(edited title) Museum's inventory: P.I.A.T.

I spend 4 years in a infantry platoon where we carried around a 60mm mortar tube with no bipod. Totally useless and inaccurate but we carried it, why, because infantry platoons in WW2 carried a 50mm mortar and it was our doctrine. PIAT was useless compared to bazooka, it was more complicated, cost more to make, had less range, less killing power. It's one redeeming feature was the ability to be fired from inside a house like the modern Armburst or Eryx. The reality is that we could have been armed with bazooka at less cost without denying any to the Yanks and the PIAT production could have been used for something more useful. We were issued it because it was "BRITISH". A fetish we are finally starting to kick the habit of.

Was the PIAT the all singing, all dancing wonder weapon of the day? No, there was better available but with that said, it did get the job done when it had to.
http://steel-chariots.22web.org/panther.htm
 
I'm quite happy to have posted this on Internet. I don't want to imagine us, during a get-together, after few beers... fights would happen between those who hate and those who like the weapon.

Piece of crap or not, useless or not, heavy or not, the most important thing is this is a milsurp piece and few are still alive around us to let us debate on them.

Keep calm and enjoy milsurp! ;-)

Martin
 
I know a guy who used a PIAT in Italy. he is of slight build and he was not fond of it. I am guessing he liked when he needed it.

If the spring is only used to ignite the propellant, why did it have to be so stiff?

Newtons laws.

you are basically shoulder firing a mortar. if there was no spring all the force would be directed completely into the shooter, and if the spring is too weak then range issues happen along with a giant firing pin hitting the back of the launcher, and therefore a major beating to the shoulder again. Not the best design, but it worked, and I think had better penetration than the american 2.36 rocket. As the PIAT isn't a recoilless system like the bazooka or panzerfaust, you need a mechanism to deal with that force somewhat since the weight of these things make recoil a real problem.
 
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No problem, surprisingly not a whole lot of real technical info out there on PIATS (Or most weapons actually). If you speak german or russian, you have a better chance of finding good stuff, but most english sites promote more of the history/emotional stories associated with it.
 
Smokie wasn't the only guy who drank a bit. Canadian troopies, for the most part, hadn't see or been exposed to booze prior to the War. Calvados was apparently a revelation to a lot of 'em.
Knew a small statured RCR Sargeant who told me the only way he got through most exercises(His 150lb pack were bigger than him) was by being fulled by VO. Said everybody thought he was naturally a happy guy.
Anyway, PIATs(14.5 kg empty with a 3.25" bomb) were used because that's what the Brits and our guys had at the time. A lot of that kind of thing went on in those days. Kept until the CF got 3.5" bazookas because of Liberal anti-military policies.
The 2.36" bazooka is a great big SOB too(15 lbs 14 oz. empty and 61" long.) and it wouldn't do anything to a late war German tank. Might have busted a track, leaving a pill box with a big gun.
 
I have one, Cocking the bloody thing is a real bi#ch. I did that ONCE!. Then I read the handbook. In order to avoid damage, the spring must be eased down or it will be damaged. :(
Only have a practice bomb,
The guy who knocked out those german tanks did it by firing the thing from the hip!
 
Newtons laws.

you are basically shoulder firing a mortar. if there was no spring all the force would be directed completely into the shooter, and if the spring is too weak then range issues happen along with a giant firing pin hitting the back of the launcher, and therefore a major beating to the shoulder again. Not the best design, but it worked, and I think had better penetration than the american 2.36 rocket. As the PIAT isn't a recoilless system like the bazooka or panzerfaust, you need a mechanism to deal with that force somewhat since the weight of these things make recoil a real problem.

Thank you. That makes sense. I like it when an answer makes sense.
 
I have one, Cocking the bloody thing is a real bi#ch. I did that ONCE!. Then I read the handbook. In order to avoid damage, the spring must be eased down or it will be damaged. :(
Only have a practice bomb,
The guy who knocked out those german tanks did it by firing the thing from the hip!



John,
YOU have ONE of everything!
Laugh2

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In case anyone would like to know what the P.I.A.T. projected here is a diagram.

PIATprojectilediagram.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 
Ah... in group, we know everything!!!

Thanks for all these answers/messages/opinion, it is quite interesting to read you!! What will be my next posting... I will have a look at it tomorrow!!!


Martin
 
What will be my next posting...

Whatever it is, may I suggest instead of making another new thread on top of your 8 already in the last week, to just add it to this one? And instead of wanting to "play a game" just admit "I need help". There's no shame in asking for help.

I can't be the only one who is thinking this, can I?
 
