Deg Galev PTRD anti-tank rifle

Simonov PTRS anti-tank rifle

"Duo"

- Deggalev PTRD anti-tank rifle and Simonov PTRS anti-tank rifle

Introduction: The USSR developed two types of anti-tank rifles during the Great Patriotic War: the PTRD designed by Deggarev and the PTRS designed by Simonov. They massively equipped the Soviet troops, became

The effective anti-tank weapon of the infantry, which played a significant role in the Great Patriotic War, was considered a "weapon of victory". There are claims that the Soviet army developed other models of anti-tank guns in World War II, they

Either it is nothing, or the "Powys" anti-tank guns aided by the British are also included.

Background: The development of anti-tank guns in the Soviet Union began long before the war. Several models were tested, the main ones were Rukhaniv anti-tank rifles, as well as the Kochersky anti-tanks

Tank gun (caliber 37mm, the USSR counted it as an anti-tank gun). But the Soviet military leadership mistakenly believed that the Germans began to be equipped with a large number of new tanks, which were thickly armored and had high firepower, countered with 45mm

Tank guns can't penetrate its armor, and anti-tank guns can't deal with it. So not enough attention was paid to the development of anti-tank guns, and all test guns were not put into actual production.

After the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, the Soviets found in battle that the armor protection of the German tanks was not very strong: the fIV medium tank could easily use anti-tank guns

wreck; The f38(t) light tank can even be pierced with armor-piercing shells from a 12.7mm DShK heavy machine gun. But the Soviet infantry did not have effective anti-tank weapons.

In July 1941, the Soviet military commissioned the well-known weapons designers Deggalev and Simonov to develop an anti-tank rifle suitable for infantry use as soon as possible, and asked for its use

14.5X114mm bomb tested in 1939/40 (B-32 warhead: weight 64g, muzzle velocity 1000m/s). During this period, the front-line troops temporarily equipped the captured German 7.92mm PzB-39 anti-tank

Gram guns. A month later,.. The Simonov Design Bureau separately handed over its own prototype guns, all of which were 14.5mm caliber and used the same ammunition. Measurement of two guns

The test results were excellent, and it was difficult to distinguish between the two and was finally adopted, and mass production was put into August 1941.

Comparison of ammunition for different anti-tank guns (second row left for Poismak I, third row right for Soviet 14.5mm armor-piercing shells)

【Production】The anti-tank rifle designed by Dzhegarev is called PTRD, which uses a spiral bolt with a raised lock, manual loading, and automatic case throwing. The structure is simple and the manufacturing cost is low

, which is convenient for mass production. About 600 were produced in 1941, and by the end of 1942 it had reached 184,000 pieces, and has maintained a high annual production ever since. Production was phased out in January 1945

。

Simonov designed a gun called PTRS, which used a gas-conductive automatic method, a rotary bolt machine, a hole drilled in the barrel, and a 5-round magazine feed. In contrast, Simonov PTRS anti

Tank rifles have a complex structure and have longer production man-hours than PTRD. In January 1942, only 77 PTRS units were produced. But by the end of 1942, production had soared to 63,308.

The total production of these two Soviet anti-tank rifles in the war exceeded 400,000 units, which can be called the most produced anti-tank guns in the world.

Two types of anti-tank guns were supplied to the troops from October 1941 and were put into service during the campaign to defend Moscow. The anti-tank group equipped with it played an important role in the battle.

In defensive battles, the Soviets placed anti-tank groups in the middle of the rifle platoon and on the flanks of the main positions of the infantry companies, and the German tanks posed a greater threat. There is also a chessboard-like layout, each

An anti-tank gun is set up at intervals of 50-100 meters to form a dense crossfire.

R. Melensin, who served as a tank crew in the German army during World War II, recalled: "The anti-tank fire of the Soviet army was very strong, and it left us with the impression that almost every Russian soldier had an anti-tank gun in his hand

An anti-tank gun. The Russians carefully configured these anti-tank weapons, and their firepower literally covered the entire battlefield. ”

Soviet anti-tank gun group Kursk front

With the use of stronger medium and heavy tanks by the Germans, from the summer of 1942 onwards, the direct damage effect of Soviet anti-tank rifles on German tanks gradually diminished, but against light tanks and armor

cars, as well as other motor vehicles, are quite effective. In addition, the Soviets switched to using anti-tank guns to shoot at German pillboxes, fortifications and machine-gun bunkers, taking part in house-by-house battles. In a certain place

In some cases, even shooting at air targets.

Anti-tank group of the 23rd Guards Infantry Division in training on the Karelian front on September 1, 1942

On December 6, 1941, the Soviet Army began to be incorporated into anti-tank companies in infantry divisions. According to the "three-three" system, there are three platoons, and each platoon has three squads. There is also a plus and negative connection

A company of 7 people, including the commander and the instructor. Each platoon consisted of 24 men, armed with nine PTRD anti-tank rifles and attached to a horse-drawn wagon.

On March 18, 1942, the Soviets established a new infantry regiment. Referring to the original divisional anti-tank company, it has an independent anti-tank company under the jurisdiction of a regiment, equipped with 27 anti-tank rifles

。 In addition, each infantry battalion was incorporated into an anti-tank company. The battalion is an anti-tank company with only two platoons, but each platoon has four squads. The whole company was armed with 16 anti-tank guns, some of which were PTRS anti-tank

Tank guns. Thus, the number of anti-tank guns in the possession of each infantry regiment was: 27 for one separate anti-tank company, 48 for three infantry battalions, for a total of 75 PTRD and PTRS anti-tank guns. I possessed considerably

Strong anti-tank firepower.

