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ARE WE ANTI-TANK? |
| Tanks are interesting
things to study, but they are only one side of the picture.
In war there are always people trying to get rid of them so
you get this on-going competition between tanks and anti-tank
weapons. For example… |
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In the early years of
the war the German PaK 37mm was a perfectly acceptable
anti-tank gun. Not the best perhaps but, firing conventional
ammunition it could penetrate about 30mm of armour at a
range of 500m.
Trouble is that before long tanks are appearing with thicker
armour. On the front of a Russian T-34, for instance,
it was 45mm and sloped at that. Newer, better anti-tank
weapons would come along but what to do with those 37mm guns
in the meantime? |
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New
ammunition is one answer, but how to make it fit into
the barrel of such a small gun? This was one answer. The
3.7cm Stielgranate 41 was essentially a large grenade, with
fins to make it fly straight, that fitted over the barrel
of the PaK 37 with a solid rod inside. You fired it using
a blank cartridge and hoped for the best. |
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Tank Museum photo No. 6348/F/2 |
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We have just been presented with
a deactivated Stielgranate 41 round in almost perfect condition
which will soon be added to our anti-tank display. The warhead
worked on the hollow charge principle. The stud on
the end is an impact fuse which set off an explosive
charge, just as the domed head crumpled, and theoretically
blasted its way through thick armour. A secondary fuse at
the base of the head set the charge off by graze action if
it was not a direct hit.
Of course it is difficult to judge the effectiveness of devices
such as this. Range would be a problem, it cannot have been
great and it is no joke, crouching behind the tiny shield
of an anti-tank gun with a large Russian tank bearing down
on you, hoping that it gets into range before it spots you. |
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Photographs
with a reference number can be purchased from the Tank Museum
shop.
To find out more click
here |
