Description
The name “Bazooka” is the common reference for a man-portable recoilless anti-tank rocket launcher weapon, widely deployed by the United States Army, especially during World War II. Also referred to as the “Stovepipe”, the innovative bazooka was among the first generation of rocket-propelled anti-tank weapons used in infantry combat. Featuring a solid-propellant rocket for propulsion, it allowed for high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads to be delivered against armored vehicles, machine gun nests, and fortified bunkers at ranges beyond that of a standard thrown grenade or mine. The universally-applied nickname arose from the M1 variant’s vague resemblance to the musical instrument called a “bazooka” invented and popularized by 1930s U.S. comedian Bob Burns.
During World War II, the German armed forces captured several bazookas in early North Africa and Eastern Front encounters and soon reverse engineered their own version, increasing the warhead diameter to 8.8 cm (among other minor changes) and widely issuing it as the Raketenpanzerbüchse “Panzerschreck” (“rocket anti-armor rifle ‘tank scare'”). Near the end of the war, the Japanese developed a similar weapon, the Type 4 70 mm AT Rocket Launcher, which featured a rocket propelled grenade of a different design.
Made of steel, this set is in VERY NICE used condition! There are some marks, scratches, and wear, but nothing that detracts. Still retains MUCH of it’s original paint and finish, but the original markings have faded over time. Markings I can see indicate:
ROCKET.PRAC; A.T; M7 A1
Appears someone has re-painted the fins (not sure why), and there are some marks where someone has taken it apart with a wrench. Should be easy to rectify, if someone wished to restore it. No corrosion or damage! A SUPERB item, it would make a PERFECT addition to any collection or display!
