Soviet PTRS-41 14.5mm AT Rifle

By Crusader1307

With the onslaught of the National Invasion of Russia, a poorly equipped Russian Army needed an ample supply of weapons to resist. With Allied materials assistance, they began to create lethal devices that effectively slowed Hitler's Juggernaut. Hitler relied heavily on his Armor Corps. to subjugate The Soviets. Although The Russians were gradually fielding an effective Tank Corps. of their own, the need to create a suitable Anti-Tank weapon. The Simonov was one such. Known as The PTRS-41 14.5mm Anti-Tank Rifle, was a semi-crew served, 7-foot long rifle. Weighing 46-pounds, it was a gas operating, bolt action  weapon. Fed by a 5-round clip, it could fire 1 round of high explosive armor piercing projectile from 800 to 1,500 meters. The PTRS-41 could penetrate 1-inch of Armor  (consistently), at 500 meters. Cumbersome, The Simonov was effective in the Urban warfare arena. First designed in 1941, they continued in production until 1945. Variants were manufactured well into the 1960's.