Carl Gustav m/42: A 20mm Recoilless Antitank Rifle

The Lahti L39 is a semi-automatic 20mm anti-tank rifle with a unique mechanical operation requiring manual bolt cycling via a crank handle after each shot. Its significant recoil and muzzle blast are managed by its weight and integrated skis. A critical safety warning emphasizes keeping hands clear of the trigger guard due to the violent action.

The PTRD-41 was a simple, single-shot Soviet anti-tank rifle developed rapidly in 1941. Chambered in the powerful 14.5x114mm cartridge, it could penetrate significant armor at range. Its unique recoil-operated action ejected spent casings automatically, aiding in rapid firing. Despite its effectiveness, limitations like barrel life and firing signature prevented its use as a sniper rifle.

The PTRS-41 is a Soviet semi-automatic anti-tank rifle, essentially a scaled-up SKS firing the powerful 14.5x114mm cartridge. It could penetrate 40mm of armor at 300 meters, making it effective against early WWII German tanks. Despite crude external wartime production, its internal mechanics are similar to the SKS, featuring a detachable barrel for transport.

The Swiss Tankbuchse 41 (Tb 41) is an extremely rare 24mm semiautomatic antitank rifle developed by Waffenfabrik Bern. Featuring Adolf Furrer's signature toggle-lock action and short recoil operation, it fired a 24x138mm round capable of penetrating 36mm of armor at 500 meters. Originally intended for tanks, it also saw infantry, boat, and fortress deployment, with approximately 3,600 units produced.

The M20 75mm Recoilless Rifle, developed post-WWII, offered a lighter anti-tank solution than traditional cannons. Its recoilless design, utilizing perforated cases and breech vents, neutralized recoil. It fired various rounds including HEAT capable of 4 inches of penetration and saw significant use in Korea before being replaced by missiles. While militarily obsolete, it finds modern use in avalanche control.

The M20A1B1 Super Bazooka was the standard US anti-tank weapon during the Korean War, offering significant improvements over its predecessor with its 3.5-inch shaped charge warhead capable of penetrating up to 11 inches of flat armor. Despite its power, it struggled against sloped armor and had a dangerous backblast. Key features include a take-down design for portability, a magneto trigger, and an improved loading mechanism in the A1 variant.

This video details the unique 'French Finger Trap' issue with the MAS-36 rifle's bayonet, where two rifles can become unintentionally locked together. A 1951 French arsenal memorandum identified this problem, proposing a simple modification to the bayonet handle. Drilling a small hole allows a tool, like a firing pin, to depress the internal spring, enabling the separation of locked rifles.

The M134 Minigun is a scaled-down 7.62 NATO rotary cannon, requiring 24V DC power and consuming 1.5 kW. Its high rate of fire (3,000+ RPM) is essential for aircraft engagement windows. The complex delinker mechanism is critical for feeding ammunition, and practical hand-held use is impossible due to weight and recoil. Live fire demonstrates rapid ammunition consumption and the need for indirect aiming.

The H&K G11 is a revolutionary prototype assault rifle designed in the late 20th century, notable for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt mechanism. Despite advanced features like a 2000 RPM burst fire rate and integrated optics, its development was ultimately halted by geopolitical shifts and cost concerns.

This video demonstrates the assembly and live-fire of the German 1936 pattern light mortar (L.Gr.W.36). It highlights the mortar's leveling mechanism for accuracy and the difficulty in visually tracking its 50mm projectiles after firing. The content showcases historical military hardware and its operational use.