Anti-Tank weapons in NZ Army

[Dave Homewood]

I was wondering what lightweight anti-tank weaponry the New Zealand Army was equipped with during WWII. I had a look at Wikipedia and found that the New Zealanders seem to have been equipped with the Boys Anti-tank rifle and also the PIAT, or Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank.

Wikipedia states that "The 1944 war establishment for a British platoon, which contained 36 men, had a single PIAT attached to the platoon headquarters, alongside a 2-inch (51 mm) mortar detachment" Was this the same for a 2nd NZ Division or NZ Corps platoon? And when did the NZ'ers first get equipped with the PIAT? Did they have them in North Africa or just Italy?

Also did they use the Boys rifle throughout the war? Or did the PIAT replace it? Is it true the Boys was very unpopular with the troops?

I don't recall ever seeing photos of or reading stories about kiwis using anti-tank weapons like the PIAT and Boys, although I know they did use the 2 pounder and 6 pounder anti-tank guns, ie the bigger stuff.

It was only in an article that Damon gave me about a tank battle in Italy where NZ armour took out five Tigers that I first saw a mention of a PIAT being used, which made me wonder more about it.

Does anyone know any other stories of NZ soldiers using anti-tank weapons like the PIAT, Boys, or perhaps the Bazooka or captured German waepons?

And did the 3rd Division also carry anti-tank weapons in the Pacific?

[McFly]

Oct 17, 2011 19:03:39 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

And did the 3rd Division also carry anti-tank weapons in the Pacific?

There is a bit of information + pics at these two links:

www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/WH2Paci-fig-Wh2Pac22b.html

www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/WH2IP-Gunn-fig-t1-body1-d7-d5-x10-fig1.html

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Marty. Those are six pounder artillery pieces, used by the specialist anti-tank units. I am referring to the light handheld anti-tank weapons used by infantry units. Our equivalent of the bazooka and panzerfaust, if you will.

[jonesy]

Dave, the museum in Waiouru is well worth a good look if you have the time. There is some good exhibitions of anti-tank gear we used. May have been beg/borrowd/stolen at the time but we did have some nonetheless.
Just went thru the museum last week. Went thru once, had lunch, then went thru again. And for an extra 10 bucks took the kids on a tank (of sorts) ride out the back -woohoo!!

[Dave Homewood]

I went through the museum there again two years ago but I don't recall seeing the anti-tank gear unfortunately.

[jonesy]

May have only been the 6-pounder, probably not much as hand-held.