The PIAT (Anti-tank weapon)
TLDRThe PIAT, or Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank, was a crucial British anti-tank weapon during World War II. Initially, the Boys Anti-tank Rifle was used, but it was soon deemed obsolete due to its insufficient power against tank armor. Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Blacker's innovative Blacker's Bombard, a spigot mortar, served as the inspiration for the PIAT. Major Miller's Jefferies of the Ministry of Defence's special weapons development unit, MD1, improved the design, enabling a single soldier to carry and operate the weapon. The PIAT, produced from August 1942 by Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, was a simple, cost-effective weapon that could launch high-explosive anti-tank projectiles with a shaped charge. Despite its advantages, including no back blast and the ability to use various types of grenades, the PIAT was unpopular among soldiers due to its size, complex loading process, and recoil. It was widely used from mid-1943, particularly in the Allied invasion of Sicily, and was later adopted by other armies and resistance movements. Post-war, the PIAT was gradually replaced by the American M20 Super Bazooka in the 1950s. The video also mentions the game War Thunder, a free-to-play military online game featuring realistic aircraft, tanks, and ships for players worldwide.
Takeaways
- 🔫 The PIAT (Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank) was the primary British anti-tank weapon during World War II.
- 🚫 The Boys Anti-tank Rifle was deemed obsolete early in the war due to insufficient power against average tank armor.
- 💡 Lt. Colonel Stuart Blacker proposed the idea for a portable anti-tank weapon, which led to the development of the PIAT.
- 🔨 Major Miller's Jefferies, from the Ministry of Defence (MD1), improved Blacker's design, which was a spigot mortar adapted for anti-tank use.
- 🏭 Production of the PIAT began in August 1942, with Imperial Chemical Industries Limited as a key manufacturer, despite not being an ordnance company.
- 📏 The PIAT was a 39-inch long, 32-pound weapon that housed a spigot mechanism and a firing spring.
- 🚀 PIAT projectiles used a shaped charge to penetrate up to four inches of armor, with a range effective against all tanks at 115 yards.
- ⚙️ The PIAT's operation was simple, with a spigot mortar system that gave it an advantage over rocket launchers in terms of ease of production and cost.
- 💥 Despite its advantages, the PIAT was unpopular among soldiers due to its size, awkward cocking process, and potential for causing injury.
- 🔄 The PIAT had issues with round reliability, which could necessitate repeating the cocking process in the heat of battle.
- ✈️ After the war, the PIAT was gradually replaced in the British Army by the American M20 Super Bazooka in the early 1950s.
Q & A
What does PIAT stand for?
-PIAT stands for 'Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank' and was the main British anti-tank weapon during World War II.
What was the name of the British anti-tank rifle used by soldiers in the early stages of World War II?
-The British soldiers were equipped with the Boys Anti-tank Rifle, officially known as Rifle, Anti-Tank, .55in, Boys.
Why was the Boys Rifle considered obsolete during the war?
-The Boys Rifle was considered obsolete because it had insufficient power to penetrate the average tank armor.
Who brought up the idea of the first British portable anti-tank weapon?
-The idea of the first British portable anti-tank weapon was brought up by Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Blacker.
What was the name of the portable version of Blacker's bombard that influenced the design of the PIAT?
-The portable version of Blacker's bombard, which influenced the design of the PIAT, was known as the Baby Bombard.
Who was responsible for improving Blacker's design to create the PIAT?
-Major Miller's Jefferies, who was in charge of the special weapons development organization called Ministry of Defence one (MD1), improved Blacker's design to create the PIAT.
What was the main manufacturer of the PIAT at the beginning of its production?
-The main manufacturer of the PIAT at the beginning of its production was the Imperial Chemical Industries Limited.
How effective were the PIAT projectiles against tanks?
-The PIAT projectiles, which used a shaped charge, were effective against all tanks at distances of up to 115 yards or 105 meters.
What was the advantage of the PIAT's spigot mortar system over rocket launchers like the bazooka?
-The PIAT's spigot mortar system did not require a complex rocket mechanism, making it simpler to manufacture and operate, and it did not produce a back blast, allowing it to be used in confined spaces without causing harm to the user.
Why was the PIAT unpopular among British and Commonwealth soldiers despite its advantages?
