The Antitank Encyclopedia
Antitank warfare in WW1

WWI antitank guns & rifles: As entente tanks entered the fray, the Germans quickly adapted past the surprise and adopted the K bullet, the Tankgewehr M1918 rifle, the MG18, and the antitank gun 3.7 cm TAK 1918. These were the first attempts to stop tanks, and a race, which is still not over, started more than 100 years ago...
It's very clear that as soon as tanks were introduced on the battlefield, at Flers-Courcelette in April 1917 (battle of the Somme) it provoked the expected panic within Germans troops at first. The revolutionary new weapon proved its worth. However as soon as reports of these reach the German High Command, countr-measures were st in place: Instructions for field artillery to fire in direct trajectory on tanks, K-bullets for regular rifles distributed to the infantry, and developement of a dedicated antitank rifle. This was only the beginning.
Development in WW2

WW2 Antitank rifles, guns, rockets and Self propelled grenades - Killing Tanks became an industry: It was clear for all in 1918 that tanks needed a countermeasure, and interwar light guns, even machine-guns and still rifles seemed to do the job. But with armour progresses, heavier guns and infantry weapons such as the piat, bazooka and panzerfaust became a new threat for tanks.
During WW2, belligerents used dozens of different models of antitank weapons, ranging from interwar antitank rifles to dual purpose high velocity guns like the feared German 88 mm, mines and even rockets. WW2 showed also a race to have these new antitank guns placed in armoured vehicles and tanks as soon as possible. At the end of the war, cruisers-caliber guns were not uncommon on the battlefield, but infantry, with the Panzerfaust or the Bazooka, now had means to defeat tanks. Still, no guided antitank missile was at hand but the Ruhrstahl X-4 to 10 series (Rotkäppchen).
Cold war Tech

Cold War AT guns and missiles: The missile revolution:
Both NATO and the Warsaw pact, benefiting from German research in 1945, progressed in the field of missiles, and the 1950s saw an explosion of models, even carried by dedicated tanks or going to infantry fighting vehicles. Armour progressed accordingly and the race intensified until 1990, and is not over yet.
The great revolution of the cold war, already tested in 1944, was the missile. Instead of trying to fire on a tank at a distance, it was soon found safer and more effective to send a missile on a tank or any armoured vehicle. Soon, missiles entered the fray and rapidly earned their battlefield laurels at multiple occasions. Tanks were protected against them, in a race which is still on today. From heavy missiles to portable ones such as the RPG, the catalog of antitank weaponry and new adversaries for tanks, like dedicated planes such as the A-10 and Frogfoot or combat helicopters, further complicated the environment in which armoured vehicles operates. It clearly made it more threatening, in particular in an urban environment.
Future antitank warfare

