British Spigot Weapons of the Second World War: The Forgotten Arsenal of Infantry Anti-Tank Warfare

During the Second World War, the British Army developed and deployed a range of unique anti-tank weapons that played a significant role in the Allied victory. These weapons, known as spigot weapons, were designed to give infantrymen a way to defeat enemy tanks and other armored vehicles.

Spigot weapons were lightweight and portable, making them ideal for use in close-quarters combat. They were also relatively inexpensive to produce, which made them a cost-effective option for the British Army.

Defeating the Panzer-Stuka Menace: British Spigot Weapons of the Second World War

by David Lister

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	37352 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	242 pages
Hardcover	:	592 pages
Item Weight	:	2.2 pounds
Dimensions	:	6.14 x 1.25 x 9.21 inches

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The most famous spigot weapon was the PIAT (Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank),a handheld anti-tank projector that fired a 2.5-inch shaped charge warhead. The PIAT was first issued to British troops in 1943 and quickly became one of the most effective anti-tank weapons of the war. It was used by British and Commonwealth troops in a variety of roles, including infantry support, tank hunting, and bunker busting.

Another important spigot weapon was the Boys anti-tank rifle. The Boys rifle was a .55 caliber anti-tank rifle that was first issued to British troops in 1937. It was a powerful weapon, but it was also heavy and awkward to use. The Boys rifle was gradually replaced by the PIAT during the Second World War, but it continued to be used by some units until the end of the war.

In addition to the PIAT and Boys rifle, the British Army also developed a number of other spigot weapons during the Second World War. These weapons included the spigot mortar, a lightweight mortar that fired a shaped charge warhead, and the Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank, No. 2 (PIAT No. 2),a heavier version of the PIAT that was designed to fire a larger warhead.

British spigot weapons played a significant role in the Allied victory in the Second World War. They were inexpensive, portable, and effective anti-tank weapons that gave infantrymen a way to defeat enemy tanks and other armored vehicles.

The PIAT

The PIAT was the most important spigot weapon of the Second World War. It was a handheld anti-tank projector that fired a 2.5-inch shaped charge warhead. The PIAT was first issued to British troops in 1943 and quickly became one of the most effective anti-tank weapons of the war.

The PIAT was designed to be lightweight and portable, making it ideal for use in close-quarters combat. It was also relatively inexpensive to produce, which made it a cost-effective option for the British Army.

The PIAT was a simple weapon to operate. The gunner would load a round into the projector and then fire it by pulling a trigger. The shaped charge warhead would then travel towards the target and explode, creating a jet of molten metal that could penetrate armor.

The PIAT was a very effective anti-tank weapon. It could penetrate up to 100mm of armor, which was enough to defeat most German tanks of the war. The PIAT was also accurate, and it could be fired from a variety of positions, including from the shoulder, from the hip, or from a tripod.

The PIAT was used by British and Commonwealth troops in a variety of roles, including infantry support, tank hunting, and bunker busting. It was a particularly effective weapon against German tanks in the close-quarters fighting of urban areas.

The PIAT remained in service with the British Army until the early 1950s. It was eventually replaced by the Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle, but it remains one of the most iconic anti-tank weapons of the Second World War.

The Boys Anti-Tank Rifle

The Boys anti-tank rifle was another important spigot weapon of the Second World War. It was a .55 caliber anti-tank rifle that was first issued to British troops in 1937. It was a powerful weapon, but it was also heavy and awkward to use.

The Boys rifle was designed to be a portable anti-tank weapon that could be used by infantrymen. It was a single-shot weapon, and it had to be reloaded after each shot. The Boys rifle was also very heavy, weighing in at over 30 pounds.

Despite its weight and bulk, the Boys rifle was a powerful weapon. It could penetrate up to 20mm of armor, which was enough to defeat most German tanks of the early war. The Boys rifle was also accurate, and it could be fired from a variety of positions.

The Boys rifle was used by British and Commonwealth troops in a variety of roles, including infantry support, tank hunting, and bunker busting. It was a particularly effective weapon against German tanks in the early years of the war, when German tanks were less heavily armored.

The Boys rifle was gradually replaced by the PIAT during the Second World War, but it continued to be used by some units until the end of the war. It was also used by other Allied armies, including the United States Army and the Soviet Army.

Other British Spigot Weapons

In addition to the PIAT and Boys rifle, the British Army also developed a number of other spigot weapons during the Second World War. These weapons included the spigot mortar, a lightweight mortar that fired a shaped charge warhead, and the Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank, No. 2 (PIAT No. 2),a heavier version of the PIAT that was designed to fire a larger warhead.

The spigot mortar was a lightweight mortar that was designed to be used by infantrymen. It fired a 2.5-inch shaped charge warhead that could penetrate up to 50mm of armor. The spigot mortar was a simple and inexpensive weapon to produce, and it was used by British and Commonwealth troops in a variety of roles, including infantry support, tank hunting, and bunker busting.

The Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank, No. 2 (PIAT No. 2) was a heavier version of the PIAT that was designed to fire a larger warhead. It was first issued to British troops in 1944, and it was used in a variety of roles, including tank hunting and bunker busting. The PIAT No. 2 was a powerful weapon, but it was also heavy and awkward to use. It was eventually replaced by the Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle in the early 1950s.

British spigot weapons played a significant role in the Allied victory in the Second World War. They were inexpensive, portable, and effective anti-tank weapons that gave infantrymen a way to defeat enemy tanks and other armored vehicles.

The PIAT was the most important spigot weapon of the war, but the Boys rifle, spigot mortar, and PIAT No. 2 also played important roles. These weapons were used by British and Commonwealth troops in a variety of roles, including infantry support, tank hunting, and bunker busting.

British spigot weapons helped to turn the tide of the war in favor of the Allies. They were a vital part of the Allied arsenal, and they played a significant role in the Allied victory.

Defeating the Panzer-Stuka Menace: British Spigot Weapons of the Second World War

by David Lister

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	37352 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	242 pages
Hardcover	:	592 pages
Item Weight	:	2.2 pounds
Dimensions	:	6.14 x 1.25 x 9.21 inches

FREE