A single shot, disposable, recoilless anti-tank grenade launcher that was developed by Germany during World War II. Developed as a lighter, shorter range alternative to the panzerschreck that could be used by a single person rather than a two-man team, the panzerfaust weighed 6.5kg (14 lbs) and fired a High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) grenade. The effective range of the weapons were initially 30 meters (33 yards) and able to penetrate 200mm (7.9") of armor. Late WWII models had a effective range of 150 meters (164 yds) and could penetrate 280mm (11") or more of armor. They were often deployed to rifle squads or volksgrenadiers, giving a single squad unparalleled tank-killing ability. Several examples of the panzerfaust were captured by the Russians towards the end of World War Two, and the panzerfaust is often credited with having inspired their rocket-propelled grenade weapons.
Despite being intended to replace the panzerschreck, itself a derivative of the American M1 Bazooka, it should be noted that the panzerfaust and its derivative, the RPG-2, were not rocket launchers but a grenade launcher, as the projectiles they fired did not use rocket motors and the charge that was detonated to launch the grenade burned entirely within the tube at launch. The weapon was based on those of a recoilless gun.
