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By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on February 5th, 2012%
Operating instructions for the Bazooka in tropical and arctic climates from TM 9-294: 2.36-inch A.T. Rocket Launcher M1A1, War Department Technical Manual, Sept. 27, 1943.
Section X: OPERATION UNDER UNUSUAL CONDITIONS
32. GENERAL.
a. When operating under unusual conditions such as tropical or arctic climates, severe dust or sand conditions, and near salt water, it is essential that all the precautions listed below should be observed.
33. ARCTIC CLIMATES.
a. In temperatures below freezing, and particularly in arctic climates, all operating parts should he kept absolutely free of moisture. The bore of the launcher should be cleaned daily and oiled as described in paragraph 16. The batteries should be removed from the launcher and kept warm until just before firing. Carrying the batteries in inner pockets will keep them sufficiently warm. Immediately upon bringing indoors, the launcher should be cleaned on the outside and inside with a dry clean cloth. Remove the grips and clean and dry the contacts. After it has reached room temperature, clean and dry the launcher again, and oil the bore. Rockets should not be fired at temperatures below zero F.
34. TROPICAL CLIMATES.
a. Tropical Climates. In tropical climates where temperature and humidity are high, or where salt air is present, and during rainy seasons, the launcher should be thoroughly inspected and cleaned daily. The bore should be oiled a little more liberally than prescribed in paragraph 16. Wood parts should be inspected to see that swelling due to moisture does not bind working parts. If this does occur, shave off only enough wood to relieve binding. A light coat of OIL, linseed, raw, type A applied at least every month and well rubbed in with the heel of the hand, will help to keep moisture out. Allow oil to soak in for a few hours and then, wipe and polish the wood with a dry clean wiping cloth. Do not fire rockets at temperatures above 120 F.
NOTE: Care should be taken to see that linseed oil does not get onto electric contacts as it will gum when dry.
b. Hot Dry Climates. In hot dry climates, where sand and dust are apt to get into the bore, the launcher including the bore should be wiped clean daily or more often if necessary. Oiling of the bore should be done very sparingly and only in the event that atmospheric conditions cause rusting of the bore surface. In such climates, wood parts are apt to dry out and shrink, and a more frequent application of OIL, linseed, raw, type A, will help keep wood in condition. During sand or dust storms the breech and muzzle should be kept covered. Do not fire rockets at temperatures above 120 F.
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on November 29th, 2011%
The history of the bazooka from U.S. Rocket Ordnance: Development and Use in World War II, U.S. Joint Board on Scientific Information Policy, 1946.
Bazooka Versus Tank
Among the now-it-can-be-told weapons of the American rocket family, is the super-bazooka, bigger and better version of the foot-soldier’s famed tank-buster.
By their surrender, the Germans and Japs missed feeling the impact of a rocket which travels at almost twice the speed and carries double the explosive payload of the standard bazooka projectile; which has an effective range of as much as 700 yards, instead of the 200 to 300 yards of the regular bazooka; and which can function safely through a considerably wider temperature range, thus affording greatly increased protection against the dangers of motor explosion and blast. Though the super-bazooka retains the 2.36-inch diameter of the original bazooka, and is fired from the same launcher, it is propelled by a larger motor, and its heavier explosive charge can penetrate thicker armor plate.
Another development of the original bazooka-still secret at the war’s end-is a super-powered rocket of 3.5 inches in diameter with greatly increased power to penetrate armor plate and reinforced concrete.
The super-bazooka was the joint product of Section H, which produced the design for the motor, and Division 8 of NDRC, which developed the far more powerful head. The 3.5-inch rocket was designed by the Army Ordnance Department.
Bazooka Development
To arm United States infantry to fight tanks on more nearly equal terms, the Army Ordnance Department, in early 1941, had under development a rifle grenade, carrying a “shaped charge” of high explosive. A cone-shaped cup hollowed in the front face of the explosive filling focussed the blast energy into a narrow beam of great penetrating power.
These rifle grenades had too much recoil for field use as a shoulder weapon. Recoilless rocket propulsion was suggested, tried, and adopted. Colonel Skinner, then an Ordnance Department major, and Lt. (now Major) E. G. Uhl, with Section H at Indian Head, undertook the development of a suitable rocket motor.
Following unsuccessful attempts to launch these rocket grenades from attachments to the service rifle, it was concluded that a separate launcher would be required.
