Why Didn’t China Import Soviet Anti-Tank Rifles to Deal with Japan’s Lightly Armored Tanks During World War II?

It Wasn’t a Matter of Willingness, but of Capability

During the Sino-Japanese War, Japanese tanks posed a significant challenge for the Chinese army, appearing almost unbeatable!

Despite Japanese tanks being technically inferior with weak firepower, small size, and thin armor, often referred to as “thin-skinned with a big filling,” and having poor infantry-tank coordination, they still wreaked havoc on the Chinese battlefield.

The Chinese army, primarily composed of lightly equipped infantry units, severely lacked heavy weapons, especially anti-tank weapons, among both Nationalist and Communist forces.

When faced with Japanese tanks, soldiers had no choice but to use explosive packs or bundle multiple grenades, sacrificing themselves to destroy the tanks.