Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1115818
ÄSMOKE 469C is, in theory, a smoke round based on white phosphorus. The term "smoke round" should be treated rather symboli- cally in this case. The smokescreen effect will occur, of course, but com- bined with the target being struck by burning phosphorus, which also exudes toxic smoke. Since the use of ammunition referred to straight as "incendiary" is limited by many conventions and treaties, the majority of Western countries passes these regulations by using "smoke" ammo containing white phosphorus. It's a highly effective weapon against tar- gets in buildings or behind field fortifications, especially against living force highly prone to being struck by burning (as a result of exposure to air) white phosphorus scattered during projectile explosion; ÄILLUM 545C is a round illuminating the battlefield thanks to a very strong flare falling down for 30 s on a parachute. At present, given the common use of night and thermal vision technology, it can be assumed that this type of ammo will be used sporadically, maybe to "blind" the enemy's night vision solutions, especially those of older type, without appropriate systems protecting the converters. Guided ammo: ÄULM (Ultra Light Missile) – light guided rocket-propelled munition weighing 5 kg and offering a range of 1,500 to 2,000 m. It offers lock-on before launch seeker guidance based on IR contrast between the background and the target. ULMs can be used with CG M3 or MR with a modern optical-electronic sight. The ammunition was developed in response to the needs of US SOCOM. It is a HE-type ammo, but can be also used to fight light-armored vehicles. Practice and training ammo: ÄTP552 ballistic properties correspond to that of most types of 84-mm ammo used with CG; ÄTPT141 features a round with a tracer. Ä553b is a round with a 7.62-mm barrel insert, which makes it possible to practice the full cycle of loading and unloading and firing at a target with no negative impact of the rifle's recoil on the crew operating it. In Sweden, its predecessor was the 9-mm ÖVNVAPEN 4 GRG; Ä the round referred to as "20 mm sub-caliber" is an improved equivalent of the Swedish 20 ÖVNVAPEN 3 GRG and the newer "övningsvapen 5". All of the mentioned types of rounds have a 20-mm barrel insert despite different shapes. The said types of ammu- nition make it possible to practice the complete cycle of handling of the weapon and firing at the target up to the full practical distance of use of anti-tank combat ammunition (500 m). At the same time, the negative impact on the crew operating the weapon is reduced to a minimum; Ä a full-size and -weight mock-up is the last type of "ammunition". Introduced for the purpose of training conscripts, it makes it possible to practice the handling of the weapon at an early stage of their training in a completely safe manner. Carl Gustaf ammunition is carried in double transport cases made of light plastic and featuring a carrying strap on the top. These cases differ in terms of shape and weight, which minimizes the risk of choosing a wrong type of ammunition on the battlefield. What is the Carl Gustaf like? The above description would be incomplete without taking certain spe- cific qualities of the Swedish weapon and its users' remarks into ac- count. First, some functional features are shaped by the very nature of recoilless rifles – the reported disadvantages are common to all such weapons. The main issue is that the rifle needs to be handled by a crew of two. Another thing is the rifle's weight, which is 9.5 kg (M3) or 6.7 kg www.fragoutmag.com