German Anti-Tank Rifle: The T-Gewehr 1918

Published on December 20, 2023
Duration: 1:00

The Mauser Tankgewehr M1918 was the world's first dedicated anti-tank rifle, a massive single-shot bolt-action weapon developed by Germany in WWI. Weighing nearly 38 pounds and over 5.5 feet long, it fired powerful 13.2x92mmR rounds designed to penetrate early tank armor. While effective against initial tank designs, its efficacy diminished as armor thickness increased, leading to the development of anti-tank machine guns.

Quick Summary

The Mauser Tankgewehr M1918 was the world's first dedicated anti-tank rifle, developed by Germany in WWI. Weighing nearly 38 lbs and 5.5 ft long, it fired 13.2x92mmR rounds from a bolt-action mechanism, effectively penetrating early tank armor.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to the T-Gewehr M1918
  2. 00:10Physical Specifications & Action
  3. 00:22Shooting Technique & Recoil Analysis
  4. 00:31Ballistics and Armor Penetration Myths
  5. 00:40Combat Effectiveness in WWI
  6. 00:50Historical Context & Successors

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Mauser Tankgewehr M1918?

The Mauser Tankgewehr M1918, or T-Gewehr, was the world's first dedicated anti-tank rifle, developed by Germany during World War I. It was a large, single-shot bolt-action rifle designed to penetrate early tank armor.

What were the specifications of the T-Gewehr M1918?

The T-Gewehr weighed nearly 38 pounds and was approximately 5.5 feet long. It utilized a single-shot bolt-action mechanism, essentially a scaled-up Mauser 98 action, and fired powerful 13.2x92mmR TuF cartridges.

How effective was the T-Gewehr against tanks?

Its steel-core 13mm rounds could penetrate the armor of early WWI tanks. However, its effectiveness decreased significantly as tank armor thickness increased later in the war, making it a stopgap weapon.

What caliber did the T-Gewehr use?

The T-Gewehr fired the 13.2x92mmR cartridge, often referred to as 13mm TuF (Tank und Flieger). This was a specialized round designed for armor penetration.

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