PIAT Anti-Tank Weapon - In The Movies

A brief overview of the PIAT as seen in the movies
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Movies Featured:
Stop That Tank (Disney) 1942
Kanal 1957
The Bridge 1959
The Longest Day 1962
Paper Tiger 1975
A Bridge Too Far 1977
Warsaw 44 2014
Strike Witches: Operation Victory Arrow 2014-2015
Band of Brothers 2001
Saving Private Ryan 1998
JoJo Rabbit 2019
Video Games:
Battlefield V
Post Scriptum

[@bigblue6917]

I used to work with someone who used one of these in France and Germany in WW2. He said that cocking the PIAT, which happened more times than he would have liked, was always a struggle. And you did have to get very close to the armoured vehicle to hope of hitting it. He said that it was excellent in house-to-house fighting as it could blow a hole in the side of the building to allow entry rather then having to go through a door which would have been covered by the Germans. When the mortar hit the building this left the Germans, those that survived the blast, somewhat stunned and often in disarray, which made entry much easier. If they had to take e row of houses they would start with the end building entering from the side. Once in they would eliminate the Germans working their way to the top of the building. Once the building was cleared they could went to the top floor and entered the next building through the joining wall of the top floor room. This they did again using the PIAT. No backblast meant it was safe to use inside and had the same effect on the Germans as before. This now put them at the advantage as they were at the top fighting down instead of the bottom fighting up. Grenades are better used dropping down. Once that building as cleared it was back up to the top of the building and entry to the next one again from the adjoining wall with the PIAT all the way along the row of buildings. He did say that this method of house-to-house fighting kept British casualties very low as once the first building was cleared the Germans were constantly at a disadvantage with the British being always above them. The other thing was that the Germans would often have more men on the top floor some of them being used as a reserve. Suddenly having a PIAT blasting through the wall made a mess of them.

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

Yes. That was the way Veteran Units cleared houses. They'd use anything they had to blow the holes in the walls. C4, Bazooka's, Rifle Grenades. You could use the Bazooka for the first hole from the outside without a problem but for subsequent holes you had to be careful where the back blast went, like out a window or some other hole. It wasn't just entry through the doors that was the problem - it was being out in the street where you had little cover and anyone down the length of it could shoot at you. The Biggest problem with this is having the explosives to blast the hole. After a while you could run out. .

[@kcspeed9980]

Amazing!

[@geegaw14]

This technique was called “ mouse holing”, and I believe it was first used by Canadian troops fighting in Italy.

[@Hey_MikeZeroEcho22P]

Great Story!!! Was wondering how that weapon would be used other than as an AT weap.

[@torinjones3221]

​@@geegaw14 the method had been used before but it is true that Canadians coined the name for it and used it as an official tactic

[@alankohn6709]

Interestingly Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear fame's Father-in-Law won a VC using one in the fight covered by a bridge too far he did a really good documentary on his father in law and the VC which you can find on KZbin and is really worth the watch. His father-in-law was hands down one of the toughest and bravest people I have heard of.

[@kylegendreau1801]

HAMMOND

[@Astrocat-od5cy]

@@kylegendreau1801 Hammond would use a bazooka because he's a secret american

[@kylegendreau1801]

HAMMOND YOU IDIOT YOU’VE REVERSED INTO THE SPORTS LORRY

[@kylegendreau1801]

@@Astrocat-od5cy tru

[@crasyhorse44]

ex. father in law.....

[@ComissarYarrick]

There is a story that in Italy one soldier won Victoria Cross for knocking out two panters with PIAT in single engament. Allegedly his coleges joked that he won the medal not for killing tanks but for hipfireing Piat twice.

[@BarnDoorProductions]

Sounds like Ernie "Smokey" Smith of the Seaforth Highlanders at the Savio River. He then used a Thompson to take out much of a platoon while defending his wounded buddy. Bit of a badass.

[@ukspud1234]

It was Ernie Smith en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Smith

[@xeon39688]

Has to be bs

[@robertbutler8771]

Major Robert Cain at Arnhem?

[@PaulRudd1941]

​@@ukspud1234 the last Canadian VC recipient. He passed away in 2005.

[@MBCGRS]

My Father used PIATs with the New Zealand Army. They had a cocking hook on a belt around the waist and stood to cock the weapon just like a medieval cross bow. His vivid descriptions of the flash & flames out of the open hatches is what obviously stuck with him. And the poor bastards inside he would say...

[@colinw6535]

"Undoubtedly the most famous incident involving the PIAT was the action in Italy in which Fusilier Jefferson dashed into the open and fired it from the hip, stopping two Tiger tanks at close range. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for this remarkable feat, and the general opinion in the ranks was that he deserved it for firing the thing from the hip, let alone killing two tanks with it " The Encyclopedia of Infantry Weapons of World War II, by Ian V. Hogg, Regent Books, 1977, p.149

[@dougilnicki6075]

It was one Stug but still amazing heroic action. He’s not alone in being awarded the VC for Valour while using a PIAT. Someone else has already mentioned Ernest “Smokey” Smith form the Canadian Seaforth Highlanders who took out a MkIV Panther and a self propelled, as well as dispatching many infantry with his Thompson.

