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The Leichtgeschütz (Light Gun) 42 was designed by German firm Rheinmetall during the Second World War to provide airborne troops with lightweight artillery support that could be easily air-dropped. Among the first recoilless weapons to be fielded, it used a shell with a breakaway plastic plug that allowed propellant gas to vent out a venturi in the rear, cancelling out recoil. A highly influential design, it would inspire a whole family of recoilless weapon - many of which are still used today.

Special thanks to the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum for allowing me to film this piece. Visit their website at: https://en.rcamuseum.com

SOURCES:

https://web.archive.org/web/20111205144716/http://www.fjr2.be/Pagina%2017%20-%20Heavy%20Infantry%20Weapons.htm

http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/ttt07/leichtgeschutz-lg40-recoilless.html

https://books.google.ca/books?id=2ykDAAAAMBAJ&dq=popular+science+may+1941&pg=PA132&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=popular%20science%20may%201941&f=false

https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.php?smallarms_id=666

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/guns/leichtgeschutz-40.html?safari=1&Exc_D_LessThanPoint002_p1=1

Weeks, John, Men Against Tanks, Mason/Charter Publishers, Inc, new York, 1975

Hogg, Ian & Batchelor, John, Allied Secret Weapons, Phoebus Publishing Co, 1975