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Panzerfaust 30

pzgr40

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Cutaway model of a German WW2 panzerfaust 30.
The panzerfaust is a single shot, disposable anti tank weapon, used by the infantery for close range anti armour combat.
Development of the so-called Faustpatrone ("Fist-Cartridge") started in the summer of 1942 at the german company HASAG in Leipzig with the development of the smaller forerunner-prototype of the panzerfaust called "Gretchen" ("little Gretel") by a team headed by Dr. Langweiler. The basic concept of a recoilless anti tank weapon was used here for the first time.
The following first weapon model of the Panzerfaust-family was the so-called Faustpatrone klein 30m ("Fist-Cartridge small"), was soon followed by the Panzerfaust 30, a larger version of the Pzfst. 30 klein with a larger warhead and an improved penetration. The Panzerfaust 30 will be described in this posting.

The Panzerfaust 30 had a projectile speed of 30mtrs/sec and a working range of 30mtrs (100 ft.). Consequently this improved model was called the Panzerfaust 30. As it’s predecessor the Panzerfaust 30 klein however, it was also not very popular with the troops due to it’s lack of range.
production started in August 1943 with 6.800 pcs. In total 50.000 were ordered. Production ran until August until 1944 when the Panzerfaust 30 was replaced by the Panzerfaust 60. A large number of different companies produced the Panzerfaust (either parts), the major contributor was the HASAG Hugo Schneider AG Lampenfabrik in Leipzig.

One important difference between the pzfst. 30 klein and the Pzfst 30 compared to the Pzfst.60 is the sight and trigger mechanism. On the Pzfst.30, the mechanism of the Pzfst 30. klein is used, on the Pzfst.60 a newly designed much stronger sight and trigger mechanism is mounted, which is also much less sensitive to dirt picked up on the battlefield. The Pzfst 60 was also the first to have a red korn on top of the projectile rim for aiming, both 30 models did not have this feature.

The panzerfaust 30 weighs 5,1 kg, and the sight is creviced for the range of 30 meters. Some later types of the panzerfaust 30 had two small round holes in the sight, one above and one below the 30 meters sight line. The upper hole was meant for the 40 meter range, the lower hole was for 20 meters.
The chance of a first time hit at 30 mtrs. was appr 75-80%. At 40 mtrs. this was reduced to 25-30%.

Description of the Panzerfaust 30:
The barrel is made of a 44mm dia. steel pipe, 800 mm long. It is made of a low grade steel type. A black powder propellant charge of between 95 and 100 grams is packed in a cartboard container.
A cartboard cap is placed on the end of the barrel to prevent moisture from reaching the propulsion charge and dirt (mud earth) obstructing the barrel.
The firing cap (yellow) is housed in the firing mechanism, behind the firing pin
The length of the complete panzerfaust 30 is 1,045 mtrs.

The projectile is a hollow charge bomb, made completely of pressed sheet metal, exept for the tail, housing the four fins which is made of wood. It weighs 2,9 kg. The projectile is 490 mm long and has a 140 mm diameter. The mild steel cone has a 115 mm diameter. The explosive charge exists of 1,7 kg Fp02 / Hexogen (50%-50%).
The hollow charge is capable of penetrating a 200 mm (7,9 inch) steel plate.
The hollow charge bomb is screwed into the tail. This is done because on transport –four panzerfausts in a wooden crate- the fuzes and booster charges are kept seperatein in a box in the wooden crate for safety reasons.
The wooden tailpiece houses four rolled up sheet metal wings, which pop out after leaving the barrel.

Functioning of arming and triggering mechanism:
The arming and firing mechanism consists of a pressed steel pipe, welded to the barrel by means of a small lonitudal strip on the lower part of the pressed pipe.
It houses the arming mechanism -which also houses the firing cap and the safety mechanism-, the firing pin and it’s spring and the trigger mechanism. On the front end of this pipe, a simple sight is mounted.
The arming mechanism consists of a small piece of pressed sheet metal pipe, containing the firing cap (yellow) and a small perpendicular channel placed behind the firing cap (green) to guide the flame of the firing cap into the propulsion charge. The front end of this pipe has two opposite placed slots, two long and two short slots, at a 90 degree angle. The back end of this pipe houses the cocking spring and a small button on the outside of the end cap, used to set the panzerfaust from safe to armed.

The firing pin consists of a sheet metal plate -1.5mm thick- wide on the back where it fits in the long or short slots, thin over the rest of the length. A small square indention is made in the front end of the firing pin which hooks in the trigger mechanism after cocking. A small spring inside the trigger button hooks the firing pin into the slot of the trigger button.

Making the Panzerfaust 30 ready for use is done in the same way as the Pzfst 30 klein:

-Screw off the projectile from the tail and place the Kl.Zdlg.34 with the wooden block –with the flame hole upward- in the tail. Place the Fpz8001 over the KlZdlg.34 –hole downward.
-Screw back the projectile in the tail
-Set the sight in upward position.
-Push the arming mechanism inward (firing pin rest in short slots) until the trigger button pops up (A).The spring inside the arming mechanism will push the mechanism back(B).
-Turn the arming mechanism 90 degrees anti clockwise (C). This will set the channel of the firing cap in line with the flash channel of the propulsion charge. It will also rotate the long slots in front of the firing pin, enabeling it to reach the firing cap.
-The panzerfaust is now ready to fire. Pushing the red firing button will fire the panzerfaust.
-Throw away the fired pipe.

A simple safety mechanism on the panzerfaust is formed by the sight. As long as the sight is not placed in upward position, the firing pin cannot move forward, sso the faust cannot be armed.

Functioning of Fpz 8001:
The fuze consists of a fuze housing (1), the firing pin housing (2) the firing pin (3) and the distance piece (4) which are riveted together (2,3,4) to form one part. Around the lower part of the firing pin housing (2), a hexagonal wire spring (6) is placed. The setback sleeve (5) is held in upper position by a creep spring (7). Inside the setback sleeve a rolled up foil spring (9) prevents the firing pin from reaching the firing cap (8).

Upon firing the panzerfaust 30, the setback sleeve moves back, overcomming the creep spring.
When the sleeve passes the hexagonal spring, it expands, preventing the setback sleeve from moving back upward. The rolled up foil spring expands in diameter, enabeling the firing pin to reach the firing cap on impact, setting of the firing cap, the Kl.Zdlg. 34 (detonator/booster) and the main charge.

Information reference :
-Deutsche Nahkampfwaffen from Wolfgang fleischer / Herbert Julch. (book)
-Internet

Regards DJH
 

Attachments

  • 01 - Pzfst. 30 cutaway model.JPG
    01 - Pzfst. 30 cutaway model.JPG
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  • 02 - Pzfst. 30 cutaway model projectile.JPG
    02 - Pzfst. 30 cutaway model projectile.JPG
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  • 03 - Pzfst. 30 Detail firing mechanism , propelling charge and tail.JPG
    03 - Pzfst. 30 Detail firing mechanism , propelling charge and tail.JPG
    121.7 KB · Views: 48
  • 04 - Pzfst. 30 cutaway model fuze FPZ 8001.JPG
    04 - Pzfst. 30 cutaway model fuze FPZ 8001.JPG
    82.6 KB · Views: 49
  • 05 - HASAG30gr.jpg
    05 - HASAG30gr.jpg
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