Leichtgeschütz 42: the Dawn of Recoilless Weapons

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The Leichtgeschütz (Light Gun) 42 was designed by German firm Rheinmetall during the Second World War to provide airborne troops with lightweight artillery support that could be easily air-dropped. Among the first recoilless weapons to be fielded, it used a shell with a breakaway plastic plug that allowed propellant gas to vent out a venturi in the rear, cancelling out recoil. A highly influential design, it would inspire a whole family of recoilless weapon - many of which are still used today.
Special thanks to the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum for allowing me to film this piece. Visit their website at: en.rcamuseum.com
SOURCES:
web.archive.or...
www.lonesentry....
books.google.c...
www.militaryfa...
www.warhistory...
Weeks, John, Men Against Tanks, Mason/Charter Publishers, Inc, new York, 1975
Hogg, Ian & Batchelor, John, Allied Secret Weapons, Phoebus Publishing Co, 1975