Cutaway model of a German WW2 panzerfaust 60.
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 with the development of the smaller forerunner-prototype called "Gretchen" ("little Gretel") by a team headed by Dr. Langweiler in Leipzig. 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") Panzerfaust 30 klein, Germany , WW2 (bocn.co.uk), soon followed by the Panzerfaust 30 Panzerfaust 30 (bocn.co.uk) , a larger version of the Pzfst. 30 klein with a larger warhead and an improved penetration .
Soon however, it’s maximum range (30 mtrs) was still concidered to be too short, and a follow up, the panzerfaust 60 was taken into development in August 1944.
This development lead to a firing tube with a larger black powder propelling charge than the pzfst. 30 (95-100 grams Pzfst. 30 against 120-140gr Pzfst. 60) and a pipe with an increased wallthickness as to resist the higher gas pressure of the larger propelling charge. This resulted in a projectile speed of 45-48m/s (147-157 fps) and a working range of 60m (200 ft.). Consequently the model was named panzerfaust 60 and it was to become the most popular and widely used type in WW2.
production started in September 1944. Early production plans for the Panzerfaust called for 400,000 pieces per month. This figure was not met until October 1944. By then the request had been increased in September to 1.5 million per month, this was almost achieved in December 1944 with close to 1.3 million produced. A large number of different companies produced the Panzerfaust, the major contributor was the HASAG Hugo Schneider AG Lampenfabrik in Leipzig.
One important difference between the pzfst. 30 and 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 panzerfaust 60 weighs 6,8 kg, and the sight is creviced for ranges of 30, 60 and 80mtrs. (100, 200 and 260 ft). The bead is a pointed rivet, placed in the outer ring of the warhead.
The chance of a first time hit at 60 mtrs. was appr 75-80%. At 80 mtrs. this was reduced to 25-30%.
Description of the Panzerfaust :
The barrel is made of a 50mm dia. steel pipe, 800 mm long. It is made of a low grade steel type. An U shaped pressed sheet metal support is spot welded to the pipe, housing the sight, the safety slider, the firing lever, the firing cap and the firing pin with it’s sheet steel spring. All these parts are also made of pressed sheet steel.
A black powder propellant charge of between120/140g is packed in a cartboard container, fixated to the barrel with a screw (red)at the underside of the pipe, opposite to the firing cap.
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 is housed in a high nut with a threaded tube screwed in, which -on its turn) is screwed into a threaded hole in the back end of the U-shaped support, below the firing pin.
The length of the complete panzerfaust 100 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 3,06 kg. The projectile is 490 mm long and has a 150 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 telescoped into the tail, connected to the tail by a simple “button clip”. 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.
Fuzing:
The fuze used in the Pzfst. 60 is the FPZ (FaustPatrone Zunder)8001 or the 8002 (in this one). A Kl.Zdlg.34 (Kleiner zundladung / small booster) is placed on top of the fuze.
Functioning of Fpz 8002:
The fuze consists of a fuze housing, the firing pin housing, the firing pin and the distance piece, the latst three items are riveted together to form one part. Around the lower part of the firing pin housing, a hexagonal (expanding) wire spring is placed in a groove. The setback sleeve is placed over the firing pin which is held in upper position by a creep spring (creep spring is locked up between flange of distance piece and set back sleeve), and over the hexagonal spring, forcing it inward. A rolled up foil spring inside the top of the setback sleeve prevents the firing pin from reaching the firing cap.
On firing the panzerfaust the setback sleeve moves back, overcomming the creep spring.
When the sleeve passes the hegagonal spring, it expands , preventing the setback sleeve from moving back upward. The rolled up foil spring is now free to expand in diameter, enabeling the firing pin to reach the firing cap upon impact, setting off the firing cap, the Kl.Zdlg. 34 (detonator/booster) and the main charge.
Using the panzerfaust:
-The panzerfaust must be made ready for use –prior to fronline usage- by unclipping (button clip) the warhead of the projectile from the tail and remove it.
-place the Kl.zdlg.34 in the warhead in such a way that the opening in the booster top is visable. Place the fuze in such a way that the firing cap faces the hole of the booster.
-Replace the warhead in the tail of the projectile.
-Remove the safety pin from the sight and turn the sight in upright position.
-Move the safety slider to the forward position, the panzerfaust is now ready for use.
-Aim and fire by pushing down the firing lever up to the point where the lever releases the leaf spring containg the firing pin.
A simple –primary- safety mechanism on the panzerfaust is formed by the sight. As long as the sight is not placed in upward position, the safety slider can be pushed forward, and the faust cannot be armed.
A simple way to see if you have a (or gonna buy) a pzfst 60 or 100 barrel –exept for looking at the sight- is to look at the position of the fixating screw for the propelling charge. On the pzfst 60 it is placed i.w.o the firing cap, on the pzfst.100 much further backward on the pipe (300 mm from rear)
The difference beween the tails of the Pzfst 60 and 100 projectiles is that the Pzfst 60 has square fins, the Pzfst 100 has triangular fins.
