Solothurn S-18/1000

Solothurn 20 mm Tb S-18/1000
please note that the photograph shows the earlier S18-100 rather than the S18-1000
Type	Anti-tank rifle, Anti-materiel rifle
Place of origin	Nazi Germany Switzerland
Service history
Used by	Nazi Germany Kingdom of Italy China Netherlands Indies Kingdom of Hungary Finland (trials only)
Wars	World War II
Production history
Variants	Solothurn S-18/100, Solothurn S-18/1100
Specifications
Weight	118 lbs (53.5 kg)(empty)
Length	85 inches
Barrel length	57 inches

Cartridge	20×138mmB (Solothurn Long)
Caliber	20 mm
Action	semi-automatic
Muzzle velocity	850 m/s
Feed system	10 rounds

The Solothurn S18-1000 20 mm Anti-Tank rifle was a Swiss and German anti-tank rifle used during the Second World War. It was a variant of the earlier S-18/100 with modifications for a higher muzzle velocity, as well as a larger cartridge size. The more powerful ammunition resulted in significant recoil, which was problematic for the gunner, and its size made portability difficult.

20mm Tankbüchse 40 Solo S18-1000

20 mm Solothurn Tankbüchse S18-1100, AA-mount

History

The Solothurn firearms company was owned by the German firm Rheinmetall, who used the Swiss company to manufacture arms which were prohibited for manufacture by any German firm under arms limitations imposed at the end of the First World War.

In 1940–1941 the US Army considered adopting the Solothurn S18-1000. The weapon was standardized for limited procurement as 20mm automatic gun T3. In spring 1941 the Solothurn was tested against the Colt .90-cal. (23mm) T4 automatic gun, an aircraft gun. Although not as powerful, the Solothurn was less bulky and complicated and was found more suitable for Army use. The plans were to acquire an order of 50 pieces and later to produce the weapon in the US. However, long contract negotiations resulted in abandonment of the planned purchase.^[1]

It was adopted by the Royal Italian Army in 1940, when a first batch was bought from Switzerland; initially known as Carabina "S" (S carbine), from 1942 it was designated as Fucile anticarro "S" (S anti-tank rifle); employed primarily on vehicles given its size and weight, it was largely employed in North Africa; after the 8 September 1943 it was also used by the National Republican Army of the Italian Social Republic.^[2]

Specifications

Service History: Used by Germany, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Finland during World War II and Finland's Continuation War.
Overall length: S18-1000 and −1100 85-inch. This could vary due to a number of optional muzzle brakes used for different projectile weights.
Barrel length: 51-inch muzzle brakes length: 1-hole brake, 1 inch; 4-hole, 4 inches; 5-hole, 5 inches. The brake adds to the overall length of the barrel when installed.

The brakes are changed depending on the recoil force of the rounds being fired. Lighter projectiles require less recoil reduction from the brake to allow the action to cycle. Therefore, the one-hole brake is used for firing high-explosive projectiles, which are much lighter than the armour-piercing variety. The AP projectiles require the 5-hole brake.

Weight: S18-1000 and −1100 118 lb empty with magazine (4 lb)
Cartridge: S18-100 20mmX105B, S18-1000 and −1100 20×138mmB. The B indicates a "belted" round which headspaces on the belt rather than the shoulder, rim or mouth of the case
Caliber: .818" or 20.5mm (bore diameter is larger than the land diameter of 20mm or .78")
Action: Recoil-operated semi-automatic for the S18-100 and S18-1000. The S18-1100 was select-fire recoil-operated.
Magazine capacity: S18-100 5- or 10-round, S18-1000 and −1100 10-round standard, but the weapon could use the 20-round magazines from the Flak 30 anti-aircraft gun.

Notes

↑ Zaloga, Delf – US Anti-tank Artillery 1941–45, p 7.
↑ Pignato, Nicola (1978). Le armi della fanteria Italiana nella seconda guerra mondiale. Ermanno Alberterelli. |access-date= requires |url= (help)

References and external links

Zaloga, Steven J., Brian Delf – US Anti-tank Artillery 1941–45 (2005) Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1-84176-690-9.
Photos of the Solothurn S-18/1000
ramon Bill, Waffenfabrik Solothurn, Schweizerische Präzision im Dienste der deutschen Rüstungsindustrie, 2002 by Altes Zeughaus Museum Solothurn.

