Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1150145
The first and most important representative of the family is the RGW90HH, a multi-purpose grenade launcher with dual operation mode: HEAT/HESH. The 90 mm caliber variant comes in 1,000 mm of length in transport position, weighs 9 kg, and offers a range of firing at stationary targets of up to 500 m, with the minimum range of 20 m. HEAT mode involves using the fitted probe with a fuse. In this mode, the 85 mm shaped charge warhead is able to handle 420 mm of high-hard steel (HHS) and over 150 mm of semi-hard steel (HHS) placed behind it. The manufacturer declares 550 mm of RHA in this context. The declared per- formance makes it possible to combat tanks of almost any type by strik- ing them from the side of the turret and hull – provided that they're not shielded with heavy ERA. It is also enough to fight IFVs (again, without heavy ERAs) and APCs effectively. If the grenade is fired without extend- ing the probe with the fuse, the projectile will act like a standard HESH, able to pierce a hole of the inside diameter of 40x40 cm in a 30 cm-thick triple brick wall. A significant feature of the RGW90HH is its rocket en- gine, which guarantees velocity of 220 m/s at a distance of even 500 m. As a result, accurate firing is possible even in strong wind. The time to reach 300 m is only 1.2 s, which makes it possible to hit moving targets effectively as well. Next is the RGW90HH-T. It weighs 8 kg, and its length in firing mode (with extended precursor) is 1,150 mm. Its distinguishing feature is an im- proved shaped charge warhead able to deal with reactive armors thanks to an extended precursor with an additional charge. The armor piercing ca- pacity of the RGW90HH-T is over 700 mm of steel and over 600 mm behind an ERA tiles. If we relate it to the diameter of the shaped charge liner, we get over 8.3 times of its caliber – which is an excellent result, overshadowing e.g. the Soviet/Russian RPG-29. This version is able to combat other targets as well – like the HH variant – thanks to the selectable mode of operation. Another option is the RGW 90ASM designed to combat targets in en- closed spaces or positioned behind field fortifications. Its projectile is composed of two warheads – a shaped 90 mm charge precursor, able to pierce a hole of the same inside diameter in a wall, and the main warhead – a HE with a reinforced shell, penetrating inside objects through the hole formed by the precursor. The precursor with the warhead are able to deal with a 16 cm-thick reinforced concrete or an 80 cm-thick wall. The war- head comes with two modes of operation – with a short and long delay. In the former case, a large hole is formed in the wall, and the damage is limited to the hit enclosed space. In the latter case, a pressure wave is generated, able to kill or permanently incapacitate enemy's living forces found present in several rooms adjoining the space that has been hit. Interestingly enough, the RGW 90ASM warhead can be also devastating against light vehicles, APCs, and IFVs featuring simple steel armor since the precursor is able to form a hole in a 20 mm armor, through which the main warhead can penetrate and destroy the vehicle completely. The RGW 90 ILLUM (Illumination) and the RGW90 SMOKE are illu- mination and smoke variants. ILLUM offers a range of 350 to 1,200 m and a target illumination time of over 40 s, illuminating a circle with a radius of 500 m. The SMOKE is yet another example of military newspeak as used in the military industry, making every effort not to admit that what they actually manufacture is incendiary rounds. The RGW90 SMOKE is officially said to offer a range of 20 to 1,200 m, utilizing red phosphorus in the warhead to form a 20 m2 smokescreen for 1.5 s and a 50 m2 smoke- screen for 5 s. It is available for both IR (5 s) and VIS (20–30 s) spectrum. www.fragoutmag.com