[@alanfike]

@@dougilnicki6075 I was going to say, why the heck would the Nazis be so stupid as to have two Tigers supporting each other (they were rare because they were expensive), nevermind that they'd be close enough together to be damaged by one PIAT blast? Sometimes I wonder if people know what they're fucking talking about. And this guy was published saying this, evidently. "Boy oh boy! He sunk two battleships with one PIAT round!" {scratching head}

[@brunswicklord6365]

My Wifes late Grandfather was a trained PIAT operator in WW2 and I stupidly never ever asked him about it and his experience.

[@Swamp_Lad]

Ah yeah, now I remember he got it for shooting a piat from an open grass patch in the streets of Oosterbeek on and advancing Tiger 🐅.

[@АндрейШмырев-ж3з]

И правильно что не спрашивали...а то бы услышали нецензурные выражения...Тяжелая..и страшная ,бандура,...😂😅🎉

[@1000yardstares]

@@АндрейШмырев-ж3зbro yapping

[@PaulP999]

You were not stupid, many of us took them for granted because they were the just get on with it generation, I never quizzed my uncles and only in his last three years did I correct this with a 100 yr old friend.

[@FS2K4Pilot]

Sometimes it can be for the best to not discuss such things.

[@daveerwin115]

My dad served in the Canadian Army during WWII and brought home an inert PIAT gun shell. The thing fascinated me and I must confess I loved playing with it. Unfortunately during my play I eventually destroyed the thing not yet realizing the value of this artifact. When I showed the shell to my friends none of them had ever heard of a PIAT gun and didn't believe it was a real thing. After all, the only anti-tank device we saw in movies or comic books were Bazookas, thanks to the overwhelming influence of American Media. Nice to see that the device served a real purpose during the war.

[@chakatfirepaw]

A note about the Strike Witches scenes: Remember that the witches of that setting are supernaturally strong. It's not so much that they're ignoring the forces involved, it's just that she can handle them.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

You got it. A fun anime with some good WW2 artwork.

[@quik478]

My man really did include the pantsu withces into a serious video, nice

[@shingshongshamalama]

Also it's not like Perrine's ever had anything better to do so give her a break.

[@leekent3587]

Its great to see someone actually appreciate the P.I.A.T , sure it was uncomfortable and the troops didn't like it that much, but at the end of the day it got the job done and thats what you want!.

[@williamzk9083]

It get criticized heavily, maybe that's the British, but it had a couple of advantages. 1 It had a low launch signature compared to Panzershrek or even Bazooka so it was often impossible top see where it was fired from thereby allowing a second shot or the crew to escape undetected. 2 It could be used in doors 3 Although it was heavy the ammunition was light. The Panzerfausts and Panzerschreks had the most powerful warheads but they had disappoint features as well. The Panzerschrek generated a fair bit of smoke and although at 140m/sec it had the highest muzzle velocity of an AT weapon of the war by far it had crude sights and couldn't exploit this. The early panzerfausts (the 30 and 60) really lacked adequate range although the 100 was fairly good.

[@SlavicUnionGaming]

on the game "enlisted" The PIAT Sucks

[@williamzk9083]

It was an excellent weapon due to its low launch signature. No smoke, no noise and no flash. Bazooka, Panzerschrek and even Panzerfaust would give themselves away.

[@EllisJohnstone]

@@SlavicUnionGamingthat’s because it’s a video game

[@badideagenerator2315]

​@@SlavicUnionGaming aren't basically all of the british weapons rubbish in enlisted?

[@boerne_ben]

The Stug III range target at 1:26 in the video is the same Stug III I operate and reenact with. Its currently under re-restoration. Previous owner didn't restore it 100%, we are finishing the job.

[@imadrifter]

I bet its a chick-magnet

[@RolloTonéBrownTown]

That's really great

[@zadzad4353]

I envy you sir... U get to play with "BIG BOYS TOYS" and your restoration work IF it was in Malaysia we used these famous tag: "HOBI KAMI MAHAL" @ "OUR HOBBY IS EXPENSIVE"😅

[@1TruNub]

@@imadrifter STUG LYFE

[@OhioCruffler]

Very cool!

[@1800-REGICIDE]

In 2003 (when I was a kid) my family and I went to Bovington Tank museum in the UK. They had several arcade-like systems set up where you could shoot a Lee-enfield, a Bren Gun and a PIAT at a video screen, and the gun recoiled when you shot it. I remember shooting the PIAT, and it's recoil smacking me quite hard on the jaw. Needless to say 13 year old me needed some more training on the weapon.

[@rismarck]

The Canadians also modified a Bren Gun carrier to use multiple piat launchers to “harass the enemy” called the piat carrier, much like the soviet rocket trucks and the German screaming mimi

[@eugenius6519]

In the book Arnhem Lift, which was written by a British soldier of the 1st Airborne, there's a story about the PIAT. At some point he was defending a house and he was sitting in the attic with a Bren and a PIAT when a German tank started rolling down the road. He didn't hesitate to pick up the PIAT and popped off a shot from the window in the attic. He completely missed his mark but he said the explosion was completely magnificent. The tank crew seeing the explosion thought that the Brits had a anti-tank gun concealed somewhere but couldn't figure out where. Because the tank crew weren't keen on staying to find out, they quickly retreated. The next day the tank tried again and the same thing happened. The tank never managed to break through because of the PIAT, and the writer expressed his newfound admiration for a weapon which at first he found to be finnicky. He said that he was happy that they even had such potent weapons to defend against armour.