At the same time, the division's separate anti-tank company was expanded into an anti-tank battalion. It has jurisdiction over three newly formed anti-tank companies, each of which consists of four platoons, each of which has three squads. The anti-tank company is equipped with anti-tank guns in total

The number increased to 36 and was armed with 4 light machine guns and a certain number of submachine guns.

On July 28, 1942, the Soviet army was again changed. There was no change in the separate anti-tank units belonging to the divisional and regimental levels, and the anti-tank units under the infantry battalion were reduced from one company to one

Platoon, including 3 classes. The two platoons were drawn to form an anti-tank company, armed with 12 anti-tank guns, and were assigned to the division's machine-gun battalion. Anti-tank guns also began to be incorporated into the divisional artillery batteries, the number of which was 4

2 of each of the two artillery platoons.

Between 1943 and 1944, the Soviets incorporated anti-tank companies into the infantry reserves.

It is worth mentioning that the Soviet artillery units were also armed with a large number of PTRD and PTRS anti-tank guns in the period from 1941 to 1942. This was due to the fact that a large number of anti-tank guns were destroyed, and they were being destroyed

The Soviet factories, which were withdrawn to the rear, could not produce enough to cover the losses. It was only when the situation improved that these artillery units were replaced with 1937 or 1942 45mm anti-tank guns.

Two excellent anti-tank gunners of the 6th Guards Army each destroyed 7 German tanks in the Battle of Kursk

Tactically, the Soviet army used the PTRD and PTRS anti-tank rifles as a kind of support weapon, and strengthened the front-line troops threatened by enemy tanks. So in the Soviet army was formed

In infantry battalions, regiments and divisions, stationary anti-tank gun units are often not found. These units were improvised in battle, and the number used depended on the number of enemy tanks.

Soviet divisional units often mixed anti-tank rifles and other anti-tank weapons to fill the gap in anti-tank firepower. The largest establishment is an anti-tank brigade with a light 45mm anti-tank brigade

Tank artillery regiments, plus two anti-tank gun battalions armed with PTRD and PTRS. The number of incorporated anti-tank rifles depended on the threat of enemy tanks. At the minimum, a division is only equipped with 2 or 3 anti-tanks

Kren, plus two batteries of DShK heavy machine guns using armor-piercing shells. In order to protect the anti-tank guns, a light machine gun squad and a number of submachine gun squads were incorporated into some anti-tank gun battalions.

Schematic diagram of Soviet anti-tank guns firing the German tank III

In specific use, the Soviet army provided for the location of anti-tank guns to shoot at enemy tanks, and the fIII medium tank was used as an example. 1) All observation windows, hatches and sighting devices;

2) Artillery and machine guns and other weapons and equipment;

3) the sides of the hull and turret, all wheels, tracks;

4) Fuel tanks, as well as engines.

The specific terms of use are as follows:

“……

In any case, the positions to be transferred must be prepared;

A maximum of 5-10 rounds can be fired at one firing position, which must be transferred as soon as possible;

If the position is not conducive to effective firing of the enemy tank, immediately and covertly move to the rear of the latter on the side of the enemy's tank and strike at it;

Actively cooperate with other anti-tank groups, understand their specific locations, and strive to make up for each other's firepower blind spots;

The armament of the enemy's tank must be preferred as a target for firing;

……”

The two main points are maneuvering and concealment.

There are photographs showing Soviet anti-tank rifles firing into the air, possibly inspired by the Finnish Army's L-39/44 anti-aircraft guns. The rate of fire of a single anti-tank gun was very high

Slow, PTRS can shoot 15 rounds per minute, PTRD only 8-10 rounds. However, if a large number of anti-tank guns were used at the same time, forming a dense network of firepower, it was indeed possible to dive and bomb the low-flying German troops

Institutions become a threat.

The Soviets organized anti-tank guns to shoot the Kursk front in the air

In addition, two types of anti-tank rifles were also carried by motorcycles and armored vehicles, and some were added to tracked and wheeled armored vehicles. For example, the Soviet army used it in reference to British light armored vehicles"

The practice of the Powys anti-tank gun, which loaded the PTRD onto a number of light tracked vehicles aided by the Allies. Interestingly, the Germans loaded captured Soviet anti-tank guns on SdKfz 250 half-tracks

to enhance its anti-tank combat capabilities.

In addition to equipping Soviet troops, PTRDs and PTRS were also supplied to partisans behind enemy lines and to Polish and Czechoslovak units established in the Soviet Union.

The PTRD and PTRS anti-tank rifles were widely used in the Korean War, and the Korean People's Army used them to destroy many U.S. M24 light tanks and use them as long-range snipers

Rifle. The U.S. military gave them the nickname "Buffalo Guns".

【Parameters】

PTRDPTRS

Caliber: 14.5 mm 14.5 mm

Ammunition capacity: 1 round 5 rounds

Gun length: 2 meters 2.1 meters

Muzzle velocity: 1012 m/s, 1012 m/s

Actual rate of fire: 8-10 rounds / min. 15 rounds / min

Effective range: 600 meters to 1500 meters

【Armor Piercing】

At an angle of 90 degrees

Distance from PTRDPTRS

300 meters 40 mm 40 mm

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