Butt Pad - PIAT, (Projector Infantry Anti-Tank), Serial # I-C/A6885, British & Canadian World War II anti-tank weapon. (Part 2). ALSO NOTED AS A MONOPAD. FROM THE 1972 - 1978 ACCESSION REGISTER, IT STATES THAT THIS PART WAS LOST IN 1977 BY THE ROYAL WESTMINSTER REGIMENT. The Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank (PIAT) was a British man-portable anti-tank weapon developed during the Second World War. The PIAT was designed in 1942 in response to the British Army's need for a more effective infantry anti-tank weapon, and entered service in 1943. The PIAT was based on the spigot mortar system, that launched a 2.5 pounds (1.1 kg) bomb using a powerful spring and a cartridge on the tail of the projectile. It possessed an effective range of approximately 115 yards (110 m) in a direct fire anti-tank role, and 350 yards (320 m) in an indirect fire 'house-breaking' role. The PIAT had several advantages over other infantry anti-tank weapons of the period, which included a lack of muzzle smoke to reveal the position of the user, and an inexpensive barrel; however, this was countered by, amongst other things, a difficulty in cocking the weapon, the bruising the user received when firing it, and problems with its penetrative power. The PIAT was first used during the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943, and remained in use with British and Commonwealth forces until the early 1950s. Six members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces received Victoria Crosses for their use of the PIAT in combat. Private E. A. "Smokey" Smith won his Victoria Cross using a PIAT and a Thompson Submachine-gun.