I have one, Cocking the bloody thing is a real bi#ch. I did that ONCE!. Then I read the handbook. In order to avoid damage, the spring must be eased down or it will be damaged. :(
Only have a practice bomb,
The guy who knocked out those german tanks did it by firing the thing from the hip!

John,
YOU have ONE of everything!
Laugh2



.

He's got ALL the effin' toys, don't he???? I'm so jealous..........Laugh2
 
JeffFromCanada

Obviously... it seems to annoy you.

Sorry if it's the case and no, I won't continue on the same thread as the weapons can be totally different. An anti-tank rocket launcher is quite different than a SMG and if someone is not interested in one or another, he just have to ignore the thread.

If any moderator ask me to stop, then I will. I do not play a game to give the impression that I know it, I think I said well enough that I am far to be an expert and will continue to do it.

Martin
 
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Martin

I agree that each individual firearm you show from the Museum's collection should be in a separate thread. If not, we could end up with a thread that is 400 pages long like the thread on the pictures. Doing otherwise would be like making a post here that runs about 5 inches deep ALL IN ONE SENTENCE, with no punctuation.

Being associated with several Museums, I am quite aware that only a fraction of the actual inventory is on view at any one time, and it is nice to see what else is there. While some people here specialize in certain weapons, or weapons of a certain country, or other specialized areas, no one really has a knowledge of ALL things. Every time we think we have it nailed down, someone turns up with another variation.

I also find that the Museum tends to take a general overview of things and not really specific views. In other words---Jack of all trades and Master of none.----As you are finding out, many of the items in the Museum are mislabelled or the information is not quite correct. By putting such items onto the Forum, it is an opportunity for EVERYONE to view AND COMMENT on the piece. What you are trying to do is rectify and correct the information on the items.

I, for one, appreciate the time and effort you are expending. Keep it up and do not let a few whines and boo-hoos dismay you. Some of these guys just diddley-bop down the road like others you have experienced in your profession. You have been there, done that and got the T-shirt for it while some of these people with their 150 or so posts think they are experts on everything, so you do not have to answer to those wanna-be "experts".

Just keep up what you are doing.

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Whatever it is, may I suggest instead of making another new thread on top of your 8 already in the last week, to just add it to this one? And instead of wanting to "play a game" just admit "I need help". There's no shame in asking for help.

I can't be the only one who is thinking this, can I?

Son, you are barking up the wrong tree. You obviously have no clue as to who Dauph197 really is, what he has done, and where he has been. But, most of all, you have less of a clue as to what he is attempting to do.

He sent me a PM a while ago, and started out with the salutation, "MR." I told him that he should call me by my first name, and forget the "MR." He has my respect because of his Service to this Country, his actions, his achievements, and his immediate goals.

Perhaps, next time, you might consider what you write in a post a bit more carefully.
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Obviously... it seems to annoy you.
Not really, I rather enjoy your threads. I was just making a suggestion.

An anti-tank rocket launcher is quite different than a SMG
I have been grossly misinformed, then.

You obviously have no clue as to who Dauph197 really is, what he has done, and where he has been.
Perhaps, next time, you might consider what you write in a post a bit more carefully.

I apologize to the OP then as you are absolutely correct, buffdog. I have trouble gauging someone's achievements when all I have to go by is a username and join date, and I admit I don't do a book report on each and every CGNer's before I make a reply to something they've posted. In the future I'll message the OP (whoever it may be) and ask them their life story before I post as a way to avoid offending anyone such as yourself.

My intention wasn't to derail this thread, so please, carry on.
 
JeffFromCanada

An anti-tank rocket launcher is quite different than a SMG and if someone is not interested in one or another, he just have to ignore the thread.

That mean you will be putting up pics of a bazooka or panzerschreck? because that will be nice.
 
Not really, I rather enjoy your threads. I was just making a suggestion.


I have been grossly misinformed, then.



I apologize to the OP then as you are absolutely correct, buffdog. I have trouble gauging someone's achievements when all I have to go by is a username and join date, and I admit I don't do a book report on each and every CGNer's before I make a reply to something they've posted. In the future I'll message the OP (whoever it may be) and ask them their life story before I post as a way to avoid offending anyone such as yourself.

My intention wasn't to derail this thread, so please, carry on.


There is a much simpler and less labour intensive alternative. Simply treat others with common courtesy and respect-----and keep what you might think are "cute" answers to yourself.
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There is a much simpler and less labour intensive alternative. Simply treat others with common courtesy and respect-----and keep what you might think are "cute" answers to yourself.
.
If you have anything to say in a PM feel free. I've done my part and apologized for going going off topic. Now do yours.
 
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