Information about the T- Gewehr from Official and Captured Documents
During the Allied counter-offensive south of the Somme on July 4th, 1918 (after the failure of the German push - "Operation Michael"), a T- Gewehr was captured and the Headquarters of the Tanks Corps reported this three days later. They remarked on the similarty of this weapon to the ordinary German Mauser rifle, but notedthat the new "arrival" was larger in every way, with a calibre of .530 in, a weight of 35.8 pounds and a length of 67 in. It was also noted that it fired single shots only, and it was considered that with its slow rate of fire and its weight and size it could not be considered a formidable weapon ( the interest however shown by the military in this weapon for the next three years, would seem to belie this).
Summary of information, dated fifteen days after the capture of it, stated: Further information about the German anti-tank rifle has been derived from the capture of one of these rifle by the French, and from prisoners.
Designation: | Tank Abwehr Gewehr abbreviated to T-Gewehr. |
Allotment: | The 192nd Infantry Division has been issued with two anti-tank rifles per regiment, one rifles was kept in the support line and the other used behind the front for instructional purposes, Each regt, was shortly to have three rifles in the line. |
Training: | No special training was required, usually four men per Company were shown how to use the rifle, and a few rounds were fired by way of demnostration. |
Mounting: | The rifle is mounted on a bipod 1ft. in height ans 1 1/2 lb. in weight. |
Ammunition: | 20 rounds were issued, packed in a bag of grey canvas. |
Effect: | At a practice shoot, a steel plate 13/16ths of an inch (21mm) thick was easily pierced at a range of 220 yards (200 metres)". |
The French Monthly Technical Report on Enemy Material Nª 225 translated the German Instructional Manual on the T-Gewehr, and a summarised version in English was given in October 1918 as follows:
"Each rifle is served by two men, a firer and a helper (or feeder). The firer carries and handles the rifle and is responsible for it. He carries a cartridge holder containing 12 cartridges on his left hip, and a tool bag on his belt. The helper carries two cartridge holders, each with 20 cartridges, on each hip. He carries also, either in his hand, or slung across the body, a box of 72 cartridges. The two men have, beside the paquetage d'assaut, a revolver and bayonet. |
When moving the support remains attached to the rifle which, like the LMG can be carried either on the shoulder or slung across the body. The employment of the rifle by squads of (say) therre rifles or singly depends on the tactical conditions and on the ground. They are used also in the co-operation with MGs firing armour piercing bullets". |
An Intelligence Summary dated October 25th, 1918, made the following observation after the translation of a German order from GHQ Nº Ie,100672 op dated September 29th, 1918:
1. An anti-tank machine gun on the same lines as 13 mm. anti-tank is being manufactured. |
2. Both the anti-tank rifle and the anti-tank machine gun are intented also for anti-aircraft work. |
3. The official name of the anti-tank rifle has been changed to Tufgewehr (Tank uns Fliegergewehr). |
For the manufacture of 13mm. anti-tank rifles (Tufgewehre), anti-tank machine guns (Tufmaschinengewehre) and the anti-tank ammunition /Tufmunition) which is a matter of urgency, technical specialists will be demanded direct from corps by name, by the War Ministry.
A report of The HQ of Tank Corp, July 31st, 1918
Two sponson doors of a female Mk IV tank had been placed together, and secured. The first sot, taken at a range of about 65 yards, pierced both doors, the steel core remaining on the first door and a certain amount of "splash" came out on the other side. The thickness of the two doors was 24 mm, with a small air space in between. The second shot, fired at an angle of about 50 degrees to the tank which was 120 yards away, caused a ricochet and did not penetrate at all. The thirdd shot fired at a single door at a range of 120 yards, went high and hit the soft steel strap on the top of the door. The bullet passe through the 12 mm soft steel strap and also completely the 12 mm arnour plate.
A report of the Mechanical Warfare Department in late October/early November 1918
The set of te trials was on October 30Th, again the range was 50 yards, but this time the impact was normal. A 16,5 mm bullet proof plate was placed three inches in front of a 13 mm bullet proof plate, and the following shots were fired:
1st Shot: The bullet pierced the 16,5 mm plate forming a clean hole 17 mm in diameter. In piercing the plate the steel core aapeared to break up as the 13 mm plate was dented in various places and much discoloured - the greatest depth of the identations being 2 mm.
2nd Shot: The bullet had the same effect as the last, but the pointed end of the core penetrated 6 mm into the 13 mm plate.
3rd Shot: the bullet pierced both plates, forming clean holes 18 mm diameter in the 16,5 mm plate and 4 mm in diameter in the 13 mm plate.
4th Shot: The bullet had the same effect as shot 1 and 2, but the 13 mm plate was dented 3 mm deep. In none of the above shots was it possible to recover any portion or signs of the steel cores.
A report of the Controller of Munitions Design, Novembre 6th, 1918
Five plates, in the order of one 14 mm plate, two 10 mm plate, one 7 mm plate and one 9 mm plate (a total of 50 mm) were wedged together as tightly as possible, and placed at range of 100 yards from the Mauser T Gewehr. The first bulled penetrated the 14 mm plate and made a cavity about 5 mm deep in the succeeding plate. The bullet core snapped off about 22 mm from its point. The second bullet penetrated the 14 mm plate and the 10 mm plates, and just dented (about 1 mm deep) the following plate. The core this time had sapped off about 29 mm from the point.
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