Panzerschreck facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Panzerschreck
The improved Raketenpanzerbüchse 54 with blast shield.
Type	Anti-tank rocket launcher
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Service history
In service	1943–1945
Used by	Nazi Germany  Finland  Hungary
Production history
No. built	289,151
Variants	RPzB 43, RPzB 54, RPzB 54/1
Specifications
Mass	11 kg empty (RPzB 54)
Length	164 cm
Caliber	88 mm
Muzzle velocity	110m/s (360 ft/s)
Effective firing range	150 m (RPzB 54)

The Panzerschreck (pronounced PAN-zer-shrek) was a powerful weapon used during World War II. It was made in Germany and helped soldiers fight against enemy tanks. Its name means "tank terror" in German. This weapon fired a large 88 mm rocket. Unlike some other weapons, the Panzerschreck could be used many times.

What Was the Panzerschreck?

The Panzerschreck was a special kind of rocket launcher. It was designed to be carried and fired by soldiers. This made it a very important weapon for infantry (foot soldiers). It was especially useful for stopping enemy tanks.

How it Worked

The Panzerschreck fired a rocket that was 88 millimeters wide. This rocket had a powerful warhead that could damage tank armor. Soldiers would aim the Panzerschreck at an enemy tank. Then they would fire the rocket.

When the rocket hit the tank, it would explode. This explosion would create a very hot jet of gas. This hot jet could burn through the tank's thick metal armor. This made the Panzerschreck a real threat to tanks.

Reusable Design

One important thing about the Panzerschreck was that it could be used again. After firing a rocket, soldiers could reload it with a new one. This was different from another German anti-tank weapon called the Panzerfaust. The Panzerfaust was a "one-shot" weapon. You would use it once and then throw it away.

Because the Panzerschreck was reusable, it was more like a small cannon. It could keep firing rockets as long as there were more available. This made it a valuable tool for soldiers in battle.

Using the Panzerschreck

The Panzerschreck was first used in 1943. It was used by soldiers from Germany, Finland, and Hungary. It played a big part in many battles during World War II.

Safety for Soldiers

When the Panzerschreck was fired, a lot of smoke and fire came out the back. This was called "backblast." To protect themselves, soldiers had to be careful. They often wore a special mask and a poncho. This kept them safe from the hot gases and smoke.

The backblast also meant that soldiers had to fire the Panzerschreck in the open. They could not fire it from inside a small room. This was because the backblast could hurt them or others nearby.

Range and Power

The Panzerschreck could hit targets up to 150 meters away. This was about the length of one and a half football fields. The rocket traveled at a speed of 110 meters per second. This is about 360 feet per second. Its power made it a serious threat to tanks.

Panzerschreck in World War II

The Panzerschreck was very important during the later years of World War II. It gave regular soldiers a way to fight against strong enemy tanks. Before weapons like this, only special anti-tank units could stop tanks.

The Panzerschreck helped soldiers defend against tank attacks. It was used on many battlefronts. It was especially important on the Eastern Front. Here, German soldiers faced many Soviet tanks.

Images for kids

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  A German soldier handling a RPzB. Gr. 4322 HEAT rocket used with the Panzerschreck

• 

  Soldiers of the German Großdeutschland division's Panzerfüsilier regiment prepare an ambush in the ruins of a destroyed building on the Eastern Front, 1944.

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  RPzB 54 operator wearing protective mask and poncho

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  Finnish antitank patrol armed with Panzerschreck during the Lapland War

See also

In Spanish: Panzerschreck para niños