(Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank)
Paras on parade with their heavy weapons,
including a loaded PIAT at bottom right.
runs inside the length of the weapon. The soldier would stand on the back of the PIAT like a pogo-stick, and then lift it up by the top, cocking the spring. This difficult and akward procedure meant that the soldier very often had to rely on the first shot being a kill. A very large, hollow-charge bomb with a tail and fins was placed in the open tray at the front of the weapon (the PIAT has no barrel). When the trigger was pulled the spring would push forward a large bolt which struck the back of the bomb and launched it. The impetus of the bolt was combined with a small charge in the bomb itself. The effective range on the PIAT was very short, around 100 yards. It took nerves of steel to wait until an enemy tank had closed to that distance. The bomb itself was quite effective, however, and could penetrate 4 inches of armor. A club member has acquired a PIAT in excellent and working condition. Below are pictures of this item from the side and above.
Side view
Top view
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
(Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank Mk 1)
Weight34 1/2 lbsLength
39 inchesMaximum Effective Range
Anti-tank role - 115 ydsHouse breaking role - 350 ydsPenetration
Approx 100mm (4 inches) of armour plating at 115 ydsAmmunition
Bombs HE/AT; Infantry Projector, AT, Mk 3/LWeight - approx 2 3/4 lbsLength - 16.6 inchesColour - Service colour or brownIdentification - Red filling ring around forward portion of body. Blueband edged above and below with yellow and with "TNT3" stencilledin black on the blue band.
GENERAL
1 This instruction outlines operating instructions, and instructions for the care and maintenance of the Projector Infantry, Anti-Tank, Mk 1.
2 Two sketches of the PIAT, which may be used in conjunction with this instruction, will be found in S Arm V 502. A sketch of the PIAT bomb is included as Fig 1 of this instruction.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
To Cock the Projector
3 Check that the safety lever is in the "fire" position and that the sights are down. Stand the weapon vertically on the shoulder piece with the trigger guard to the right. See that the slings are clear of the weapon. Place a foot on each of the projecting shoulders of the shoulder piece, keeping the heels on the ground. Grasp the trigger guard grip with both hands and pull upward on the grip for about 1/4 of an inch. Rotate the casing anti-clockwise through 45°. This releases the stud on the rear end cap from the slot in the shoulder piece. Pull upwards on the grip until the bolt sleeve engages behind the sear. Lower the outer casing slowly and engage the stud on the rear end cap in the slot in the shoulder piece by rotating the casing clockwise through 45°. Apply the safety if firing is not to follow immediately. Insert the guide tube plug in the spigot guide tube.
To Uncock the Projector
4 Remove the guide tube plug from the spigot guide tube, place the safety catch in the "fire" position, and check that the sights are down. Stand the weapon vertically on the shoulder piece and place a foot on each projecting shoulder of the shoulder piece. Grasp the trigger guard grip with both hands, disengage the stud on the rear end cap from the slot in the shoulder piece as described in Para 3 above and pull upwards on the grip until the bolt sleeve disengages from the sear. Depress the trigger and slowly lower the outer casing to the shoulder piece. Engage the stud on the rear end cap with the slot in the shoulder piece.
5 Care must be taken when uncocking the projector as injury to both the person uncocking the weapon, and to the weapon itself, can result if the tension on the mainspring is released suddenly or is not controlled.
6 Detach the fuze carrier from the bomb tail, extract the fuze and retain the fuze carrier. Remove the thimble from the bomb nose by pressing it down and turning anti-clockwise. Remove the transit plug and place in fuze container for use if bomb has later to be unfuzed. Place the fuze carrier in the ammunition carrier. Insert the fuze with the nose towards the front of the bomb. Place the thimble over the fuze and lock into position by turning it clockwise.
To Load
7 Remove the dust excluder from the tail and place in ammunition carrier. Loading is normally carried out by the No.2, but, under extreme circumstances, one man can load and fire the projector.
8 Ascertain that the projector is cocked. With the right hand grip the projectile lightly by the tail drum and tail tube, with bomb head pointing forward and downward. Place the bomb head in the centre of the projectile support and push the nose of the bomb under the front ring of the support. Slide the bomb forward until the tail can be lowered. Keeping the loading clip against the front end cap of the projector, engage the loading clip behind the projectile guide plates. Release the grip on the bomb and, with the palm of the hand, press down until the tail drum rests in the support, thus bringing the tail tube in line with the spigot guide tube.
NOTE: Under no circumstances will an attempt be made to place a projectile in the support if the spigot is in the forward position.
9 Reverse the procedure as detailed in Paras 7 and 8 above. Care should be taken when unloading, that the safety catch is in the "safe" position.
To Unfuze
10 Reverse the procedure as detailed in Para 6.
To Fit, and Remove the Practice Shot Adapter
11 Swing the hinged bar across the adapter. Slide the adapter into the projectile support from the front with the smooth surface uppermost and the hook clip towards the front of the projector. When the hook clip engages the front of the projectile support, swing the knurled nut of the clamping screw through the cartridge clearing hole and tighten the knurled nut firmly.
12 To remove the adapter, slacken off the knurled nut of the clamping screw and swing it upwards through the cartridge clearing hole. Withdraw the adapter from the front end of the projectile support.
In Use
13 The projector will NOT be fired when using drill bombs. The action should always be eased forward unless a projectile is being fired.