[@michaelpielorz9283]

Of course!

[@geegaw14]

I too read about that. If I remember correctly it was the lack of back blast and muzzle flash that allowed him to remain hidden and not be spotted by the Germans. That and the fact he was firing through a small hole in the attic roof tiles.

[@williamzk9083]

The PIAT's low launch signature ie no smoke, flash or little noise.

[@CKC_Productions]

The PIAT brings me back memories to Medal of Honor: Breakthrough.

[@NostalgicGamerRickOShay]

I hated how that game uniquely made 90% of the weapons vanish into thin air when you kill the enemy.

[@Sir_Stalwart]

I'm always stoked to see clips from "A Bridge Too Far" in videos like these! It's such a great movie!

[@graustreifbrombeerkralle1078]

2:28 Glad to see you included Post Scriptum footage, excellent game! The game also shows very well how difficult it truly is to aim with these kind of weapons.

[@ChaosTicket]

Glad to finally know what the bizarre tank in A Bridge Too Far actually was. Its been bugging me for over a decade. I knew it wasnt an actual panzer or even a good mockup but with a close look its obvious to see its a Leopard 1 in this video.

[@fernandomarques5166]

I always had the opposite, I knew it was a Leo 1 but never knew what it was supposed to be standing in for.

[@lukum55]

Glad to see they at least used a German tank to pose as a different German tank, way too often we see T-34s or Pattons posing as German tanks.

[@michaelpielorz9283]

oh come on in british movie s the PIATs would have finished off any german tank! Tigers or even Leopards, doesn`t matter !

[@nerd1000ify]

​@@michaelpielorz9283 The PIAT's shaped charge could penetrate about 100mm of steel. That is enough to defeat the front armour of a Tiger I (if you hit at exactly 90 degrees, admittedly this is very unlikely), or any WW2 panzer from the side or rear (Tiger II, the most heavily armoured panzer to see service, had 80mm thick side armour). Against the more common Panzer IV and StuG III it stood a good chance of penetrating the armour from any aspect, even the best protected models of those had only about 80mm of frontal protection and even thinner on the sides. So overall, the warhead had adequate (if not superlative) performance.

[@olivedrabwool]

The owner of the local gun shop I go to has a demilled PIAT. It's really cool.

[@frankanderson5012]

A well balanced, informative video. Much like the Sten, it was designed at a time of desperate need, had it's fault but ultimately filled in a gap until a better weapon was found

[@Garage-uj7pv]

Thanks for this Johnny, I just recently started reading about the British use of the PIAT against German armour. It has some similarities to the M79 I think, the best operators got to know the arcs of the weapon expertly and could judge effective range that way

[@arnijulian6241]

The M79 Grenade launcher was very different armament in both principal & operation let alone role to the PIAT. It was the 1st breach load operated grenade projector/launcher. A lot more intuitive then the USA bazooka & other USA originally inventions. Unlike the M16 rifle in Vietnam in it had no complaints as a system in comparison from the users. Why the yanks adopted the M16 let alone the later Present M4 is beyond me. looks aesthetic but is just awful from ever perspective. I think US command sunk so much funds into the assault rifle from colt that they went for the sunken cost fallacy. Had a vision & couldn't let it go regardless of how poor the product was.

[@dukecraig2402]

@@arnijulian6241 Says another expert on the subject who I'll bet everything I own never even touched one. Isn't very good huh? The M16 I drew from our arms room in 1983 when I was in basic training was marked XM16E1 and had a 6 digit serial number making it an early production M16, it shot two perfect 40 out of 40 scores for me in basic training and got me a trophy. During my three years in the Army I fired the qualification course seven times, of those I fired five perfect 40 out of 40 scores, every one with the M16, one of the 39 out of 40 scores I shot had a pop up target that I know for sure malfunctioned because dust flew up directly behind the target but the numb skulled scorer didn't see it and didn't credit me with a hit for that shot, the last time I fired the qualification course was just months before I got out and I was screwing around and still shot a 39 out of 40. They work perfectly fine despite what armchair experts like you who only know the nonsense they read online from other know-it-all armchair experts concerning the matters.

[@arnijulian6241]

​@@dukecraig2402 No expert just a differing opinion! let the palaver commence;) Just a 'Ginger beer' that has his hobbies, we can't stand professed experts wither. Well lets start with your claims from a controlled environment on range as opposed to the field? Perfect conditions & user a well purpose fire arm. i your claims are true which I will give you benefit of the doubt that says more about your capability then the rifle! What intervals of fire out of curiosity of premonition. Put the M16 or M4 in the average lazy unconditioned soldiers hands in an environment of harsh weather & filth then the problems become quiet apparent. the short bolt design has a tendency to retain heat by virtue of less mass & so in climate of note has tendency to jam & even deform. Have you watched the average person service a M16 it's watching an infant put together Lego with hammer. I don't yank obsession with picatinny rails as well this the tolerancing by design is awful. My need for precision as engineer reels at such. Who need attachment when the assembly rattles, the pain. I'm just negative as you claim, i quiet like daewoo's arms like the k2 considering what you get for price. I like the SG550 from Swisszerland though it getting on a bit in years. I'm a Brit & I admitted our rifle is terrible. Never known yanks to have un bias opinion, patriotism clouds your every thought as you where indoctrinated not educated. Kind regards!

