pzgr40
Well-Known Member
Cutaway model of a German WW2 panzerfaust 100.
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, the so-called Faustpatrone klein, 30m ("Fist-Cartridge small") Panzerfaust 30 klein, Germany , WW2 (bocn.co.uk), followed by the Panzerfaust 30 http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/100047-Panzerfaust-30?highlight=panzerfaust and the Panzerfaust 60 http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/104420-Panzerfaust-60.
The most popular and widely used type was the panzerfaust 60. However, it’s maximum range (60 mtrs) was still concidered to be too short.
Further development lead to a firing tube (same pipe as the pzfst 60) with a two-stage propelling charge, resulting in a projectile speed of 60m/s (200 fps) and a working range of 100m (330 ft.). Consequently the model was named panzerfaust 100 and deliveries started in November 1944.
The outward appearance remained largely unchanged by this modification (compared to the panzerfaust 60), not even the tube was lengthened. The panzerfaust 100 weighed 8,58 kg, and the sight was now creviced for ranges of 50, 100 and 150m (160, 320 and 490 ft. resp.). The crevices now also featured glow paint chips for firing at night. The bead is a pointed rivet, placed in the outer ring of the warhead.
The chance of a first time hit at 100 mtrs. was appr 80-100%. At 150 mtrs. this was reduced to 50%. The maximum range of the Pzfst 100 was 280 mtrs; however aiming at this range was impossible.
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 two-stage black powder propellant charge of 190g (6.7 oz) is packed in a cartboard container, fixated to the barrel with a screw at the underside of the pipe. A space is left beween the forward and rear charge to reduce ste stress on the barrel by deviding the explosion of the propulsion charge in two stages, the forward igniting the backward charge.
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.100 is the FPZ (FaustPatrone Zunder)8003 or the 8003 umg. (modified). A Kl.Zdlg.34 (Kleiner zundladung / small booster) is placed on top of the fuze.
Functioning of Fpz 8003:
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 barrrel –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.
As I have no real good dimensional drawing to make a replica of the propulsion charge, I had to work with limited information and scaling down of dimensions of drawings. Sources used :
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, the so-called Faustpatrone klein, 30m ("Fist-Cartridge small") Panzerfaust 30 klein, Germany , WW2 (bocn.co.uk), followed by the Panzerfaust 30 http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/100047-Panzerfaust-30?highlight=panzerfaust and the Panzerfaust 60 http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/104420-Panzerfaust-60.
The most popular and widely used type was the panzerfaust 60. However, it’s maximum range (60 mtrs) was still concidered to be too short.
Further development lead to a firing tube (same pipe as the pzfst 60) with a two-stage propelling charge, resulting in a projectile speed of 60m/s (200 fps) and a working range of 100m (330 ft.). Consequently the model was named panzerfaust 100 and deliveries started in November 1944.
The outward appearance remained largely unchanged by this modification (compared to the panzerfaust 60), not even the tube was lengthened. The panzerfaust 100 weighed 8,58 kg, and the sight was now creviced for ranges of 50, 100 and 150m (160, 320 and 490 ft. resp.). The crevices now also featured glow paint chips for firing at night. The bead is a pointed rivet, placed in the outer ring of the warhead.
The chance of a first time hit at 100 mtrs. was appr 80-100%. At 150 mtrs. this was reduced to 50%. The maximum range of the Pzfst 100 was 280 mtrs; however aiming at this range was impossible.
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 two-stage black powder propellant charge of 190g (6.7 oz) is packed in a cartboard container, fixated to the barrel with a screw at the underside of the pipe. A space is left beween the forward and rear charge to reduce ste stress on the barrel by deviding the explosion of the propulsion charge in two stages, the forward igniting the backward charge.
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.100 is the FPZ (FaustPatrone Zunder)8003 or the 8003 umg. (modified). A Kl.Zdlg.34 (Kleiner zundladung / small booster) is placed on top of the fuze.
Functioning of Fpz 8003:
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 barrrel –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.
As I have no real good dimensional drawing to make a replica of the propulsion charge, I had to work with limited information and scaling down of dimensions of drawings. Sources used :
Regards DJH
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