SECTION 23

THE STORY OF BRITISH ANTI-TANK WEAPONS IN THE INFANTRY


The Charlie "G"

Still in service with many Armies, after almost 40 years !

 

I can even remember the first modification in the 60's ! 

1962 -- The rubber-band on the venturi to stop it ringing !

Les "the bat"


THE STORY OF THE "BAT" GUNS

(BATTALION ANTI-TANK GUNS)


(1) WEAPON TIMELINE (approx dates)

                         DATE                WEAPON               UNTILL


(2) THE EARLY GUNS

of WW1 & WW2  

(in those days, these guns were not used by Infantry, but most certainly, used in the Anti-Tank role)

In WW2, the 25 Pdr. (a Field Gun !) scored more enemy tank "Kills" than our Anti-Tank Gunners.

Also in WW2, the German 88mm (an A. A. Gun !) scored more tank "Kills" than their Anti-Tank Gunners. 


British Ordnance QF

18 Pounder Field-Gun.


British Ordnance QF

6 Pounder Anti-Tank Gun.

British Ordnance QF

25 Pounder Field-Gun.


British Ordnance QF

17 Pounder Anti-Tank Gun.

British Ordnance QF

2 Pounder Anti-Tank Gun.


British Ordnance QF

105 Pack Howitzer.



 (3) BRITISH INFANTRY ANTI-TANK WEAPONS

From 1939 to 2016

(Embedded & Deployed inside the Rifle Platoons of the Infantry Battalion.)


"Sticky-Bombs"- Satchel-Charges

No 68 Anti-Tank Grenade                            

PIAT Projector Infantry Anti-Tank.

 



BOYES                                                                       (BSA Enfield Rifle Anti-Tank Infantry 5.5 in Mk 1)

3.5 in ROCKET LAUNCHER  "Bazooka"

(Launcher HEAT Rocket 3.5in M28) 



ENERGA 94 (Grenades Rifle Anti-Tank No 94)


 M40A1 106MM Recoilless Rifle   ( 57mm & 75mm versions existed also, but not in British service)


66mm RCL  Rocket Launcher "66"

VICKERS VIGILANT Optically tracked/Wire guided)



CARL GUSTAV 84mm ANTI-TANK GUN     "Charlie G" - In service from 1948 to 2016 & still going ! !

Now, after almost 70 years, the most successful Anti-Tank Gun ever produced (Still used by the SAS & US)


MILAN   ATGM

TOW    ATGM

LAW 80    ATGM



JAVELIN (Lockheed F-GM 148 ATGM)

MBT LAW or AT4CS    ATGM



SWINGFIRE   ATGM     1966 until 1993

STARSTREAK    ATGM    HVM SACLOS



(4) THE BAT GUNS

Employed in the Infantry Rifle Battalion from 1959 to 1978

EXPERIMENTAL VERSIONS  (not issued)

AMMUNITION



L2 BAT      Battalion Anti-Tank


L4 MOBAT   MObile Battalion Anti-Tank


L7 CONBAT     CONverted Battalion Anti-Tank


L6 WOMBAT     Weapon Of Magnesium Battalion Anti-Tank


(5) RCL CURIOS

Oddities in Anti-Tank recoilless history

The Germans in WW2 as the pioneers of RCL ?


(6) PAMPHLET IMAGES

Produced by the Support Weapons Wing, School of Infantry, Netheravon. 1950`s/60`s


(7) L6 WOMBAT for AFV 432 Role

Pamphlet (for all Marks)


(8) ANTI-TANKER BANTER & OTHER STORIES


(9) GALLERY

General images to the theme "The Infantry Anti-Tank Story"