[@dukecraig2402]

@@arnijulian6241 Stupid narrative, of course things are different when someone's shooting at you but don't try to distract from your original claim. Any rifle that's more accurate on the range is still going to be more accurate than others under stress, unless you're suggesting that a particular rifle has some type of magical properties that make it more accurate under high stress situations than other rifles, that somehow the shooters stress doesn't degrade it's accuracy as much as others. Bad news buddy, I'm light years beyond you on this, for over 30 years since I've been out of the military I've collected and shot just about every military rifle of the 20th century, my experiences that include actual military service go way beyond just having armchair opinions from reading online nonsense.

[@arnijulian6241]

@@dukecraig2402 Repetitive aren't we! did I strike a nerve like how you yanks retreat from every place you war & call it a draw? Not some magic just no reliability or field testing during design because yanks don't like to walk further then 10 minutes away. ''light year'' ha? very technical not a cliché like from your Hollywood flicks;) why would I sign up to get shot at for pittance like a fool to police a bunch of backward savages! The pays is terrible & it gets you no recognition anymore. My elders mutilation is enough to prove that much. 13 years service & my father got indignation for his service as 1st sergeant in the royal marines. Never mind my elders in both world wars on both sides. Why would I fight for a nation that that won't even let me call myself an Englishmen but White British? The world hasn't had a real war in decades just daft skirmish's & pointless foreign policing. Why we even joined the yanks in Afghanistan is beyond me. I'm not your buddy septic tank. I consider few of my country men friends as a limey cockney let alone an acquaintance like you. your lot always talk big but we burnt your white house down twice along with a third by our preferred son Canada;) What I find most embarrassing is how woke your forces have gone, have you seen those recruitment advert's. I'd be ashamed & even our British ones get on my faints with the diversity cobblers. You now nothing about me you weighted anchor & berate because I happen to not buy into the USA propaganda of being a super power that literally loses to rice farmers we took care after the world war 2 with no problems handing it back to the frogs;) Yanks are the most ridiculous fantasists of all the Anglo-sphere & I find your lot embarrassing to be associated with. Give me an Aussie, Cannuck or kiwi any day over a yank. 1 Ghurkha is easily worth a thousand yanks. your our allies not by the British commoners choice but our toffs.

[@JohnCampbell-rn8rz]

During the last year of the war, after D-Day, the Canadian army surveyed officers returning from the field and it was their consensus that the two most effective infantry weapons they had were the Bren gun and the PIAT.

[@guyjperson]

You crush it every time. I see PIAT, I immediately think of Hopkins yelling his line. Rifle Grenade? Buck Compton shouting his line.

[@joshuacjleim]

Watching your videos makes me appreciate the quality of movies in the 50s despite their lack of color.

[@Del_S]

The PIAT is basically one half of the Fat Man launcher from Fallout, the other half of course being the Davy Crockett.

[@John-tj9to]

As someone who watched alot of war films including alot of the ones you use in your vids but wouldn't know one weapon from another I thank you for the education, short vids just focusing on one weapon at a time is much easier to digest than being overwhelmed with 50 varieties all at once.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thanks John I appreciate the feedback :)

[@John-tj9to]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq no worries man keep up the good work, actually since I've got you have you done a video on the Minigun cos that's one of the first gun names I learnt, and was confused by when I saw the weapon.

[@Mr.LunaRivera]

there is a good WW2 movie from 1946 called Theirs is the glory it's a live reenactment of the battle of Arnhem bridge played by actual veterans who participated in the battle and this movie had the first use of the PIAT in action

[@tb7771]

I owned a PIAT with a few training rounds. That thing was a pain to cock. Interesting note, there was an adapter which allowed you to use 2" mortar rounds. I was able to get some spare parts for it when I was stationed on Ft. Leavenworth. During one of their militaria shows two soldiers who were deployed to Iraq found a warehouse full of PIATs and brought some parts back. One of my videos on KZbin shows photos of me with my PIAT at one those militaria shows.

[@andrewcombe8907]

The PIAT was described by Canadians after action reports in Normandy as “outstandingly effective”. In “Theirs is the Glory” a British Para leaves cooking for his officer to knock out a Panther. The actors were veterans of the actual battle.

[@antartis73]

Loved the video, great editing as always Jonny, can’t think that you’ve missed anything significant.

[@Bigcat726]

I love that battlefield 5 introduced these weapons it made me feel so accurate and fun to play with

[@woodshed_moments]

The PIAT was a thankless hero, it's utility fell in the hands of many short-sighted field Commanders- who only begun to get the hint on how to use it towards the end of the war, when PIAT was integrated with Grenadier units, now you use Grenadier units as part of your mechanized defense, during WWII, the success rate would have been off the charts for taking out and humbling Panzer units. They were very successful in CQB operations, when employed... tanks and half-tracks never stood a chance

[@adamjpotatos8271]

The PIAT is also in strike witches i think it's in the third episode of the ova i think strike witches has some historical weapons even wonder weapons i think

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

ohya I didn't leave that out! :)

[@isgodreal1337]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq in another winchester shotgun video you show the anime "desert punk", thank you for introducing me to that anime, I'm already on episode 9

[@dexexmachinatu4151]

I'm actually surprised that there were scenes where they're fighting on foot. All I remember from the show are the flying scenes and the lack of pants.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

@@isgodreal1337 now that's a solid fun anime

[@adamjpotatos8271]

@@dexexmachinatu4151 lol😂😂

[@Thirdbase9]

Great coverage of a rarely seen weapon.

