Solothurn S-18/1000
Waffenfabrik Solothurn AG · Sniper Rifle · Out Of Production · 1938
Also known as: Solothurn S18-1000, S-18/1000, Solothurn 20mm Anti-Tank Rifle, Fucile Anticarro Solothurn
Overview
The Solothurn S-18/1000 is a Swiss-designed 20mm semi-automatic anti-tank rifle chambered for the powerful 20x138mmB 'Long Solothurn' cartridge, the same round used in the German 2cm FlaK 30/38 anti-aircraft guns. An upgraded version of the earlier S-18/100 which fired the smaller 20x105mm cartridge, the S-18/1000 used a short-recoil operating system and was fed from 5 or 10-round detachable box magazines mounted horizontally on the left side. At 51.7 kg unloaded and over 2.1 meters long, it was effectively a crew-served weapon requiring a ratchet crank mechanism to charge the bolt. Despite its weight, the weapon delivered devastating armor-piercing capability that could penetrate 35mm of armor at 300 meters.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 51700 g (1823.7 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 54700 g (1929.5 oz) |
| Overall Length | 2170 mm (85.43") |
| Barrel Length | 1380 mm (54.33") |
| Action Type | Recoil Operated |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 910 m/s (2986 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 61260 J (45183 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1500 m (1640 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 20 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel And Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 20x138mmB · primary — also known as 20mm Long Solothurn, 20x138B, 20mm Solothurn Long
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Muzzle Brake, Bipod, Recoil Operated Action, Ratchet Crank Cocking, Shoulder Rest, Carrying Handle
Variants
- Solothurn S-18/100 — Earlier 20x105mm Variant
- Solothurn S-18/1100 — Full Auto Variant
Service history
Operators
- Italian Royal Army · adopted 1938 · as Fucile Anticarro Solothurn
- Hungarian Royal Army · adopted 1939 · as 36.M
- Romanian Army
- German Wehrmacht
- Swiss Armed Forces
Conflicts
- World War II (North Africa) (1940-1943)
- World War II (Eastern Front) (1941-1945)
- World War II (Balkans) (1941-1945)
Production
Estimated total produced: 1,500 · Production years: 1938-1945
Approximately 1,500 S-18/1000 rifles produced. The weapon was primarily exported to Italy and Hungary, with smaller numbers to other Axis-aligned nations.
Origin
Country of origin: Switzerland
Designer: Waffenfabrik Solothurn / Rheinmetall
Discontinued: 1945
Notes
Waffenfabrik Solothurn was a Swiss front company for the German firm Rheinmetall, which used it to develop and export weapons that were prohibited under the Treaty of Versailles. The S-18/1000's short-recoil action required a ratchet crank to pull back the heavy bolt, making it slower to put into action than simpler bolt-action anti-tank rifles. The weapon used the same 20x138mmB ammunition as the Lahti L-39 and the German 2cm FlaK series, providing logistical commonality for Axis forces. The S-18/1100 variant was a fully automatic version intended for anti-aircraft use.
Background
The Solothurn S-18/1000 exemplifies the shadowy world of interwar arms manufacturing, where German weapons designers circumvented the Treaty of Versailles by working through neutral Swiss front companies. Rheinmetall secretly acquired Waffenfabrik Solothurn in 1929 to develop and export weapons Germany was forbidden to produce. The resulting S-18 series became one of the most powerful anti-tank rifles of World War II, with its 20mm round capable of turning light tanks into death traps. Italian troops in North Africa used the weapon against British Matilda and Crusader tanks, though its 51 kg weight made it a nightmare to maneuver in the desert.