Editing Panzerfaust (section)

{{Short description|German man-portable anti-tank recoilless weapons, WW2}}
{{About|6=other uses}}
{{title lang|de}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = {{lang|de|Panzerfaust}}
| image              = Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-710-0371-20, Ukraine, Ausbildung an Panzerabwehrwaffe (cropped).jpg
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = A {{lang|de|Wehrmacht}} {{lang|de|[[Gefreiter]]}} aims a {{lang|de|Panzerfaust}} 30 using the integrated leaf sight.
| origin             = [[Nazi Germany|Germany]]
| type               = Man-portable anti-tank [[recoilless gun]]
 <!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged          = yes
| is_explosive       = yes
 <!-- Service history -->| service            = 1943–1945 (Germany)
| used_by            = See [[Panzerfaust#Users|Users]]
| wars               = [[World War II]]<br/>[[Greek Civil War]]
 <!-- Production history -->| designer           = 
| design_date        = 
| manufacturer       = 
| unit_cost          = 15–25 {{lang|de|Reichsmark}}
| production_date    = 1942–1945
| number             = 8,254,300 (all variants)<ref>Panzerfaust and Panzerschreck by Rottman, Gordon L. Shumate, Johnny page 28.</ref>
| variants           = {{lang|de|Panzerfaust}} 30, 60, 100, 150, 250
 <!-- General specifications -->| spec_label         = Panzerfaust 60
| weight             = {{convert|6.25|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| length             = ~{{convert|1|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| part_length        = 
| width              = 
| height             = 
| diameter           = 
| crew               = <!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge          = 
| caliber            = 
| action             = 
| rate               = 
| velocity           = 
| range              = {{convert|60|m|abbr=on}}
| max_range          = 
| feed               = 
| sights             = Leaf
 <!-- Explosive specifications -->| filling            = [[Shaped charge]]
| filling_weight     = 
| detonation         = Impact
| yield              = 
}}

The '''{{lang|de|Panzerfaust}}''' ({{IPA|de|ˈpantsɐˌfaʊst|lang}}, {{lit.}} {{gloss|tank fist}} or {{gloss|armor[ed] fist}},<ref name="pzf60 iwm">{{cite web |title=Panzerfaust 60 |url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30019715 |website=iwm.org.uk |publisher=Imperial War Museum |access-date=2023-05-07 |quote=The German Panzerfaust (tank or armour-fist)..}}</ref> plural: {{lang|de|Panzerfäuste}}) was a development family of single-shot [[man-portable anti-tank systems]] developed by [[Nazi Germany]] during [[World War II]]. The weapons were the first single-use light [[Anti-tank warfare|anti-tank weapons]] based on a pre-loaded disposable launch tube, a weapon configuration which is still used today (a contemporary example being the 84mm [[AT4]]).

The {{lang|de|Panzerfaust}}-design consisted of a light [[recoilless]] launcher tube outfitted with a single pre-loaded [[high-explosive anti-tank warhead]] protruding from the muzzle. It was an inexpensive, easy-to-use anti-tank weapon for the common infantry man, being issued as a single unit of ammunition meant to be operated by a single soldier. Firing was done from under the arm at an upward angle as the effective firing range was barely beyond that of [[hand grenade]]s ({{convert|30-60|m|ft|abbr=on}} max). After use the launcher was discarded.

Development of the {{lang|de|Panzerfaust}} started in 1942. The initial design was dubbed '''{{lang|de|Faustpatrone}}''' ({{lit.}} "fist-cartridge") and was smaller than the later designs. Later dubbed {{lang|de|Panzerfaust Klein}} ("tank-fist small"), it entered service in 1943, the larger design being named {{lang|de|Panzerfaust Gross}} ("tank-fist big") and entering service in mid to late 1944. All types were used by Germany until the end of the war, with the design remaining in use in other countries for a number of years after the war.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stallings |first=Patrick A. |title=Tank Company Security Operations |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA258111.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301152041/http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA258111&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=March 1, 2014 |work=Major }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Guzmán |first=Julio S. |date=April 1942 |title=Las Armas Modernas de Infantería |language=es }}</ref>