Sturmpistole

Sturmpistole
A Sturmpistole with Panzerwurfkörper 42 being demonstrated to German troops, Russia (1943)
TypeFlare gun
Place of origin Nazi Germany
Service history
In serviceWorld War II
Used byGermany
Specifications
Mass2.5 kg (5 lb 8 oz)
LengthButt extended: 584 mm (23 in)
Butt folded: 305 mm (12 in)
Barrel length180 mm (7.1 in)

CartridgeFlare
Smoke
Panzerwurfkörper 42
Wurfgranate Patrone 326
Wurfkörper 361
Caliber23 mm (0.91 in)
ActionBreak action
Feed systemSingle shot[1]

The Sturmpistole ("assault-pistol") was an attempt by Germany during World War II to create a multi-purpose weapon which could be used by any infantryman. It consisted of a modified flare gun (Leuchtpistole) which could fire a variety of grenades, including a 600 g (1 lb 5 oz) shaped charge Panzerwurfkörper 42 which could penetrate 80 mm (3.1 in) of rolled homogeneous armor. The idea was not pursued wholeheartedly, and took second stage to the then current anti-tank rifles and later weapon developments, such as the Panzerfaust recoilless and Panzerschreck rocket.

  1. ^ Gander, Terry; Chamberlain, Peter (1979). Weapons of the Third Reich : An Encyclopedic Survey of all Small Arms, Artillery, and Special Weapons of the German land forces, 1939-1945. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. p. 27. ISBN 0385150903. OCLC 5071295.