Boyes' .55 Mk.I Anti-Tank Rifle Guide

Introduction

There are two anti-tank rifles in World War II Online.  The British and French are issued the Boyes' .55 cal Mk.I, which has a larger cartridge but less muzzle velocity.  Despite the Boyes' larger rounds, it's maximum penetration at 100m was 12mm of armor at 30 degrees, whereas the Pz.B 39 could penetrate more than twice that thickness at the same range.  Many Boyes rifles were captured during the Dunkirk evacuation, and it was renamed Panzerbüchse Boyes in German service.

The Boyes. 55 will be available in limited numbers in WWII Online, and will have a rank requirement.

The 13.9mm Boyes .55 Caliber Mk.I

Deploying the Boyes

To use the Boyes you must be laying prone and facing the target. To lay prone, hit the v key on your keyboard, and to deploy the weapon, hit the b key on your keyboard.  The setup time will take a few seconds, and when it's complete your view will be through the weapon's sight. Your arc of fire will be limited by the bi-pod, and is approximately 30 in each direction.  You cannot move from you position once you are deployed, so to re-deploy you must fold up the bi-pod by pressing the b key again, then move to the desired spot and facing your target. Every time you fire the Boyes your stamina will be reduced.  If your stamina is reduced enough you will not be able to fire the weapon until it's refreshed.

To effectively knockout Axis tanks you want to be in close range for most of them, but like all combat the best course of action will be dictated by the circumstances.  To help you better identify and understand your targets weak spots I've created an illustrated guide below.

Axis Tank Weak Spots

Below are the tanks you could engage with the Boyes ATR and expect results.  All the information below is based off of my game experience and a knowledge of armor values vs. the capabilities of the Boyes weapon.  This is by no means a definitive work.  You currently cannot track tanks using an ATR so don't try.  Weapons and engines are hard to critically damage but it can be done.

All penetration spots are assuming your range is 100m or below, the closer the better.

Sd.Kfz.232 : This vehicle is penetrable from all angles in all areas, but hitting something important is the key.  Going for the crew should be your first option, although you can damage the engine after a few well placed shots.  This should be a relatively easy target to disable.

Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. C : This tank is another thin skinned target that can be penetrated from almost any angle except through the front gun mantlet.  Going for the crew is the easiest way to take it out of action, but damaging the engine is possible too through the sides and rear hull.

Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. F : This is a tough tank to kill with your only options being an open driver's slit or the engine through the rear hull.  If neither of these shots are available to you don't bother. 

Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) : From the front this tank can only be penetrated through the driver's slit - open or closed, but I would recommend engaging from the side where you have a lot more penetration options.  Crew kills are, as always, the best. 

Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. H : This vehicle can only be penetrated through an open driver's slit, and with driver's periscopes that isn't something you're going to find very often. 

Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. D : From the front this tank can only be penetrated through the driver's slit - open or closed, but I would recommend engaging from the side where you have a few more penetration options.  This vehicles armor is will test your rifle's penetrating power to it's limit, and a few shots may be required at each mark to penetrate. 

StuGIII Ausf. B : This vehicle can only be penetrated through the lower rear hull where the engine is, and an open driver's slit, which with driver's periscopes isn't something you're going to find very often. From the rear and firing down from an elevated position it is possible to penetrate this vehicles top armor from behind and score a gunner or commander kill.

Sd.Kfz.251 Ausf. C : This tank is another thin skinned target that can be penetrated from almost any angle.  Hitting the driver is best to stop it, and you can kill the gunner through his gun shield if he is deployed.  You can also snipe riders through the upper side armor.

The Boyes .55 Sniper Rifle

With the Boyes .55's muzzle velocity it makes a very good sniping rifle at long range.  While it's not as fast as the Pz.B 39, the sight is easier to use when aiming for smaller targets.  To test this I went to WWII Online Offline Training and used the rifle against targets there.  I'm not the game's foremost marksman, but at 500 meters range I was able to hit the standing man target 3 times out of 5 attempts, and the kneeling man target 4 times out of 5 attempts. This was my first time using the Boyes .55 rifle against infantry, and I must say it makes a very excellent sniping weapon.

As with all information on this site, I welcome scrutiny from the viewers.  If you have information that you think will make this site better please send it to me at tarrif@hotmail.com  I welcome any contributions and give full credit where due.

Sources

World War II Weapons

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