[@andyzehner3347]

George McDonald Fraser was (barely) trained on the PIAT, and used it to shoot at boats floating down the Irrawaddy River. You can read about it in "Quartered Safe Out Here," his memoir about Burma in WWII?

[@limun9585]

Bring out the PIAT ! An Iconic line

[@iainbagnall4825]

There was a TV adaptation of the Tom Sharpe novel "Blott on the Landscape" done in the 80s on British television starring David Suchet and Geraldine James. Very well done series actually. It features the PIAT in a couple of scenes where it is variously used to open a safe and attack a building.

[@williamzk9083]

Tom Sharpe Novels had me in stitches as a child.

[@richardvernon317]

The PIAT is in the book, Blott just uses the projectile to open the safe (dropping it via a long bit of rope from a tree branch), but he does fire it at the lodge gate house after the Marines withdraw having failed to take the place. Of course the mini series done in 1985 and the troops trying to evict him are the SAS.

[@scockery]

You left out one famous movie clip: "You're in command now, ADMIRAL Piat."

[@apropercuppa8612]

One film not mentioned here, but does contain scenes with the PIAT is Theirs is the Glory. The film has actual Para’s from Arnhem re-enact their battle within the film.

[@dmhiix]

In his book, "Quartered Safe Out Here", George MacDonald Fraser wrote about using a PIAT in combat in Burma. In an engagement against a Japanese sampan he fired several rounds in a row and had to manually charge the spring before every shot.

[@mattharrell6880]

Growing up we had an old Scottish infantry soldier that moved to the US after the war. He loved the PIAT but only in short range combat.

[@WhatIsSanity]

Keep in mind the feared Panzerfaust had a max effective range of 60 metres and the American bazooka was just as difficult as the PIAT to carry and operate and was a crew served weapon. No infantry anti tank weapon had more penetration as the PIAT's HEAT warhead with 4" or 102mm of penetration through RHA, which is impressive. I wouldn't say it's better in every regard, but it was most certainly capable of getting the job done.

[@PC-mc7tq]

In the 1943 British wartime film ‘Nine Men’ the rifle section use a Boys Anti-Tank Rifle against a mocked up Italian armoured car - that’s the only example I know of its use in fictional films

[@dukecraig2402]

During WW2 US troops on an island in the South Pacific got their hands on a Boys Rifle that they converted over to .50 BMG by altering an M2 barrel in a machine shop on the island. They started sniping Japanese soldiers on a nearby island with it and started keeping records and filling out after action reports on it's use, despite some people mistakenly thinking that the origions of .50 BMG being used for sniping having been started by Carlos Hathcock in Vietnam it was actually first started with that Boys Rifle on that island in WW2.

[@stvdagger8074]

In the 70's TV series "The Rat Patrol" a Boys can be seen in some scenes mounted on an Africa Corps Half track. The half-track used in the scene was actually an American M3 with a few modifications made to look like a German half track

[@arnijulian6241]

Glad you got around to my suggestion Johnny me boy! Any luck on the no'5 mills bombs to remake your grenade video. Another thing to mention about the PIAT is it was the best night time suited anti tank weapon of the time as you mentioned it had near no muzzle flash in comparison to it's counterparts in role. Great video Johnny, I'm honestly surprised you found so many clips with the PIAT in it.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

I got you! It was a bit of a stretch as not a ton of footage out there but the footage that was available was pretty dramatic and fun.

[@arnijulian6241]

​@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq You did a far better job then I would have finding such clips. You also did the technical side well on this one Johnny. No complaints! I'm very glad you stated the penetration as 4 inch's as no one bothered back in the day to measure it value well. Never mind the amount of shell variants being a dozen odd for various purposes. Even had a smoke shell! Francis Jefferson a fusilier from Lancaster took out a tiger tank's whole crew with a PIAT from the hip & made a 2nd tiger retreat promptly in Italy. Bazooka's can't boast that. The PIAT looks daft & has it's limitations but few systems matched in capability in practice at the time.

[@bigbrowntau]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq The moment I read the title, I figured we'd see a lot of "A bridge too far" :) Great video, especially given how little content you had to work with.

[@PeterRattin]

As a wise man once said, “This is a PIAT! We have no idea what the fuck to do!”

[@topittaja2686]

@2:16 that girl is a witch and they use body strengthening magic so they can reload it that easy

[@alexanderleitner7814]

without being an expert u manage to deliver quiet a lot of information. thank u.

