Boys Anti-Tank Rifle
Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield · Sniper Rifle · Out Of Production · 1937
Also known as: Boys Rifle, Elephant Gun, Stanchion, Boys AT Rifle
Overview
The Boys Anti-Tank Rifle is a British bolt-action anti-tank weapon chambered in the proprietary .55 Boys (13.9x99mmB) belted cartridge, designed at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, and adopted by the British Army in 1937. Named after Captain Henry C. Boys, the weapon's chief designer who died shortly before its adoption, it featured a distinctive T-shaped bipod, a circular muzzle brake, and a heavily padded buttstock with recoil-absorbing mechanism to manage the punishing recoil. At 16.3 kg, it was one of the lighter anti-tank rifles of the era, though troops universally dreaded its brutal recoil and nicknamed it the 'elephant gun.'
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 16330 g (576.0 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 16800 g (592.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1613 mm (63.50") |
| Barrel Length | 910 mm (35.83") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 747 m/s (2451 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 16740 J (12347 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 460 m (503 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1500 m (1640 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel And Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .55 Boys · primary — also known as 13.9x99mmB, .55 inch Boys, .55 cal Boys
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Muzzle Brake, Bipod, Recoil Absorbing Stock, Padded Shoulder Rest, T Shaped Bipod, Circular Muzzle Brake
Variants
- Boys Mk I — Original Model
- Boys Mk II — Improved Ammunition
- Boys Airborne — Shortened Barrel
Service history
Operators
- British Army · adopted 1937 · as Rifle, Anti-Tank, .55in, Boys
- Canadian Armed Forces · adopted 1938
- United States Marine Corps · adopted 1942
- Finnish Defence Forces · adopted 1939
- Free French Forces
- Australian Army
Conflicts
- Winter War (1939-1940)
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Battle of France (1940)
- North Africa Campaign (1940-1943)
Production
Estimated total produced: 62,000 · Production years: 1937-1943
Approximately 62,000 produced in total. UK output alone totaled 50,611 rifles between 1941 and 1945, with additional production by John Inglis and Company in Canada.
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: Captain Henry C. Boys
Discontinued: 1943
Notes
Originally designated the 'Stanchion' before Captain Boys' death, the weapon was renamed in his honor. The Mk I fired a 60g armor-piercing projectile at 747 m/s, capable of penetrating 21mm of armor at 300 meters. The improved W Mark 2 ammunition increased muzzle velocity to 884 m/s with a lighter 47.6g tungsten-core projectile. By 1940, the Boys was largely obsolete against modern German tanks but remained useful against lighter vehicles, pillboxes, and in the Pacific theater against Japanese tanks with thinner armor. The USMC used borrowed Boys rifles at Guadalcanal before receiving their own anti-tank weapons.
Background
The Boys Anti-Tank Rifle earned the unflattering nickname 'Charlie the Bastard' among British troops due to its vicious recoil that frequently left shooters with severe bruising. During the Battle of France in 1940, British soldiers discovered to their dismay that the weapon was already inadequate against the frontal armor of German Panzer III and IV tanks. Nevertheless, Finnish soldiers used the Boys with some success during the Winter War against Soviet light tanks, and the USMC employed it at Guadalcanal against Japanese Type 95 Ha-Go light tanks.