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BAnti-tank weapons
Shoulder-fired recoilless rifle ( crew-served multi-role infantry support gun )
At a glance
Bazookalarger figure on 0 of 1
Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless riflelarger figure on 1 of 1
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
Measured figures
Length
Single source54 in (137 cm)[source]
M2
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | Bazooka | Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle |
|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2, operator and loader[source] | Two (gunner and loader), but may be used by a single operator at a reduced rate of fire.[source] |
| Type | Recoilless rocket anti-tank weapon[source] | Shoulder-fired recoilless rifle ( crew-served multi-role infantry support gun )[source] |
| Place of origin | United States[source] | Sweden[source] |
| In service | 1942–present |
M2 M4/M3A1
Single source(M2) 1,130 mm (44 in) (M4/M3A1) 950 mm (37 in)[source]
Effective; against moving vehicles
Single sourceEffective; against stationary vehicles
Single sourceEffective; using rocket-boosted laser guided ammunition
Single sourceEffective; using smoke and high explosive rounds
Single source350 to 400 m (1,150 to 1,310 ft) against moving vehicles 500 m (1,600 ft) against stationary vehicles 1,000 m (3,300 ft) using smoke and high explosive rounds 2,500 m (8,200 ft) using rocket-boosted laser guided ammunition[source]
Rate of fire
Single source6 rounds per minute[source]
Muzzle velocity
Single source230–255 m/s (750–840 ft/s)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
1948–present[source] |
| Used by | See § Users[source] | See Users[source] |
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| Wars | World War II Chinese Civil War First Indochina War Korean War Algerian War Vietnam War Operation Vantage The Troubles Bay of Pigs Invasion Portuguese Colonial War Rhodesian Bush War Yom Kippur War Lebanese Civil War Iran–Iraq War Falklands War South African Border War[source] | See Wars[source] |
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| Designer | Edward Uhl[source] | Hugo Abramson, Sigfrid Akselson and Harald Jentzen[source] |
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| Designed | 1942[source] | M1: 1946 M2: 1964 M3: 1986 M4: 2014[source] |
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| Produced | June 1942 – May 1945 (2.36 inch Bazookas)[source] | — |
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| No. built | 112,790 (M1) 59,932 (M1A1) 6,087 (M9) 277,819 (M9A1) Unknown (M20) 1,500 (M25)[source] | — |
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| Warhead | M6 or M6A2 shaped charge (3.5 lb, 1.59 kg)[source] | — |
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| Role | man-portable recoilless anti-tank rocket launcher weapon, widely[source] | Swedish-developed 84 mm (3.3 in) caliber shoulder-fired recoilless rifle , initially[source] |
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| Source measurement | During World War II , the German armed forces captured several bazookas in early North African and Eastern Front encounters and soon reverse engineered their own version, increasing the warhead diameter to 8.8 cm (among other minor changes) and widely issuing it as the Raketenpanzerbüchse " Panzerschreck " ("rocket anti-armor rifle 'tank terror ' "). Near the end of the war, the Japanese developed a similar weapon, the Type 4 70 mm AT rocket launcher , which featured a rocket-propelled grenade of a different design. During the Korean War , the M1 and M9 Bazooka series was replaced by the larger caliber M20 Super Bazooka .[source]Bazooka · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Shaped charge technology was developed in the U.S. into a shaped charge anti-tank grenade for use by infantry, effective at defeating up to 60 mm (2.4 in) of vehicle armor .[source]Bazooka · History / Design and development / Shaped charge development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage However, the M10 grenade weighed 3.5 lb (1.6 kg), proving difficult to throw by hand and too heavy to be launched as a rifle grenade .[source]Bazooka · History / Design and development / Shaped charge development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage At the launcher's first firing test, Uhl wore a welding helmet , but discovered that there was not enough exhaust from the rocket to require protective equipment. The prototype launcher was demonstrated in May 1942 at a competitive trial of various types of spigot mortars at Aberdeen Proving Ground. On the morning of the trial Skinner and Uhl realised that the launcher had no sights, so they improvised some from a wire coathanger; despite this, it was the only weapon in the trial to be able to hit a moving tank. This led to the launcher being demonstrated to General George C. Marshall , the Chief of Staff of the United States Army , who ordered 5,000 units on the spot. By late 1942, the improved Rocket launcher, M1A1 was introduced. The forward hand grip was deleted, and the design simplified. The production M1A1 was 55 inches (1.37 m) long and weighed 12.75 pounds (5.8 kg).