Rheinmetall

Subsidiaries	KSPG Maschinenbau Kiel Mauser Rheinmetall Air Defence Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles

Products	7.5 cm KwK 42 7.5 cm Leichtgeschütz 40 8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37/41 Boxer IdZ Lance-grenade individuel Mle F1 (LGI Mle F1) LIV (SO) Serval LLM01 MAN LX and FX ranges of tactical trucks Mauser BK-27 MG 42 MK 108 cannon MK 115 cannon Mungo ESK Nanuk Remotely Controlled Weapon Station Nächstbereichschutzsystem MANTIS Ordnance QF 15-pounder Puma (IFV) Rheinmetall 120 mm gun Rheinmetall KZO Rheinmetall LTA2 Rheinmetall MG 3 Rheinmetall MG 60 Rheinmetall Rh 202 Rheinmetall RMG.50 Rheinmetall RMG 7.62 Rheinmetall RMK30 Rheinmetall YAK RSA Missile RSD 58 RSE Kriens Solothurn S-18/1000 Solothurn ST-5 TPz Fuchs Wiesel AWC Wisent Lynx Family of Tracked Armoured Vehicles

German firearms and light weapons of World War II

Side arms (Pistolen)	Mauser C96 Luger Walther P38 Walther PP and PPK Sauer 38H Mauser HSc Sturmpistole Dreyse M1907 Pistol Volkspistole

Rifles and carbines (Gewehre und Karabiner)	Karabiner 98k G 24(t) G 33/40(t) G 98/40 Gewehr 41 Gewehr 43/Karabiner 43 MP 43/MP 44/StG 44 FG 42 M30 Luftwaffe drilling StG 45(M) VG 1-5

Submachine guns (Maschinenpistolen)	MP 18/MP 28 MP 34 MP35 MP 38/MP 40 MP 41 MP 3008 Erma EMP EMP 44

Machine guns and other larger weapons	MG 08 Schwarzlose MG M.07/12 MG 13 MG 15 MG 26 MG 30 MG 34 MG 42 MG 45 MG 131 IMG 28 MG 35/36A Faustpatrone Raketen-Panzerbüchse 43 Panzerfaust Panzerschreck Fliegerfaust/Luftfaust Flammenwerfer 35 Flammenwerfer 41 Einstossflammenwerfer 46 Panzerbüchse 39 Solothurn S-18/1000

Mortars (Granatwerfer)	5 cm leGrW 36 8 cm GrW 34 kz 8 cm GrW 42 12 cm GrW 42

Grenades (Granaten)	Model 24 Stielhandgranate Model 43 Stielhandgranate Model 39 Eihandgranate Splitterring Panzerwurfmine Hafthohlladung

Notable foreign-made infantry weapons	Browning Hi-Power as P640(b) Radom wz. 35 Vis as P645(p) ZB vz. 24 as G24(t) ZB vz. 33 as G33/40(t) ZB vz. 26 as MG26(t) Kb ppanc wz.35 as Panzerbüchse 35(p)

German-made cartridges used by the Wehrmacht	7.63×25mm Mauser 7.65×21mm Parabellum 7.92×33mm Kurz 7.92×57mm Mauser 7.92×94mm 9×19mm Parabellum 13.2×92mmSR 20×138mmB

Italian artillery of World War II

Tank guns	Breda Model 35 Cannone da 37/40 Cannone da 47/32 modello 35 Cannone da 47/40 Cannone da 75/34

Anti-tank guns	Solothurn S-18/1000 Cannone da 47/32 modello 35 Obice da 75/18 modello 35 Cannone da 75/32 modello 37 Cannone da 75/34 Cannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 34 Cannone da 90/53 Cannone da 105/25

Infantry and Mountain guns	Cannone da 47/32 M35 Cannone da 65/17 modello 13 Cannone da 70/15 Obice da 75/18 modello 34

Field, Medium and Heavy guns	Cannone da 75/27 modello 06 Cannone da 75/27 modello 12 Cannone da 75/27 modello 11 Obice da 75/18 modello 35 Obice da 100/17 modello 14 Obice da 105/14 Cannone da 105/28 Cannone da 105/32 Cannone da 149/28 Cannone da 149/35 A Cannone da 149/40 modello 35 Obice da 149/19 modello 37 Obice da 210/22

Superheavy and Siege artillery	Mortaio da 210/8 D.S.

Railroad artillery	Cannone navale da 381/40

Anti-aircraft guns	Cannone-Mitragliera da 20/77 (Scotti) Breda Model 35 Cannone-Mitragliera da 37/54 (Breda) Cannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 34 Cannone da 75/49 Cannone da 90/53

Anti-tank rifles

Rifles	Boys anti-tank rifle Lahti L-39 Mauser 1918 T-Gewehr Panzerbüchse 39 PTRD PTRS-41 Solothurn S-18/100 Solothurn S-18/1000 Solothurn S-18/1100 Solothurn-Arsenal Type 97 20 mm anti-tank rifle Wz. 35 anti-tank rifle

Cartridges	7.92×94mm Patronen 7.92mm DS 13.2mm TuF .55 Boys 14.5×114mm 20×105mmB 20x125mm 20×138mmB

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Solothurn S-18/1000

History

Specifications

See also

Notes

References and external links