14 The spigot guide tube should be kept clean at all times, otherwise the mechanism is liable to jam and render the projector unserviceable. The spigot guide tube plug should be kept in place when the projector is cocked.
15 No oil should be used on the spigot or spigot guide tube when firing.
Stripping
16 To remove the cocking assembly for cleaning, make sure that the projectile is NOT cocked. Stand the projector vertically on the projectile support. Lift the retaining catch from engagement with the rear cap. Grip the outer casing firmly between the knees and, by means of the shoulder piece, unscrew the rear end cap from the outer tube casing (counter clockwise). Lift the cocking assembly from the outer casing.
17 Further stripping than that described in this instruction will only be carried out by an Armourer.
18 Stand the outer casing vertically on the projectile support and grip the outer easing tube firmly between the knees. Lift the cocking assembly, with the shoulder piece uppermost, and slide into the outer casing tube. The trigger will have to be depressed to allow the bolt sleeve to pass the sear. (Care should be taken that the spigot does not damage the spigot guide tube.) Release the knee grip and lower the assembly fully forward until the bolt sleeve plate rests on the front buffer. Press down on the shoulder piece and compress the mainspring until the rear end cap can be screwed onto the rear end of the outer casing tube. (Care should be taken not to cross the threads). Screw the shoulder piece and rear end cap clockwise until the retaining catch engages in the hole provided in the rear end cap.
Cleaning
19 The accuracy and the efficient functioning of the projector depend largely on the condition of the spigot and cocking assembly. The spigot and spigot guide tube must be kept clean and dry, therefore no lubricant should be used on these components. Oil and grease used in storage will be removed prior to firing.
20 Immediately after firing, the cocking assembly should be removed from the projector. The fouling should be cleaned from the spigot with a cloth; oil may be used if necessary. The spigot guide tube should be cleaned with the brush provided. Both the spigot and the spigot guide tube should be left dry, unless the equipment is being prepared for storage, or will not be used for some considerable time. The mainspring should be lightly oiled at all times.
21 During training, the projector should be cleaned after every 30 rounds fired.
22 All other parts should be wiped clean with a cloth and lightly oiled.
General Eisenhower announces that Allied forces will be withdrawn from the Normandy beachhead beginning today due to the heavy allied losses and defeats. With the British and Canadian beachheads already evacuated, the small American beachhead has been under constant counter-attack and bombardment by German Panzer Forces. Remaining troops will be withdrawn as soon as possible. General Eisenhower has submitted his resignation to the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff....
Although this press release is of course fictitious it very possibly could have come true if not for the courage of one British Airborne soldier, his PIAT, and one PIAT round.
It was the morning of June 6th 1944. D Company, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, along with attached troops had landed by glider and had seized and held the vital bridges over the Caen Canal and the Orne River, along with a vital crossroads known as the "T-junction". Although well equipped their sole means of repelling German Armored advances was the dreaded PIAT. The PIAT was a short-range infantry anti-tank weapon. It had numerous shortcomings one of which was the inability to reload quickly. PIAT gunners had a saying, "hit it with the first shot because you won't get a second."
The commanding officer, Major John Howard, knew that they would likely face a German counter-attack and hoped he and his men would not have to fight Panzers with only PIAT's and small arms. Major Howard started receiving reports of German armor approaching his position. They were moving the vital "T-junction" which served as the main arterial road from Benouville to Le port, and then on to Caen and the invasion beaches. Approaching the British positions were 6 Tanks, a force of German infantry that outnumbered the British 4 to 1, and a battery of 88's.
In his defensive position was Sgt. "Wagger" Thornton, who had the one remaining operable PIAT and two PIAT rounds. The "Ox and Bucks" held their fire so as to not reveal their positions, hoping to lure the leading German MK IV tank into the killing zone. Sgt. Thornton coolly waited until the tank was well within range and fired. The PIAT round struck the front of the tank almost dead center, penetrated the interior, and set off all of the ammunition inside. The German forces withdrew reporting that the British troops had heavy anti-tank guns set up at the Bridge. The German tank then sat in the middle of the "T-junction" blocking movement for any other heavy vehicles, effectively preventing the use of this vital road for any German counter-attacks.
What if Sargeant Thornton had missed? Surely the superior numbers and armor would have overwhelmed the lightly-armed British Airborne forces. The rest of 6th Airborne Division would have been hard pressed to stop a determined German attack. The paratroops were scattered and at the time of Sgt. Thornton's action were just starting to form into effective fighting units.
Colonel Von Luck, commander of the German 125th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, stated that if he had had use of the "T-junction" and bridges he could have supported the attack on the British beach-heads by the 21st Panzer Division. Such an attack would have succeeded if the Germans had sufficient troops, which the 125th would have provided. Of course if the German 21st Panzer Division had succeeded in penetrating to the British and Canadian beach-heads the landing would have become a debacle and likely a second "Dieppe". If the Commonwealth landings had failed we can also argue that the bulk of the German armored force, which was used to defend the Caen region from the British and Canadians, would have then been free to encircle the American beachheads and similarly annihilate them. Something else to consider is the enormous casualties endured by the British and Canadian forces in Normandy facing the German panzers. This was due to the fact that the Allies even in 1944 did not have a tank capable of consistently defeating the front-line German tanks. With the bulk of the German armor now facing the Americans and with criminally poor anti-tank weapons the Americans would have been decimated like the Canadians were later around Caen.