I recently came across an interesting segment in a January 1945 US Army Combat Bulletin newsreel. It showed men of B Company of the 238th Combat Engineers setting up improvised anti-tank mines in Belgium. The mines were fashioned from Bazooka rockets!
Check out the video below:
This week marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Imjin River, the Korean War battle perhaps most closely associated with the UK’s involvement in the conflict. Sadly, Korea remains a largely forgotten war and only one film has ever been made about the British Army’s experience 1956’s ‘A Hill In Korea‘. In this video we’ll discuss the battle, the super bazooka and the classic war film!
I felt it was important to discuss the battle on its 70th anniversary as it sadly continues to be largely forgotten. The Glosters and the men of 29th British Independent Infantry Brigade Group fought a very hard battle against massively overwhelming odds, I would definitely urge you to read more about the battle and the war itself. I would also recommend seeking out A Hill In Korea, it is a fascinating film.
Here’s a behind the scenes look at the filming Matt did at The Tank Museum for the upcoming ‘Rhineland 45 – Decision in the West’ documentary being produced by Realtime History, the guys behind The Great War!
Be sure to check out the project here.
More behind the scenes footage coming soon with a look at the Vickers Gun shoot!
I’m very excited to say that my second book has been published! It looks at the much maligned and much misunderstood PIAT - or Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank.
The book is available from retailers from the 20th August in the UK/Europe and the 22nd September in the US. but if you’d like a copy, regardless of location, you can order one directly from me here.
I received my advanced copies of the book just yesterday, I filmed a short video to show you the book and talk a bit about the process of writing it:
The PIAT was the British infantry’s primary anti-tank weapon of the second half of the Second World War. Unlike the better known US Bazooka the PIAT wasn’t a rocket launcher - it was a spigot mortar. Throwing a 2.5lb bomb, containing a shaped charge capable of penetrating up to 4 inches of armour. Thrown from the spigot by a propellant charge in the base of the bomb, it used a powerful spring to soak up the weapon’s heavy recoil and power its action.
With a limited range the PIAT’s users had to be incredibly brave. This becomes immediately obvious when we see just how many Victoria Crosses, Military Medals and Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded to men who used the PIAT in action.
The book includes numerous accounts of how the PIAT was used and how explores just how effective it was. I have spent the past 18 months researching and writing the book and it is great to finally see a copy in person and know it’s now available. The book includes brand new information dug up from in-depth archival research, never before seen photographs of the PIAT in development and in-service history and it also includes some gorgeous illustrations by Adam Hook and an informative cutaway graphic by Alan Gilliland.
If you order a book directly from me I’ll also include this custom illustrated postcard with a design featuring a PIAT and the famous line from A Bridge Too Far.
So, if you’d like a copy of my new book looking at the PIAT’s design, development and operational history you can pick up a copy here!
Thanks for your support and if you pick up a copy of the book I really hope you enjoy it!
- Matt
In 1944, the 9th Air Force experimented with arming a number of L4 Piper Cub Artillery Liaison planes with bazookas. The experiment saw the Piper Cub’s equipped with two sets of three M1A1 Rocket Launchers, some sources suggest improved M9 launchers were also fitted.
These photos show armament specialists of the 9th Air Force mounting the bazookas to the Cub’s wing struts. According to the photograph captions the bazookas could be fired singly or as a salvo. Sadly, the ignition/trigger system is not visible in the photos. The M1A1 fired a 60mm or 2.36” rocket propelled shaped charge capable of penetrating up to 100mm or almost 4 inches of armour.
The bazookas would be used to attack German vehicles, one Cub known as Rosie the Rocketeer, flown by Major Charles Carpenter was credited with six tank kills (although some of these were likely armoured cars) and earned the nickname ‘Bazooka Charlie’. It must have taken a considerable amount of skill and bravery to engage well protected enemy ground targets in a light observer plane. The bazooka-armed Cubs are a prime example of field expediency and adaptation.
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On the 23rd May 1944, near Carano, in north eastern Italy, Technical Sergeant Van Thomas Barfoot, of the 157th Infantry Regiment, won the Medal of Honor during a series of actions against entrenched German positions and an armoured counter attack.
By May 1944, Barfoot was a veteran of both the invasion of Sicily and mainland Italy. On the 23rd May his platoon was heavily engaged during an assault against enemy forces well entrenched on commanding ground. Barfoot alone moved off to the enemy left flank. His Medal of Honor citation explains his actions:
“He crawled to the proximity of 1 machine gun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans. He continued along the German defense line to another machine gun emplacement, and with his tommy gun [most likely a Thompson M1A1, as this cheaper varriant had replaced the M1 in early 1943] killed 2 and captured 3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machine gun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt. Barfoot. Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to 17.”
Barfoot accomplished this single-handedly and proved instrumental in breaking the enemy’s defensive position. Later on the 23rd, with his position consolidated and his men reorganised Barfoot’s platoon beat off a German armoured counter-attack. The citation describes how:
“Securing a bazooka [probably an M9, as this had replaced the M1A1 rocket launcher at this point in the war, the M9 dispensed with the M1A1′s wooden furniture and had improved ammunition], Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposed position directly in front of 3 advancing Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it, while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sgt. Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tommy gun.”
Barfoot also managed to destroy an abandoned German field gun on with a demolition charge placed in its breech. On the way back to his platoon’s line he assisted wo seriously wounded men:
“(carrying them) 1,700 yards to a position of safety. Sgt. Barfoot’s extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of pointblank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers.”
Barfoot remained in the Army after the war serving during the Korean and Vietnam Wars rising to the rank of Colonel before retiring in 1974. During his service Barfoot was awarded the Silver Star; the Legion of Merit (twice), the Bronze Star; three Purple Hearts, and 11 Air Medals (as a helicopter pilot). Colonel Barfoot passed away in 2012, aged 92.
Sources:
Lt. V.T. Barfoot’s Medal of Honor Citation, US Army Center of Military History, (source)
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