PTRS-41
Tula Arms Plant · Sniper Rifle · Out Of Production · 1941
Also known as: Protivotankovoye Ruzhyo Simonova, Simonov Anti-Tank Rifle, PTRS
Overview
The PTRS-41 is a semi-automatic anti-tank rifle designed by Sergei Simonov and fielded by the Soviet Red Army during World War II. Chambered in the powerful 14.5x114mm cartridge and fed from a 5-round en-bloc clip, it offered a significant rate of fire advantage over the single-shot PTRD-41. The gas-operated action with a short-stroke piston and tilting bolt allowed trained crews to deliver multiple aimed shots in rapid succession against armored targets. At 20.9 kg and over 2.1 meters long, it was heavier and more complex than the PTRD, which limited its production numbers but made it a more capable weapon in the hands of experienced crews.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 20900 g (737.2 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 21400 g (754.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 2108 mm (82.99") |
| Barrel Length | 1216 mm (47.87") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Short Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 1012 m/s (3320 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 32588 J (24036 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 800 m (875 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1500 m (1640 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 15 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 455 mm (17.91") |
| Number of Grooves | 8 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 14.5x114mm · primary — also known as 14.5mm Soviet, 14.5x114, 14.5mm KPV
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: En Bloc Clip
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Muzzle Brake, Bipod, Recoil Absorbing Pad, Gas Operated, En Bloc Clip Loading
Variants
- PTRD-41 — Single Shot Variant
Service history
Operators
- Soviet Red Army · adopted 1941 · as PTRS
- People's Liberation Army
- Korean People's Army
Conflicts
- World War II (Eastern Front) (1941-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
- Russo-Ukrainian War (2014-present)
Production
Estimated total produced: 190,000 · Production years: 1941-1945
Approximately 190,000 produced. Only about 80 were manufactured by the end of 1941 due to the complexity of the design, but production ramped to over 63,000 in 1942.
Origin
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Designer: Sergei Simonov
Discontinued: 1945
Notes
The PTRS-41 was more complex and expensive to manufacture than the PTRD-41, which is why far fewer were produced. Its gas-operated semi-automatic action was prone to jamming in muddy or dusty conditions, and the 5-round en-bloc clip was loaded from the top. The weapon could penetrate 40mm of armor at 100 meters with B-32 API ammunition. Like the PTRD, it was also used effectively against bunkers, fortified positions, and low-flying aircraft.
Background
The PTRS-41 gained renewed notoriety during the Russo-Ukrainian War when both Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists pulled these WWII-era weapons from Soviet-era storage. Videos surfaced of the rifles being used against lightly armored vehicles and fortified positions, proving that the devastating 14.5mm cartridge remains lethal against modern soft-skinned targets more than 80 years after the weapon's introduction.