Panzerbüchse 39

The Panzerbüchse 39, abbreviated PzB 39, was a German single-shot anti-tank rifle of the Second World War and an improvement on the earlier Panzerbüchse 38. Both were designed by the engineer B. Brauer at the Gustloff Werke in Suhl. The PzB 39 kept the barrel of the PzB 38 and its specially designed 7.92 millimetre cartridge with a very long 94 millimetre case, and it also used a vertical breech block mechanism. It was about 162 centimetres long and weighed 12.6 kilograms, lighter than the PzB 38, and its performance was essentially the same. Two cases of ten rounds could be attached beside the breech to put cartridges closer to the gunner's hand. Production ran from March 1940 to November 1941 and reached 39,232 rifles. The weapon stayed in use until 1944, by which time it was inadequate against all but the lightest armoured vehicles. From 1942 many were rebuilt with a shortened barrel and a Schiessbecher firing cup to launch rifle grenades, and these were designated Granatbüchse Modell 39.