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Question on Panzerfaust/Panzerschreck
HermannB
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Posted: Thursday, September 24, 2020 - 12:59 PM UTC
I always wondered how the warhead of the Panzerfaust 60 got detonated. There is no visible fuze. I found this pic of a Panzerschreck.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Panzerfaust?uselang=de#/media/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1979-107-13,_Volkssturm,_%C3%9Cbung_mit_Panzerschreck.jpg

Inscription said that it`s a Beutepanzer, but I am not familiar with the model.
stikpusher
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Posted: Thursday, September 24, 2020 - 01:18 PM UTC
The fuse was in the tail of the projectile. I presume that the impact of the projectile into the target would cause the fuse to detonate the main hollow charge.

HermannB
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Posted: Thursday, September 24, 2020 - 08:13 PM UTC
Thanks!
Frenchy
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Posted: Thursday, September 24, 2020 - 10:33 PM UTC
I guess the tank in the background is one of the "Grosstraktor" prototypes :



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grosstraktor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hvcs4kliVRg

H.P.
jps
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Posted: Friday, September 25, 2020 - 01:51 AM UTC
While on the subject of panzerfausts is there a minimum distance you would have to be from the target? Thanks. Dave
Biggles2
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Posted: Friday, September 25, 2020 - 02:40 AM UTC
Ummm...not trying to sound confrontational, but how is the Grosstraktor relevant to Panzerfaust/Panzerschreck? Did I miss something?
Biggles2
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Posted: Friday, September 25, 2020 - 02:46 AM UTC
Was the Panzerfaust exclusively a one-shot disposable weapon, or could it be reloaded in the field?
brekinapez
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Posted: Friday, September 25, 2020 - 03:02 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Ummm...not trying to sound confrontational, but how is the Grosstraktor relevant to Panzerfaust/Panzerschreck? Did I miss something?


It's in the background of the pic the OP linked to.
Bravo36
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Posted: Friday, September 25, 2020 - 04:14 AM UTC
Single shot. Check Wikipedia.
Frenchy
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Posted: Friday, September 25, 2020 - 04:26 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Ummm...not trying to sound confrontational, but how is the Grosstraktor relevant to Panzerfaust/Panzerschreck? Did I miss something?


I was refering to this part of H.H's post :

Inscription said that it`s a Beutepanzer, but I am not familiar with the model.

H.P.
stikpusher
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Posted: Friday, September 25, 2020 - 05:53 AM UTC

Quoted Text

While on the subject of panzerfausts is there a minimum distance you would have to be from the target? Thanks. Dave


A SWAG says no minimal distance for use regarding arming. The projectile was not spin stabilized, so that method of arming the fuse is out. The placement of the impact fuse directly ahead of the launch charge means the launch charge most likely armed the fuse upon firing. The only real minimal distance concern for the gunner would be to have some distance away from the target to avoid the impact detonation. But with only a 30M range on the early type that is not much margin for such consideration. And any catastrophic detonation of the target vehicle such as ammo racks will put a 30M range well inside a danger close zone.
Paska
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Posted: Friday, September 25, 2020 - 06:15 AM UTC
According to page 32 of Wolgang Fleischer's Panzerfaust, "The head of the Panzerfaust became live about three meters after firing".
HermannB
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Posted: Friday, September 25, 2020 - 07:16 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Was the Panzerfaust exclusively a one-shot disposable weapon, or could it be reloaded in the field?


There was a meter-long flame on the back side. Hence the inscription " Vorsicht Feuerstrahl". One would hardly reload a hot metal tube. One could definitly NOT fire it from a closed room, except he has a suicidal attitude.
LikesTanks
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Posted: Friday, September 25, 2020 - 07:24 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Ummm...not trying to sound confrontational, but how is the Grosstraktor relevant to Panzerfaust/Panzerschreck? Did I miss something?


Apparently it was used for training the Volkssturm in 1944, so presumably it's not just in the background, but actively the target.
stikpusher
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Posted: Friday, September 25, 2020 - 07:39 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Was the Panzerfaust exclusively a one-shot disposable weapon, or could it be reloaded in the field?


There was a meter-long flame on the back side. Hence the inscription " Vorsicht Feuerstrahl". One would hardly reload a hot metal tube. One could definitly NOT fire it from a closed room, except he has a suicidal attitude.


That’s the backblast from the launching charge. It’s very common in man portable anti tank weapons such as rocket launchers, RPGs, and recoilless rifles. Most of those are usually reloadable after a shot. Only a few types such as the M72 LAW and AT-4 follow the footsteps of the Panzerfaust and are single shot disposable launch tubes.
Biggles2
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Posted: Friday, September 25, 2020 - 11:47 AM UTC

Quoted Text

According to page 32 of Wolgang Fleischer's Panzerfaust, "The head of the Panzerfaust became live about three meters after firing".

Many, many years ago I read an autobiography by a Special Forces sergeant in Nam (questionable - he was really full of himself!) who claimed in one night operation in an attack on a village a VC popped out of a hut and fired an RPG round at him. It was at near-point blank range and failed to explode because it didn't arm itself. The sergeant survived with only a bruised chest. The VC got away - that time!
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