[source]Bazooka · History / Design and development / Rocket-borne shaped charge weapons development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The 2.36 inch (60 mm) smoke rocket M10 and its improved subvariants (M10A1, M10A2, M10A4) used the rocket motor and fin assembly of the M6A1, but replaced the anti-tank warhead with a white phosphorus (WP) smoke head. WP smoke not only acts as a visibility screen, but its burning particles can cause severe injuries to skin. The M10 was therefore used to mark targets, to blind enemy gunners or vehicle drivers, or to drive troops out of bunkers and dugouts. The 2.36-inch incendiary rocket T31 was an M10 variant with an incendiary warhead designed to ignite fires in enemy-held structures and unarmored vehicles, or to destroy combustible supplies, ammunition, and materiel ; it was not often utilized.[source]Bazooka · History / Design and development / Rocket-borne shaped charge weapons development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The original M6 and M6A1 rockets used in the M1 and M1A1 launchers had pointed noses, which were found to cause deflection from the target at low impact angles. In late 1943, another 2.36-in rocket type was adopted, the M6A3, for use with the newly standardized M9 rocket launcher. The M6A3 was 19.4 inches (493 mm) long, and weighed 3.38 lb (1.53 kg). It had a blunted, more round nose to improve target effect at low angles, and a new circular fin assembly to improve flight stability. The M6A3 was capable of penetrating 3.5–4 inches (89–102 mm) of armor plate.[source]Bazooka · History / Design and development / Field experience-induced changes; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Battery problems in the early bazookas eventually resulted in replacement of the battery-powered ignition system with a magneto sparker system operated through the trigger. A trigger safety was incorporated into the design that isolated the magneto, preventing misfires that could occur when the trigger was released and the stored charge prematurely fired the rocket. The final major change was the division of the launch tube into two discrete sections, with bayonet-joint attachments. This was done to make the weapon more convenient to carry, particularly for use by airborne forces. The final two-piece launcher was standardized as the M9A1. In September 1944, the fragile folding aperture sight was replaced by a Polaroid optical reflector sight. However, the long list of incorporated modifications increased the launcher's tube length to 61 inches (1.55 m), with an overall empty weight of 14.3 lb (6.5 kg). From its original conception as a relatively light, handy, and disposable weapon, the final M9A1 launcher had become a heavy, clumsy, and relatively complex piece of equipment.[source]Bazooka · History / Design and development / Field experience-induced changes; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage In October 1944, after receiving reports of inadequate combat effect of the M1A1 and M9 launchers and their M6A1 rockets, and after examining captured examples of the German 8.8 cm RPzB 43 and RPzB 54 Panzerschreck , the U.S. Ordnance Corps began development on a new, more powerful anti-tank rocket launcher, the 3.5-inch (90 mm) M20. However, the weapon's design was not completed until after the war and saw no action against an enemy until the Korean War.[source]Bazooka · History / Design and development / Field experience-induced changes; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage In 1945, the U.S. Army's Chemical Warfare Service standardized improved chemical warfare rockets intended for the new M9 and M9A1 launchers, the Army adopted the M26 gas rocket, a cyanogen chloride (CK)-filled warhead for the 2.36-in rocket launcher. CK, a deadly blood agent, was capable of penetrating the protective filter barriers in some gas masks, and was seen as an effective agent against Japanese forces (particularly those hiding in caves or bunkers), whose gas masks lacked the impregnants that would provide protection against the chemical reaction of CK. While stockpiled in US inventory, the CK rocket was never deployed or issued to combat personnel.[source]Bazooka · History / Design and development / Field experience-induced changes; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage During Operation Overlord , the L-4 Grasshopper , a slow monoplane, began to be used in a light anti-armor role by a few U.S. Army artillery spotter units over France; these aircraft were field-outfitted with either two or four bazookas attached to the lift struts . Upon arriving in France in 1944, Major Charles Carpenter , an Army aviator flying liaison and spotter light planes, was issued a new L-4H version during the concluding stages of Overlord, taking this "light attack" role against German armor by himself. With a 150-pound pilot and no radio aboard, the L-4H had a combined cargo and passenger weight capacity of approximately 232 pounds. This margin allowed him to eventually mount a total of six Bazookas, three per side on the lift struts as other L-4s had done.[source]Bazooka · History / Design and development / Aviation use; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage In the opening months of the Korean War , in August 1950, a joint U.S. Navy and Marine Corps test used a newly acquired Bell HTL-4 helicopter to test if a bazooka could be fired from a helicopter in flight. One of the larger, 3.5 inch, models of the bazooka was chosen, and was mounted ahead and to the right of the helicopter to allow the door to remain clear. The bazooka was successfully tested, although it was discovered that it would require shielding for the engine compartment, which was exposed in the model 47 and other early helicopters. The helicopter itself belonged to HMX-1, a marine experimental helicopter squadron.