To protect the gunner from the rocket blast, the launching tube had to be longer than the maximum burning distance of the rocket motor. To be portable and easily aimed from the shoulder, the launcher, and hence the burning distance, had to be short. By the use of a charge of several thin-web tubular grains of solvent extruded powder in a motor about an inch in diameter, the burning distance was made short enough for a 54-inch launcher, soon dubbed “the bazooka.”
Continue reading Bazooka Versus Tank
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on June 6th, 2011%
Introduction to the “bazooka” (2.36-inch AT Rocket Launcher M1A1) from the technical manual TM 9-294: 2.36-inch A.T. Rocket Launcher M1A1, War Department Technical Manual, September, 1943.
I. INTRODUCTION
1. SCOPE.
a. This manual is published for the information and guidance of personnel charged with the operation and maintenance of the 2.36-inch AT Rocket Launcher M1A1. It contains information required by the using arms to identify, use, care, and preserve the materiel and the ammunition used therewith. In addition, it contains information required by ordnance personnel for the maintenance and repair of the materiel.
2. CHARACTERISTICS (figs. 1 and 2).
a. The 2.36-inch AT Rocket Launcher M1A1 is an electrically operated weapon of the open tube type. It is fired from the shoulder in the standing, kneeling, sitting, or prone positions. It is used to launch high-explosive rockets against tanks, armored vehicles, pill boxes, and emplacements. The rockets weigh approximately 3½ pounds and are capable of penetrating heavy armor at angles of impact up to 30 degrees. The weapon can be aimed up to distances of 300 yards. Greater ranges may be obtained by estimating the angle of elevation. The maximum range is 700 yards.
 Figure 1 -- 2.36-Inch AT Rocket Launcher M1A1 -- Left Side View  Figure 2 -- 2.36-Inch AT Rocket Launcher M1A1 -- Right Side View Continue reading Introduction to the Bazooka
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on December 10th, 2010%
A report on the activities of antiaircraft gun battalions in the antitank role during the Battle of the Bulge reproduced from “Antiaircraft Artillery Notes,” HQ ETO, No. 15, January 1945:
Subject: Employment of AAA in Anti-tank Role
Source: AA Section, Headquarters Twelfth Army Group
During the recent German Ardennes offensive the 110th and 143rd AAA Gun Battalions, and Battery D, 639th AAA AW Battalion, were placed in anti-tank support of the 30th Infantry Division, in the Malmedy-Stavelot-Stoumont sector. The Division has submitted a report of the activities of these units, and made recommendations for future employment of AAA in an anti-tank role, (See ETOUSA AAA Notes No. 14 for a detailed account of the activities of the 143rd AAA Gun Bn during this action.)
Report of 30th Infantry Division
a. The above listed units were attached to the Division at 210030A December 1944. Prior to daylight of the 21st, liaison was established with the Division by the 11th AAA Group, and by each of the attached units. Upon the arrival of these representatives they were given maps of the area and were fully informed of the tactical situation. A map reconnaissance was made, and officers from the supporting tank destroyer battalion accompanied the antiaircraft officers on their ground reconnaissance, and assisted in the actual placing of their guns in firing positions.
Continue reading Employment of AAA in Anti-tank Role
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on October 16th, 2010%
Bronco Models has announced a new 1/35th scale kit of the German 7.62 cm Pak 36(r) antitank gun which was based on modified Russian guns captured in large quantities by the Germans.
CB35056 1/35 German 7.62 cm Pak 36(r) Anti-tank Gun:
From the Catalog of Enemy Ordnance, U.S. Office of Chief of Ordnance, 1945:
7.62 cm Pak 36 (r): Antitank Gun (Ex-Russian)
The original 7.62 cm Pak 36, a Russian weapon, was captured by the Nazis and modified to increase the velocity. The built-up tube was rebored to seat a longer cartridge case, and a two-baffled muzzle brake added to cut down recoil energy. The breech mechanism is of the vertical sliding type, and the firing mechanism of the continuous pull type. The breech ring has been bored to seat a safety lock which holds the firing mechanism in a safe or firing position. A firing lever attached to the left side of the cradle enables the gunner to traverse as well as fire the piece. The elevating handwheel is generally situated on the right side of the cradle. Two puller type equilibrators located under the front of the cradle and attached to the rear by chains compensate for muzzle preponderance.
Continue reading 7.62 cm Pak 36(r) — New Bronco Kit
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on September 27th, 2010%
The following two drawings of Molotov cocktails being used against Russian tanks appeared in the article “German Close-in Tactics Against Armored Vehicles” in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 23, April 22, 1943. The article contained translated German documents describing infantry close-combat techniques against Russian tanks on the Eastern Front.
