At the
beginning of the Second World War all major
armies used two-wheeled anti-tank guns of 37-40mm calibre. These solid
shot shells were effective and disabling any tank within 500 yards.
However, improvements in the quality of tanks resulted in the need
to develop more powerful antitank weapons.
By the
end of the war the British 17 pounder and the German 88mm were able
to pierce 250mm of armour at up to 1,000 yards. These new guns weighed
over ten tons and were less mobile than earlier anti-aircraft weapons.
High velocity anti-aircraft
guns
were also used against tanks.
In 1942
the United States Army introduced the bazooka
and for the rest of the war it became an important anti-tank
weapon.
Carried by the infantry it fired a 3.4lb rocket to a range of 400
yards.
The
British 120mm Battalion Anti-Tank gun.
Available from Amazon Books
(order below)
