Anti-tank gun facts for kids
An anti-tank gun is a special type of artillery gun. Its main job is to destroy enemy tanks. These guns fire powerful shells that are usually between 25 and 90 millimeters (about 1 to 3.6 inches) wide. They were used a lot during World War II. After that war, smaller and easier-to-carry anti-tank weapons were invented, so big anti-tank guns were used less often.
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What is an Anti-Tank Gun?
An anti-tank gun is a powerful weapon designed to stop and destroy enemy tanks. Think of it like a very big rifle, but for tanks! These guns are part of a group of weapons called artillery. Artillery includes large guns that fire shells over long distances.
How Anti-Tank Guns Work
Anti-tank guns fire special shells that are designed to break through thick tank armor. These shells are often made with very hard materials. They travel at high speeds to hit the tank with a lot of force. The size of the shell is called its "caliber". For example, a 90mm gun fires a shell that is 90 millimeters wide.
History of Anti-Tank Guns
Anti-tank guns became very important during World War II (1939-1945). Tanks were a new and powerful weapon on the battlefield. Countries needed ways to stop them. So, many different types of anti-tank guns were developed. They ranged from smaller guns that soldiers could move to very large ones that needed vehicles to pull them.
After World War II
After World War II, new types of anti-tank weapons were invented. These included things like rocket launchers and guided missiles. These newer weapons were often lighter and easier for soldiers to carry. They could also be fired from closer distances. Because of these new inventions, large, heavy anti-tank guns became less common in modern armies. However, some still exist, especially mounted on vehicles.
Images for kids
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French-designed DEFA D921/GT-2 90mm towed anti-tank gun as mounted on a QF 17-pounder carriage.
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Two British officers with a captured Mauser 1918 T-Gewehr.
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German PaK 38 50-mm anti-tank gun
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Postwar Soviet MT-12 100-mm anti-tank gun
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A British Archer tank destroyer, based on the hull of a Valentine tank.
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See also
In Spanish: Cañón antitanque para niños
