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Panzerschreck
The Raketenpanzerbüchse (RPzB), better known by the nickname "Panzerschreck’’ (literally “Tank Terror”), was a German anti-tank rocket launcher developed during the Second World War, based on captured American M1 Bazooka launchers which had been provided to Russia via lend-lease in 1942, or captured from US forces in Tunisia in February 1943 (it is not clear which). Using a larger and more powerful 88mm rocket (with the same warhead already in use with the Raketenwerfer 43 "Puppchen" launcher), it proved to be one of the most potent infantry anti-tank weapons of the war. Unlike the Bazooka, the Panzerschreck's rocket was still burning after exiting the launcher, and the initial production version, the RPzB 43, lacked a blast shield; troops in the field found it necessary to wear a gas mask to protect themselves from the rocket's exhaust. The shape along with the huge amounts of smoke the launcher produced resulted in it being dubbed the "Ofenrohr" (stove pipe), though this nickname seems to have been particular to the first version. The RPzB 54 (produced later in 1943) featured a metal blast shield to protect the firer, and also had improved iron sights. The final version, introduced in December 1945, the RPzB 54/1, used a shortened tube to decrease weight, and used an improved rocket which increased the weapon's effective range.
Panzerschreck RPzB 54
The name of the weapon has raised many doubts from the very beginning. Here is the official name scheme from reports on it:
- 01.07.1943 - 8.8 cm R Panzerbuchse 6030
- 10.08.1943 - R Pz B 6030 (Ofenrohr)
- 08.09.1943 - 8.8cm-Raketen-Panzerbüchse 43 (Ofenrohr)
- 30.09.1943 - 8.8cm RPzB 54
- 29.11.1943 - „Panzerszreck” - Official name adopted by Hitler
- 07.12.1943 - 8.8cm RPzB 54 (Ofenrohr)
- 07.06.1944 - Panzerschreck 8.8cm RPzB 54 mit 8.8cm RPzBGr 4322
As you can see, the name "RPzB 43" appeared only once in reports between September 8 and 30, 1943. This is an erroneous name, probably caused by confusion with the "8.8 cm Raketenwerfer 43" whose ammunition was the basis for the construction of rockets for the R PzB 54. All media (mainly computer games) in order to distinguish the versions with and without a ballistic plate give the number 43 for the version without the plate and 54 for the version with the plate. This is wrong thinking. As the name "Panzerschreck" was officially approved by Hitler as the name of this weapon.
Specifications
(Production: July 1943 / May 1945)
- Type: Missile Launcher
- Country of Origin: Nazi Germany
- Caliber: 88mm
- Cartridge: 8.8cm RPzBGr 4322
- Weight: 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) - without protective shield / 24.3 lbs (11 kg) - with protective shield
- Length: 64.6 in (164 cm)
The Panzerschreck RPzB 54 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
Film
Title | Actor | Character | Notes | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Decision Before Dawn | German soldiers | 1951 | ||
Paratrooper | Alan Ladd | Steve MacKendrick | 1953 | |
British paratroopers | ||||
Ernst Thälmann - Leader of his Class | 1955 | |||
The Tank Brigade | German Fallschirmjäger | 1958 | ||
Help! | Cult members | 1965 | ||
Is Paris Burning? | A German soldier | Mockup | 1966 | |
Let's Not Get Angry (Ne nous fâchons pas) | Jean Lefebvre | Léonard Michalon | Mockup | 1966 |
The Last Escape | German soldier | 1970 | ||
From Hell to Victory | 1979 | |||
Operation Leopard (La légion saute sur Kolwezi) | Katanga fighter | 1980 | ||
Commando | Seen in armory | 1985 | ||
Saving Private Ryan | German SS soldiers | 1998 | ||
Days of Glory | German soldiers | 2006 | ||
Tali-Ihantala 1944 | Finnish soldiers | 2007 | ||
1944 | German soldier | 2015 |
Television
Title | Actor | Character | Notes / Episode | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Monty Python's Flying Circus | Terry Jones | Brian | "Owl Stretching Time" (S01E04) | 1969 - 1974 |
Band of Brothers | "Bastogne" (Ep.6) | 2001 | ||
Danger 5 | 2011-15 | |||
Rivals Forever - The Sneaker Battle | Dassler Factory Workers | 2017 |
Video Game
Anime
Title | Character | Notes | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Hellsing Ultimate | Nazi vampires | 2006 - 2012 | |
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood | Maj. General Olivier Mira Armstrong | 2009 - 2010 | |
Central soldiers | |||
Suisei no Gargantia | Sailor | 2013 | |
Space Dandy | Dandy | 2014 | |
Punch Line | Ito Hikiotani | 2015 |
Panzerschreck RPzB 54/1
Due to the increasingly frequent voices about the unwieldiness of the launcher, a shortened version was developed in the autumn of 1944. It was officially introduced into the armament only on 20 December 1944, informing about it in the Heerestechnisches Verordnungsblatt of 15 January 1945. The difference with the previous version was mainly the shortening of the launcher tube by 340 mm. The position of the missile latch was also changed, a new switch for selecting the type of ammunition was developed (position "St" for the older type of ammunition, position type "R" for the new type of ammunition), because the new Granate 4992 "Kurzbrenner" missiles did not have a cable, but a special contact ring on the ring surrounding the fins - this solution, moreover, accelerated the process of loading the weapon, the ammunition now only had to be inserted into the launcher, there was no need to additionally connect the ignition cable.
Specifications
(Production: December 1944 / May 1945)
- Type: Missile Launcher
- Country of Origin: Nazi Germany
- Caliber: 88mm
- Cartridge: 8.8cm Granate 4992 "Kurzbrenner"
- Weight: 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg)
- Length: 53.1 in (135 cm)
The Panzerschreck RPzB 54/1 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
Film
Title | Actor | Character | Notes | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jojo Rabbit | Archie Yates | Yorki | 2019 | |
Hitler Youth and Volkssturm |
Video Game
Title | Appears as | Mods | Notes | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
BloodRayne | 2002 | |||
Day of Defeat | 2003 | |||
Soldiers: Heroes of World War II | 2004 | |||
Civilization V | added with Brave New World expansion (2013) | 2010 | ||
Civilization VI | 2016 | |||
Enlisted | 2021 |