[@dwrdwlsn5]

I heard a story about a Gurkha who was the assigned PIAT gunner of his squad late in the war. His unit was assigned to Burma and they hiked in over the mountains. I don't know if that is true or not, but I believe it. The Hump was basically hills to many of those guys. Anyway, they get to Burma and this poor guy has been hefting his PIAT the whole way. The war is winding down and there are fewer battles. Add to that, the Japanese have far fewer tanks than the Germans did and PIAT gunners in the Far East have far less of a role. So, he is not happy. When his unit gets to Burma, the war there is essentially over and he is less happy. Suddenly, he sees a lone Japanese soldier on sentry duty off in the distance. He is highly unlikely to get the chance to fire the weapon again, so he jumps at it. He takes careful aim and scores a direct hit. The one and only time he fired the weapon in the war. I cannot find any documentation for that story, unlike many about the Ghurkhas in WWII, but I believe it. They were nuts, but in a good way as long as you were on 'their' side.

[@richardpope2114]

The PIAT was developed from the Blacker Bombard that sounds very medieval but it was actually a ww2 uk home guard weapon a spigot mortar

[@IntrospectorGeneral]

I've recently seen video of a PIAT owner test firing weighted projectiles. His answer to the question "how far does to spring alone propel the standard weight projectile?" is "about 15 feet".

[@karood-dog3584]

Fun fact the STUG in the black and white training film was recovered in the Early 2000's and restored to running condition. IT spent some time on the display circuit and was then sold to a collector in the USA.

[@HankD13]

My favourite PIAT shot - Sgt Charles "Wagger" Thornton's that killed the lead Panzer IV tank in the Armoured counterattack on Pegasus Bridge in the early hours of 6th June 1944. Losing that bridge and the canal bridge could well have led to the loss of 6th Airborne and given 21st Panzer simpler access to Sword beach. The single most important tank kill of D-Day? Close second would be Major Robert Cain's antics at Arnhem (as an honorary Manxman) his VC story has always been important. Actually, pretty good way to be up for a VC... use a PIAT.

[@stevetheduck1425]

That's a very interesting incident, and the many versions of the tale include varied identifications of the vehicles fired at. Basically, the local mostly improvised panzer unit had 'converted French tanks', 'gun-carriers', 'ammunition carriers', and in one description 'a really odd affair containing a lot of ammunition which went up well'. There exists a photo of a damaged French chassis with a gun mounted on it, a shield with much gear, paras standing around, on a raised road with open countryside, and British vehicles driving past. This might be it. As the German assault was foiled and they did not attack the bridges again, and the next visitors were the troops that came to link up with the paras and gliders, that PIAT engagement may be highly significant, history-wise.

[@johnchrysostomon6284]

There was a moment during the Pegasus Bridge operation where a PIAT took out a German tank and the rest pulled back because they had no idea what they were up against This shot is said to be one of the most important fired on D-Day

[@pierrewilliams1533]

George MacDonald Fraser gives a great account of how he used one of these against a Japanese river boat in the Burma campaign. His book, Quartered Safe Out Here is utterly brilliant.

[@randyproduction8056]

My god I love that you used strike witches footage

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

It's good fun

[@grandgamer605]

I love Strike Witches too!! Still though, I especially love those fanfics where a modern military with its tech finds its way to the Strike Witches world. Of course, I have yet to see ONE of these fanfics be updated consistently. Spread the word in advocating for a new fanfic with this premise!!!

[@daveintheshed4870]

My grandfather said he was trained on the piat and he told me anyone trying to knock out a tank with that thing was basically on a suicide mission.

[@theodorewiltrout8770]

Now you made me want to put a bridge to far in the DVD player and watch it again.

[@rolfagten857]

You forgot the warmovie "The Last Drop" from 2006. In it, British 1st Airborne Sergeant Sean Pertwee shoots a Piat. He had British balls of steel.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

oh! I haven't seen it. Thanks for the recommendation I'll give it a look.

[@robertsolomielke5134]

TY jj. The new indoor AT launcher is the latest version of the "Armburst 3000" , the firing flash stays inside the tube, so great for ambush from anywhere I guess. Noise sounds like a 9mm pistol the AT troops report. Doubt it will get a vid.

[@heyfitzpablum]

PIAT was like the STEN, it worked-but it was pretty unrefined and range limited. Discriminating users opted for the Bazooka when they could get their hands on one. Why the UK forces didn't develop a recoilless rifle design for anti-tank is a mystery to me, since they were well known by WW2.

[@winghungyuen2726]

But of a unique anti-tank weapon. I like it because it’s got a bit of charm and oddity when compared to other WWII weapons. I also noticed you added scenes of the weapons usage in other places outside of movies like in the anime Strike Witches.

[@tblcville]

Just realizing this movie is the basis for a level in battlefield V . Impressive

[@Lazarz1026]

As for the kanał movie, There is very little known fact about how Polish partisans used PIAT. It will be a story from my grandfather's memories. When the first drops of weapons and supplies went into the hands of the partisans and they received PIAT, at first they analyzed the weapon and thought that it was loaded as it was shown in the film, it led to the fact that sometimes the shell did not fire or flew several meters. Only when Polish commandos arrived from England did they begin to teach partisans how to use these weapons correctly.I was not surprised to see how in the video they loaded PIAT

[@brothercaptainwarhammer]