[source]Bazooka · History / Design and development / Aviation use; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage When the existence of the bazooka was revealed to the American public, official press releases for the first two years stated that it "packed the wallop of a 155 mm cannon"—a great exaggeration.[source]Bazooka · History / Operational use / World War II; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage In late 1942, numbers of early-production American M1 Bazookas were captured by German troops from Red Army forces who had been given quantities under Lend-Lease . There were also examples captured during the Operation Torch invasions in the North African Campaign. The Germans promptly developed their own version of the weapon called the Panzerschreck , increasing the diameter of the warhead from 60 mm to 88 mm (2.4 to 3.5 in), which as a result, gave it significantly greater armor penetration. During U.S. trials of the M1, calls for a larger-diameter warhead had also been raised by some ordnance officers but were rejected. Later in the war, after participating in an armor penetration test involving a German Panther tank using both the Raketenpanzerbüchse , or RPzB 54 Panzerschreck and the U.S. M9 Bazooka, Corporal Donald E. Lewis of the U.S. Army informed his superiors that the Panzerschreck was "far superior to the American Bazooka": 'I was so favorably impressed [by the Panzerschreck ] I was ready to take after the Krauts with their own weapon.'[source]Bazooka · History / Operational use / World War II; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Even the heavy King Tiger tank only possessed hull and turret top armor of 44 mm ( 1 + 3 ⁄ 4 in) thickness at best, which the bazooka's shaped-charge rocket could pierce.[source]Bazooka · History / Operational use / World War II; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage A larger, 3.5 in (89 mm) model was adopted, the M20 "Super Bazooka".[source]Bazooka · History / Operational use / Korean War; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The M20 weighed 14.3 pounds (6.5 kg) and fired a hollow shaped-charge 9 lb (4 kg) M28A2 HEAT rocket when used in an anti-tank role.[source]Bazooka · History / Operational use / Korean War; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Johnson in the years following World War II effectively canceled the intended widespread issue of the M20, and initial U.S. forces deploying to Korea were armed solely with the M9/M9A1 2.36-in. launcher and old stockpiled World War II inventories of M6A3 rocket ammunition.[source]Bazooka · History / Operational use / Korean War; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage At the outbreak of the Korean War , the South Korean military had 1,958 M9A1 rocket launchers that were given by the U.S. Forces Korea during the withdrawal in 1948 to 1949, the only anti-tank firearms that the South Koreans had secured in sufficient quantities. However, the 2.36-inch rocket launcher could not penetrate the front armor of T-34-85s , which were the biggest threat. The South Koreans responded by firing rockets into the side, rear, or tracks through ambushes, but they did not have much effect.[source]Bazooka · History / Operational use / Korean War; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage At the same time, the U.S. military dispatched its first troops to the Korean Peninsula without trusting reports that a 2.36-inch rocket could not destroy North Korean tanks. On July 5, 1950, during the Battle of Osan , Task Force Smith tried to stop North Korean tanks with 2.36-inch rocket launchers and 75 mm recoilless rifles but was overrun by 33 T-34-85s. One of the North Korean T-34s received a total of 22 shots on the side and rear at about 10 meters in distance, but survived.[source]Bazooka · History / Operational use / Korean War; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage On July 8, Colonel Robert R. Martin , commander of the 34th Regiment of the U.S. 24th Infantry Division , was killed while operating a 2.36-inch rocket launcher to prevent North Korean tanks from advancing. Additionally, ordnance authorities received numerous combat reports regarding the failure of the M6A3 warhead to properly detonate upon impact, eventually traced to inventories of rocket ammunition that had deteriorated from numerous years of storage in humid or salt air environments. Therefore, the U.S. Army immediately airlifted a small number of available M20 Super Bazookas from the U.S. mainland. The rockets were deployed during the Battle of Taejon on July 18, and proved their power by destroying a number of North Korean tanks that entered the city on July 20. As a result, the U.S. Army rushed to secure more M20 rockets and was able to hold more than 900 Super Bazookas during the Battle of Pusan Perimeter . The South Korean military also began receiving the M20 in early August, and successfully destroyed four tanks with M20s during their first usage on August 9.