The Panzerbuchse Anti Tank Weapon

Throughout the Second World War, Germany probably designed and developed a greater range of anti-tank weapons than any other belligerent country. From the heavyweight specialist tank destroyers, such as the Jagdpanther with an 88mm gun, down to the shoulderfired Panzerfaust carried by an infantryman, the German army had advanced anti-tank weaponry at all levels. For the very brave there was even an anti-tank hand grenade.

Light gun

In between the heaviest and the smallest, there were the crewoperated guns such as the 7.5cm PaK40, which, like all other antitank guns, could be mounted in vehicles as self-propelled guns, as well as being towed. One such weapon was the antitank gun known as the schwere Panzerbüchse 41 (PzB), which, despite schwere meaning heavy, weighed around 500 lbs, about half the weight of the PaK36. It fired a specially-developed 2.8cm projectile using a method known either as ‘taper’ or ‘squeeze’ bore, which really made the weapon a light gun. Its development began in 1939, with initial weapons entering service in 1940 and main issue beginning in 1941. It would go on to be used in all theatres of war from North Africa to Russia.

Spotted

The weapon is largely unknown outside of collectors and reenactors. It is probably only ever seen in museums, which makes it a rarity to see in a display at a show. Therefore, to say that I was amazed to see a Panzerbüchse 41 on display at the site of a reenactment depicting Afrika Korps at a Tankfest would be putting it mildly. Talking to a member of the group, I received another surprise when it was explained that the gun was actually a replica. I should have guessed because of the immaculate condition, but I have learned never to take such things for granted. Obligingly, the group posed with the gun and explained more about the real thing. Since then, I have seen several other replica PzB which have the effect of making heads turn.

By the time production was halted in 1943, it is believed that fewer than 3,000 weapons had been produced, so the chance of owning an original example is very small. To make up for that, the next best thing is to have an authentic-looking replica.

Gerlich

Inert ammunition is available and to collectors, an example of the projectile is a prized historical item in the development of ballistics. The method of operation, firing a projectile that is squeezed or compressed down from its original calibre at the breech to a reduced calibre at the muzzle is a science in itself. The principle was known to German ballisticians as early as 1903 but it took another 30 years before a practical weapon using the method was developed.

The main type of ammunition was the APCNR-T (Armour- Piercing Non-Rigid-Tracer), which was developed specifically for the squeeze bore method used by the gun. It was referred to as the ‘Gerlich’ after the ballistician who developed it. The projectile head contained a core of tungsten-carbide measuring 40mm in length, with a diameter of 10.9mm. It was fitted with a ballistic cap made of magnesium. It was a fixed round and loaded into the breech the same as a normal anti-tank round. On firing, the projectile was squeezed down from its 2.8cm calibre to 2cm at the muzzle and reached a muzzle velocity of almost 4,700 FPS. At just over 100 yards the armour-piercing (AP) round could penetrate between 50 and 70mm of armour. This dropped to 40-50mm when fired at its maximum effective range of 550 yards. The lighter Sprengranate 41 was a fragmentation round and wasn’t used as much as the AP round. It had a slightly reduced muzzle velocity and could be used against light targets such as trucks or machine gun positions.

Variants

The PzB had an overall length of 8ft-10 and was mounted on a two-wheeled carriage fitted with a split trail to allow targets to be traversed. It had a width of only 3ft-2 and a height to the top of the gun shield of 2ft-9. Served by a crew of three, the gun could be pulled into cover to take up a firing position. For long-distance travel, it could be towed by most vehicles. When mounted on open-topped, light armoured vehicles such as the SdKfz 250 or SdKfz 251, it was given a degree of mobility. A project to develop a turret mounting for it, to fit heavier vehicles, was dropped.

One variant which was developed was the version known as the 2.8cm schwere Panzerbüchse 41 leichter Feldlafette, intended for use by parachute units. This weighed around 300 lbs, with the reduction being achieved by eliminating the gun shield as well as the suspension and fitting smaller wheels. Stocks of tungsten needed for the AP ammunition became increasingly difficult to obtain, and without this, it was decided to halt production and the weapon was withdrawn from service.

Today re-enactors and collectors share a similar common interest in looking for something different to add to their collections. Both groups are serious about their interests, but while re-enactors are happy to settle for replica examples of something like the PzB and its ammunition, the collector wants the real thing. Unfortunately, with so few examples potentially available, even related material such as training manuals or ammunition is better than nothing. For re-enactors, replica copies of something so unusual will add to static displays. However, any example must be authentic-looking if it is to be used to expand on the weaponry used by the German army.

On display

The Panzerbüchse 41 was used by all fighting branches of the German army, including the Gebirgsjäger or Mountain Troops. This allows replica examples of the weapon to be included in a wide range of displays covering all theatres of war. In this way, re-enactment groups depicting German units can introduce visitors to a weapon that they may never have heard about. Replica examples could also be fitted to replica vehicles for battle scenarios, such as the Czechoslovakian post-war OT- 810 which was a copy of the original SdKfz 251. In some part of Eastern Europe, re-enactment groups also use replica examples of the gun in displays, which includes blank-firing versions.

Research online reveals some interesting film clips of the weapon, ranging from actual wartime film footage to the replica blank-firing versions in action. Readers hardly need reminding that our laws governing such use in this country are different and should not try anything like this without ensuring they are within the law. There is also plenty of historical material ‘posted’ online which can be read for further research and accounts of the weapon’s effectiveness in battle.

This is another example of re-enactors acting like mobile, outdoor museums to present an exhibition featuring a range of unusual historical items and replicas. As long as they are authentic-looking and it is explained these are representations, because real examples are so scarce, the effect is achieved. Visitors to these displays are satisfied and modellers who use these opportunities to take photographs as reference material for projects are equally pleased. Actually, for them, seeing a full-size replica of any unusual vehicle or weapon is to see the ultimate in modelmaking at the 1:1 scale. Collectors are sometimes fortunate to find items connected with this specific AT gun, either at militaria fairs or online at specialist websites, proving again just how closely the many different aspects of military history are interconnected.