Ah the PIAT.... I used to Spam these Weapons in Company of Heroes Opposing Forces and Tales of Valor, in PIAT Rush Tactics with Kangaroo APCs against Armored Based Enemies, when I was Little I Used to think that the PIAT like the Bazooka, but has a Smaller Propellant, hence why its Shorter Range and Lack of a Explosion or Something akin to a Back Blast, I once thought, boi I was Wrong back then, and in my High School Years I was given a Surprising but Welcomed Reality Check while Watching Documentaries of Weapons of WW2, Although its Quite Quirky and has its Problems in real life.... But Boi is it Fun to Use in Games! I mean... a Handheld AT Gun/Launcher that Doubles as a Mortar in a Way.... What more do you want? also in the Case of Strike Witches, the Reason as to Why Perrine (the Girl the Used the PIAT against the Xenos Abomination Known a Neuroi) is I Believed it is Stated in the Lore Witches have more Strength than that of Normal Humans, hence why Recoil is nothing to the 16 Year old, same can be said for Her Comrade and Friend, Lynette who wields a Boys AT Rifle like its a Standard Issue Rifle (Not Featured in this Video, as the Spotlight is for Perrine and Her PIAT) Anyways.... This was a Great Video Johnny, Never Knew there were More Movies the Featured the PIAT, even though I already Know some these Movies (But Haven't Watched them, yet) Keep up the Great Work! With these Informative and Very Enjoyable Videos my Friend!

[@aztec0112]

Great brief!

[@Paladin1873]

At least one VC was awarded to a British soldier for using a PIAT to stop an enemy tank at point blank range.

[@parallel-knight]

These videos are really great and interesting to watch please keep them coming

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thanks man I really appreciate it 🙏

[@mihaisurdea]

~ One of PIAT's problems was the tendency of the projectile to come out of the gun if the firing angle was too high, such as firing from a multi-storey building toward a ground level target. As a side note, the movie 'A Bridge Too Far' is based on a lesser known film called 'Theirs Is the Glory, Men of Arnhem' (released in 1946), using the original locations of the battle and featuring veterans who were actual participants in the battle.

[@grantm6514]

Are you saying the older film used the original locations? I know the newer one had to use a different bridge because the buildings around the real one had changed too much.

[@mihaisurdea]

@@grantm6514 The movie is focused only on British sector of the operation, Arnhem and Oosterbeek, and was shot on the same locations as the real battle, even using abandoned equipment left in the battlefield (like a famous airborne 17pdr anti-tank gun, damaged during the battle, which was used as a prop). Real WW2 german tanks were also used, crewed by polish tankers. Over 200 veterans appeared in this movie as actors including Majors CFH "Freddie" Gough and Richard "Dickie" Lonsdale, Lieutenant Hugh Ashmore, Sergeants Jack Bateman and John Daley, Corporal Pearce and Privates Tommy Scullion, Peter Holt, David Parker, George ‘Titch’ Preston, Frank ‘Butch’ Dixon, Reginald Spray, Looker and Van Rijssel and Albert Wood and war correspondents Stanley Maxted and Alan Wood. As well as veterans, the film also features local people like Father Dyker (a Dutch civilian priest who conducts the service in the film) and Kate ter Horst (who reads a psalm to the wounded men in the cellar) re-enacting their roles and what they did for the airborne troops during the battle.

[@Stray03]

There was a clip on the back of the projectile that held it in place in a track, it cant fall out.

[@Hey_MikeZeroEcho22P]

Glad you mention that you are not a "weapon expert", but you seem to enjoy researching...... Good Show!! Great Posting! Glad I 'Sub' your channel for entertainment purposes, only.

[@XoxotoMemes]

pretty cool, man. ive never seen or heard about this weapon until just now. it looks kinda weird but in a cool way. great video, sir

[@paulgrillo4153]

Next do video on the Beretta or on the Italian Arditi. The Italians had some good weapons.

[@ja37d-34]

Haha, yeah, that is the intro I hoped you would chose. Love it.

[@ja37d-34]

The Boys is also in the old Sahara from 1943 or a similar movie.. Where they shoot at the enemy infantry with it.. And if you haven´t seen the absolute GEM: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJqployuobWMr5Y

[@binaway]

My dads unit had a Boys in Norway. After evacuation they never saw one again. They were glad to get rid of it.

[@BELCAN57]

"Named after that famous character in Star Wars, 'Admiral PIAT" 😁

[@kennethjackson7574]

I recall hearing about them being used in sapper jobs- blowing holes in brick walls to make a hole through which AP grenades, flash-bangs, and soldiers could get through.

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

One thing that you missed. When the British were surrounded at Neinmeigan, they started throwing the Piat shells.

[@Xerdoz]

00:22 The projectile goes directly towards the ground at a very slow speed. How the hell is that supposed to hit anything? 01:44 Panzerschreck projectile did not have a two-stage explosion like that and it wouldn't blow up like that either. 03:02 The backblast would be much more severe and why the delay between backblast and the projectile leaving...

[@A27crommwell]

A bridge too far is my favourite film

[@rolfagten857]

Yeah ,filmed in Holland at Deventer and Nijmegen in the hot summer of 1976! Don't forget that Hardy Kruger was the only real old Waffen SS member who starred in the movie, because there was also a Conelis Mulder who was an (Dutch) SS-oberscharfuhrer in 1944. After this riot came out, Mr. Mulder was sent away from the film set.