[source]Bazooka · History / Operational use / Korean War; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Large numbers of 2.36-inch bazookas that were captured during the Chinese Civil War were employed by the Chinese forces against the American Sherman and Patton tanks, and the Chinese later reverse engineered and produced a copy of the M20 designated the Type 51 . It is considered that the Communist-used bazookas destroyed more tanks than the UN bazookas did.[source]Bazooka · History / Operational use / Korean War; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Used the M6 HEAT and M7 training practice rockets (60 mm warhead)[source]Bazooka · Variants / Rocket launcher, M1 "Bazooka"; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Can penetrate up to 3 inches (76 mm) of armor[source]Bazooka · Variants / Rocket launcher, M1 "Bazooka"; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Velocity of 265 ft/s (81 m/s; 181 mph)[source]Bazooka · Variants / Rocket launcher, M1 "Bazooka"; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Overall length: 54 in (1.4 m).[source]Bazooka · Variants / Rocket launcher, M1 "Bazooka"; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Weight (unloaded): 18 lb (8.2 kg).[source]Bazooka · Variants / Rocket launcher, M1 "Bazooka"; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Overall length: 54.5 inches (1,380 mm)[source]Bazooka · Variants / Rocket launcher, M1A1 "Bazooka"; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Weight (unloaded): 13.26 pounds (6.01 kg)[source]Bazooka · Variants / Rocket launcher, M1A1 "Bazooka"; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Uses the improved M6A3 HEAT, M7A3 practice, and M10 bursting smoke (white phosphorus) rockets (weight: 3.4 lbs., velocity: 265 feet per second)[source]Bazooka · Variants / Rocket launcher, M9 "Bazooka"; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage M6A3 rocket had a blunt, rounded nose rather than the pointed nose of earlier rockets, which had been found to deflect off sloped tank armor, and also had a short cylindrical fixed tailfin which was less prone to bending during transport or rough handling. Could penetrate up to 4 inches (102 mm) of armor[source]Bazooka · Variants / Rocket launcher, M9 "Bazooka"; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Overall length: 61 inches (1,500 mm) fixed / 31.5 inches (800 mm) disassembled[source]Bazooka · Variants / Rocket launcher, M9 "Bazooka"; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Weight (unloaded): 15.14 pounds (6.87 kg)[source]Bazooka · Variants / Rocket launcher, M9 "Bazooka"; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage An optical reflector sight replaced the iron sights beginning in September 1944. The M9A1 supplanted the M9 in production beginning in June 1944. It has an improved coupling mechanism for the launch tube; the overall length is 61.1 in (1.55 m) and 31.5 in (800 mm) when folded. Unloaded weight is 15.87 lb (7.20 kg).[source]Bazooka · Variants / Rocket launcher, M9A1 "Bazooka"; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Weight (unloaded): 10.5 pounds (4.8 kg)[source]Bazooka · Variants / Rocket launcher, M18 "Bazooka"; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Larger, 3.5 in (88.9 mm) caliber, and larger warhead[source]Bazooka · Variants / Rocket launcher, M20 "Super Bazooka"; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Could penetrate up to 11 inches (280 mm) of armor[source]Bazooka · Variants / Rocket launcher, M20 "Super Bazooka"; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Extended range by about 150 m[source]Bazooka · Variants / Rocket launcher, M20 "Super Bazooka"; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The Blindicide is not a direct derivative of the M20 design, being smaller caliber (83 mm not 88.9 mm). The aluminum launch tube is externally reinforced with glass reinforced plastic.[source]Bazooka · Variants / RL-83 Blindicide; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Length: 54 in (137 cm)[source]Bazooka · Specifications / M1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Caliber: 2.36 in (60 mm)[source]Bazooka · Specifications / M1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Weight: 13 lb (5.9 kg)[source]Bazooka · Specifications / M1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Warhead: M6 or M6A2 shaped charge (3.5 lb, 1.59 kg)[source]Bazooka · Specifications / M1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Range Maximum: 400 yards (370 m) Effective: (claimed) 150 yards (140 m)[source]Bazooka · Specifications / M1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Weight: 12.75 lb (5.8 kg)[source]Bazooka · Specifications / M1A1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Warhead: M6A1 or M6A3 shaped charge (3.5 lb, 1.59 kg)[source]Bazooka · Specifications / M1A1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Length: 61 in (155 cm)[source]Bazooka · Specifications / M9/M9A1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Weight: 14.3 lb (6.5 kg)[source]Bazooka · Specifications / M9/M9A1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Warhead: M6A3 shaped charge (3.5 lb, 1.59 kg)[source]Bazooka · Specifications / M9/M9A1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Range Maximum: 400–500 yards (370–460 m) Effective: (claimed) 120 yards (110 m)[source]Bazooka · Specifications / M9/M9A1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Length (when assembled for firing): 60 in (1,524 mm)[source]Bazooka · Specifications / M20A1/A1B1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Caliber: 3.5 in (90 mm)[source]Bazooka · Specifications / M20A1/A1B1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Weight (unloaded): M20A1: 14.3 lb (6.5 kg); M20A1B1: 13 lb (5.9 kg)[source]Bazooka · Specifications / M20A1/A1B1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Warhead: M28A2 HEAT (9 lb) or T127E3/M30 WP (8.96 lb)[source]Bazooka · Specifications / M20A1/A1B1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Range Maximum: 1000 yd (913 m) Effective (stationary target/moving target): 300 yd (270 m) / 200 yd (180 m)[source]Bazooka · Specifications / M20A1/A1B1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage | The Carl Gustaf 84 mm recoilless rifle ( Swedish pronunciation: [kɑːɭ ˈɡɵ̂sːtav] , named after Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori , which initially produced it) is a Swedish-developed 84 mm (3.3 in) caliber shoulder-fired recoilless rifle , initially developed by the Royal Swedish Army Materiel Administration during the second half of the 1940s as a crew-served man-portable infantry support gun for close-range multi-role anti-armour , anti-personnel , battlefield illumination , smoke screening and marking fire, which has seen great export success around the globe and continues to be a popular multi-purpose support weapon in use by many nations. The Carl Gustaf 84 mm recoilless rifle is a lightweight, low-cost weapon that uses a wide range of ammunition, which makes it extremely flexible and suitable for a wide variety of roles.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Development of the initial model started from 1946 as one of the many recoilless rifle designs of that era, based on the experience from the earlier Carl Gustaf 20 mm recoilless rifle and the success of man-portable rocket launchers during World War II , such as the bazooka and Panzerschreck . Production of the initial model was handled by Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori led by Försvarets Fabriksverk (FFV) and the weapon received the designation 8,4 cm granatgevär m/48 , ( 8,4 cm grg m/48 – "8,4 cm grenade rifle", model 1948) in Swedish service. FFV would continue to further develop the weapon for the international market, later being merged into Saab Bofors Dynamics which handles development and export today. While similar weapons have generally disappeared from service, the Carl Gustaf is still in production and remains in widespread use.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage In Swedish military service, it is officially known as the 8,4 cm granatgevär m/48 , m/86 and m/18 , depending on the model (M1, M3, M4), but is often simply referred to as the "GRG" (gé-er-gé) after their type designation abbreviation (from granatgevär , meaning "grenade rifle"), since all models fire the same general ammunition and are used in much the same way (although the 84 mm grg m/18 can use programmable and guided ammunition).[source] |
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| Manufacturer | — | Saab Bofors Dynamics (formerly Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori), Howa (license)[source] |
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| Unit cost | — | US$20,000 Ammo cost: US$500–3,000 per round[source] |
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| Cartridge | — | 84 × 245 mm R RCL[source] |
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| Action | — | Recoilless , single-shot , breechloader , laterally, percussion fired[source] |
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| Feed system | — | Hinged breech[source] |
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| Sights | — | Open (iron) sights; optical 3× laser rangefinder ; image intensification system[source] |
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| Former operator · Netherlands | — | Netherlands[source] |
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| Former operator · Singapore | — | Singapore[source] |
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| Country of origin | — | Sweden[source]Inventory Origin column; table 7, row 4, cell 3; revision 1377349156; retrieved 2026-10-02 |
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The overpressure, or blast wave , generated by the Gustaf will cause blast- and burn-related injuries to those behind the weapon, and is dangerous to 30 metres (100 ft) and hazardous to about 50 to 75 metres (160 to 250 ft). Repeatedly firing the Gustaf can also cause related shock wave injuries to gunners and those nearby.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Description / Safety precautions; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Carl Gustaf 20 mm recoilless rifle – 1942 (Swedish designation: 20 mm pansarvärnsgevär m/42)[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 1946 – M1 in Sweden (8,4 cm grg m/48); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Carl Gustaf 37 mm recoilless rifle – 1943 (Swedish designation: 37 mm granatgevär fm/43)[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 1946 – M1 in Sweden (8,4 cm grg m/48); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Carl Gustaf 47 mm recoilless rifle – 1945 (Swedish designation: 47 mm granatgevär fm/45)[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 1946 – M1 in Sweden (8,4 cm grg m/48); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Carl Gustaf 84 mm recoilless rifle – 1948 (Swedish designation: 84 mm granatgevär m/48)[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 1946 – M1 in Sweden (8,4 cm grg m/48); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Despite advances in recoilless rifle technology introduced by the development family, it was quickly discovered that small-bore solid steel penetrators were obsolete for shoulder-fired antitank weapons, thus caliber was gradually increased to focus on multirole shell -type ammunition and the recent advances in shaped charge projectiles. By 1946 a caliber of 84 mm was decided upon (although larger calibers were proposed and tested).