The published ranges are interesting, this is from an OSS produced opposing forces manual.
1944 U.S. ARMY BULLETIN ABOUT THE PANZERFAUST: The great majority of
the German non-recoil weapons are devices known as Panzerfaust. There
are three of these—the little Panzerfaust klein 30 (formerly the
Faustpatrone I), the Panzerfaust 30 (formerly the Faustpatrone II),
and the Panzerfaust 60. The little Panzerfaust is called Gretchen for
short, while the 30 is known simply as Panzerfäuste. The tubes are
similar, and have a sight and firing mechanism. The tubes are 1 3/4
inches in diameter and 2 feet 7.5 inches long. The projectiles are
very large hollow charges. The charge for the Gretchen weighs 3
pounds, 4 ounces; that for the complete Panzerfaust weighs 6 pounds 14
ounces. Each projectile is mounted on a wooden tail rod fitted with
spring-steel vanes. These vanes wrap around the rod when the rod is
inserted in the muzzle of the launching tube, and spring out to guide
the projectile after firing. The tubes are expendable, and contain the
propelling charge fired by percussion. The range is very limited, and
is indicated by the designation (30 means 30 meters range, or 33
yards; 60, 66 yards). The operator must take cover after discharging a
projectile. Also, he must wear a helmet as protection against a rain
of fragments and debris, keep his eyes closed, and keep the front edge
of his helmet against the ground. The jet of flame to the rear is
fatal up to 10 feet; the operator must take this into account when
firing, and make sure that no walls or other obstacles will block the
jet. The tubes are held under the right arm. The left hand supports
the front of the tube, while the right hand is free to pull out the
safety pin, cock the striker, and press the release button. Sighting
is effected by aligning the top of the sight and the top edge of the
projectile. To date, all the Panzerfäuste have proved dangerous to the
user. It is believed that every effort will be made to improve
them—especially with regard to increasing the range. Armor penetration
is good; the Nazi and SS an propaganda claim as much as 7.9 inches for
the Panzerfaust 30. It is estimated that actual penetration is around
6 inches.
the German non-recoil weapons are devices known as Panzerfaust. There
are three of these—the little Panzerfaust klein 30 (formerly the
Faustpatrone I), the Panzerfaust 30 (formerly the Faustpatrone II),
and the Panzerfaust 60. The little Panzerfaust is called Gretchen for
short, while the 30 is known simply as Panzerfäuste. The tubes are
similar, and have a sight and firing mechanism. The tubes are 1 3/4
inches in diameter and 2 feet 7.5 inches long. The projectiles are
very large hollow charges. The charge for the Gretchen weighs 3
pounds, 4 ounces; that for the complete Panzerfaust weighs 6 pounds 14
ounces. Each projectile is mounted on a wooden tail rod fitted with
spring-steel vanes. These vanes wrap around the rod when the rod is
inserted in the muzzle of the launching tube, and spring out to guide
the projectile after firing. The tubes are expendable, and contain the
propelling charge fired by percussion. The range is very limited, and
is indicated by the designation (30 means 30 meters range, or 33
yards; 60, 66 yards). The operator must take cover after discharging a
projectile. Also, he must wear a helmet as protection against a rain
of fragments and debris, keep his eyes closed, and keep the front edge
of his helmet against the ground. The jet of flame to the rear is
fatal up to 10 feet; the operator must take this into account when
firing, and make sure that no walls or other obstacles will block the
jet. The tubes are held under the right arm. The left hand supports
the front of the tube, while the right hand is free to pull out the
safety pin, cock the striker, and press the release button. Sighting
is effected by aligning the top of the sight and the top edge of the
projectile. To date, all the Panzerfäuste have proved dangerous to the
user. It is believed that every effort will be made to improve
them—especially with regard to increasing the range. Armor penetration
is good; the Nazi and SS an propaganda claim as much as 7.9 inches for
the Panzerfaust 30. It is estimated that actual penetration is around
6 inches.
Not much clearance between the soldier's armpit and the ten foot gout of flaming doom.
ReplyDeleteEine kleine tankenboomen. ;)
You don't think about those things too much after you've trained on them a bit.;-)
ReplyDeleteCheap bazooka knock offs, patent infringers...etc