Sergeant D. Wilson, Private J. Brunelle, Private A. Munro, all of Highland Light Infantry battalion, on Piat training, during landing and advancing inland exercise in England, 13 April 1944. Photo by Donald I. Grant. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-132894.

The PIAT was a simple, short-range infantry anti-tank weapon made possible by the development of hollow- or shaped-charge projectiles. The PIAT round was propelled by a huge spring and spigot which ignited a cartridge within the tail of the projectile. Heavy and awkward to handle, it was difficult to load and kicked violently when fired. It was, nonetheless, very effective given the right circumstances. On 21 October 1944, for example, Canadian Private E.A. Smith of the Seaforth Highlanders won the Victoria Cross at the Savio River in Italy for an action in which he used a PIAT to destroy a Panther tank at a range of 30 feet before fending off numerous German infantry with a submachine gun.