste'' that were available to defending German troops. In
urban combat Urban warfare is combat conducted in urban areas such as towns and cities. Urban combat differs from combat in the open at both the operational and the tactical levels. Complicating factors in urban warfare include the presence of civilians and ...
later in the war in eastern Germany, about 70% of tanks destroyed were hit by ''Panzerfäuste'' or ''Panzerschreck''s. Soviet and Western Allied tank crews modified their tanks in the field so as to provide some kind of protection against Panzerfaust attacks. These included logs, sandbags, track links, concrete and wire mesh, along with bed frames with springs (bedsprings), similar to expanded metal-type German tank sideskirts. In practice, about 1 metre of air gap was required to substantially reduce the penetrating capability of the warhead, thus sideskirts and sandbags, along with other improvised armor, were virtually entirely ineffective against both the
Panzerschreck ''Panzerschreck'' (lit. "tank fright", "tank's fright" or "tank's bane") was the popular name for the ''Raketenpanzerbüchse'' 54 ("Rocket Anti-armor Rifle Model 54", abbreviated to RPzB 54), an 88 mm reusable anti-tank rocket launcher dev ...
and Panzerfaust. Moreover, the added weight from such add-on armor overburdened the vehicle's engine, transmission and suspension systems. Later on, each Soviet heavy tank ( IS) and assault gun (
ISU-152 The ISU-152 (russian: Самоходная установка на базе танка ИС с орудием калибра 152мм, ИСУ-152, Samokhodnaya Ustanovka na baze tanka IS s orudiyem kalibra 152mm, meaning " IS tank based self-prope ...
)
company A company, abbreviated as co., is a Legal personality, legal entity representing an association of people, whether Natural person, natural, Legal person, legal or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members share a common p ...
were assigned a
platoon A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two or more squads, sections, or patrols. Platoon organization varies depending on the country and the branch, but a platoon can be composed of 50 people, although specific platoons may range ...
of infantry in urban battles to protect them from such infantry-wielded anti-tank weapons, often supported by flamethrowers. This order remained intact even during 1950s and the
Hungarian Revolution of 1956 The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 (23 October – 10 November 1956; hu, 1956-os forradalom), also known as the Hungarian Uprising, was a countrywide revolution against the government of the Hungarian People's Republic (1949–1989) and the Hunga ...
. During the last stages of the war, due to the lack of available weapons, many poorly-trained
conscripts Conscription (also called the draft in the United States) is the state-mandated enlistment of people in a national service, mainly a military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it continues in some countries to the present day und ...
(mainly elderly men) and teenage Hitler Youth members were often given a single ''Panzerfaust'', plus any type of obsolete pistols or rifles (some only had a Panzerfaust and nothing else). This caused several German generals and officers to comment sarcastically that the empty launch-tubes could then be used as clubs in hand-to-hand combat.


