.55 Calibre Boys Anti-tank Round
2023.220.34
,55 Boys Anti-tank Round
Name/Title
.55 Calibre Boys Anti-tank RoundEntry/Object ID
2023.220.34Description
A .55 calibre bullet and brass shell casing.Use
The .55 Boys (13.9×99mmB in metric) is an anti-tank cartridge used by the United Kingdom during World War II. It was designed for use with the Boys anti-tank rifle. Developed by Captain Henry C Boys, the assistant superintendent of design at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, in 1934. Although adequate against light tanks in the early part of the war, it was to prove ineffective against heavier armour and was phased out in favour of the PIAT mid-war. There were four mark 2 armour piercing rounds available and they are headstamped K4 42 WII (Kynoch, I.C.I., Yeading 1942, mark 2 armour piercing)., K4 43 WII (Kynoch, I.C.I., Yeading 1943, mark 2 armour piercing), K42 WII (Kynoch, 1942, mark 2 armour piercing), and RG 43 WII (Radway Green 1942, mark 2 armour piercing). Although the round was adequate against light tanks in the early part of the war, the Boys was ineffective against heavier armour and was phased out in favour of the PIAT mid-war. It was still used by Australian troops in action against the lighter tanks of the Japanese army, and proved to be effective against the thinner armour used on these vehicles. The Boys anti-tank rifle was a bolt action rifle fed from a five-shot magazine, loaded by means of a 5 round stripper clip.Category
Ammunition
Equipment