A global industry: Modern AT guns and missiles
A today's paradox is that tanks are somewhat seen are obsolete -it has been claimed many times over the decades), their conception going back sometimes 40 years prior, while versatile infantry fighting vehicles of all kind, wheeled or tracked, seems on the rise. If guns are no longer used, a new generation of AT missiles seems to be more potent than ever.
If classic tank guns shells are defeated now by the most recent and advanced armour combinations, most recent, high tech solution had been to target arguably the weakest part of a tank, its deck and roof armor. Using a plunging missile like the Javelin for example, or a slealthy drone, with any kind of AT payload. Drones are affordable more discreet than helicopters. Belarus possessed an antitank rocket lifted by four small props and Iran developed a a drone carrying Sadid-I AT missiles. Antitank ammunitions fired by field artillery could also be deadly. All this made tanks more and more vulnerable on the battlefield, something confirmed by the recent ukraine war.
Antitank Guns & Antitank List:
- 13.2 MG 18 TuF (WWI)
- 3.7 cm TAK 1918 (WWI)
- Mauser M1918 (WWI)
- 2.8 cm sPzB 41
- 3.7 cm PaK 35/36 (Nazi Germany)
- 4.2 cm PaK 41
- 5 cm PaK 38
- 7.5 cm PaK 97/38
- 7.5 cm PaK 40
- 7.5 cm PaK 50
- 7.5 cm PaK 41
- 7.62 cm PaK 36(r)
- 8 cm PAW 600
- 8.8 cm PaK 43/41
- 10 cm PAW 1000
- 12.8 cm PaK 44
- 25 mm Hotchkiss ATG
- 25 mm APX modèle 1937
- AC 37 AT gun
- 47mm SA 37
- AC 47 anti-tank gun
- GIAT CN90F1/DEFA D921
- Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun (Jap)
- Type 97 20 mm AT Gun (Jap)
- Type 94 37 mm (Japan)
- Type 1 anti-tank gun (Japan)
- Vickers Type 40 mm AT/AA Gun (Japan)
- 37-mm anti-tank gun M1930 (1-K) (USSR)
- 45 mm anti-tank gun M1932 (19-K) (USSR)
- 45-mm anti-tank gun M1937 (53-K) (USSR)
- 45-mm anti-tank gun M1942 (M-42) (USSR)
- 57-mm anti-tank gun M1941 and M1943 (ZiS-2) (USSR)
- 3,7cm KPÚV vz. 34 (Czechoslovakia)
- 3,7cm KPÚV vz. 37 (Czechoslovakia)
- 4cm kanón vz. 36 (Czechoslovakia)
- 4,7cm KPÚV vz. 38 (Czechoslovakia)
- Ordnance QF 2 pounder (UK)
- QF 6 pounder 7 cwt (UK)
- 76.2 QF 17 pounder Gun (UK)
- 37 mm gun M3 (US)
- 57mm M1 Antitank Gun (US)
- 76.2 3-inch Gun M5 (US)
- 90mm Gun (US)
- 37 mm Bofors (Sweden)
- C.47 F.R.C. Mod.31 (Belgium)
- 4.7 cm Böhler (Austria)
- Cannone da 47/32 M35 (Italy)
- 47 mm Schneider-Concordia (Romania)
- 75 mm Reșița Model 1943 (Romania)
- 85 mm vz. 52 (Czechoslovakia)
- 85 mm antitank gun D-48 (USSR)
- MECAR KEnerga 90mm Belgium
- Pak 57 (Switzerland)
- 100-mm field gun M1944 (BS-3) USSR
- 2A19/T-12 USSR
- 2A29/MT-12 Russia
- 100 mm vz. 53 Czechoslovakia
- Type 86 anti-tank gun China
- 100 mm anti-tank gun M1977 Romania
- 105mm Gun T8 US
- 2A60 Russia
- 2A45 Russia
German AT guns
French AT guns
Japanese AT guns
Soviet AT guns
Czech AT guns
British AT guns
US AT guns
Others
Coldwar AT guns
Antitank guns
57mm Gun M1
➾ Antitank gun produced from 1942, 15,600+*
The idea of manufacturing the British Ordnance Quick-Firing 6-pounder 7 cwt (designed in 1940 to replace the 2-pdr QF AT gun) in the US, was expressed by Ordnance in February 1941. At the time, the 37mm Gun M3 was still favored and lend lease was envisioned. In the US, the gun was started in production in 1941 () as "substitute standard, 57 mm Gun M1" as a copy of the 6-pounder Mark 2 of which two were received from the UK in 1941. It had a longer barrel from the start. Combined allied production started in 1941 (201), 1942 (17,854), 1943 (16,586) and 1944 (1,964) and terminated for the QF-17 Pdr, the 1944 and 1945 ones going largely into lend-lease. The US variant was unmodified, but the M1A1 US combat tyres and wheels, and its own production started early in 1942 and went on until 1945 for a grand total of 15,637.
The M1A2 had free traverse, allowing the crew pushing and pulling on the breech and production started from September 1942. It became standard issue in the Spring of 1943 with a modified towing point design intoduced on the M1A3, which became the proper US variant, the earlier being sent in lend-lease. Later appeared the M2 in 1944 which had a caster wheel added to the right trail as well as relocated trail handles and new utility box while the 1945 M2A1 had improved elevation gear.

