U.S. 57 mm M1 Gun

 

A U.S. 57 mm M1 gun firing from Champs-Vauverts gate in Saint-Malo intramuros, in Bretagne in August 1944. It seems to be a reconstructed scene for the movie needs of John Ford who followed Patton's army. The 57mm Gun M1, which was produced in the United States from 1942 to 1945, was the American version of the British 6 Pounder anti-tank gun. Because of production differences between the two countries, there were differences between the M1 and the 6 Pounder. The M1 had a slightly longer barrel than the 6 Pounder.  The longer barrel gave the M1 an increased muzzle velocity of 2793ft/s (853m/s). The 57mm M1 anti-tank gun fired two different types of armor piercing round – the AP and the APC – as well as a high explosive round. It was successfully mounted on self propelled carriages, which were used by the British in North Africa. The strong recoil from the M1 made it unpopular with gunners. The M1 anti-tank gun continued to be used after production ceased in 1945. After World War II ended, the US gave M1s to other countries as a form of military aid.  The guns remained in service in these countries for decades. Central American republics were using M1s at least until the 1980s.

Source :
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:57mm_Gun_M1_-_Saint-Malon_Bretagne.jpg
https://www.tanks.net/anti-tank-weapons/united-states-57mm-gun-m1.html

German Soldiers in Königsberg with a MG 151/20 Gun

Volkssturm men in Königsberg (East Prussia) with Panzerfaust and a MG 151/20 gun (Aircraft MG modified for ground use), winter of 1945. The Volkssturm used anything they could beg or borrow. Their supply situation was hopeless. Their only more or less standard weapon was the Panzerfaust. The MG 151 (MG 151/15) itself was a 15 mm autocannon produced by Waffenfabrik Mauser starting in 1940. It was in 1941 developed into the 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon which was widely used on many types of German Luftwaffe fighters, fighter bombers, night fighters, ground attack and even bombers as part of or as their main armament during World War II. The 20 mm MG 151/20 was also fitted on the Italian World War II fighter aircraft of the "Serie 5", the most effective Italian fighters of World War II. The one in the picture is a field adaptation of a Mauser MG 151/15 or 151/20, basically a 15 or 20 mm aircraft cannon fitted with a tripod and a makeshift shield

Source:
http://historyimages.blogspot.com/2011/10/1945-russians-were-coming-east-prussia.html
http://www.vintag.es/2013/04/color-photos-of-east-prussian-from-1944.html

German Anti-Tank Crew in the Desert

German anti-tank crew with his camouflaged gun in the desert of Qattara depression. Photo taken by General Erwin Rommel during his Campaign in North Africa, 1941

Source:
http://www.cybermodeler.com/history/germany/rommel.shtml

German troops pulling a 37mm anti-tank gun along a road near Dunkirk

German troops pulling a 37mm anti-tank gun along a road near Dunkirk. Immobilised British Scout carriers are parked at the side of the road

Source:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/listing/object-205012729