World War II Database

Country of Origin	Russia
Type	Anti-Tank Rifle
Caliber	14.500 mm
Capacity	1 round
Length	2.020 m
Barrel Length	1.350 m
Weight	17.300 kg
Range	800.000 m
Muzzle Velocity	1,012 m/s

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe ProtivoTankovoye Ruzhyo Degtyaryova, or PTRD-41, anti-tank rifles were designed by Vasily Degtyaryov. Produced from early 1941, they were effective against the thin side armor of German tanks and self-propelled guns; the tungsten core rounds were not able to penetrate the thicker frontal armor of tanks. As German tank technology advanced, particularly in terms of the thickness of armor, PTRD-41 anti-tank rifles, along with their PTRS-41 semi-automatic cousins, became much less effective. Additionally, combat experience found that the single-shot PTRD-41 anti-tank rifle gave off immense muzzle flashes, which in turn attracted counter-fire. Nevertheless, large quantities remain in service as Russian soldiers found them easy to transport and they were still useful against unarmored vehicles. Some were still used against German tanks despite being unable to penetrate the thicker armor; the aim was simply shifted lower to target the tracks, disabling tanks rather than destroying them. After WW2, they were used by communist forces of North Korea and China during the Korean War. Some were later converted to become large-caliber sniper weapons.

Source: Wikipedia. ww2dbase

Last Major Revision: Jan 2008

Photographs

See all 5 photographs of Degtyaryov PTRD-41 Anti-Tank Rifle

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