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on September 6th, 2010%
Test your aircraft recognition skills and knowledge of WW2 German aircraft with this quiz from “Antiaircraft Artillery Notes,” No. 13, January 1945.
Answers after the page break.
Continue reading G.I. Nightmare
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on July 31st, 2010%
 Antimechanized defense for armored infantry from the U.S. field manual FM 17-40: Armored Infantry Company:
Antimechanized defense is both passive and active.
(1) The troops are protected passively against mechanized attacks by the digging of fox holes and emplacements, the erection of barricades, tank traps, and mine fields, and by taking advantage of all natural obstacles in the area. (See figs. 1 and 2.)
(2) Active measures (fig. 3) include the placing of all antitank weapons in the best possible places to protect the personnel from hostile mechanized attack. Antitank guns and rocket launchers are used to destroy attacking tanks. Riflemen fire on tanks (directly at the vision slits) to aid in blinding the mechanized forces and make them keep hatches closed, thus preventing crews from throwing hand grenades in emplacements or fox holes. Individuals take cover in fox holes or emplacements in time to prevent being crushed. They come out of cover immediately after the tanks pass over in order to repel the accompanying hostile infantry.
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on June 15th, 2010%
The U.S. WWII field manual FM 17-12: Tank Gunnery illustrated representative trajectories of the 37-mm, 75-mm, and 76-mm guns. Low velocity guns with more highly curved trajectories require very accurate range estimation. As shown in the figures below, even small errors in range estimation reduce the effectiveness of the opening shot and increase the number of rounds required to achieve a hit.
 Original Caption: Trajectory 37-mm, M6, firing APC, M51B1. This is illustrative only. The 37-mm should not be fired at tanks at ranges shown.  Original Caption: Trajectory 75-mm gun, M3, firing shot, APC, M61.  Original Caption: Trajectory 76-mm gun, M1, firing shot, APC, M62.
By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on June 6th, 2010%
The following tables show armor penetration characteristics for U.S. 37mm, 75mm, 76mm, and 90mm guns against homogeneous and face-hardened armor. The tables are taken from the July 1944 field manual FM 17-12 Tank Gunnery.
From top to bottom, the ammunition types shown are (i) 90mm, A.P.C., M82, 2650 f/s; (ii) 3″ (76mm) A.P.C., M62, 2600 f/s; (iii) 75mm, M3, A.P.C., M61, 2030 f/s; and (iv) 37mm, A.P.C., M51B1 & M51B2, 2900 f/s.
 Armor piercing characteristics against homogeneous armor plate.  Armor piercing characteristics against face hardened armor plate. FM 17-12 Tank Gunnery gives a brief useful summary of ammunition types for gunners:
(1) Armor piercing (AP). This ammunition is a solid projectile with a tracer element. 37-mm shot, AP M74, 75-mm shot, AP M72, and 76-mm shot, AP M79, are in this class. This is used for training.
(2) Armor piercing capped (APC). This ammunition is a solid projectile with an armor piercing cap, a windshield, and a tracer element. The windshield streamlines the projectile, thereby reducing wind resistance. The armor piercing cap is of alloy steel, hardened to insure a very hard face with a tough and relatively soft core in contact with the projectile. The cap serves as a guide or cushion for the projectile. In this class are 37-mm shot, APC M62, 75-mm projectile, APC M61, and 76-mm projectile, APC M62. The 75-mm and 76-mm projectiles have a small cavity for high explosive filler. This ammunition is painted black.
(3) Armor piercing, capped with high explosive filler. This ammunition is the same as armor piercing capped ammunition except that it contains an explosive filler and a base detonating fuze. This is the most effective high velocity armor piercing ammunition because the projectile bursts after penetration. 75-mm projectile, APC M61, with BD (base detonating) fuze, M66A1, and 76-mm projectile, APC M62, with BD fuze M66A1 are of this type. Armor piercing projectiles containing high explosive filler are painted olive drab color with yellow lettering.
(4) High explosive-antitank (HEAT). 150-mm shell, HEAT, M67, is a low velocity armor piercing shell of the hollow charge type. It employs the BD fuze, M62. This ammunition is painted olive drab with yellow letters. Inert HEAT shell is painted black and is used for training purposes. The M67 will penetrate 5.5 inches of armor at all angles between 0° and 60° and at all ranges the gun will fire.
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The Haunted Tank Showcase Vol. 1
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