The PIAT

Britain’s anti-tank weapon of World War II

Matthew Moss, Alan Gilliland (B.E.V. illustrator), Adam Hook (Illustrator)

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English

Osprey
01 December 2020

History; Military history; Weapons & equipment; Ordnance, weapons technology; Militaria, arms & armour

Series: Weapon

Designed in 1942, Britain’s innovative Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank (PIAT) provided British and Commonwealth troops with a much-needed means of taking on Germany’s formidable Panzers. Replacing the inadequate Boys anti-tank rifle, it was conceived in the top-secret World War II research and development organization known colloquially as ‘Churchill’s Toyshop’, alongside other ingenious weapons such as the sticky bomb, the limpet mine and the time-pencil fuse.

Unlike the more famous US bazooka, the PIAT had its roots in something simpler than rocket science. Operated from the shoulder, the PIAT was a spigot mortar which fired a heavy high-explosive bomb, with its main spring soaking up the recoil. The PIAT had a limited effective range. Troops required nerves of steel to get close enough to an enemy tank to ensure a direct hit, often approaching to within 50ft of the target, and no fewer than six Victoria Crosses were won during World War II by soldiers operating PIATs. A front-line weapon in every theatre of the conflict in which Commonwealth troops fought, from Europe to the Far East, the PIAT remained in service after 1945, seeing action during the Greek Civil War, the Arab–Israeli conflict and the Korean War. This illustrated study combines detailed research with expert analysis to reveal the full story of the design, development and deployment of this revolutionary weapon.

By: Matthew Moss
Illustrated by: Alan Gilliland (B.E.V. illustrator), Adam Hook (Illustrator)
Imprint: Osprey
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Volume: 74
Dimensions: Height: 248mm, Width: 184mm,
Weight: 264g
ISBN: 9781472838131
ISBN 10: 1472838130
Series: Weapon
Pages: 80
Publication Date: 01 December 2020
Audience: General/trade , Professional and scholarly , ELT Advanced , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Matthew Moss runs the website Historical Firearms and has contributed to a number of print and online publications including magazines such as History of War and Classic Arms & Militaria. The author of Osprey's WPN 065 The Sterling Submachine Gun, he lives in Lancashire, UK. Adam Hook studied graphic design, and began his work as an illustrator in 1983. He specializes in detailed historical reconstructions, and has illustrated Osprey titles on subjects as diverse as the Aztecs, the Ancient Greeks, Roman battle tactics, several 19th-century American subjects, the modern Chinese Army, and a number of books in the Fortress series. His work features in exhibitions and publications throughout the world. Born in Malaya in 1949, Alan Gilliland spent 18 years as the graphics editor of the Daily Telegraph, winning 19 awards in that time. He now writes, illustrates and publishes fiction (www.ravensquill.com), as well as illustrating for a variety of publishers (alangillilandillustration.blogspot.com).

Reviews for The PIAT: Britain’s anti-tank weapon of World War II

The book, full of great illustrations and sectionalised diagrams, will be of interest to weapon collectors, enthusiasts of weapon development and general readers alike. * GunMart *