Regards DJH
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 with the development of the smaller forerunner-prototype called "Gretchen" ("little Gretel") by a team headed by Dr. Langweiler in Leipzig. 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") Panzerfaust 30 klein, Germany , WW2 (bocn.co.uk), soon followed by the Panzerfaust 30 Panzerfaust 30 (bocn.co.uk) , a larger version of the Pzfst. 30 klein with a larger warhead and an improved penetration .
Soon however, it’s maximum range (30 mtrs) was still concidered to be too short, and a follow up, the panzerfaust 60 was taken into development in August 1944.
This development lead to a firing tube with a larger black powder propelling charge than the pzfst. 30 (95-100 grams Pzfst. 30 against 120-140gr Pzfst. 60) and a pipe with an increased wallthickness as to resist the higher gas pressure of the larger propelling charge. This resulted in a projectile speed of 45-48m/s (147-157 fps) and a working range of 60m (200 ft.). Consequently the model was named panzerfaust 60 and it was to become the most popular and widely used type in WW2.
production started in September 1944. Early production plans for the Panzerfaust called for 400,000 pieces per month. This figure was not met until October 1944. By then the request had been increased in September to 1.5 million per month, this was almost achieved in December 1944 with close to 1.3 million produced. A large number of different companies produced the Panzerfaust, the major contributor was the HASAG Hugo Schneider AG Lampenfabrik in Leipzig.
One important difference between the pzfst. 30 and 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 panzerfaust 60 weighs 6,8 kg, and the sight is creviced for ranges of 30, 60 and 80mtrs. (100, 200 and 260 ft). The bead is a pointed rivet, placed in the outer ring of the warhead.
The chance of a first time hit at 60 mtrs. was appr 75-80%. At 80 mtrs. this was reduced to 25-30%.
Description of the Panzerfaust :
The barrel is made of a 50mm dia. steel pipe, 800 mm long. It is made of a low grade steel type. An U shaped pressed sheet metal support is spot welded to the pipe, housing the sight, the safety slider, the firing lever, the firing cap and the firing pin with it’s sheet steel spring. All these parts are also made of pressed sheet steel.
A black powder propellant charge of between120/140g is packed in a cartboard container, fixated to the barrel with a screw (red)at the underside of the pipe, opposite to the firing cap.
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 is housed in a high nut with a threaded tube screwed in, which -on its turn) is screwed into a threaded hole in the back end of the U-shaped support, below the firing pin.
The length of the complete panzerfaust 100 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 3,06 kg. The projectile is 490 mm long and has a 150 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 telescoped into the tail, connected to the tail by a simple “button clip”. 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.
Fuzing:
The fuze used in the Pzfst. 60 is the FPZ (FaustPatrone Zunder)8001 or the 8002 (in this one). A Kl.Zdlg.34 (Kleiner zundladung / small booster) is placed on top of the fuze.
Functioning of Fpz 8002:
The fuze consists of a fuze housing, the firing pin housing, the firing pin and the distance piece, the latst three items are riveted together to form one part. Around the lower part of the firing pin housing, a hexagonal (expanding) wire spring is placed in a groove. The setback sleeve is placed over the firing pin which is held in upper position by a creep spring (creep spring is locked up between flange of distance piece and set back sleeve), and over the hexagonal spring, forcing it inward. A rolled up foil spring inside the top of the setback sleeve prevents the firing pin from reaching the firing cap.
On firing the panzerfaust the setback sleeve moves back, overcomming the creep spring.
When the sleeve passes the hegagonal spring, it expands , preventing the setback sleeve from moving back upward. The rolled up foil spring is now free to expand in diameter, enabeling the firing pin to reach the firing cap upon impact, setting off the firing cap, the Kl.Zdlg. 34 (detonator/booster) and the main charge.
Using the panzerfaust:
-The panzerfaust must be made ready for use –prior to fronline usage- by unclipping (button clip) the warhead of the projectile from the tail and remove it.
-place the Kl.zdlg.34 in the warhead in such a way that the opening in the booster top is visable. Place the fuze in such a way that the firing cap faces the hole of the booster.
-Replace the warhead in the tail of the projectile.
-Remove the safety pin from the sight and turn the sight in upright position.
-Move the safety slider to the forward position, the panzerfaust is now ready for use.
-Aim and fire by pushing down the firing lever up to the point where the lever releases the leaf spring containg the firing pin.
A simple –primary- safety mechanism on the panzerfaust is formed by the sight. As long as the sight is not placed in upward position, the safety slider can be pushed forward, and the faust cannot be armed.
A simple way to see if you have a (or gonna buy) a pzfst 60 or 100 barrel –exept for looking at the sight- is to look at the position of the fixating screw for the propelling charge. On the pzfst 60 it is placed i.w.o the firing cap, on the pzfst.100 much further backward on the pipe (300 mm from rear)
The difference beween the tails of the Pzfst 60 and 100 projectiles is that the Pzfst 60 has square fins, the Pzfst 100 has triangular fins.
Regards DJH
