Panzerbuchse 39

Go Back to Anti-Tank Weapon

Go Back To Weapons Home

	Weapon: Panzerbuchse 39 Type: Anti-Tank Weapon Country of Origin: Germany Year Adopted: 1940 Caliber: 7.92x94mm Action: Falling Block Overall Length (mm): 1040.0 Overall Length (in): 40.94 Weight (kg): 6.00 Weight (pounds): 13.23 Effective Range (m): 200 m Effective Range (yards): 218.72

The Panzerbuchse 39 (PzB 39) was a German anti-tank rifle developed and deployed during the early years of World War II. Designed by Gustloff-Werke as an improvement over the earlier Panzerbuchse 38, the PzB 39 featured a single-shot, breech-loading design chambered for the 7.92x94mm Patrone 318 cartridge. The weapon's streamlined design allowed for better portability and ease of use by infantry, with an overall length of 162 cm and a weight of 12.6 kg. Its tungsten-cored rounds could penetrate up to 25 mm of armor at a distance of 300 meters, making it effective against lightly armored vehicles and early war tanks.

Approximately 39,000 units of the PzB 39 were produced between 1939 and 1941. However, as tank armor rapidly improved during the war, the rifle's effectiveness diminished, and production ceased in favor of more powerful anti-tank weapons. The weapon remained in service during the early phases of the war, notably in the invasions of Poland and France, where it performed well against the relatively thin armor of contemporary enemy vehicles. By 1942, the PzB 39 was largely obsolete as an anti-tank weapon and was repurposed as a grenade launcher by modifying it to fire rifle grenades using an adapter.

The Panzerbuchse 39 is remembered for its role in the early stages of mechanized warfare during World War II. While it became quickly outdated due to advancements in armored vehicle design, it exemplified the rapid evolution of infantry anti-tank weaponry. The PzB 39's notoriety lies in its transition from an effective anti-armor tool to a relic of changing battlefield requirements, and surviving examples are now sought after by collectors and displayed in military museums as part of World War II history.