Author's rendition of the 57mm M1

57 mm Gun Motor Carriage T48 in Normandy June 1944

57 mm Gun Motor Carriage T48

57 mm Gun Motor Carriage T49

57 mm Gun Motor Carriage T44
Tractors were the Dodge WC-63 1½-Ton 6×6 and M2 Half-Track, but self-propelled guns also used it: The 57 mm Gun Motor Carriage T48 (lend-lease Soviet SU-57) as well as the prototype Light Tank T7E2 (1 teste), T18E2 Boarhound armored car (30 built), 57 mm Gun Motor Carriage T49 (1 tested) and 57 mm Gun Motor Carriage T44, based on Ford 4×4 ¾ ton cargo carrier chassis (same). 3/4 of the American production went to the Divisions in Europe and the remainder in lend-lease too the UK, the Soviet Union, and later Free French forces (June 1944). They only were provided AP shot and HE only in the later summer of 1944, with UK stocks as interim. It was declared obsolete in 1954, being unable to pierce the frontal armor of the T-54.
⚙ Specifications M1 AT Gun | |
Barrel | 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)/50, cal. 2.244 in (57 mm) |
Dimensions | 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) x 4 ft 2 in (1.28 m) |
Mass | 2,679 lb (1,215 kg) |
Crew | 6: Cdr, 2 gunners, 3 loaders |
Load/recoil | Vertical sliding-block, Hydro-pneumatic |
Elevation/traverse | -5° to +15°, 90° |
Rate of fire | 15 rpm |
Muzzle velocity | AP Shot M70 (2.85 kg): 853 m/s (2,800 ft/s) |
Range Effective/Max | 1,650 yd (1,510 m)/5,000 yd (4,600 m) |
Shell | Fixed QF 57×441 mmR |
Carriage/sights | Split trail, No.22c |
4,2 cm Pak 41
➾ Antitank gun produced from Dec.1941, 313
The 4.2 cm Pak 41 (Panzerabwehrkanone 41) was a light anti-tank gun destined to the Fallschirmjager (German airborne units) in World War II, externally similar to the 3.7 cm Pak 36, but with a modified carriage, and using the squeeze bore principle ("Gerlich" after Hermann Gerlich which invented it in 1920s) to boost velocity, and so the bore was ported to 42 mm (1.7 in) at the chamber, tapered down to only 28 mm (1.1 in) at the muzzle. The the projectile was smaller than the 37mm but had greater velocity at 1500 m/sec.. It was most efficient with the Armor-piercing composite non–rigid (APCNR–T) Pzgr 41 weighting 336 g (11.9 oz) caliber 42/28 mm (1.65/1.10 in). At 1000m they were still able to penetrate 55-60 mm, up to 83-105 mm at 250m. Production was terminated in June 1942, 313 guns being delivered. They were quickly spent. By November 1943, only 47 remained in service.

Author's rendition of the 4,2 cm Pak 41
⚙ Specifications Pak 41 AT Gun | |
Dimensions | 235 cm (93 in), barrel 225 cm (89 in) bore, 55.8 cal. |
Mass | 560 kg (1,230 lb) |
Crew | |
Load/recoil | Horizontal sliding-block breech |
Elevation/traverse | -8° to +25°, 60° |
Rate of fire | 12 round per minute |
Muzzle velocity | 1,500 m/s (4,900 ft/s) |
Range | 800 m (2,600 ft) to 7,000 m (23,000 ft) |
Shell | Fixed QF 42×406mm R |
Carriage/sights | Split trail, Zeiss optic |
7.5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 40
➾ Antitank gun produced from 1940, 23,303As a result, the new antitank gun received a new emergency after the invasion of the USSR in 1941 and reports of encounters with the T-34 and KV-1. It received the utmost priority, and by November 1941 the first preserie guns were sent to the eastern front, then by April 1942, the first batches of serial guns arrived (44) with the production rapidly ramping up until mid-1943 when the Pak 40 formed the bulk of German anti-tank artillery. It was recoignised as efficient, with a fast rate of fire, optional high elevation for indirect fire, and best results obtained by the Panzergranate 40 (PzGr. 40) APCR projectile (sub-calibre tungsten core): 4.05 kg (8 lb 15 oz) for 990 m/s in muzzle velocity, the ability to defeat 143 mm of armour at 100m, 120 mm at 500, 97 mm at 1000m and 77 mm at 1500. At 500m the PzGr. 40 could defeat 154 mm armour plating at 90°, so frontally a KV-1 heavy tank.


