Panzerbüchse 39
Gustloff-Werke · Rifle · Out Of Production · 1939
Also known as: PzB 39, Panzerbüchse Modell 39
Overview
The Panzerbüchse 39 was the standard German infantry anti-tank rifle at the outbreak of World War II, a single-shot, falling-block weapon firing the high-velocity 7.92x94mm Patrone 318 armor-piercing cartridge. The breech was opened by pivoting the pistol grip forward, and two side-mounted 10-round ammunition holders kept rounds within reach for single loading. It could defeat roughly 25-30 mm of armor at close range, adequate against the light tanks of 1939-1940 but rapidly obsolete as armor thickened.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 12600 g (444.5 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1620 mm (63.78") |
| Folded Length | 1280 mm (50.39") |
| Barrel Length | 1085 mm (42.72") |
| Action Type | Falling Block |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 1210 m/s (3970 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 10670 J (7870 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 300 m (328 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 10 rpm |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
Calibers
- 7.92x94mm Patronen · primary — also known as Patrone 318, 7.92x94 Patrone 318
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot
- Features: Folding Stock, Folding Bipod, Carry Handle, Two Side Mounted Ammunition Holders, Falling Block Breech Opened By Pistol Grip
Variants
- Granatbüchse 39 (GrB 39) — Grenade Launcher
Service history
Operators
- Wehrmacht · adopted 1939
Conflicts
- Invasion of Poland (1939)
- Battle of France (1940)
- World War II (1939-1945)
Production
Estimated total produced: 39,232 · Production years: 1939-1941
568 built in 1939 for the invasion of Poland; about 25,298 in service by the invasion of the USSR in June 1941. Many were later converted to the GrB 39 grenade launcher.
Origin
Country of origin: Germany
Designer: B. Brauer
Discontinued: 1941
Notes
The two side ammunition boxes are ready-holders, not feeding magazines; the weapon is single-shot. Weight (12.1-12.6 kg), muzzle velocity (1,190-1,265 m/s), rifling specifics, stock material and finish vary or are undocumented across sources.
Background
Early Patrone 318 rounds carried a tiny tear-gas capsule in the bullet base meant to flush out tank crews after penetration, but the charge was so small it was reportedly never noticed in combat and many crews never knew it was there. As tanks outgrew the rifle, thousands of PzB 39s were converted into GrB 39 rifle-grenade launchers rather than scrapped.