Other countries

Many ''Panzerfäuste'' were sold to Finland, which urgently needed them, as Finnish forces did not have enough anti-tank weapons that could penetrate heavily-armoured Soviet tanks like the
T-34 The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank introduced in 1940. When introduced its 76.2 mm (3 in) tank gun was less powerful than its contemporaries while its 60-degree sloped armour provided good protection against Anti-tank warfare, anti-tan ...
and
IS-2 The IS-2 (russian: ИС-2, sometimes romanized as JS-2The series name is an abbreviation of the name Joseph Stalin (russian: Иосиф Сталин); IS-2 is a direct transliteration of the Russian abbreviation, while JS-2 is an abbreviation of ...
. The Finnish experience with the weapon and its adaptability to Finnish needs was mixed, with only 4,000 of 25,000 ''Panzerfäuste'' delivered expended in combat. The manual that came with the weapon upon delivery to the Finns included depictions of where to aim the weapon on the Soviet T-34 and US
Sherman tank } The M4 Sherman, officially Medium Tank, M4, was the most widely used medium tank by the United States and Western Allies in World War II. The M4 Sherman proved to be reliable, relatively cheap to produce, and available in great numbers. It w ...
(which also saw service with Soviet troops from US Lend-Lease-supplied stocks). The
Italian Social Republic The Italian Social Republic ( it, Repubblica Sociale Italiana, ; RSI), known as the National Republican State of Italy ( it, Stato Nazionale Repubblicano d'Italia, SNRI) prior to December 1943 but more popularly known as the Republic of Salò ...
(RSI) and the
Government of National Unity (Hungary) The Government of National Unity (October 1944 – May 1945) was a fascist puppet government of Hungary, which ruled the German-occupied Kingdom of Hungary during the Second World War in eastern Europe. After the joint ''coup d’état'' with ...
also used the ''Panzerfaust''. Several RSI army units became skilled in anti-tank warfare and the Hungarians themselves used the ''Panzerfaust'' extensively, especially during the
Siege of Budapest The Siege of Budapest or Battle of Budapest was the 50-day-long encirclement by Soviet Union, Soviet and Kingdom of Romania, Romanian forces of the Hungarian capital (political), capital of Budapest, near the end of World War II. Part of the b ...
. During this brutal siege, an arms factory, the Hungarian Manfred Weiss Steel and Metal Works, located on
Csepel Island Csepel Island (Hungarian: ''Csepel-sziget'', ) is an island on the Danube in Hungary. It is long; its width after sections of bifurcation and rejoining (confluence) varies from . It has an area of and its population is 165,000. The isle extend ...
(within the city) kept up production of various light armaments and ammunition, ''Panzerfäuste'' included, all the way until the very last moment, when attacking Soviet troops seized the factory by the first days of 1945. The US
82nd Airborne Division The 82nd Airborne Division is an Airborne forces, airborne infantry division (military), division of the United States Army specializing in Paratrooper, parachute assault operations into denied areasSof, Eric"82nd Airborne Division" ''Spec Ops ...
captured some ''Panzerfäuste'' in the
Allied invasion of Sicily The Allied invasion of Sicily, also known as Operation Husky, was a major campaign of World War II in which the Allied forces invaded the island of Sicily in July 1943 and took it from the Axis powers ( Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany). It bega ...
and later during the fighting in Normandy. Finding them more effective than their own bazookas, they held onto them and used them during the later stages of the French Campaign, even dropping with them into the Netherlands during
Operation Market Garden Operation Market Garden was an Allies of World War II, Allied military operation during the World War II, Second World War fought in the Netherlands from 17 to 27 September 1944. Its objective was to create a Salient (military), salient into G ...
. They captured an ammunition dump of ''Panzerfäuste'' near
Nijmegen Nijmegen (;; Spanish and it, Nimega. Nijmeegs: ''Nimwèège'' ) is the largest city in the Dutch province of Gelderland and tenth largest of the Netherlands as a whole, located on the Waal river close to the German border. It is about 6 ...
and used them through the
Ardennes Offensive The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II. The battle lasted from 16 December 1944 to 28 January 1945, towards the end of the war in ...
toward the end of the war.''More Than Courage: Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace ...'', Phil Nordyke, p. 299 The Soviet
Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, after ...
only incidentally used captured ''Panzerfäuste'' in 1944, but from the beginning of 1945, many became available and were actively used during the Soviet offensives of 1945, mostly in street fighting against buildings and protective covers. In February 1945, such use of captured ''Panzerfäuste'' was recommended in a directive by Marshal
Georgy Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov ( rus, Георгий Константинович Жуков, p=ɡʲɪˈorɡʲɪj kənstɐnʲˈtʲinəvʲɪtɕ ˈʐukəf, a=Ru-Георгий_Константинович_Жуков.ogg; 1 December 1896 – ...
. Similarly, they were used by the
Polish People's Army The Polish People's Army ( pl, Ludowe Wojsko Polskie , LWP) constituted the second formation of the Polish Armed Forces in the East in 1943–1945, and in 1945–1989 the armed forces of the Polish communist state ( from 1952, the Polish Peo ...
. After the war, some 4,000 ''Panzerfäuste'' were adopted by the Polish Army in 1949, which designated them as PG-49. Plans and technical materials on the Panzerfaust were supplied to the
Empire of Japan The also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was a historical nation-state and great power that existed from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 until the enactment of the post-World War II 1947 constitution and subsequent fo ...
to assist with their development of an effective anti-tank weapon. However, the Japanese went with a different design, the Type 4, loosely based upon the American bazooka. Examples of the American weapon were captured by the Japanese at
Leyte Leyte ( ) is an island in the Visayas group of islands in the Philippines. It is eighth-largest and sixth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 2,626,970 as of 2020 census. Since the accessibility of land has be ...
in 1944.


