Lahti anti-tank rifle kills?

[338lapua]

My research in the last couple days showed me that only 2 Lahti L-39 anti-tank rifles made it into action during the Winter War, but many more were available for the Continuation War. Do any of you know if there is a record anywhere, (maybe in a Finnish War Museum) of how many tank kills were made this gun? I would suspect it would be limited to like the Soviet T26 tank....or lesser vehicles, because of its 20mm caliber.

[JTV]

My research in the last couple days showed me that only 2 Lahti L-39 anti-tank rifles made it into action during the Winter War, but many more were available for the Continuation War.

The total number of L-39 delivered to Finnish Army was 1.850 guns.

Do any of you know if there is a record anywhere, (maybe in a Finnish War Museum) of how many tank kills were made this gun? I would suspect it would be limited to like the Soviet T26 tank....or lesser vehicles, because of its 20mm caliber.

I doubt such record exists. I don't remember seeing any in Finnish books. Also the largest summaries I have even seen in the archives gave number of knocked out Soviet tanks in area of responsibility of some certain division or army corps during certain time scale - and even these are very rare to find, hence gathering a larger summary by combining these does not seem possible.

All Soviet amphibious tanks, light tanks and fast tanks (BT-series) were vulnerable to this weapon with T-50 being the only notable exception. While not being capable to destroy it, also T-28 had certain vulnerable parts, which would allow damaging it. Tanks like T-34 and KV-1 would have been impossible to knock out with L-39, but some harm could have been done by targeting turret ring.

More info at my website: http://www.jaegerplatoon.net/AT_RIFLES1.htm

Jarkko

[338lapua]

Thanks so much Jarkko. You are a wealth of information in this area. The Winter War and Continuation War histories are the only reason I joined the forum. By the way, your English is excellent.