I've been trying to figure out the penetration of the Boys ATR at close ranges (like point blank).

After a bunch of "googling," i've only been able to find that the penetration varies between 20 and 21.5mm at about 200 yards.

I guess my question is a two-parter:

Do they list penetration at that distance because it's the same up to (about) that point?

If not, what is the penetration of the boys ATR at point blank, say ten yards?


thanks-

TBoMBeR

The only information I've been able to find is that the Boys could penetrate 20mm armourplate at 500 yards and O degrees deflection (Ian V Hogg, 'Encyclopaedia of Infantry Weapons').Tactically, it was considered as a medium-range weapon mainly due its' size and weight ( 36lbs, almost as much as a Vickers HMG ). Penetration capability may have increased as the range decreased, but I'm only speculating - maybe there are reasons in the realms of Physics why this is not so.

The Boys ( despite all the myths and jokes which surround it ) was pretty good for its time : the main problem was the ineffectiveness of the tiny round when it did penetrate the armour. The future lay with weapons such as the Panzerfaust and yes, even the PIAT....

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

It would be about 35mm at 0 degrees point blank. But, that is calculated not an observed figure.

On the Boys generally, these Disney Training films were posted recently on a.n.other forum, 10/10 from me to the chap that found 'em as I thought they were rather good, observe the recoil to see part of the origin of it's 'Charlie the Bastard' nickname in the British army:

YouTube - Disney Boys Rifle Training (Part 1)
YouTube - Disney Boys Rifle Training (Part 2)
YouTube - Disney Boys Rifle Training (Part 3)

Cheers,
Adam.

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"Wars cannot be fought with dream stuff" - Sir Percy Hobart.

Amazing find, Adam !

I love the Disney tanks - although they seem a little unrealistic to me....

My shoulder feels bruised just from watching the Boys being fired - ouch !

__________________
"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

The figures quoted so far seem on the high side to me.

The official British proof figures were:

W Mark 1 loading: 7 out of 10 bullets had to penetrate 16mm armour plate at 100 yards at normal angle of attack (i.e. 90 degrees in current terminology)

W Mark 2 loading: as above, but had to penetrate 19mm.

So I think you can say that 20mm was the max it would do - but you do of course have to allow for the usual differences in defining "penetration" and specifying exactly what quality of armour plate was used (they did vary a lot, and this made quite a difference to penetration).

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Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website