PanzerschreckThe RPzB 54, for Raketenpanzerbüchse 54, is a reusable no recoil rocket launcher designed as an infantry anti-tank weapon. RPzB was developped to replace the use-once Panzerfaust anti-tank grenade launchers, from the captured Bazooka's from African and eastern fronts in order to deliver higher performances. Panzershreck ("Tank terror") elecric firing system launches a grenade propelled by a rocket engine that produced much toxic gaz, smokes and hugh flame making the shooter instantanously noticeable by the ennemy tanks, and making shooting impossible from inside a room. Panzerschreck 54 was fitted with a blast shield to protect the operator but two men were still necessary to serve it: one shooter and one loader, carrying the rockets. The rocket warhead was of HEAT ( high-explosive anti-tank ) type of munition made of an explosive shaped charge that creates a high velocity partial stream of metal in a state of superplasticity to penetrate solid vehicle armour. Mainly intended to pierce tank armor, It was also used to pierce building walls using the .88 RPzB. Gr. 4322 grenade with a 650 mm tailboom. RPzB 54 technical specification sheet
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