Variants

;''Panzerfaust'' 30 ''klein'' ("small") or ''Faustpatrone'':This was the original version, first delivered in August 1943 with a total weight of and overall length of . The "30" was indicative of the nominal maximum range of . It had a diameter tube containing of black powder propellant launching a warhead carrying of explosive. The projectile traveled at just per second and could penetrate of armour. ;''Panzerfaust'' 30:An improved version also appearing in August 1943. This version had a larger warhead for improved armour penetration, of steel and of armoured steel, but the same range of 30 meters. It has an explosive charge of of explosive material. Its barrel has a caliber of and a length of . It has a weight of and a muzzle velocity of . ;''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 , although with a muzzle velocity of only per second it would take 1.3 seconds for the warhead to reach a tank at that range. To achieve the higher velocity, the tube diameter was increased to and of propellant used while being a total length of 104 cm (41 in). It also had an improved flip-up rear sight and trigger mechanism. The weapon now weighed . It could defeat of armour. ;''Panzerfaust'' 100:This was the final version produced in quantity, and was completed in September 1944. However, it did not reach full production until November 1944. It had a nominal maximum range of . of propellant launched the warhead at per second from a diameter tube. The sight had holes for 30, 60, , and had luminous paint in them to make counting up to the correct one easier in the dark. This version weighed and could penetrate of armour. ;''Panzerfaust'' 150:A major redesign of the ''Panzerfaust'', the ''Panzerfaust'' 150 featured a new pointed warhead (with a diameter of 105 mm compared to the 140 mm warhead of the ''Panzerfaust'' 30/60/100 series) with increased armour penetration and two-stage propellant ignition which gave a higher velocity of per second. A fragmentation sleeve was developed for the ''Panzerfaust'' 150 to increase its lethality against infantry. The projectile had a delay pellet to the base detonating primer which meant that the projectile exploded after three seconds if it didn't hit its target or a hard surface. This was meant to eliminate
duds A dud is an ammunition round or explosive that fails to fire or detonate, respectively, on time or on command. Poorly designed devices (for example, improvised explosive devices (IEDs)), and small devices, have higher chances of being duds. Du ...
and also allowed for air bursts to be achieved when combined with the fragmentation sleeve. Production the ''Panzerfaust'' 150 started in February 1945 and continued until May of that year when the facility in
Döbeln Döbeln ( hsb, Doblin) is a town in Saxony, Germany, part of the Mittelsachsen district, on both banks of the river Freiberger Mulde. History * 981: First written mention of Döbeln (Margravate of Meissen). * Around 1220: Döbeln is described ...
,
Saxony Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a landlocked state of ...
producing the ''Panzerfaust'' 150 was captured by the Soviets. Although 100,00 were produced, none were issued to field units beyond limited troop trials. No known examples of the ''Panzerfaust'' 150 survived the end of the war. A further development of the ''Panzerfaust'' 150 was meant to make it a reloadable weapon, capable of firing ten shots before the black powder fouling built up to the point that the weapon needed to be inspected and cleaned. This development was to be completed in May 1945, with production of the improved ''Panzerfaust'' 150 scheduled to commence in the summer of that year. "The reloadable Pzf 150 might have received a new designation if it had been produced." ;''Panzerfaust'' 250:The last development of the ''Panzerfaust'' series was the ''Panzerfaust'' 250. Intended to replace the heavier ''
Panzerschreck ''Panzerschreck'' (lit. "tank fright", "tank's fright" or "tank's bane") was the popular name for the ''Raketenpanzerbüchse'' 54 ("Rocket Anti-armor Rifle Model 54", abbreviated to RPzB 54), an 88 mm reusable anti-tank rocket launcher dev ...
'' in German service, this design never left the drawing board. It was to use a reloadable tube and featured a pistol grip. The projectile was to be based on the one used by the ''Panzerfaust'' 150, but the internal propellant charge was to be larger. Projected muzzle velocity was 120-150 m/s. Serial production was scheduled to begin in September 1945. The Soviet
RPG-2 The RPG-2 (Russian: РПГ-2, Ручной противотанковый гранатомёт, ''Ruchnoy Protivotankovy Granatomyot''; English: "hand-held antitank grenade launcher") is a man-portable, shoulder-fired anti-tank weapon that was desi ...
anti-tank weapon took some inspiration from the ''Panzerfaust'' 250 design (it was also a reloadable, recoilless anti-tank weapon with a trigger grip and electrical firing system). Plans for the ''Panzerfaust'' 250 had fallen into both American and Soviet hands.


