Boys anti-tank rifle

The Rifle, Anti-Tank, .55in, Boys commonly known as the "Boys Anti-tank Rifle"was a British anti-tank rifle. The Boys is often incorrectly spelled "Boyes". There were three main versions of the Boys, an early model (Mark I) which had a circularmuzzle brake and T shaped bipod, built primarily at BSA in England, a later model (Mk I*) built primarily at Jonathan Inglis in Toronto Canada, that had a square muzzle brake and a V shaped bipod, and a third model made for airborne forces with a 30-inch (762 mm) barrel and no muzzle brake. There were also different cartridges, with a later version offering better penetration.

Boys Anti-tank Rifle
Boys anti-tank rifle Mk I
Type	Anti-tank rifle
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1937 - 1943
Used by	See Users
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designed	1937
Manufacturer	Royal Small Arms Factory
Produced	1937 -
Number built	~62,000
Variants	Mk I, Mk II
Specifications
Weight	35 lb (16 kg)
Length	5 ft 2 in (1.575 m)
Barrel length	36 in. (910 mm); Airborne: 30 in. (762 mm)
Cartridge	Kynoch & RG .55 Boys (13.9x99mmB)
Calibre	.551 in (13.9 mm)
Action	Bolt
Rate of fire	~10 round/min
Muzzle velocity	747 (later 884) m/s (2,450.1 ft/s) (2,899.5 ft/s)
Effective range	16-19 mm penetration at 90° 100 yards (91 m)
Feed system	5 round detachable box magazine

Usage

•  United Kingdom
•  Australia – Nicknamed "Charlie the bastard"^{[citation needed]} (because of its heavy recoil compared to other, smaller-calibre rifles at the time)
•  Canada
•  China – some eventually rechambered for .50BMG rounds and used experimentally as sniper rifles
•  Finland – as 14 mm pst kiv/37, during the Winter War and the Continuation War.
•  France - Received a large shipment in exchange for 25mm anti-tank guns.
•  Germany Rifles captured after the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Forces in Norway and France were given the namePanzerbüchse Boyes in German service.
•  Ireland
•  New Zealand
•  Philippines – Used by the Philippine Army and Philippine Constabulary during the Second World War and the Hukbalahap Rebellion
•  United States – Used by the US Marine Corps and nicknamed the "Elephant Gun", for its weight and recoil
•  USSR The Soviet Union received 3,200 Boys rifles via Lend-Lease.