PIAT: il “mulo” anticarro britannico che colpiva da vicino

Daniele Baggiani

In the room dedicated to the British Army at the MuGot – Gotica Toscana Museum in Ponzalla – an original example of the PIAT (Technical Sheet – PIAT (Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank)), the anti-tank weapon that accompanied British and Commonwealth infantry across all major European fronts starting in 1943.

The nickname mule, as it was affectionately called by the soldiers – derived not only from its considerable weight (over 14 kg), but also from the strength required to handle it and from the brutal recoil it delivered with every shot fired.

Like a true mule, the PIAT was stubborn, unwieldy, exhausting to handle… but incredibly useful and remarkably tough. And when it really mattered, it could pack quite a kick.

Next to the PIAT, the museum display case also features other symbolic items: the kukri knives kukri of the Nepalese Gurkhas, and a mannequin representing a Sikh soldier of the Indian Army, recognizable by the traditional turban under which young soldiers concealed their long black hair, in observance of their religious customs.

Technical Sheet – PIAT (Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank)

Name: Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank (PIAT)
Origin: United Kingdom
Year of introduction: 1943
Conflicts: Seconda Guerra Mondiale, Guerra d’Indipendenza israeliana
Kind of weapon: Individual anti-tank grenade launcher
Firing mechanism: High-tension spring with percussion on a spigot tube (central rod mortar system)
Ammunitions: 3.5 lb (1.6 kg) HEAT grenade, shaped charge (High-Explosive Anti-Tank)
Nominal caliber: 3.25 inches (83 mm)
Overall length: 991 mm
Unloaded weight: 15.9 kg (with ammunition)
Grenade weight: approximately 1.6 kg
Grenade length: 380 mm

Effective anti-tank range: 100 meters (approximately 110 yards), optimal within 33–55 yards
Armor penetration: fino a 100 mm (a 90°)
Velocità iniziale: approximately 75 m/s (about 246 ft/s)
Rate of fire: very low (1–2 rounds per minute, due to manual reloading and the physical effort required)
Single operator, often assisted by a second soldier for reloading and cover
Method of use: physically demanding to load, heavy recoil; effective in urban environments and static defensive positions.

The Predecessor: the Boys Anti-Tank Rifle

Before the introduction of the PIAT, British infantry were equipped with the Boys anti-tank rifle, a long and heavy weapon that fired .55 Boys caliber rounds. Despite its initial power, the rifle quickly proved ineffective against modern armored vehicles, leading to the need for a more efficient weapon such as the PIAT.

The Spigot Firing Mechanism of the PIAT

The PIAT used a spigot mechanism, a type of mortar in which the grenade was launched from a central rod rather than from a barrel. This system allowed for the use of HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) warheads without the need for a rocket motor, making the weapon safer to use in confined spaces. However, the recoil was severe and reloading required significant physical strength. Its ideal use was at extremely close range — often no more than 30 meters.

Several acts of heroism are remembered…

During the night of October 21–22, 1944, near the Savio River in Italy, Canadian soldier Ernest “Smokey” Smith distinguished himself with an act of extraordinary bravery. As his unit attempted to establish a bridgehead, Smith faced a German counterattack involving tanks and infantry. Armed with his PIAT, Smith destroyed a German tank and repelled the enemy assault, securing his unit’s position. For this action, he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration in the British honours system.

During the Normandy campaign, the PIAT was used in numerous acts of heroism. For instance, British soldier Stanley Hollis—the only person to receive the Victoria Cross on D-Day—used the PIAT to neutralize fortified enemy positions. In another episode, Canadian sergeant Leo Major employed the PIAT during the liberation of Zwolle in the Netherlands, demonstrating the weapon’s versatility and effectiveness in a variety of combat situations.

ritish Army: a Multiethnic Force and Its Weapons

The PIAT preserved at the MuGot is more than just an object. It is a tangible memory of hardship, ingenuity, and courage. It is part of a broader narrative that includes Indian and Nepalese soldiers alongside British, Scottish, and Canadian troops, all of whom served on the Italian front. The display case at the Ponzalla museum bears witness to this history with care and precision.

The MuGot is located at Località Ponzalla 47, in the municipality of Scarperia e San Piero. Further information and guided tours are available at museogotica.it.

“Whatever happens, we have got
The PIAT — and they have not.”

(Popular song among British infantrymen, Western Front, 1944)

An ironic rhyme, yet an effective one. It echoed through the British ranks as a reminder that, with that heavy and stubborn weapon, the fight could still be brought to the enemy. Today, at the MuGot, that “mule” rests in silence, yet it continues to tell its story.