Welcome to at this time’s Photo of the Day! The Solothurn S18-1000 was the head of anti-tank rifles developed between the 2 World Wars. Firing the potent 20x138mmB cartridge from a semiautomatic, recoil-operated motion, this 118 lb Swiss beast may penetrate 35mm of armor at 300 meters. Adopted by Switzerland, Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, and others, it served on quite a few fronts in WWII, notably in Dutch fingers in opposition to German forces invading in 1940. The Italians deployed it broadly in North Africa mounted on automobiles. Its immense energy got here at the price of portability – although a two-wheeled carriage helped, crews struggled with its bulk. As tanks grew heavier armor, anti-tank rifles just like the formidable S18-1000 turned outmatched, resulting in their obsolescence by 1943 in favor of lighter, extra cell anti-tank weapons. Nonetheless, the Solothurn’s hard-hitting efficiency made it the last word man-portable anti-armor weapon of its period.
“The weapon itself is simply huge being virtually 7 toes lengthy. The Rheinmetall firm was the unique designer/ developer of this weapons within the early to mid Nineteen Thirties. Nevertheless because of the phrases of the Versailles Treaty. Germany couldn’t manufacture these weapons and so used the Solothurn manufacturing unit in Switzerland to secretly manufacture them underneath their secret rearmament program. These had been produced in 1939-1942 time-frame. Ultimately the Germans started to fabricate these weapons after they used them very successfully throughout WWII on each fighter plane and mounted on wheeled carriages. They had been meant for use as a lightweight anti-tank gun, nevertheless as tank armor improved, their function shifted to be used in opposition to gentle armored vans and automobiles and glued discipline weapons. These weapons had been superbly machined and manufactured with all cast elements, that had been 100% machined and fitted to exacting tolerances. They’ve an all blued metallic end with the entire bolt meeting left within the white. This particular weapon is uncommon because it nonetheless has its completely mounted scope/sighting machine mounted on the left aspect of the receiver. The telescopic sight meeting has a totally machined housing meeting that’s really integral with the receiver, instantly over the opening for the field journal with the optics fitted inside.”
Lot 293: Solothurn S-18/1000 Harmful Machine 20 mm (Cannon) – Swiss Made Solothurn 20mm Cannon with a Uncommon Aspect Mounted Optical/Sniper Scope, Ammunition, Field Magazines and Cleansing Equipment (Registered NFA Harmful Machine). (n.d.-d). Rock Island Public sale Firm. {photograph}. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/element/59/293/solothurn-s181000-destructive-device-20-mm-cannon.
