How a PTRD-41 Bolt Action Rifle Works

Wikipedia: The PTRD-41 (Shortened from Russian, ProtivoTankovoye Ruzhyo Degtyaryova; Противотанковое однозарядное ружьё системы Дегтярёва образца 1941 года; "Degtyaryov Single Shot Anti-Tank Weapon System Model of 1941") 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 which fired a 14.5×114 mm round, which was able to penetrate German tanks such as the Panzer III and early models of the Panzer IV. Although unable to penetrate the frontal armor of late-war German tanks, it could penetrate their thinner side armor at close ranges as well as thinly armored self-propelled guns and half-tracks.

In 1939, in its invasion of Poland the USSR captured several hundred Polish Model 35 anti-tank rifles, which had proved effective against the German invasion of Poland from the West. Vasily Degtyaryov copied its lock and several features of the German Panzerbüchse 38 when hasty construction of an anti-tank rifle was ordered in July 1941.[citation needed]

The PTRD and the similar but semi-automatic PTRS-41 were the only individual anti-tank weapons available to the Red Army in numbers upon the outbreak of the war with Germany. The 14.5 mm armor-piercing bullet had a muzzle velocity of 1,012 m/s (3,320 ft/s). The 64g bullet had a 39g steel core and could penetrate around 30mm of armor at 500m, and 40mm of armor at 100m.[8] During the initial invasion, and indeed throughout the war, most German tanks had side armor thinner than 40 mm (Panzer I and Panzer II: 13–20 mm, Panzer III and Panzer IV series: 30 mm, Panzer V Panther (combat debut mid-1943): 40–50 mm).

Guns captured by the Germans were given the designation 14.5 mm PzB 783(r).[9]
Soviet unit commander and gunner (PTRD) in ambush. The defense of Tula (Rogozhinsky village), 1941

After World War II the PTRD was also used extensively by North Korean and Chinese armed forces in the Korean War. During this war, William Brophy, an American Army Ordnance officer, mounted a .50 BMG (12.7 mm) barrel to a captured PTRD to examine the effectiveness of long-range shooting. Furthermore, Americans also captured certain number of PTRD from Viet Cong in Vietnam War. The weapon proved effective out to 1,800 metres (2,000 yd).

Type Anti-tank rifle
Place of origin Soviet Union
Service history
In service 1941–1960s (USSR)
Used by See Users
Wars World War II
Korean War
Chinese Civil War
Vietnam War[1]
Syrian Civil War
Russo-Ukrainian War[2][3][4][5]
Production history
Designer Vasily Degtyaryov
Designed 1941
Manufacturer Degtyaryov plant
Produced 1941–45
No. built About 450,000[6]
Specifications
Mass 17.3 kg (38.1 lbs)
Length 2020mm (79.5 in)
Barrel length 1,350 mm (53 in)
Crew 2
Cartridge 14.5×114mm (B-32, BS-41[7])
Action bolt-action
Rate of fire Single shot,user dependent
Muzzle velocity 1,012 m/s (3,320 ft/s)
Effective firing range 300 m (on personnel targets, dispersion of bullets on 300 meters 0.36 m[7])
Maximum firing range 1,000 m[7] (mostly with scope)
Feed system Single shot, no magazine
Sights Front post, rear notch