Watch a Lahti L-39 ( 20mm anti-tank ) rifle destroying an Apple iMac

 Anti Tank rifles were the first attempt at stopping a tank with a portable weapon, quick to reload and "easily" carried by one man.  After moderate success by the German army with the first large calibre anti tank rifle in 1918 it wasn't until 1935 that the secret race begun to produce another more effective rifle, each of the main European armies had their own rifle, most went through a development process and as a result several prototype rifles were manufactured. As WW2 continued various improvements or even radical changes were introduced in an attempt to have an effect on the larger tanks that were already on the scene in 1940. You could argue that the rifles were out classed by tank armour as soon as they left the production line but they still had other uses against lightly armored vehicles or bunkers. It wasn't long before 20mm rifles were in use, however they were much heavier and not quite as portable. This website focuses primarily on these portable rifles below 20mm however I will mention two other interesting developments, the French 25mm Hotchkiss and the German PzB41 28/20mm taper bore gun, although these are verging on small artillery pieces that were usually towed or trailered into position. They were intended to be crew served as they were far too heavy for one man to carry. 

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