Author's rendition of the 7.5cm PAK-40
⚙ Specifications 75mm Pak-40 AT Gun | |
Dimensions | 6.2(20 ft 4) in x 2.08 x 1.2 m, barrel 46 cal. 3.45 m (11 ft 4 in) |
Mass | 1,425 kg (3,142 lb) |
Crew | 6 (Cdr, 2 pointers, 4 loaders) |
Load/recoil | Semi-automatic horizontal sliding-block, Hydro-pneumatic |
Elevation/traverse | −5° to +22°; 65° |
Rate of fire | 14 rounds per minute |
Muzzle velocity | See notes |
Range | 1,800 m (1,969 yd) to 7,678 m (8,397 yd) (HE) |
Shell | Fixed QF 75×714mm R |
Carriage/sights | Split trail, Zeiss optics |
88mm FLAK
➾ Antitank gun produced 1936-1945, 21,310
Certainly seen as the ultimate "wunderwaffe", the "88" was as famous as the French "75" in WW1, for the second world war. Certainly the iconic piece of ordnance for ages, this gun had a long history prior to its use as anti-aircraft variant. Previous variants were in use as light dual purpose gun in the Kaiserliches Marine since the start of the century. The 88 mm/28 developed by Krupp became the staple of light artillery on all ships from battleships to destroyers. Far forwards and in the interwar a new generation of such guns were developed by Krupp, wich design started in 1928.
It's in 1933 that started the production of a new generation FLAK gun, successively declined in longer barrels though its iterations Flak 18/36/37/41. When WW2 started the Wehmacht integrated AA bataillons equipped with the improved 8.8 cm Flak 36 in towed from hy half tracks, and later the 8.8 cm Flak 37. This "Flugabwehrkanone" had a versatile 4-wheeled carriage which allowed this piece to be used in limited anti-tank mode if needed, and revealed itself lethal in this role. This started in the campaign of may-June 1940 with its success during the British attack at Amiens, and given its potential it was not ony soon placed on all osrts of self-propelled carriages, with tan hunters developed around it like the "Nashorn" but after some development time, a heavy tank was built around, the famous Tiger I. Rheinmetall later created the 8.8 cm Flak 41, and Krupp and even longer barrel 8.8 cm gun, further developed as an anti-tank and tank destroyer as the PaK 43 gun (Elefant and Jagdpanther, Tiger II).



Author's rendition of the xxx
⚙ Specifications 8,8cm FLAK 36 Gun | |
Dimensions | 5.791 m (20 ft) (barrel 4.938 m), width 2.3 m, height 2.10 m |
Mass | 7,407 kg (16,330 lb) in mounted position |
Crew | 10 |
Load/recoil | Horizontal semi-automatic sliding bloc, Hydro-pneumatic |
Elevation/traverse | −3° to +85° 360° |
Rate of fire | 15–20 rpm |
Muzzle velocity | 840 m/s (2,690 ft/s) |
Range | 14,860 m (16,250 yd) ground target |
Shell | Fixed QF 88×571mmR, 88 mm (3.46 in) |
Carriage/sights | Sonderanhänger 202, ZF.20 sight |
7.5 cm PAK 97/38
➾ 1942 Antitank gun, 3712 converted
The 7.5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 97/38 and 7,5 cm Panzerjägerkanone 97/38 were German anti-tank guns combining captured French Canon de 75 modèle 1897, Swiss Solothurn muzzle brake and 5 cm Pak 38 carriage. It reused thousands of these WWI vintage guns and could fire French and Polish ammunition. It was moderately appreciated, with pros and cons. On pros, its light weight, good mobility, sufficient anti-armor performance with HEAT shell, defeating a T-34s in most situations and KV series sides, so decent anti-tank performances. On cons, its obvious low muzzle velocity. It was a 1897 field gun after all, brillant at its time for its high rate of fire, but never intended to deal with armour. This balanced by the HEAT ammunition, but it was really unable to cause much damage with a AP shell, especially on a small mobile target. Another on was its low effective range (500 m even with HEAT !). And there was its violent recoil, always a hazard.

