World War Two was the first true war of technology. While a fully fledged arms race had been in place throughout the 30s, as the world headed into turmoil and conflict both sides developed technologies at a breakneck pace, and it seemed that nothing was off the table.
A lot of what was developed did not work, or was otherwise bizarre. But in the desperate dash to find an edge in combat, innovation and the use of the unexpected was key, and the stage was set for all sorts of weird and wonderful creations.
One such was the Hafthohlladung, or Panzerknacker (literally “armor breaker”), deployed in 1942 as an Anti-Tank Grenade after Hitler asked “how do you solve a problem like those tanks” (probably). This cone-shaped weapon was magnetic, allowing soldiers to attach an estimated 5-pounds (2.3 kg) of shaped HE Explosive to any passing armor.
And the device itself was a roaring success. At that time, more than 500,000 Hafthohlladung devices were developed, which were deployed with The German Wehrmacht. If the Germans could get close enough to the enemy, often a viable possibility in the close quarters urban fighting, the tank was doomed.
Deadly in the Hands of the Brave
Putting aside politics for a moment, the Wehrmacht tank killer squads who were given the Panzerknacker were undoubtedly brave. The system lacked any method to launch it from a distance as it was simply too large to make an effective man-portable system.
This left the soldiers with only one option: they had to run up to the enemy tank, full of enemy soldiers and enemy ammunition, and physically attach the device to the hull of the tank themselves. This left such soldiers having to carry a heavy, highly explosive device into concentrated enemy fire, and many such soldiers did not even get close.
If they did make it though, the Panzerknacker was extremely effective. Three magnets were used at the base area to create a strong magnetic field. From any angle of the surface, the magnets are attached to the enemy’s tank by an infantryman, clamped down on the metal like a limpet.
At a stroke, this negated many of the Allied advancements in tank technology. Sloped armor, designed to deflect incoming fire became irrelevant because the device was fitted perpendicular to the hull, and the charge was shaped to explode directly onto the armor, ensuring maximum penetration.
So, a great weapon but tough to use. Necessity drives ingenuity, and many of the squads came up with clever solutions. The Panzerknacker was primarily an ambush weapon, and there are even reports of German soldiers hiding in ditches that tanks were expected to pass over, attaching the device to the belly of the tank as it rumbled overhead.
Let’s just hope they chose the right hiding place.
A Gamechanger?
It seemed that once attached, the Panzerknacker was a weapon system for which the Allies had no answer. As per the 1943 British test report, this weapon was capable of defeating any Allied tank, and testing proved it could penetrate through up to 20 inches (50 cm) of concrete as well.
Moreover, another model of Hafthohlladung mine existed, with a higher amount of explosives within considered to be capable of defeating more than 5.5 inches (140 mm) of armor. Even larger versions with up to 22 pounds (10 kg) of explosives were suspected.
A smaller Hafthohlladung model was also developed for the German Luftwaffe air force, which was known as the ‘Hafthohlladung-Luftwaffe’ or the Panzerhandmine (P.H.M.). This version of Hafthohlladung has the look of a small wine bottle with room for 6 small magnets inside.
The new P.H.M.3 was larger still, but it needed to be applied by hand. In this version, a small spiked steel ring was placed at the bottom of the magnet. Appearing in 1942 with a shaped charge of a 50:50 Cyclonite/T.N.T. mix, it seems that any pilot was required to be pressed into service as a tank destroyer should the need arise.
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Additionally, a P.H.M.4 was developed, a larger version that could penetrate 5.9 inches (150 mm) of armor. This variant has a sticky foot with various explosive composition mixtures that had the benefit of easily sticking to any solid place instead of only sticking to magnetic surfaces.
This version of the weapon was certainly more adaptable, but it was also more complex as compared to a magnetic weapon. It would adhere through a triggered exothermic reaction which would melt the shell of the casing, causing it to adhere to any surface it was touching. Of course, if the reaction did not trigger the weapon would simply fall off.
Finally there was the 6.6 lb (3 kg) Gebalte Ledung, another German magnetic charge that was designed with magnetic panels over a large box on each side. It has the additional benefit of being throwable, and its interior was filled with explosive cubes.
However this device did not deliver its explosive force in such a concentrated fashion as the Panzerknacker, as it was not shaped to fire in a single direction but rather exploded in all directions, wasting much of its explosive potency against empty air. The Gebalte Ledung was useful for knocking out the Soviet T-34 tank, but largely failed against western armor.
Was it Effective?
The Panzerknacker device was designed effectively to meet the needs of the German Wehrmacht. While many versions were developed throughout the war, most required hand use, which is a great disadvantage for them.
Additionally, the specialization of the device meant that while it was devastating against armor it was ineffective against infantry, and in the wrong situations it was simply dead weight slowing the division down.
Ultimately therefore, the device was highly situational. As with many weapons of war, its effectiveness came down not just to its design, but how it was used by those in charge.
Top Image: A soldier demonstrates how to attach a panzerknacker to the hull of a tank. Source: Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1971-033-09 / CC-BY-SA 3.0 de.
By Bipin Dimri
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