Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1150145
because the active elements of "conventional" ERAs are too slow to "capture" and distort the shaped charge jet of such a high velocity. Also, the featured precursor was redesigned as well. And this was the improved "armor fist" the ERAWA-2 had to face in 2007. Then, the Panzerfaust managed to pierce through the Polish armor with a loss of penetration capacity equal more or less to the thickness of the tested tile (approx. 100–150 mm) – which meant a total victory of the PzF-3IT600. Meanwhile (1999), a new solution saw the light of day. This solution was the Bunkerfaust, tailored to be used in combat in an urban environment and to destroy fortifications. The youngest member of the family is a typical hand-held anti-tank weapon, but it can be used also to destroy other targets thanks to the specific solutions featured in its ded- icated warhead. The Panzerfaust 3IT600 is a so-called hy- brid grenade launcher. It features a re-usable firing module with a front grip, shoulder rest, trigger, disposable 60 mm tube-launcher, and a 110 mm HEAT super-caliber grenade. In transport position, the launcher with a grenade weighs 10.5 kg and measures 1223 mm in length, and the most advanced sight available (Dynarange) weighs 3.8 kg. If an optical-elec- tronic sight is used, the range of firing at moving targets is said to be 600 m, although in reality it is 400 m – which is still a lot for this class of weapons. The minimum distance of use is only 14 m, and the warhead is to explode as intended even when it hits the armor at an angle of 75° (15° against the horizontal). The warhead itself is a highly sophisticated solution – its main charge is based on a HEAT charge with a liner of about 105 mm in diameter. As the diaphragm has been optimized and there are new types of explosives fea- tured, the warhead is now able to pierce over 900 mm of RHA, meaning almost 8.6 calibers of the liner – which is a significant value. In addition, the shaped charge jet moves at a very high velocity, which makes it possible to deal effec- tively with NERA, ERA, and SLERA armors from early 2000s. The main charge is preceded by a telescopic probe with a fuse and a non-initiating precursor, with other – standard – solutions available as well. In transport position, the probe is found inside the ballistic cap and, partially, inside the liner of the main charge. This position makes it also possible to use the weapon against light targets and buildings. Then, no shaped charge jet is formed, and the entire warhead works like a standard HE warhead. How effective is the PzF-3IT600 warhead? Some light has been shed on its potential in a presentation made public in South Korea, which is, by the way, most certainly Dynamit Nobel GmbH's material. It includes a range of data on the performance of the weapon, along with information that it was designed to deal with T-80Us. Although the photograph of the tank featured in the presentation depicts a T-72B with LAND FORCES