Anti-Tank Grenade Launcher Seized In Massive Crime Ring Bust (Surprise this is not in Colombia!)

Robert Jorge says on Apr 4, 2008, 09:18:

The anti-tank grenade launcher is actually a British weapon called a PIAT, projector infantry anti-tank. The weapon has been obsolete since 1951 or '52. It was pretty innaffective and unreliable even during and after WWII.

The police who siezed all these weapons are obviously trying to show off and dramatize the booty they recovered. The anti-tank launcher is obviously a war relic, surely legally owned by somebody who's relative brought it back from the war. It in itself is not illegal to own. It is as harmful as a pipe or cooking pan. The ammunition for it would be absolutely impossible to obtain, but theoretically would be illegal though if possessed without a class 3 "destructive device" license and tax stamp. So, in a nutshell, among the other firearms these criminals stole, they also took a legal and harmless war artifact that the police department is trying to hype up with the news agencies as an "anti-tank grenade launcher". They fail to say that it is also impossible to use, obtain ammo for, make ammo for, is as legal to own as a German helmet brought back from the war, and is as benign as a Craftsman socket set.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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Robert Jorge says on Apr 4, 2008, 09:27:

Here's a short article on the device if anybody is interested. I found it using a Google search:


PIAT

The PIAT, an acronym standing for Projector Infantry Anti-Tank, is a very interesting british design that uses an entirely different approach than the Bazooka/Panzerschreck or the Panzerfaust. Indeed, it is rather a projector than a rocket launcher.When britain entered WW II, their infantry was only equipped with the Boys AT rifle that was obviously unfit for it's job of defeating enemy armor. The british realized that the usual cartridge projectile ammunition fired by tank rifles, no matter how high the muzzle velocity was, would not suffice. The engineers Jeffries and Wallis developed experimental new weapons apart from each other. Both fired projectiles with shaped-charge warheads. Out of combination of these two weapons the PIAT was born.
The PIAT was made of low-quality metal and was machined very poorly. The parts were stamped, riveted and welded. The very rugged construction fired it's shaped-charge warhead essentially like an oversized spring-loaded crossbow.
The weapon with a weight (empty) of 14.5kg and a total length (incl. warhead) of 99.1cm consists of a sheet metal tube with a diameter of 7.6cm and a length of 61cm. On the forward end a construction with a length of 25.4cm diameter accepts the warhead, on the rear end a T - piece padded with canvas is used as a shoulder piece. The sights are located on the upper tube. they can be adjusted to 70yds or 100yds distance. A single strut is screwed into the barrel as support.
The weapon fired a fin-stabilized shaped-charge projectile with a length of 38cm, a caliber of 8.9cm and weight of 1.13kg. HE-Shrapnel and smoke warheads were also available. The projectile can not be inserted into the forward part of the weapon before the spring has been loaded. The latter is a very tedious process: not only does the very strong spring need a loading force of 90kg, but also has to be loaded with a certain techinque. Therefore, the weapon can only be loaded by very strong and trained personnel. Loading in a prone position is out of question: With the tube between the legs and standing on the T-piece with the feet, the gunner grabs the tube at the trigger pistol grip and turns it counterclockwise while while at the same time pulling it up until he hears the cocked spring lock with a loud click.
Firing the weapon is no less of a problem: the trigger can only be pulled using all four fingers. Then the firing pin hits the procectile in its rear, where a small charge of propellant is detonated. The latter makes for a recoil that will cock the spring automatically for the next shot - if the gunner can't take that recoil - which was reportedly not too seldom - he will have to load the weapon again in the way described above. The projectile leaves the weapon at a Vo of 135m/s but accelerates in flight. Tanks could be attacked at ranges up to 100yd., larger targets like houses at larger distances of 300m and more.
Another major problem was the ammunition itself. The fuse of the warheads had a bad habit of prematurely detonating. In fact, the handling of the ammunition was considered so dangerous that immediately after the war any and all practice firing of the weapon was strictly prohibited, although the weapons themselves officially remained in service until 1951.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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ColombianoGringo says on Apr 4, 2008, 09:28:

Damn 'bert, sounds like you know your ordnance. Thanks for cutting through the cop hype.

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poco says on Apr 4, 2008, 13:51:

Quote: With this information from Florida how can anyone say with a straight face the USA is more safe than Colombia. Living conditions, especially in the urban areas are deteriorating fast.

Yes,, you can’t see it,, but I’m smiling,, not exactly a straight face but,, you get the idea.

Humm, more safe than Colombia? That’s kind of funny,, Let’s see,, If someone breaks into the average Colombians house,, they get the machete, that is if they have time before they get shot. Oh,, yeah,, there is police protection,, they do have emergency numbers but I’d say calling an ambulance, if you can, would be advisable.

It does seem the living conditions of those possessing illegal weapons in the U.S. is deteriorating. (that's the funny part). The fact someone had an old grenade launcher their possession would be an automatic felony because it would be classified as a Destructive Device. It COULD be legally owned but I doubt this was the case. It also indicates the person or persons were suffering from ambulatory brain death.

The punishment/fine is spelled out by the BATF but,, trust me,,, it can be MUCH WORSE, but the fine is limited.
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15.1.1 Criminal. The acts prohibited by the NFA and prosecutable as Federal offenses are listed in 26 U.S.C. 5861(a) through (l). As provided by 26 U.S.C. 5871, any person who commits an offense shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 10 years or fined. Although the fine specified in the statute is an amount not exceeding $10,000, an amendment to Federal law provides for a fine of not more than $250,000 in the case of an individual or $500,000 in the case of an organization.

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/nfa/nfa_handbook/chapter15.pdf
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Humm, RJ’s comments indicates he knows his stuff about firearms. :>)

Made me have a look at prices.
This would have been a good investment: Maybe $300 ??? Now $300,000.
http://tinyurl.com/5mqhrv

Many times I think,, damn, the rifle being carried by military personnel would be worth a lot of money n the U.S. if it was legally registered. Brings tears to my eyes when the HKMP5’s and UZI’s carried by the DAS guys are clunked on a desk or in one instance, pulling it out the top drawer of a file cabinet like it was just another hunk of metal, sad, sad, sad.

"Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent" - Isaac Asimov

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Mr. Hollywood says on Apr 4, 2008, 17:35:

Shit, I guess I'm unsafe driving around Miami in my tank then.

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Robert Jorge says on Apr 4, 2008, 17:39:

Owning the "grenade launcher" is not illegal. You can go to an army surplus store and buy used LAWs, light anit-tank weapons, for $20. The rounds that go in them are what is restricted. The launcher in in the article is basically a piece of pipe with a spring. You can buy 37mm grenade launchers legally here in the US. Again, the ammunition is what is restricted. The only ammunition available is smoke or gas. Ammunition that is explosive, fragmentary, etc. is not available and would be very illegal. The ammunition that would go in the stolen relic in the OP hasn't been made for over 60 years.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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miamimike says on Apr 5, 2008, 02:51:

This is an not an everday occurence in Miami, but rather commonplace. I think its a wonder its getting as much publicity as it has already. Someone always is being caught by the FBI or CIA attempting to smuggle such ordnance into Cuba to get Fidel and now his Buddy Hugo or to overthrow the latest firebrand dictator. Miami has a long&rich history of such endeavors. . Hope springs eternal in the Miami Arms smuggling trade, motherland of all scams.

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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