PTRS 41: The Soviet Semiauto Antitank Rifle (aka an SKS on Steroids)
This video explores the PTRS-41, a Soviet semi-automatic antitank rifle developed during World War II. It highlights the urgent need for such weapons following the Barbarossa invasion and the contributions of designers Degtyarev and Simonov. The PTRS-41, chambered in the powerful 14.5x114mm cartridge, is contrasted with the single-shot PTRD-41, noting its increased firepower but longer production time. The video mentions the weapon's service throughout the war, its post-war storage, and its occasional appearance even today. It also connects the PTRS-41 to the development of Simonov's later SKS rifle, noting the SKS's lineage from this powerful antitank platform. Access to a rare PTRS-41 was provided by the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.













