PzF 44
Encyclopedia
The PzF 44 2A1 is a recoilless anti-tank weapon
developed around 1960 and put into service by the Bundeswehr
shortly thereafter. It was developed to provide West German infantry
with a modern replacement for the Bazooka
that they had previously used. As such, it was the first German antitank rocket developed after World War II
, a conflict in which German hand-held antitank weapons such as the Panzerfaust
played a prominent rôle during 1944-45. The Lanze was a product of a period in which the German army was re-equipped with locally-developed arms and equipment and retired the aging U.S. gear that had formed their initial arsenal. The full designation name by the German Army is Panzerfaust 44mm DM2 Ausführung 1 Lanze.
The Lanze's 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) high explosive antitank (HEAT) DM-32 projectile could penetrate 370 mm (14.6 in) of rolled homogeneous armor and hit moving targets at a range of 300 m (984.3 ft). The Lanze could also fire a multi-purpose warhead. Starting in 1992, the PzF 44 was replaced by the Panzerfaust 3
.
Anti-tank warfare
Anti-tank warfare was created by the need to seek technology and tactics to destroy tanks and their supporting infantry during the First World War...
developed around 1960 and put into service by the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
shortly thereafter. It was developed to provide West German infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
with a modern replacement for the Bazooka
Bazooka
Bazooka is the common name for a man-portable recoilless rocket antitank weapon, widely fielded by the U.S. Army. Also referred to as the "Stovepipe", the innovative bazooka was amongst the first-generation of rocket propelled anti-tank weapons used in infantry combat...
that they had previously used. As such, it was the first German antitank rocket developed after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a conflict in which German hand-held antitank weapons such as the Panzerfaust
Panzerfaust
The Panzerfaust was an inexpensive, recoilless German anti-tank weapon of World War II. It consisted of a small, disposable preloaded launch tube firing a high explosive anti-tank warhead, operated by a single soldier...
played a prominent rôle during 1944-45. The Lanze was a product of a period in which the German army was re-equipped with locally-developed arms and equipment and retired the aging U.S. gear that had formed their initial arsenal. The full designation name by the German Army is Panzerfaust 44mm DM2 Ausführung 1 Lanze.
The Lanze's 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) high explosive antitank (HEAT) DM-32 projectile could penetrate 370 mm (14.6 in) of rolled homogeneous armor and hit moving targets at a range of 300 m (984.3 ft). The Lanze could also fire a multi-purpose warhead. Starting in 1992, the PzF 44 was replaced by the Panzerfaust 3
Panzerfaust 3
The Panzerfaust 3 is a modern and disposable recoilless RPG anti-tank weapon developed between 1978 and 1985 and put into service by the Bundeswehr in 1992...
.
| Performance of PzF 44 and contemporary weapons | ||
| Effectiveness against rolled homogeneous armor | ||
| Weapon | Armor penetration in mm | Max range to hit a moving target in meters |
| PzF 44 | 370 | 300 |
| RPG-7V | 320 | 300 |
| M72 LAW | 305 | 150 |
| Data source for weapons performance is Jane's Infantry Weapons 1984-85. | ||
See also
- Panzerfaust 3Panzerfaust 3The Panzerfaust 3 is a modern and disposable recoilless RPG anti-tank weapon developed between 1978 and 1985 and put into service by the Bundeswehr in 1992...
- ArmbrustArmbrustArmbrust is a lightweight unguided anti-tank weapon designed and developed by Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm of Germany, who later sold its manufacturing rights to Chartered Industries of Singapore ....
- MATADOR (weapon)MATADOR (weapon)MATADOR is a man-portable, disposable anti-armor weapon system developed in a collaboration between Singapore and Israel. It is an updated version of the German Armbrust design, and operates on the same principles...