Panzerfausts

[Commander Waffle]

Basically... a 1940s RPG. The panzerfausr used a warhead designed off of the shaped charge theory. When you look at the physics and idea of the charge..its truly amzing and brillant.

The idea was basically that if you make a warhead with a bulge going outward, that the explosion would not also make a boom, but push extremely hot gases forward...here, read this. It shouls undo the knots in your brains from reading that.



The hot gases, were enough to go throw a few inches of steel. the prollenant used was pretty creative... just gunpowder. You put it in the tube, and attache it to the spring for the trigger. It was a one shot deal until late late in the war when relaodable versions were either under developement or in small numbers were used. It had a range of about...oh...30-60 meters. later version went from 100-150 meters. They were deadly weapons and could do damage on just about any tank in the war if hit on the right spot. Since it was light, easy to use, and decently accurate, the Germans had no problems using them and could be used against tanks, hardened shelters, bunkers, and (posibly) low flying aircraft. Not only that but could be fired from almost anywhere...truly amazing wouldn't you say?

[razorboy]

Originally Posted by Commander Waffle

Basically... a 1940s RPG. The panzerfausr used a warhead designed off of the shaped charge theory. When you look at the physics and idea of the charge..its truly amzing and brillant.

The idea was basically that if you make a warhead with a bulge going outward, that the explosion would not also make a boom, but push extremely hot gases forward...here, read this. It shouls undo the knots in your brains from reading that.



The hot gases, were enough to go throw a few inches of steel. the prollenant used was pretty creative... just gunpowder. You put it in the tube, and attache it to the spring for the trigger. It was a one shot deal until late late in the war when relaodable versions were either under developement or in small numbers were used. It had a range of about...oh...30-60 meters. later version went from 100-150 meters. They were deadly weapons and could do damage on just about any tank in the war if hit on the right spot. Since it was light, easy to use, and decently accurate, the Germans had no problems using them and could be used against tanks, hardened shelters, bunkers, and (posibly) low flying aircraft. Not only that but could be fired from almost anywhere...truly amazing wouldn't you say?

Some Panzerfaust footage - http://worldwartwozone.com/forums/at...1&d=1209254169

[Hagen]

How to stay safe and sound and still fire your panzerfaust;

[panzer228]

Hey Hagen,
That picture of yours look nice. Is that guy part of the german Volksturm? Just guessing.

[JohnnieB]

An addition or 2. The Panzerfaust uses the "Monroe Effect" discovered in 1888 by an explosives chemist named, you guessed it- Munroe.

The cone shaped charge focuses a liner applied to the face of the charge into a mpolten stream of metal. Copper works well for this liner.

The front bulge of the warhead is an aerodynamic false front, it also serves to help hold the detonator, ensuring detonation at the correct stand-off.

[Hagen]

Originally Posted by panzer228

Hey Hagen,
That picture of yours look nice. Is that guy part of the german Volksturm? Just guessing.

I think so. Either that or just the poor man they got to test the contraption.


Bicycle mounted tank busting unit;

[Jim O]

Panzerfaust3.jpg
Member of the Deutscher Volkssturm with a Panzerfaust.


panzerfaust_fire.jpg
Panzerfaust at moment of firing.


Tali-Ihantala.jpg
Finnish soldiers with Panzerfausts and a destroyed Soviet T-34 tank in the battle of Tali-Ihantala.


800px-Panzerfaust_helsinki.jpg
Four Panzerfausts in original casing, on display at the Helsinki Military Museum.

[MAGNA]

Nice thread Waffle. Thanks for the explanation. The pic of the bicycle unit reminds me of a unit I read about which operated just as in the pic. They were up against the Russian advance near the end of the war and were eventually captured after causing a reasonable amount of damage.

Thanks for the firing pic too Jim, I didn't realise there was such a pyrotechnic display involved.

[Hagen]

Originally Posted by MAGNA

Nice thread Waffle. Thanks for the explanation. The pic of the bicycle unit reminds me of a unit I read about which operated just as in the pic. They were up against the Russian advance near the end of the war and were eventually captured after causing a reasonable amount of damage.

Sounds as if you could be talking about Kampfgruppe Porsch. They were a company of the SS Fallschirmjager Battalion 500/600.

[MAGNA]

Could be Hagen. I've got it in a book somewhere. I'll find it if I can.