| Sturmpistole | |
|---|---|
.jpg) A Sturmpistole with Panzerwurfkörper 42 being demonstrated to German troops, Russia (1943) | |
| Type | Flare gun |
| Place of origin |  Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | World War II |
| Used by | Germany |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 2.5 kg (5 lb 8 oz) |
| Length | Butt extended: 584 mm (23 in) Butt folded: 305 mm (12 in) |
| Barrel length | 180 mm (7.1 in) |
| Cartridge | Flare Smoke Panzerwurfkörper 42 Wurfgranate Patrone 326 Wurfkörper 361 |
| Caliber | 23 mm (0.91 in) |
| Action | Break action |
| Feed system | Single 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.
- ^ 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.