-The PIAT was unpopular due to its large and unwieldy size, making it difficult to carry, a complicated and awkward initial cocking process, and issues with recoil and round reliability.
In which operation was the PIAT first used by Canadian troops?
-The PIAT was first used by Canadian troops during Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily from July to August 1943.
What happened to the PIAT after World War II?
-After the war ended, the need for the PIAT was reduced, and it was gradually withdrawn from service until the early 1950s when it was replaced in the British Army by the American M20 Super Bazooka.
What is War Thunder and on which platforms is it available?
-War Thunder is a free-to-play military online game available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, featuring realistic aircraft, tanks, and ships for players to engage in epic battles.
Outlines
💥 PIAT: The British Anti-Tank Weapon of World War II
The PIAT (Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank) was the primary British anti-tank weapon during World War II. Initially, the Boys Anti-tank Rifle was used, but it proved ineffective against modern tank armor. The need for a more potent weapon led to the development of the PIAT, which was inspired by Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Blacker's 'Blacker's Bombard'—a spigot mortar adapted for anti-tank use. The PIAT was a portable, shoulder-launched weapon that fired high-explosive projectiles with a shaped charge, capable of penetrating four inches of armor. Despite its advantages, including ease of use, low cost, and the ability to be used in confined spaces without a back blast, the PIAT had its drawbacks. It was large and awkward to carry, had a complicated loading process, and suffered from reliability issues. Nevertheless, it was widely used by British and Commonwealth forces, as well as by other Allied armies and resistance movements. The PIAT was phased out after the war, being replaced by the American M20 Super Bazooka in the early 1950s.
🕹️ War Thunder: The Virtual Battlefield
After the war, the PIAT's role diminished, and it was eventually replaced by the more powerful M20 Super Bazooka. In the modern context, the PIAT can be experienced virtually through the game 'War Thunder,' a free-to-play military online game available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The game offers a vast selection of over 1,000 realistic aircraft, tanks, and ships for players to engage in large-scale battles with thousands of players worldwide. By using the link provided, new players can register and receive a free premium tank or aircraft along with three days of premium account time as a bonus.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡PIAT
💡Boys Anti-tank Rifle
💡Spigot Mortar
💡Ministry of Defence one (MD1)
💡Shaped Charge
💡Imperial Chemical Industries Limited
💡 Recoil
💡Operation Husky
💡War Thunder
💡M20 Super Bazooka
💡Back Blast
Highlights
PIAT was the main British anti-tank weapon during World War II.
British soldiers were equipped with the Boys Anti-tank Rifle, which was considered obsolete due to insufficient power to penetrate tank armor.
Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Blacker proposed the idea of the first British portable anti-tank weapon, the Blacker's Bombard, a modified spigot mortar.
Major Miller's Jefferies improved Blacker's design, leading to the development of the PIAT under the Ministry of Defence (MD1).
The PIAT bypassed standard tests due to its urgent need in combat, with production beginning in August 1942.
Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, not an ordnance company, was the main manufacturer of the PIAT.
The PIAT was a 39-inch long, 32-pound weapon with a spigot mechanism and a firing spring.
PIAT projectiles used a shaped charge, allowing them to penetrate four inches of armor.
The weapon had a simple operation, with the spigot rod pushed by a spring, igniting the propellants and launching the projectile.
The PIAT had advantages over rocket launchers like the Bazooka and Panzerfaust due to its simple design and lack of a complex rocket mechanism.
It was cost-effective and could launch high explosive grenades and smoke grenades without a back blast, making it suitable for use in confined spaces.
Despite its advantages, the PIAT was unpopular among soldiers due to its size, difficulty in operation, and potential for injury.
The PIAT's initial cocking process was complex and challenging for short soldiers or in a prone position.
The weapon was widely used from mid-1943, first by Canadian troops during Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily.
In the British Army, the PIAT was used at the platoon level, by Royal Marine Commandos, and as an auxiliary weapon by light armored vehicle groups.
The PIAT was also used by the Red Army, Free French troops, and resistance fighters in Greece, Poland, and Yugoslavia.
After the war, the PIAT was gradually replaced by the American M20 Super Bazooka in the British Army during the early 1950s.
War Thunder is a free-to-play military online game featuring over 1,000 realistic aircraft, tanks, and ships for players worldwide.
Transcripts
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)
Thanks for rating: