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PIAT
The Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank (PIAT) was a spigot mortar designed by British Major Millis Jeffries in 1941 as a replacement for the obsolete Boys anti-tank rifle, and issued to field units in 1943. While difficult to use due to the vicious recoil and sheer amount of force required to cock the action, the weapon was capable of throwing a two-and-a-half pound bomb with a HEAT warhead anything up to 330 yards. The weapon used a large coil spring fired spigot cocked by rotating and pulling back on the padded buttplate and then rotating it back and sliding it forward, which was used to ignite the bomb's primer and thus the propellant charge. This generally required the user to brace the buttplate with both feet and pull the rest of the weapon upwards. On firing, the force of the recoiling spigot would re-cock the spring; practical rate of fire in combat was roughly 5 rounds per minute for a two-man crew. The weapon could be used effectively by an experienced crew, but was heavy, inaccurate, had a progressively shorter effective range as German tank technology improved, and rushed wartime production resulted in many defective projectiles which failed to fire or detonate.
Specifications
(1942-1950)
Type: Spigot mortar
Length: 39 inches
Weight: 31.70 pounds
Muzzle Velocity: 450 feet per second
Effective range: 109 yards (actual effective range typically less than 40 yards versus armour)
Maximum range: 330 yards
Calibre: 3.25 inch
Capacity: 1 round
Fire modes: Safe / fire
Crew: 2
The PIAT appears in the following films, television series, and video games:
Film
| Title | Actor | Character | Notation | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City 44 | Michal Meyer | "Pajak" | 2014 | |
| Never Say Never Again | Q Branch | 1983 | ||
| A Bridge Too Far | British Paratroopers | 1977 | ||
| Paper Tiger | David Niven | Mr Bradbury | 1975 | |
| The Longest Day | French Commandos | 1962 | ||
| Canal (Kanal) | Polish insurgents | 1957 |
Television
| Title | Actor | Character | Notation | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blott on the Landscape | David Suchet | Blott | 1985 |
Video Games
| Title | Referred As | Notes | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commandos 2: Men of Courage | "Bazooka" | 2001 | |
| Medal of Honor: Allied Assault | "PIAT" | 2002 | |
| Commandos 3: Destination Berlin | "Bazooka" | 2003 | |
| Darkest Hour: Europe '44-'45 | Can be reloaded by teammate | 2006 | |
| Company of Heroes | 2006 | ||
| World War II Online: Battleground Europe | 2011 | ||
| Karma Online | 2011 | ||
| Dino D-Day | 2011 | ||
| Company of Heroes 2 | 2013 |