PzF 44

PzF 44 2A1

PzF 44
Type Anti-tank rocket launcher
Place of origin West Germany
Service history
In service 1960s–1990s
Used by Germany
Production history
Manufacturer Dynamit Nobel
Specifications
Weight 7.8 kg (17 lb 3 oz)
Length 880.0 mm (2 ft 10.65 in)

Caliber 44 mm (1.7 in) barrel, 67 mm (2.6 in) warhead
Muzzle velocity 168.0 m/s (551 ft/s) (muzzle)
210.0 m/s (689 ft/s) (max)
Maximum firing range ~ 400 m (1,300 ft)
Sights Telescope

The PzF 44 2A1 (also called Lanze, Leichte Panzerfaust, or Panzerfaust 2) is a recoilless anti-tank weapon.

History

The anti-tank grenade launcher was originally developed around 1960 and put into service by the Bundeswehr shortly thereafter. It was developed to provide West German infantry with a modern replacement for the Bazooka that they had previously used. As such, it was the first German antitank rocket developed after World War II, a conflict in which German hand-held antitank weapons such as the Panzerfaust played a prominent role during 1944–45. The Lanze was a product of a period in which the German army was re-equipped with locally developed arms and equipment and retired the aging U.S. gear that had formed their initial arsenal. The full designation name by the German Army is Panzerfaust 44mm DM2 Ausführung 1 Lanze.

Specifications

The Lanze's 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) high explosive antitank (HEAT) DM-32 projectile could penetrate 370 mm (15 in) of rolled homogeneous armor and hit moving targets at a range of 300 m (980 ft). The Lanze could also fire a multi-purpose warhead. Starting in 1992, the PzF 44 was replaced by the Panzerfaust 3.

Performance of PzF 44 and contemporary weapons
Effectiveness against rolled homogeneous armor
Weapon Armor penetration in mm Max range to hit a moving target in meters
PzF 44 370 300
RPG-7V 320 300
M72 LAW 305 150
Data source for weapons performance is Jane's Infantry Weapons 1984-85.

See also

External images
PzF 44 2A1 Lanze
PzF 44 launcher and 67mm HEAT projectile (German Army manual)
Loading PzF44 (from German Army manual)
HEAT rocket projectile and ejection charge(German Army manual)
Cutaway of PzF44 with the original rejected 81mm HEAT warhead


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