Hand held anti tank weapons were widely used in the Second World War, cheaper to produce than an anti-tank gun they could be moved around a battlefield without the need for mechanised transport. It was a matter of hide, wait until your target was in range and fire. Then hope you've knocked out your tank and it can't fire back. This scene from Band of Brothers from about 4.56 shows how they 101st knocked out a Panzer with a nice shot to the soft underbelly.
The PIAT (Projectile Infantry Anti Tank)had an advantage over the bazooka in that it left no smoke trail. It was basically a tube with a steel spring inside and it was used widely by the British army until 1951. Not the best of weapons according to the video below.
The German panzerfaust was based on the U.S bazooka. I can't seem to find a reliable source online, but according to good old wikipedia, Nazi Germany made over 6 million of them, and they were used by all Axis powers.
Showing posts with label Axis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Axis. Show all posts
Friday, 24 March 2017
Monday, 2 December 2013
Stalingrad
 |
| German prisoner with Red Army captor, Stalingrad 1943? Image found at: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TG865m5bV-A/TuJHg7g7XfI/AAAAAAAAmLE/CzBH9gWr9dY/s1600/Stalingrad+1942+%252822%2529.jpg, accessed 2/12/13. |
One can only imagine the fear, isolation, cold and hunger experienced by Axis forces in December on the Eastern Front. At Stalingrad it went from bad to worse, surrounded and cut off, led by incompetent yes men like Von Paulus they had no hope of getting out of the noose.
 |
| Red Army camels,Stalingrad. Image found at ibid. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)