[@A27crommwell]

@@rolfagten857 yes agreed, i must have watched 5 times now and will never get old!!!

[@geordiedog1749]

You didn’t say what PIAT stands for. Or did you…. An excellent video. Nothing to add really. The back blade of rocket weapons in confined spaces could increase local air pressure enough to deafen or render unconscious the users. My father in law was in the Black Watch and was part of a (Super). His instructor lamented the passing of the PIAT. On the go rounds that “ It disnae leave a long line of smoke pointing to yer position!”

[@mikearmstrong8483]

No & yes. He didn't actually "say" it, but the screen text at 0:33 spelled it out. PIAT = Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank.

[@johnlightfoot6715]

or more jokily, Point It At Tanks

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Thanks again sir for reviewing this overlooked but effective weapon...cheers / slainte...E

[@RedcoatT]

One of the main reasons for the gun not re-cocking after firing was the operator in the heat of the moment forgetting to release the trigger after firing.

[@awes0men0b0dy9]

I love the scene from jojorabbit with the panzershrike I know I’m spelling wrong but it’s a great scene

[@TheAceStrike]

Me seeing Strike witches series: I see.. you are man of culture aswell

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

I refined show for refined taste.

[@TheAceStrike]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq hoh- you sure? Or you already watch like.. all of the World witches series, strike witches got 3 season now.. and other is still the same but different squadron and it name "Brave witches"

[@halitiko]

Thanks for sharing such videos with us.

[@l4w1nc0l7]

*sees strike witches scene i see ur a man of culture as well xD

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

I don't mess around

[@patricknorton5788]

An interesting weapon, like an antitank caulking gun. I sometimes think of the PIAT when I am doing house projects and using a caulking gun (which is both more effective at its job and far less dangerous, but I must admit that for some of the house projects I'd rather use a PIAT). If I remember correctly the scene with the PIAT twice missing the German tank crossing the bridge in Arnhem (now called the John Frost Bridge after the British commander in the scene) is historically accurate, just as the weapon was in practice inaccurate. Well, maybe it was inherently accurate (i.e.- repeatable in a controlled situation) but due to its low velocity the difficulty of judging of range made it practically inaccurate, and the movement of the target, and the elevated position of the gunner made for two misses in a row at relatively low range. Must have been heartbreakingly frustrating for the British gunner.

[@onenote6619]

Criticising the PIAT as 'unrefined' is a bit rich, given that the British army used Sten guns as their primary SMG. By comparison to that, the PIAT is a Rolls Royce. The only other option in the UK inventory at that time would have been a No.74 Sticky Bomb or No.76 white phosphorus bomb, both of which were horribly dangerous to use or even carry.

[@jonnynogood86]

I think its pretty indictive of british design philosophy at the time... it wasnt perfect but it worked, it was easy to utilise, maintain and produce in mass numbers.

[@bubsterjohnson7438]

I used to use this thing in battlefield 5 lol I should download that game someday and play it again it's really a good game and had a solid player base a year or 2 ago when I was playing

[@dpitt1516]

My uncle trained with these during WW2 and said the recoil was horrendous - he sustained a shoulder injury whilst using them

[@ianjardine7324]

A lot of people who criticise the PIAT do so because they have no idea how it worked or it's actual capabilities. They see the big spring and assume it's some kind of dinky toy catapult. They don't understand the spring was only there to stop it's recoil from breaking bones. And it's performance was in many ways better than contemporary rocket propelled anti tank weapons. It was cheap simple to use low signature versatile semi-automatic and had a very effective warhead it wasn't surpassed until the development of the second generation bazooka at which point it became obsolete because the human body couldn't carry or operate a more powerful version of the spigot mortar without causing injuries.

[@paintnamer6403]

That's some good info! Thanks.

[@kennethhuff8296]

Also the tank used in the movie crossing the bridge in the movie A Bridge Too Far is a tank model that was built and 1947 so the war had been over for quite a bit of time.

[@stevetheduck1425]

The Leopard dates to the 1960s in design, and the 1970s in building. Versions of it are still in service.

[@gilbertortiz9895]

You should look at all the guns in the game Enlisted since they are pretty accurate to the real thing

[@RedcoatT]

Troops disliked the PIAT for its weight, short range, and powerful recoil, but what really annoyed them was that they couldn't throw the thing away because if you managed to hit a tank with it, it worked.😉

[@dellawrence4323]

Rumour has it that every PIAT came with a wheelbarrow for the operator to carry his massive balls in as he got within the 40 yard range required to fire it at German Tiger tanks.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

That's factual.

[@2adamast]

Compared to a sticky bomb or a german magnetic mine with it's 4s fuse?

[@billyponsonby]

Johnny. Please do ‘umbrellas in war movies’. Then we can all enjoy that specially British apology moment on a rooftop at Arnhem bridge.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

haha now that would be a fun project

[@OhioCruffler]

Cool video. The PIAT was certainly an oddball.

[@Armageddon2077]

The PIAT briefly appears in 'Never Say Never Again' in the Q Branch.

[@steveschmitt6933]

I like how they use a anti tank weapon 4:38 to kill something the size that could be killed by jumping on it or with frag grenade

[@Gojiro7]

the Piat is and probably will always be the worlds most deadliest NERF gun XD