Global Firepower | Military Industrial Complex | Second World War History
Home | Military Pay Scale Chart | Aircraft | Infantry Weapons | Military Vehicles | Navy Ships | Military Education | French Military Victories | Military Ranks | WW2 Weapons
Military Factory Latest from Military Factory
Thumbnail picture of the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle
Dardo IFV
Thumbnail picture of the Supermarine Scimitar fighter
Supermarine Scimitar
Thumbnail picture of the Centauro B1 8x8 tank killer
Centauro 8x8
Thumbnail picture of the Novi Avion fighter
Novi Avion
Thumbnail picture of the FR F2 bolt-action sniper rifle
FR F2
Thumbnail picture of the Lebel Model 1886 bolt-action rifle
Lebel Model 1886
2009 Military Pay Scale Chart - for Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines
  BY TYPE
    · Anti-Aircraft
    · Anti-Materiel
    · Anti-Tank
    · Automatic Rifles
    · Bolt-Action Rifles
    · Howitzers
    · Lever-Action Rifles
    · Machine Guns
    · Mortars
    · Muskets
    · Pistols
    · Revolvers
    · Shotguns
    · Sniper Rifles
    · Special Weapons
    · Submachine Guns
    · View All Weapons

Military Factory > Infantry Weapons > Boys Anti-Tank Rifle (Stanchion)
 
 
More Pictures QuickGraphs Ballistics Chart CompareX2 Acronyms

Boys Anti-Tank Rifle (Stanchion)

The Boys Anti-Tank rifle proved to be of some value, particularly against the early tank designs of the World War 2.
By JR Potts, AUS 173d AB

Bookmark and Share

In 1934 the British Army issued a requirement for a light anti tank weapon. The designer of the heavy rifle was Captain Boys, a designer at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield. For security reasons it was initially given a code-name “Stanchion” but was later renamed after its designer.

Good progress was made and tests were encouraging with penetration of 1" (25mm) in armor plate. The Boys rifle was an oversized scale version of a service rifle that would be able to shoot a large round that an average soldier could be expected to hold and fire. This was made easier with a spring absorber using a muzzle brake and a front support monopod - later a bipod was added. Both models were bolt-action and used a detachable top-loading 5-round magazine. The first model had a double sight for 300 yards and 500 yards while the later models only had a fixed sight.

The weapon was introduced to the British infantry in 1937, however tank design had improved and with the outbreak of war it was clear the Boys was going to be limited in its use. In the early stages of World War 2, the Boys did prove effective against light armored German tanks and combat vehicles. The weapon was especially popular with Finnish Army troops in Finland in 1940 during the Winter War against the Soviet Union, as the rifle proved capable of knocking out the Soviet T-26 tanks encountered.

A shortened version was issued in 1942 for airborne forces and saw action in Tunisia, where it was proven ineffective due to the reduced velocity inherent with the shortened barrel. When used in roles against bunkers, machine gun nests, and light-skinned vehicles the Boys rifle truly found its success. In the Pacific Theater, the Boys was used effectively against light Japanese tanks and remained in the British inventory for use throughout that theater.

Most troops disliked the weapon due to the massive recoil along with the noise and a heavy muzzle blast causing bruised necks and shoulders. The weapon was not one of choice with numerous small screws in soft steel that made maintenance difficult in the field. Nevertheless, the weapon system saw continued use throughout the British Commonwealth along with a few samples falling into the hands of German and Japanese troops to be used against their owners.

History text ©2003-2009 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Without Permission • Corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com

Last Updated: 7/6/2009

 

  Specifications for the Boys Anti-Tank Rifle (Stanchion)
arrow downOperation:
Action: Bolt-Action
Cartridge: 0.55 in
Feed System: 5-round detachable box magazine
Cyclic Rate-of-Fire: 10 rds/min

arrow downDimensions:
Overall Length: 1,613mm (63.50in)
Barrel Length: 0mm (0.00in)
Empty Weight: 16kg (35.27lbs)


  Pictures of the Boys Anti-Tank Rifle (Stanchion)
     
Picture of Boys Anti-Tank Rifle (Stanchion)
Picture of the Boys Anti-Tank Rifle (Stanchion)
Picture of the Boys Anti-Tank Rifle (Stanchion)
     
arrow upView All 3 Images

More Pictures QuickGraphs Ballistics Chart CompareX2 Acronyms

  Special Infantry Weapons Collections

Weapon Groups:
Ancient Weapons
Chainmail Armor
Glock Handguns
Heckler & Koch
Kalashnikov Rifles
Medieval Longbow
Medieval Crossbow

World War 2:
Weapons of World War 2
US Infantry Regiment Weapons in World War 2
Guns of World War 2

Miscellaneous:
18th Century Warfare
Battle of Mogadishu
French Military Victories
Three Soldiers Statue
Vietnam War Casualties
Vietnam War Memorial
Vietnam War Weapons
Weapons of Desert Storm


  Recent Infantry Weapons Additions
Thumbnail picture of the FR F2 bolt-action sniper rifle
FR F2
Thumbnail picture of the Lebel Model 1886 bolt-action rifle
Lebel Model 1886
Thumbnail picture of the Winchester Model 1873 rifle
Winchester 1873

  Contacting MilitaryFactory.com
We can only get better if you tell us how. You can contact MilitaryFactory.com at MilitaryFactory at gmail dot com (replace "at" with "@" and "dot with ".") with any questions, comments or corrections. We also accept related military imagery that you approve for us to use on our website. Keep in mind, however, that due to volume, we may not directly respond to your inquiry. Please add us to your list of non-blocked recipients!

  Profile:


Picture of the Boys Anti-Tank Rifle (Stanchion)
Image Courtesy of the Public Domain

flag of United Kingdom
1937
Designation: Boys Anti-Tank Rifle (Stanchion)
Classification Type: Anti-Tank Rifle
Manufacturer: Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield - UK

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Operators: Australia, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, China, Finland, Nazi Germany (captured), Imperial Japan (captured), the United Kingdom and the United States of America.


  Variants
Mk.I - Circular muzzle break; T-shaped bipod; service load 60g AP projectile at 747m/s.

Mk.II - Square muzzle break; V-shaped bipod; service load 47.6g AP projectile at 884 m/s.

Airborne Service Variant - 30" (762mm) barrel with no muzzle break.

  Collections
  • Ultimate Lockpick - Combat Shotguns
  • Sniper! - Tools of a Deadly Trade
  • Machine Gun - Weapon of Mass Suppression
  • Heckler & Koch - World Renowned
  • Big Guns - Anti-Materiel Rifles

     

Free GI Bill Guide

Top MF Stuff: Military Pay Scale Chart | Military Ranks | World War 2 Weapons | Sniper Rifles | Conversion Calculators


©2009 www.MilitaryFactory.com • Content ©2003-2009 MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Disclaimer Privacy Policy Site Map Origins
Most photographic images appearing on this site are courtesy of the United States Department of Defense and are approved for public use.
Other images acquired through the public domain. Digital art work courtesy of Dan Alex.
Business Consulting by Kyle Williams

Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for
hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information.

Site Contact: militaryfactory at gmail dot com (replace "at" with "@" and "dot" with ".") eXTReMe Tracker