PTRD

Infobox Weapon
name= PTRD


caption= A PTRD.
origin=flagcountry|Soviet Union
type= Anti-tank rifle
is_ranged=yes
service= 1941–?
used_by= Soviet Union, North Korea, China
wars= World war II, Korean War, Chinese Civil War
designer=Vasily Degtyaryov
design_date= 1941
manufacturer=Degtyaryov plant
production_date=1941–1945
number=
variants=
weight=17.3 kg
length=2,020 mm
part_length=1,350 mm
width=
height=
crew=2
cartridge=14.5x114mm
caliber= above cartridge or .50 BMG
action=Single-fire
rate=6-8 rounds/min
velocity=1,012 m/s (3,319.3 ft/s)
range=400 m
max_range=800 m
feed=Single shot, no magazine
sights=Front post, rear notch

The PTRD-41 (Shortened from Russian, "ProtivoTankovoye Ruzhyo Degtyaryova") was an anti-tank rifle produced and used from early 1941 by the Soviet Red Army during World War II. It was a single-shot weapon that fired 14.5x114mm tungsten core rounds. Although unable to penetrate the frontal armor of German tanks, it was effective against the thinner sides of early-war German tanks and self-propelled guns. The 14.5 mm armor-piercing bullet had a muzzle velocity of 1012 m/s. It could penetrate an armor plate up to 35 to 40mm thick at a distance of 100 meters. In 1941, most German tanks had side armor thinner than 40mm.

In 1939 the USSR captured several hundred Polish Model 35 anti-tank rifles, which were effective against early war tanks. Several features of the Polish rifle were used in the development of the original Soviet PTRD.

The PTRD and the similar PTRS-41 were the only individual anti-tank weapon available until the arrival of Lend-Lease bazookas from the USA later in the warFact|date=July 2007. PTRD users would attempt to hit weak spots such as tank tracks and view ports to damage tanks that had armor too thick to be vulnerable. The PTRD was still effective against lesser armored vehicles like light tanks, armored halftracks, armored cars and unarmored vehicles such as trucks. A major weakness of the PTRD was that it was a single shot weapon that gave off an immense muzzle flash, thus giving away the unit's firing position. On the other hand, anti-tank rifle teams were very easily concealed. The PTRD was eventually replaced by the RPG series of anti-tank rocket launchers.

German countermeasures to Soviet anti-tank rifle teams included the development of "schurzen" or skirt armor on their tanks in 1943.

Beside World War II the PTRD was also used extensively by North Korean and Chinese armed forces in the Korean War.

After World War II, the PTRD was modified with a .50 barrel and a scope to become one of the world's first .50 caliber sniper rifles.

External links

* [http://www.rt66.com/~korteng/SmallArms/antitank.htm Russian 14.5 mm antitank rifle PTRD-1941]
* [http://www.antitank.co.uk/russian1.htm The PTRD 1941]