M20 (Super Bazooka)

History

The American M20 "Super Bazooka" is the pinnacle of the design of the classic M1 "Bazooka" series during World War II. The man-portable shoulder-fired weapon, which originally debuted in late 1942, fired a 2.36-inch rocket capable of penetrating 3 inches (76 mm) of armor at a distance, knocking it out. The Germans appreciated the type of tank killer they built "Panzerschreck", based on the example of this American weapon they captured after the landings of the Allied Torch in North Africa.

The M20 succeeds the M9 with improvements to the product line, including a new trigger firing method, a two-piece disassembly design, and better penetration values.

The new and improved M20 entered service in late 1944, but did not enter service until the Korean War (1950-1953).

The M20 was a more powerful weapon, its caliber was increased to 3.5 inches (88.9 mm), making it more like the German wartime Panzerschreck weapon, firing 88 mm shells. The system is now expected to defeat armor up to 11 inches (280 mm), giving it better performance against the new generation of Soviet tanks taking center stage.

Additionally, the range has been increased by 150 meters, giving the weapon a better range on the battlefield.

With the introduction of the M20A1 in 1952, the weapon now features a new linkage locking assembly, more or less an improved form of the original M20 production model. The M20B1 is a lighter model because its barrel is made of cast aluminum. Internally, the system has been simplified even better, both simplifying production and reducing costs.

M20A1B1 is designated to designate an M20B1 model upgrade to an M20A1 model revision.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes