"semi-auto ATGs" Topic

I frequently see descriptions of anti-tank guns that say the gun was semi-automatic. I'm pretty sure they were not self-loading, so what does the term "semi-automatic" mean in this case?

I know on the 37mm Bofors it just means that the breech closes when the round is loaded. You then pull a lever to open the breech and eject the casing, preparatory to inserting the next round.

Actually I think semi-auto ATG are guns that both automatically eject the round after firing and automatically close the breach when he round is loaded.

jdg

From the wiki on the Soviet Zis-3 -

It is a semi-automatic gun with vertical block breech. When firing the block opens and closes automatically, the loader only has to put a round into the receiver.

Similarly from the 75L70 wiki -

The breech operated semi-automatically so that after the gun had fired, the empty shell casing was automatically ejected, and the falling wedge type breech block remained down so that the next round could be loaded. Once the round was loaded the breech closed automatically and the weapon was ready to be fired again.

I have seen a number of other guns so described in various references.

I h

Semi-automatic to me means one pull of the trigger fires one cullet. It is semi because it is loaded with more than one round in a clip. So you do not have to reload after each shot making firing rates faster even with only one bullet per trigger pull.

That was the definition I was given in basic in 1976. We also fired a .30 COAX on a special stand as part of weapon familiarization.
In 1977 I participated in the DRS tests, 1st Cavalry was the divisional Restructurung unit from 1977-80. We did SQT with our scouts and some infantry squads in our unit, armored cavalry, to use the .50 MG as a sniper weapon by putting it on semi-auto setting. In training the guys enjoyed putting the special telescopic sights on them, and fire at a full ammo can about 500 meters away. Those babies were always spot on since their was no recoil with a single round.
As part of the tests there was discussion on replacing the scout TOWs for urban combat with both dragons and recoiled rifles which used the .50 as a spotting round.

Rudy: yes, that's the definition so far as rifles and pistols go, but I knew that most ATGs did not self-load, so wondered how they could be called semi-automatic.

Thanks, all. Makes sense.

I believe the Brits developed a semiautomatic 6lber for use on their MGBs, specifically the Fairmile D dog boats.

I think the Molins gun was full auto.

Good point if they are a bolt action style one shot per pull and you have to reload a new round each time. I am puzzled on the use of the term if it does not use a clip.

Rifle. Atg. Much the same?
Just throw them trails over your shoulder?

Not confusing, because the correct term is semi automatic breech. In other words it only applies to the breech action, not the full cycle. A semi automatic action is were one pull of the trigger fires the gun and reloads the next round ready to fire.

Was going to say that several of the 20mm ATGs were straight-up semi-auto in the rifle sense. Pull the trigger, the gun kicks out the empty case and loads the next round for you.

Italian Solothurn and the Japanese 20mm, at the very least.

For small arms the term semi auto means every time you pull the trigger another bullet comes out. in the US Navy semi-auto meant the 5"/38, where the gun automatically opened the breach and ejected the spent casing then had to be loaded and breach closed manually in order to fire, so faster than the manual guns but slower than full auto, the 5"/54 (plus the 6" in the Worstershire class and 8" in the Des Moines class) where the gun just kept firing as long as you could keep the rotary magazine loaded (and the barrel didn't melt).

Those would be considered AT rifles, as opposed to AT guns, I believe.

The Swiss gun that Tango linked to yesterday or the day before was larger than the ATRs, semi-auto in the rifle sense, and fairly crazy …