Related development

;''PAPI'': Argentine-made antitank weapon, similar to the ''Panzerfaust''. The acronym stands for ''proyectil antitanque para infanteria'' (Spanish for "infantry anti-tank projectile"). ;''Pansarskott'' m/45 and ''pansarskott'' m/46: Swedish-made copies of the ''Panzerfaust''. The
Royal Swedish Army Materiel Administration The Royal Swedish Army Material Administration ( sv, Kungliga Arméförvaltningen, KAF) was a Swedish central government agency that replaced the War Collegium (''Krigskollegium'') in 1865. It was active between the years 1866 and 1954. History ...
ordered a copy of the ''Panzerfaust'' design from
Bofors AB Bofors ( , , ) is a former Swedish arms manufacturer which today is part of the British arms concern BAE Systems. The name has been associated with the iron industry and artillery manufacturing for more than 350 years. History Located in ...
, examples of which were acquired from Finland and the
Danish resistance movement The Danish resistance movements ( da, Den danske modstandsbevægelse) were an underground insurgency to resist the German occupation of Denmark during World War II. Due to the initially lenient arrangements, in which the Nazi occupation autho ...
. The resulting weapon, a copy of an early model ''Panzerfaust'', was designated ''pansarskott'' m/45 and 10,000 were ordered by the
Swedish Armed Forces The Swedish Armed Forces ( sv, Försvarsmakten, "the Defense Force") is the government agency that forms the armed forces of Sweden, tasked with the defense of the country as well as with promoting Sweden's wider interests, supporting internati ...
in late 1945. Albeit judged effective against tanks of the day, the muzzle velocity was low and the effective range was only about 70 meters. ''Pansarskott'' m/45 was quickly upgraded by replacing the black powder propellant charge with
smokeless powder Finnish smokeless powderSmokeless powder is a type of propellant used in firearms and artillery that produces less smoke and less fouling when fired compared to gunpowder ("black powder"). The combustion products are mainly gaseous, compared to a ...
. The resulting weapon, ''pansarskott'' m/46, had an effective range of about 90 meters.Jansson, Henrik in ''Slagfjädern'' nr 2-2018 Årgång 100, p.11 ;''Pc-100 (PC-100, pancerzownica 100m)'': Polish-made copy of the Panzerfaust 100, manufactured in 1951–1952. Despite large-scale orders, a production encountered technological difficulties and only 5000 combat and 940 training Pc-100 were made in 1952, before the Polish Army switched to more modern Soviet
RPG-2 The RPG-2 (Russian: РПГ-2, Ручной противотанковый гранатомёт, ''Ruchnoy Protivotankovy Granatomyot''; English: "hand-held antitank grenade launcher") is a man-portable, shoulder-fired anti-tank weapon that was desi ...
.Perzyk, Bogusław: ''Panzerfaust w Wojsku Polskim 1944-1955 cz.II. Projekt PC-100'' in: Poligon 4/2011, pp. 68–80 (in Polish) It is erroneously known as ''PT-100'' in foreign publications.


