Germany – Panzerfaust 3 Anti-Tank System

Last updated on February 17th, 2019 at 09:48 pm

The Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank system was developed in West Germany between 1978 and 1985.

It is still being used by the German army.

Like the Armbrust, the Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank system is a recoilless weapon that uses the countermass principle. It can be fired from confined spaces, making it ideal for urban combat.

The Panzerfaust 3 consists of a shoulder-fired launcher that can be reused.  It can fire various projectiles, including fragmentation rounds, smoke and illuminating rounds, HEAT rounds and HESH (High Explosive Squash Head) rounds.

Japanese Ground Self Defense Force soldier using a Panzerfaust 3 during a training exerciseThe HEAT charge has a 4.33 inch (110mm) caliber warhead that can penetrate more than 27 inches (700mm) of armor.

By making the HEAT warhead oversized, the designers allowed for future improvements to the weapon.

An infrared target marking system within the sight unit allows the Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank system to be operated at night.

The Panzerfaust 3 can be used as a remote firing, standalone unit. When it is used as a standalone, it is mounted on a tripod. The system detects the target MBT with an acoustic sensor, which then activates the infrared sensor. The system then calculates the range and speed of the target for optimum engagement. This system can remain active for 40 days under its own battery power and can engage targets up to a range of 164 yards (150m).