Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/861022
Effectiveness of portable single-shot grenade launchers against tanks has decreased, especially when they are hit in the front in sectors -/+ 30 o from central along axis. Besides, in the real com- bat it is rarely expected to have practically perpendicular firing position to the front or side (back) of the tank what means that the warhead mostly hits the armor at some angle, what in most cases mean smaller possibility of penetration by hollow charge. When firing at the light armored vehicles, grenade launcher have been and still are effective, even when hit at some serious angle to the armor. In consequence, according to present assumptions there are other weapon systems to fight tanks on the modern battlefield like other tanks, anti-tanks guided missiles or artillery rounds. Changes of the reality on the battlefield (terrain hardly accessible for vehicles, in urban areas, unconventional warfare) at the same time forced the intensification of ongoing works aimed mainly to increase effectiveness of grenade launchers against targets others than tanks and making them a support weapon with the purpose of destroying defense structures, buildings, unarmored targets and enemy personnel. In response for those requirements manufactures within last year's develop and deploy new types of grenade launchers as well as ammunition for already existing models. Analysis of global trends in infantry weapon systems develop- ment shows that infantry squad on the battlefield come across with many types of targets and needs versatile direct-fire support weapon. Direct fight now does not require highest penetration of front armor of combat vehicles (that even heavy, dozen-ki- lograms warheads won't do, even that more and more vehicles will be equipped with active defense system that will destroy in- coming projectiles and at the same time reduce effectiveness of classic grenade launchers to none), equally for grenade launcher important are: Ä versatility, Ä rapid access, Ä relatively small weight and size of grenade launcher, Ä handiness, Ä simplicity of use That „handy artillery" increase firepower of infantry squad multi- ple times– every soldier can use weapon like this. Portable gre- nade launchers provides fire team significant self-sufficiency and ability to execute tasks without fire support and that at short dis- tances is often impossible because risk of blue-on-blue/friendly fire. Polish armed forces is currently using two types of shoulder-fired grenade launchers (not including types used by airborne and special forces units). These are Russian RPG-7 and Polish one- shot RPG-76 Komar. Polish army has in stock less than 2000 of RPG-7/7N and RPG-7W/7WN (N – version adapted for mounting night vision sights). First RPG-7 were issued in 1964 and to this day it is primary infantry anti-tank weapon. RPG-7 has two man crew: gunner with RPG-7 and crew member that carry additional rounds – both also carry their personal firearms. The old cumula- tive ammunition with effective range 500 meters and penetration approx. 330 mm RHA is used. Second model is Polish-made RPG-76 Komar designed in the 1970s and officially adopted in 1983. RPG-76 is not standard service weapon and it is issued accordingly to the requirements. Rocket propelled grenade PG-76 has penetration rate approx. 260 mm RHA. There are approx. 90,000 of those grenade launchers in stock. Both RPG-7 and RPG-76 were used by Polish forc- es deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2004-2014, where were used mainly to destroy enemy strong points. They were evaluated as "satisfactory effec- tive". The upgrade kits for both models there were developed. For RPG-76 it was about installation of self-destroying primer, but proposition of RPG-7 upgrade was major and coincide with works con- ducted widely in the world. Before 1989, in Poland was constructed a new type of shaped charge warhead with parameters were similar to Russian PG-WŁ single shaped charge warhead, while in the 2003-2008 on the base of previous experiences, in the cooperation with Bulgaria and German Dynamit Nobel Defence GmbH, there was developed a new ammunition family for RPG-7. It consisted of: www.fragoutmag.com