An anti-tank rifle is a rifle designed to penetrate the armour of vehicles, particularly tanks. The usefulness of rifles for this purpose ran from the introduction of tanks in World War I and until the Korean War. While medium and heavy tank armour became too thick to be penetrated by rigid projectiles from rifles that could be carried by a single soldier, anti-tank rifles continued to be used against other targets, though shaped-charge weapons such as the bazooka were also introduced for infantry close-defense against tanks. Anti-materiel rifles of today, such as the Barrett M82, are a development of the Second World War technology.
Read more about Anti-tank Rifle: History, Anti-tank Rifles, Anti-materiel Rifles
Famous quotes containing the word rifle:
“At Hayes’ General Store, west of the cemetery, hangs an old army rifle, used by a discouraged Civil War veteran to end his earthly troubles. The grocer took the rifle as payment ‘on account.’”
—Administration for the State of Con, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)