Number 18 in their 'Weapons' book series, Osprey has chosen the Bazooka. I doubt if there are many enthusiasts who do not know about this weapon, as it really was an excellent anti-tank weapon that had a variety of additional uses beyond its initial design. 

The US went to war without a really effective portable anti-tank weapon. The 37mm anti-tank gun was quite ineffective and other than mines or being hit by artillery, there was not all that much that could be done to stop enemy tanks. This was realized in 1941, as America went to war, that something had to be done so suggestions went out to anyone who had an idea to bring it to the attention of the Army.

Lt.Col. Leslie Skinner is considered the father of the bazooka. His interest was in rocketry and he surmised that a rocket with a warhead might be just the thing. Anti-tank rifles, while relatively portable had little stopping power against anything besides very lightly armored vehicles and the artillery was not easy to move around.  He developed a shaped charge warhead attached to an instant burning rocket that was to be electrically fired from about a 5-6 foot tube. The rocket had to have expended all its fuel before reaching the end of the tube to keep from injuring the operator. The back blast was tremendous and would cause damage to anything directly behind it, but, being in an open tube, it had no recoil.

The initial trial of the prototype before Army big-wigs was impressive to say the least and more successful than any of the other options tried during that time. It was decided to develop the weapon after certain modifications were made. The bazooka of the time was 2.36 inches in diameter and accurate to about 250-300 yards. It was capable of penetrating the armor of most German tanks of the time if fired from relatively short range. It was light and easily transported in combat. The down side was the back blast and that it gave away the firing position the first time it was used.

Post war it was enlarged to 3.5 inches and the weapon was continually modified as a result of battle experience. The British were give the first batch to use in North Africa and snubbed the weapon, leaving the 500 they were provided in a warehouse in Egypt. Eventually it was used for defensive positions, bunker busting and a variety of other uses.

Author Gordon Rottman tells us the story of the bazooka from its inception, through various modification, trials and tribulations, as well as unit uses until it was finally replaced by wire guided weapons. Like all books in this series, it is accompanied by period and modern photos of the different variations and of those who carried the gun into combat. I am pleased to notice that not much space has been taken on 'how to fire and maintain' the weapon as I have seen in other books in this series. To me, this is of minimal interest and should be treated as a footnote rather than a full section.

It all makes for another fine book and if you are interested in weapons, then this book would make a fine addition to your library.

July 2012

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