PIAT

The Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank (PIAT) Mk I was a British man-portable <a href="/facts/Anti-tank/wL0Vh0mV">anti-tank</a> weapon developed during the <a href="/facts/Second_World_War/2efV5L1U">Second World War</a>. The PIAT was designed in 1942 in response to the <a href="/facts/British_Army/StuY9Jy2">British Army</a>'s need for a more effective infantry anti-tank weapon and entered service in 1943.
The PIAT was based on the <a href="/facts/Spigot_mortar/2vs8xEBx">spigot mortar</a> system, and projected (launched) a 2.5 pound (1.1 kg) <a href="/facts/Shaped_charge/bJGUyrWM">shaped charge</a> bomb using a cartridge in the tail of the projectile. It possessed an effective range of approximately 115 yards (105 m) in a <a href="/facts/Direct_fire/Nu2ocjac">direct fire</a> anti-tank role, and 350 yards (320 m) in an <a href="/facts/Indirect_fire/g86Xc8b6">indirect fire</a> role. The PIAT had several advantages over other infantry anti-tank weapons of the period: it had greatly increased penetration power over the previous anti-tank rifles, it had no back-blast which might reveal the position of the user or accidentally injure friendly soldiers around the user, and it was simple in construction. However, the device also had some disadvantages: powerful recoil, a difficulty in cocking the weapon, and early problems with ammunition reliability.
The PIAT was first used during the <a href="/facts/Tunisian_campaign/UlBF2RVK">Tunisian campaign</a> in 1943, and remained in use with British and other Commonwealth forces until the early 1950s. PIATs were supplied to or obtained by other nations and forces, including the <a href="/facts/Soviet_Union/m7wWsPto">Soviet Union</a> (through <a href="/facts/Lend_Lease/q15Vw9VI">Lend Lease</a>), the <a href="/facts/French_resistance/stvYUGb2">French resistance</a>, the <a href="/facts/Polish_Underground_State/h1hTB74t">Polish Underground</a>, and the Israeli <a href="/facts/Haganah/23nxUEpt">Haganah</a> (which used PIATs during the <a href="/facts/1948_Arab%25E2%2580%2593Israeli_War/X3GSudUm">1948 Arab–Israeli War</a>). Six members of the British and other Commonwealth armed forces received <a href="/facts/Victoria_Cross/abfXKEQl">Victoria Crosses</a> for their use of the PIAT in combat.

PIAT open-in-new

PIAT