Solothurn S18-1000

[Bob Riebe]

I shot one of these at the Linebaugh Seminar 20 years back.

Among all the antitank rifles developed between the World Wars, the highest quality and most sophisticated was the Solothurn S18-1000. It fires the 20x138B cartridge which was also used in the Finnish Lahti L-39 and the German 20mm Flak guns, and it does so using a semiautomatic action and an 8-round box magazine. It is a short-recoil system, with a rotating bolt rather similar to that of the MG-34 machine gun.

The recoil-operated action of the Solothurn helps dampen its recoil more than the Lahti, and is definitely a more comfortable gun to shoot. The Solothurn is equipped with both iron sights and an optical sight (we used the irons in this shooting, because the rubber eye cup on the scope is fairly hard and brittle on this example). Remarkably for its 100+ pound weight, the gun definitely jumps back a few inches when fired unless one has firmly sunk the bipod feet into the earth. However, the recoil force is really more of a push than a sharp impact, and combined with the large surface area of the shoulder pad it is not at all a bad experience.

A number of different countries bought the S18-1000 (and many others bought the smaller S18-100), including the Italians and Hungarians. The only combat account I was able to find was from a Dutch antitank gun team that used one to successfully engage several German armored cars during the invasion of the Netherlands in 1940.

[ironglow]

  Those rifles worked well on many tanksproduced up until mid WW2.  Didn't work as well on homogenus shaped armor, but did itself well especially on flat sheet steel, up to an inch thick.  Even in WW2, some light tanks were still vulnerable.  Tank destroyers were lightly armored inmany cases as were Half tracks, especially with theit straight vwerticle plates,

   Keeping in mind, that a piece of armor 1" thick, when placed at a 60 degree angle, presents perhaps, 1.35" of resistance.

[Mule 11]

  Those rifles worked well on many tanksproduced up until mid WW2.  Didn't work as well on homogenus shaped armor, but did itself well especially on flat sheet steel, up to an inch thick.  Even in WW2, some light tanks were still vulnerable.  Tank destroyers were lightly armored inmany cases as were Half tracks, especially with theit straight vwerticle plates,

   Keeping in mind, that a piece of armor 1" thick, when placed at a 60 degree angle, presents perhaps, 1.35" of resistance.

Are you deflecting?

[ironglow]

  Those rifles worked well on many tanksproduced up until mid WW2.  Didn't work as well on homogenus shaped armor, but did itself well especially on flat sheet steel, up to an inch thick.  Even in WW2, some light tanks were still vulnerable.  Tank destroyers were lightly armored inmany cases as were Half tracks, especially with theit straight vwerticle plates,

   Keeping in mind, that a piece of armor 1" thick, when placed at a 60 degree angle, presents perhaps, 1.35" of resistance.

Are you deflecting?

 
  Not exactly...LOL..  There was also the Boys anti tank rifle..worked on some thin skinned tankettes..

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boys_anti-tank_rifle

[Bob Riebe]

The Boys is for all practical purposes, an over-sized .50 BMG round, I have one and putting them side by side, NOT a lot of difference.


20×138B cartridge and a tape measure in centimeters

The 20×138mmB or Long Solothurn cartridge is a type of ammunition used mainly for anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons during World War II. The designation means the caliber is 20 mm, the length of the cartridge case is 138 mm and B indicates it is a belted case. The loaded cartridge weighs 300 grams (10.7 oz)