Book overview 

As with many advancements in military technology, one covered in this book stands out in importance and effectiveness—the recoilless launcher. Its introduction onto the battlefield changed the dynamics of mechanized and infantry warfare, even in today’s conflicts. The recoilless launcher is a weapon system used to propel a high explosive warhead with the capability to penetrate heavily armored vehicles. It first gained widespread use during World War 2 and has been used ever since, enabling infantry units to effectively combat tanks and armored vehicles. Most recoilless launchers are man-portable and user-friendly.

This book covers the historical context of their introduction, including several examples from various military conflicts across different times and countries. The narrative delves into the principal physics of how a recoilless launcher, propelling charge, high explosives, and many more aspects work, with a primary focus on the Panzerfaust. The author provides an in-depth diary detailing the manufacturing process of a Panzerfaust along with improvised inert warheads for practice firing.

Since its initial release in 2020, the book has been updated to incorporate modernization efforts on the author's Panzerfaust 60. Drawing inspiration from the Panzerfaust-3, a 3D-printed upgrade kit was installed for increased ergonomics and accuracy. Lastly, this second edition of the book explores the research the author conducted on 3D-printed warheads as a viable alternative to traditional metal warheads for practice firing.