WW2 Original "VERY RARE" German (RPzB) Panzerschreck Model-54 88.9mm Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher with Protective Shield
SKU: 389
Type: Original
Availability: In-Stock
Manufacturer: Hugo Schneider AG
Manufacturer's Code: N/A
Date Manufactured: 1944
Model: RPzB 54
Caliber: 88.9mm (3.5 in)
Ammunition: RPzB.Gr.4322 High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) rocket
Length: 64.6 in (164 cm)
Weight: 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) - without protective shield / 24.3 lbs (11 kg) - with protective shield
Effective Range: 150 meters (490 ft) RPzB 54
Velocity: 110 m/s (360 ft/s)
Weight of Round: 7 lbs 4 oz shaped charge
Armor Penetration: Up to 230mm (9 inches) of armor
Serial Number:
Manual: Original
Condition: Excellent
Price: $7,500.00
Seller Type: Classification: C&R / FFL
Seller ID: JMW
Seller Code: DG300
Return Policy: 3-day inspection and return policy on used guns and accessories.
Description
This is an original “Very Rare” German (RPzB) inert Panzerschreck Model 54 8.8cm Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher with Protective Shield. This has the origial camo painted design. Includes 2 spare glass wrapped in a packet labeled Ersatzglas für Panzerschreck ("Replacement glass for Panzerschreck") & Original Combat Operation Manual. This is one of the finest Panzerschrecks ever made available for private sale.
History
The RPzB 54 Panzerschreck (“Tank Terror”) functioned as Germany’s last and best anti-tank rocket launcher version during the World War II. The German military developed the Panzerschreck as a tank-killing rocket launcher to counter the American Bazooka after observing its success in battle. The Panzerschreck provided German infantrymen with a lightweight weapon which could penetrate the rising tank armor on Allied forces.
Historical Overview
The RPzB 54 entered service in 1944 to succeed the earlier RPzB 43 model. The main improvement of this version came with the addition of a big steel blast shield that surrounded the launch tube for protecting the operator from the backblast and propellant debris which was a major problem in the original model. The RPzB 54 became safer to fire and more efficient for prolonged combat operations thanks to these enhancements.
The Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS supervised HASAG (Hugo Schneider AG) and multiple subcontractors to manufacture the launcher. The weapon saw extensive use on all major fronts as tens of thousands of units were deployed during the final stages of the conflict especially when used for defensive purposes.
Technical Specifications:
- Model: RPzB 54 (Raketenpanzerbüchse 54)
- Caliber: 8.8cm
- Weight: Approximately 24 pounds
- Length: 164 cm (5 ft 4 in)
- Ammunition: RPzB.Gr.4322 High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) rocket
- Penetration: Up to 230mm (9 inches) of armor
- Effective Range: 150 meters
- Rate of Fire: 4–6 rounds per minute
- Propulsion: Solid-fuel rocket
- Shield: Stamped steel, often perforated to reduce weight; affixed just forward of the grip handles
Combat Use and Legacy
The Panzerschreck served German Panzergrenadier, Volksgrenadier and Fallschirmjäger forces in ambushes and city combat throughout the war. The weapon performed well despite its size and visible smoke trail because its armor penetration capabilities made it dangerous to Allied tanks such as Sherman, Churchill and T-34.
Soldiers received training to position themselves below their targets and strike the tank's side or rear plates to maximize destruction. The RPzB 54 shield provided better protection to its crews yet the weapon needed extensive enemy exposure because it lacked optical targeting systems and operated at close distances.
The Panzerschreck served as a fundamental influence for post-war design development while demonstrating German military innovation against tank threats during World War II.
Collectability
The RPzB 54 has become a highly desirable item for WWII ordnance collectors in the present day. The scarcity of the RPzB 54 combined with the existence of complete original blast shields and inert rockets creates a high value for historical significance and battlefield presence.
