The British anti-tank weapon that used a pogo stick motion to prepare for battle

Wars & Conflicts · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Developed during the Second World War, the Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank was a unique spigot-based launcher. Unlike its contemporaries, it lacked a traditional barrel and produced no back-blast, allowing infantry to fire from confined spaces. Despite its awkward, physically demanding cocking mechanism, it became a highly regarded tool for frontline soldiers.

The PIAT emerged in 1942 as a necessary replacement for inadequate British infantry anti-tank gear, such as the heavy, outdated anti-tank rifle and the ineffective rifle-launched grenades. Its design relied on the spigot mortar principle, where a steel rod propelled a bomb forward. This system allowed for a larger warhead than a conventional barrel could accommodate, utilizing shaped charge technology to pierce armor through high-speed metal spikes rather than sheer velocity.

Operating the weapon required significant physical effort. To cock the internal spring, a soldier had to stand the device on its butt, step on the shoulder padding, and pull the body upward—a motion resembling a pogo stick. While this process was difficult for soldiers of smaller stature or those in prone positions, the weapon was designed to be carried in a pre-cocked state. Once fired, the recoil of the propellant charge automatically re-cocked the spring, enabling subsequent shots without manual intervention.

The PIAT offered distinct tactical advantages, including the absence of back-blast, which prevented the user from revealing their position or injuring nearby comrades. It proved versatile, serving as an anti-tank tool, a bunker-buster, and an ad-hoc mortar. Although early models suffered from fuse reliability issues and accuracy problems—with trials showing only 75% of rounds detonating on target—it remained a staple for Commonwealth forces until the early 1950s. Its effectiveness was such that a 1944-1945 Canadian survey of combat officers ranked it as the most outstandingly effective infantry weapon of the war.

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