Most effective portable anti-tank weapon of WWII ?

Yes, SS Leibstandarte and SS Das Reich for example were transferred from the Ardennes area back to the Eastern Front and were then pitched into the doomed counterattack designed to retake Budapest in March 1945. This attack ground to a halt after a couple of weeks and became bogged down in the terrain and against numerically superior Soviet forces. This wasted German attempt to retake Budapest from around the lake Balaton area virtually ensured that the Soviet's offensive on Berlin would be a success. It would have been even tougher for the Soviets if the men and equipment the Germans wasted in March around Balaton would have been used in defensive positions to the east of Berlin.

 

Also Lahti L-39 -ATR had full automatic version, L-39/44 AA-gun. Apparently this wasn't very successful, guns tend to break during automatic firing. And magazine of 10 shots isn't that big. That Lahti L-39 was otherwise quite adequate weapon but it was introduced too late for Winter War (both prototypes were sent to battle) and it was too weak for Continuation War -41. I have read a battlestory from someone who actually used that gun in AT -role during early parts of Continuation War. I dont know what tank he was shooting but it took 19 hits (IIRC) to destroy that tank. Next day that shooter had very sore shoulder... And one BIG bruise.

At continuation war that gun was used mainly for anti-sniper-duty, destroying enemy gun-nests and so on.

 

The Lathi was indeed fully automatic, 500rpm. Its penetration power was modest though, so it´s no wonder your shooter had to use 19 shots to get that Soviet tank.

 

I believe that the auto version of the Lahti was used only in the AA role, in an appropriate high-angle mounting, as Notmi said.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and Discussion forum

 

It is true btw, that the 20mm Lathi was sold by mail-order in the U.S. after the war ?

 

Yes, Lahti L-39 was sold in U.S. atleast during 60's.

 

I wonder who would buy these....thats a heck of a lot of firepower...

 

Potential buyers are gun enthusiastics, collectors, museums, people who are afraid of main battle tanks...

 

People who *really* want to discourage visitors... :lol:

 

lahti cannon

A famous quote from an American buyer was that he was going rabbit hunting with his.Hard to hit them but when hit they were stopped dead

 

Hmm, if you hunt rabbits with a 20mm ATR, then how would you ever find the remains of the bunny if you hit it? :-?

Lyndon, as far as I know all of the 6th SS Panzer Armee was swapped to the Balaton area in late january 1945, but they were already quite exhauseted and bled white from the Ardennes fighting. This army was still some ten divisions strong, including 3rd FJ and four SS Panzer divisions.

 

Most of the German Army units on the Western Front were mere shells by the start of 1945; those in Russia were often even worse. This is what happens when your leader orders insane, hopeless offensives and issues "defend every inch of ground" directives.

 

Only the armies used in the Ardennes were decently equipped and manned, but all that was lost in december and january. After that there were no more German armies of any strength.

 

The Germans put up their last and best resources, equipment and replacements for it; afterwards there was not much left.

 

A question for you guys -

the British Boyes ATR had an unusual grip - it angled down towards the barrel, not the butt.
Any idea why?

 

Hmmm...good question. Perhaps to provide a better grip against the recoil?

 

Well, it apparently kicked like a Mule, so you might be right there.

 

Another question for you guys -
our local paper had a letter sent in by a WW2 veteran, who claimed that the PIAT was less than well liked by the British troops, because:

1) it had a punishing recoil
2) it had a very short range
3) the spring tended not to reset properly, and it was a right bugger to put back
4) it was not very effective at killing Gereman tanks, even if you hit them!

I've read through your comments on the PIAT here, but this guy (who used them) seems to disagree...

Any ideas?

 

His memory must be a bit foggy to say that the PIAT had bad recoil.

 

PIAT recoil was indeed heavy; unlike the Panzerfaust recoilless gun or Bazooka rocket, which effectively had none.

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