I own and shoot one, so my info may not be as accurate as some posted here....
....
“There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realized to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.”
Bob,
A very small request....next time you are on the "Tank range", could you do a video to show the difficulties and also the firing and accuracy of it, assuming you are using some form of sub calibre device, or have you a supply?
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
I really like the original name of The Blacker Bombard, invented by Col Blacker. This was a spigot spring gun that was developed into the PIAT.
This also led to the devolpment of the 29mm Spigot Mortar, I understand.
I made a inert practice projectile of the correct weight with a rubber tip and hollow base tube for a blank . I have no " tank range " , no video , nor ponytail . I also have the mortar adapting shelf and can fire modified inert rifle grenades . The accuracy was not good with the piat round , it would take a lot of practice to hit anything past 30 yards . The mortar set up went farther and was much easier to shoot and more accurate for me .
"Combat Dealers" LOL. Well, if you want to know what eye fink...
“There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realized to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.”
Opinions seem to be shifting regarding the PIAT... it seems to have been the most successful in terms of tank kills of the post DDay light AT weapons. The lack of back blast was a real advantage over the Bazooka and Panzerfaust, particularly at the short ranges it was used. It was particularly suited to close and urban warfare and could be fired from inside buildings.
The real advantage of the PIAT was that it was easy and quick to make both the projector and the bombs. Shoulder fired rocket systems are notoriously difficult to get right and needed quite sophisticated manufacture and quality control. They are always very temperature sensitive. PIAT bombs were very easy to make using light engineering equipment. It used a modified (rimless) 20 bore shotgun cartridge which was easy to make on existing technology. The PIAT would work in all temperature ranges and was simple and robust to maintain. The original shaped charge warhead was filled with readily available gelignite based plastic explosive in commercial manufacture (PE808). Although not as big as the Panzerfaust warhead, the PIAT warhead was larger and had greater penetration than the 2.36" diameter of the wartime Bazooka.
Yes, it was a heavy and unpopular bit of kit, but all light anti tank weapons are seldom liked by those who have to carry them. Having had to drag a 84mm Carl Gustav around in my youth ( the big heavy steel one, not the lightweight alloy M3! they have now) I can sympathise, however I suspect you would become immediately popular if an enemy tank turned up!
This is some powerful stuff. It's particularly interesting with Clarkson narrating and playing it straight. The PIAT figures quite prominently in this tale.
I used water in the nose cone, blocked the holes where it could leak out and froze it in a household freezer, then repeated until the dents had been pushed out by the ice expanding. Then a bath in citric acid to remove rust but not the paint. Came out not half bad.....