Users

;Panzerfaust * : Known to be first used in 1943 * * * * * : Used captured Panzerfäuste during the war, limited use post-war under a designation PG-49).Perzyk, Bogusław: ''Niemieckie granatniki przeciwpancerne Panzerfaust w Wojsku Polskim 1944-1955 cz.I'' in: Poligon 2/2011, pp. 56–62 (in Polish) * : The Czech resistance used captured ''Panzerfäuste'' during the
Prague uprising The Prague uprising ( cs, Pražské povstání) was a partially successful attempt by the Czech resistance movement to liberate the city of Prague from German occupation in May 1945, during the end of World War II. The preceding six years of o ...
. * * : Mass usage of captured ''Panzerfäuste'' in 1945. * : U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division used captured examples, from
Operation Husky Operation or Operations may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity * Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory * ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Man ...
to
VE Day Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945, marking the official end of World War II in Europe in the Easter ...
*
Democratic Army of Greece The Democratic Army of Greece (DAG; el, Δημοκρατικός Στρατός Ελλάδας - ΔΣΕ, Dimokratikós Stratós Elládas - DSE) was the army founded by the Communist Party of Greece during the Greek Civil War (1946–1949). At ...
: Used captured ''Panzerfäuste'' during the
Greek Civil War The Greek Civil War ( el, ο Eμφύλιος όλεμος ''o Emfýlios'' 'Pólemos'' "the Civil War") took place from 1946 to 1949. It was mainly fought against the established Kingdom of Greece, which was supported by the United Kingdom ...
. ; Derivatives * : Argentine-made PAPI and possibly Swedish made ''Pansarskott'' m/46 * : Polish-made copy Pc-100 * : Manufactured and used copies of the ''Panzerfaust'' in two different variants; ''Pansarskott'' m/45 and ''Pansarskott'' m/46


See also

*
List of common World War II infantry weapons This is a list of infantry weapons which were used in World War II (1939–1945). Albania Sidearms * Bodeo Model 1889 * Beretta M1934 * Luger P08 * Mauser C96 * Walther P38 Submachine guns * Beretta M1918 * Beretta Model 38 * MP 40 Rif ...
*
List of World War II firearms of Germany :''Note: Weapons listed were made by or for Germany and do not include captured foreign equipment. Pistols Rifles . Machine guns Submachine guns Anti-tank weapons Other weapons See also * List of equipment used in World War II * Lis ...
*
PIAT The Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank (PIAT) Mk I was a British man-portable anti-tank weapon developed during the Second World War. The PIAT was designed in 1942 in response to the British Army's need for a more effective infantry anti-tank weapon ...
*
Rocket-propelled grenade A rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) is a shoulder-fired missile weapon that launches rockets equipped with an explosive warhead. Most RPGs can be carried by an individual soldier, and are frequently used as anti-tank weapons. These warheads are a ...
*
RPG-2 The RPG-2 (Russian: РПГ-2, Ручной противотанковый гранатомёт, ''Ruchnoy Protivotankovy Granatomyot''; English: "hand-held antitank grenade launcher") is a man-portable, shoulder-fired anti-tank weapon that was desi ...
*
RPG-7 The RPG-7 (russian: link=no, РПГ-7, Ручной Противотанковый Гранатомёт, Ruchnoy Protivotankoviy Granatomyot) is a portable, reusable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank, rocket-propelled grenade launcher. ...
* RPG-76 Komar * Type 4 70 mm AT rocket launcher * ''Panzerfaust'' 3 * ''
Panzerschreck ''Panzerschreck'' (lit. "tank fright", "tank's fright" or "tank's bane") was the popular name for the ''Raketenpanzerbüchse'' 54 ("Rocket Anti-armor Rifle Model 54", abbreviated to RPzB 54), an 88 mm reusable anti-tank rocket launcher dev ...
'' *
PzF 44 The PzF 44 (abbreviation for Panzerfaust 44 mm, formally also Leichte Panzerfaust, meaning "Light Armor-fist" (literal translation) or "Light Close-Range Antitank Launcher" (rough formal translation), but also known as ''Panzerfaust Lanze'' (l ...
* ''
Schiessbecher The Schiessbecher (alternatively: ''Schießbecher'') - literally "shooting cup" - was a German grenade launcher of World War II. A ''Gewehrgranatgerät'' ("rifle grenade device") based on rifle grenade launcher models designed during World War ...
'' German anti-tank rifle grenade


References


Notes


Bibliography

*


External links


Contemporary U.S. Intelligence Report on German Hollow-Charge Weapons
{{italic title Anti-tank weapons World War II infantry weapons of Germany Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1942