It seems to be a “blast effect” only, I did not see any hollow charge in that picture.
The PIAT has to take the taco on being the worst of things.
Agree completely.
Caption should read “Churchill debates surrender”
LOL This thing look like a portable snow cone launcher. 
I always wondered how it would balance on a road given the state of its’ wheels.
The British preferred “squash head” shells at that time, and that seems to be one of them. The principle is that the shell walls are made very thin so that on impact the HE is spread over the target before being ignited by the base fuze. This creates a shock-wave through the armour, causing the inner surface to “scab off” and fly through the target at high velocity.
Shells of this type are still in Briitish service today, as the backup to APFSDS in the Challenger tank. The British call this type of shell HESH, the US calls it HEP (HE Plastic).
Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum
Mind you, in the hands of a determined man it would do what it was supposed to do, stop a tank 
The PIAT seemed to have been effective, if not optimal, to me…
The British preferred “squash head” shells at that time, and that seems to be one of them. The principle is that the shell walls are made very thin so that on impact the HE is spread over the target before being ignited by the base fuze. This creates a shock-wave through the armour, causing the inner surface to “scab off” and fly through the target at high velocity
Thanks for the info, but I think that this sistem is defeated with a high quality steel armor. Not sure about the quality of the german armor in late war ( when the plates became thicker)
I don’t think so: certainly the British rate this type of ammo highly (it’s the main reason they’ve stuck to rifled barrels in their 120mm tank guns up to now), and have used it in tank v tank engagements in Iraq (sadly, on one occasion knocking out another Challenger in a “blue on blue”).
Composite armour is much more likely to be effective against HESH. The luckless Challenger suffered because the shell virtually dropped down its open hatch at very long range.
Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum
Well, I guess that if a challenger with his advanced armor was vulnerable, a Panzer can be destroyed for sure.
2 pounder (40 mm) AT gun.
I have recently acquired a Boys 55 AT Mk1 with both the .55 in and a .50 BMG barrels. I have the original steel magazine box (still has canvas strap), including 8 magazines.
Since I want to sell it, I’m looking for any help in determining its value, as I’ve never seen one before. Any help would be appreciated.
Regards,
BigD353
I have recently acquired a Boys 55 AT Mk1 with both the .55 in and a .50 BMG barrels. I have the original steel magazine box (still has canvas strap), including 8 magazines.
Since I want to sell it, I’m looking for any help in determining its value, as I’ve never seen one before. Any help would be appreciated.
Regards,
BigD353 
There are some weird wepons. Good pictures and information.
Fanstastic videos of how to fire and aim the Boys .55 caliber rifle, with cartoons and all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rODm7HF5lFU
An excellent find. Very good film once you are passed the first half. I am not overly keen on the unload drill I can see NDs happening.
Okay, when do we get to the PIAT?
The PIAT, not my favorite , there you have some info.
Concerning the PIAT:
A while ago I had the opportunity to handle one owned (I can’t remember) either the Belgian or Dutch Army museum. While it is quite heavy and cumbersome (but weightwise in about the same class as a Bren gun), cocking it wasn’t the nightmare it was described to be (abourt a year before i had another one in my hands, which unknown to me was deactivated by having the firing rod pinned and welded into position and I almost broke my back trying to cock it), it was certainly doable and I’m not Superman’s brother.
Obviously the PIAT had a relative short range, about 50 meters, but the early versions of the Panzerfaust did not have more range either.
The shaped charge warhead of the PIAT was quite big though and could finish off any German tank (which was the problem with the original Bazooka, the warhead was too small, a defect only rectified with the Super Bazooka of the Korean war). It was also extensively used as a bunker buster or to take out machine gun positions, even as a makeshift mortar. The PIAT soldiered on until the Korean war, when it was replaced in the British Army by the Super Bazooka and later the Carl-Gustav.
Jan
Off-topic: Welcome back Jan!