Kb wz.35 (Marosczek)

Kilobytes wz. 35 (Marosczek) History

During the September 1939 German invasion, Polish forces faced a German onslaught but had a notable asset – the KB wz. 35 rifle. This anti-tank weapon improved their tank-stopping capabilities with its 7.92x107mm DS cartridge. Around 3,500 of these rifles were manufactured, designed based on the German Mauser M1918 "T-Gewehr" AT rifle from World War I. However, as enemy armor improved, the rifle's effectiveness waned, and most ended up in enemy hands rather than defending Poland.

The KB wz. 35 rifle series was developed before the war, centered around the 7.92x107mm DS cartridge created by Lieutenant Colonel Tadeusz Felsztyn for anti-tank use. It closely resembled the German Mauser design. The Polish version of the rifle was sizeable and heavy, weighing 22 lbs and measuring 1,760mm in length, featuring a 1,200mm barrel. Its wooden stock held key components, and a folding bipod aided stability during firing. The rifle's four-round detachable magazine fed ammunition.

Despite its initial impact, the KB wz. 35 rifle's effectiveness diminished as enemy armor improved. Although it played a role during the German invasion, most of these rifles were captured by the enemy rather than serving in homeland defense. The rifle's historical significance lies in its adaptation of the anti-tank role, inspired by the earlier German Mauser design, marking a stage in the evolution of military weaponry.

Specification

BASICS

Year of Service: 1935

Origins: Poland

Manufacturer: Panstwowa Fabryka Karabinow (PFK) Poland

Operator: Italy (captured); Nazi Germany (captured); Poland

Roles

Anti-Tank/Anti-Tank/Anti-Material

Designed to attack and defeat armored/enemy tanks from a distance.

Dimensions and Weight

Overall Length: 1,760 mm (69. 29 inches)

Barrel length: 1,200 mm (47. 24 inches)

Cured weight: 22. 05 lbs (10.00 kg)

Action

Manual repeat system: The process of manually operating the control bolt lever to eject the spent cartridge, releasing the bolt and inserting a new cartridge into the chamber.

Cartridges and Paper Feeds

Caliber: 7. 92x107mm DS

Circle/Feed: Detachable 4-round box magazine

Performance

Rate of fire: 9 Number of revolutions

Mile speed: 4,180 ft/s (1,274 m/s)