Author's rendition of the 7.5 cm PAK 97/38 On the pros still, there was its low price compared to other German ordnance of the time: 9,000 reichsmarks, compared to 12,000 for the Pak 40. 2,854 were delivered in 1942, 858 in 1943, 160 were mounted on the 7.5 cm Pak 40 carriage (Pak 97/40) built in 1943, until production was stopped. Not only because of better Russian antitank guns captured in sufficient numbers and domestic production reaching a peak. For shells, 37,800 HEAT were made in 1942 and 371,600 in 1943. The Pak 97/38 entered service by the summer of 1942 and remained so until 1945, by March it is estimated 145 Pak 97/38 and FK 231(f) were still available, albeit 14 frontline only.
Ten were experimentally on captured T-26 light tank chassis, the 7.5 cm Pak 97/38(f) auf Pz.740(r), used with the 3rd Company, 563rd Anti-Tank Battalion until March 1944. It was also largely distributed to the other axis members: The Finnish Army during the Continuation War had a stock of 75 mm field guns in 1940, and they were later rebuillt to the Pak 97/38 standards. 46 converted in March–June 1943, 7 lost, the others retired only in 1986. They managed to manufacture their own shells as well. A few were also given to the Romanian 3rd and 4th Armies by October 1942. It was also fiven to 9 divisions of the Italian 8th Army (each had a battery of six assigned to artillery regiments in 1942), where it was locally designated Cannone da 75/39. November 1942 saw it in the hands of the Hungarian 2nd Army fielded also.
⚙ Specifications 7.5 cm PAK 97/38 AT Gun | |
Dimensions | 4.65 x 1.85 x 1.05m (15 ft 3 in x 6 ft 1 in x 3 ft 5 in) L/34.5 |
Mass | cbt 1,190 kg (2,623 lbs); trv 1,270 kg (2,800 lbs) |
Crew | 4-5: Gunner, Cdr, 2-3 loaders |
Breech/recoil | Nordenfelt interrupted screw, Hydro-pneumatic |
Elevation/traverse | -10° to 18°; 60° |
Rate of fire | 10-14 rpm |
Muzzle velocity | 570 m/s (1,900 ft/s) |
Range | HEAT 1.5 km (0.93 mi), HE frag 10 km (Sprgr.236/1(f)) |
Shell | 75 mm (2.95 in) 75×350 mm R HEAT, AP, HE, Shrapnel |
Carriage/sights | Split trail |
PAK-36
➾ Antitank gun produced from 1935, c20,000 built
The Pak 36 (Panzerabwehrkanone 36) was a 37mm caliber German anti-tank gun standard at the start of the Second World War. It was found virtually in all Wehrmacht Panzerjäger units, until 1942. Developed by Rheinmetall from 1933 to 1935, production made the first entering service by 1936. No less than 9,120 were available by September 1939, 5,339 more made during the war and 6,000 produced for export. At the time secret tank and weapons tests were ongoing in 1936-37 in the Kuban, the Soviets copied it as their own 45 mm anti-tank gun M1932 (19-K) but Japan also made a close copy. Not only it saw action (in Italian use) during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War but also the Spanish Civil War in the hands of Franco's troops, and the japanese at the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was of course deployed massively and used continurously until gradual replacement in 1942. It was indeed already found in the summer of 1940 unable to defeat the British Mk II Matilda, French Char B1 and Somua S35 as well as the T-34 and KV-1 on year later, being dubbed by the Germans themselves the "door knocker". But many still found use from 1942-45 with the Sielgranate 41, a shape charge projectile. It was light, easy to move, hide, and tow by any vehicles, including the small Sd.Kfz.2 moto-track. Derivatives found place on the Panzer III, which was its prime weapon in the summer of 1940. Many ended on various vehicles as tank hunters as well.

Author's rendition of the PAK-36
⚙ Specifications PAK 36 AT Gun | |
Dimensions | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) x 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) x 1.17 m (3 ft 10 in) |
Mass | Travel 450 kg (990 lb), combat 327 kg (721 lb) |
Crew | 5 (Commander, gunner, loader, two ammunition bearers) |
Elevation/traverse | -5° to +25°, 30° right and left |
Rate of fire | 13 rpm |
Muzzle velocity | 762 m/s (2,500 ft/s) |
Range | 5,484 m (5,997 yds) |
Shell | 37×249mmR 37 mm (1.45 in) |


















Mauser TankGewehr 1918
AA - Dual Purpose guns







































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Antitank Missiles:

- Australian Malkara
- Argentina: Mathogo
- Belarus: Shershen
- Brazil: MSS-1.2 * FOG-MPM * ALAC
- Canada: ERYX
- China: CM-501G * AFT-10 * PA02-MA * PA01-GA * TS-01 * HJ-73 * HJ-8 * HJ-9 * CM-502KG * HJ-11 * HJ-10 * BA-9 * BA-7 * AR-1 * AKD-10 * Type 98 anti-tank rocket * Type 78/65 * AFT-10 * HJ-12
- Croatia: AT-4
- France: APILAS * Entac * ERYX * SS.10 * SS.11 * MILAN * MMP
- Germany: Cobra/Cobra 2000 * Mamba * HOT * PARS 3
- Hungary: 44M HU
- India: DRDO ATM * Amogha * Nag * MPATGM * VEM Jasmine
- Indonesia: Saxhorn-2/Metis-M
- Iran: RAAD * Tosan * Dehlavie * Saeghe * Toophan
- Israel: Orev * MAPATS * LAHAT * Spike * Nimrod
- Italy: Mosquito
- Japan: Type 64 MAT * Type 79 Jyu-MAT * Type 87 Chu-MAT * Type 96 MPMS * Type 01 LMAT
- Jordan: Terminator
- North Korea: Bulsae-1 * Bulsae-2 * Bulsae-3
- South Korea: Hyungung (Raybolt)
- Pakistan: Baktar Shikan
- Poland: Pirat (ATGM)
- Serbia: Bumbar * ALAS
- South Africa: ZT3 Ingwe * Mokopa
- USSR/Russia: Drakon (IT-1) * Taifun * 3M6 Shmel (AT-1 Snapper) * 3M11 Falanga (AT-2 Swatter) * 9M14 Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger) * 9M111 Fagot (AT-4 Spigot) * 9M112 Kobra (AT-8 Songster) * 9M113 Konkurs (AT-5 Spandrel) * 9K114 Shturm (AT-6 Spiral) * 9K115 Metis (AT-7 Saxhorn) * 9K115-2 Metis-M (AT-13 Saxhorn-2) * 9K116-1 Bastion (AT-10 Stabber) * 9K118 Sheksna (AT-12 Swinger) * 9M119 Svir * 9M119M Refleks (AT-11 Sniper) * 9M120 Ataka (AT-9 Spiral-2) * 9K121 Vikhr (AT-16 Scallion) * 9M123 Khrizantema (AT-15 Springer) * 9M133 Kornet (AT-14 Spriggan) * 9M133M Kornet-M * Hermes-A
- Sweden: Bantam * RBS 56 BILL * RBS 56B BILL 2 * MBT LAW
- Switzerland: Cobra
- Turkey: Cirit * Mızrak-O * UMTAS * Karaok manpad
- United Kingdom: Malkara * Red Planet * Swingfire * Brimstone * Vickers Vigilant * MBT LAW
- United States: M47 Dragon * Javelin * SRAW BGM-71 TOW * AGM-114 Hellfire
- Ukraine: RK-3 Corsar * Skif (ATGM)