[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 1946 – M1 in Sweden (8,4 cm grg m/48); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
The 84 mm weapon was first introduced into Swedish service in 1948 as the 8,4 cm granatgevär m/48 , filling a similar role as the US Army 's bazooka , British PIAT and German Panzerschreck , albeit with a higher focus on multirole and fire support than pure anti-tank warfare . Unlike the aforementioned weapons, however, the 84 mm Carl Gustaf used a rifled barrel for spin-stabilising its rounds, as opposed to fins used by the other systems. Sweden did, however, also adopt a true man-portable anti-tank system around the same time, the 8 cm raketgevär m/49 (fixed) and 8 cm raketgevär m/51 (foldable) rocket launchers, only featuring anti-tank ammunition.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 1946 – M1 in Sweden (8,4 cm grg m/48); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
The use of the recoilless firing system allowed the Gustaf to use ammunition containing considerably more propellant, firing its rounds at 290 m/s (950 ft/s), as opposed to about 105 m/s (340 ft/s) for the Panzerschreck and bazooka and about 75 m/s (250 ft/s) for the PIAT. The result was superior accuracy at longer ranges. The Gustaf can be used to attack larger stationary targets at up to 700 m (2,300 ft), but the relatively low speed of the projectile restricts attacks on moving targets to a range of 400 m (1,300 ft) or less.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 1946 – M1 in Sweden (8,4 cm grg m/48); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
The Carl Gustaf M3 started development in the 1980s and initially entered service with the Swedish Armed Forces as the 8,4 cm granatgevär m/86 ("8,4 cm grenade rifle", model 1986). While similar to the export M3, it shares some spare parts with the original 1948 M1 model. It reduced the weight even further by replacing the forged steel tube with a thin steel liner containing the rifling, strengthened by a carbon fibre outer sleeve. The external steel parts were also replaced with plastics and aluminium alloys.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 1986 – M3 in Sweden (8,4 cm grg m/86); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
The MAAWS M3 is primarily used by United States Special Operations Command such as the Army Rangers , Army Special Forces , Marine Raiders , Navy SEALs , and JSOC operators. When used by the Rangers, the M3 may be referred to as the Ranger Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon System (RAAWS). Army Rangers found the M3 was best employed using a two-man team. One person would carry the launcher and be armed with a pistol for personal protection, and the other would carry 5–6 rounds of ammunition and act as a spotter for the gunner. Although the single-shot AT4 is lighter and can be carried by one person, a Gustaf team with the heavier recoilless rifle can reload and fire more rounds.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 2011 – M3 in US (M3 MAAWS); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
HE 441D RS : High explosive round with air burst capability, 800 6 mm steel pellets, and reduced sensitivity (RS) explosives[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 2011 – M3 in US (M3 MAAWS); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
HE 441E: High explosive with programmable air burst and 4000 3 mm tungsten pellets[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 2011 – M3 in US (M3 MAAWS); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
SCA 553B: Adapter to fire 7.62 mm tracer ammunition for training[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 2011 – M3 in US (M3 MAAWS); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
While the M3 MAAWS provided enhanced effectiveness over other launchers, its 9.5 kg (21 lb) weight burdened troops. On 28 March 2013, USSOCOM announced a call for sources to develop a kit to lighten the weapon and reduce overall length without affecting handling or ruggedness. Saab was already developing a weight-reduced version that demonstrated no decrease in performance, no increase in recoil, and nearly equivalent barrel life that could be ready for testing in 2014. Saab also developed a high-explosive round that has a direct fire range of 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) when using a fire control system.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 2014 – M4 export; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Compared to the M3 MAAWS, the M4 is 3.4 kg (7.5 lb) lighter at 6.6 kg (15 lb), and shorter with a 950 mm (37 in) overall length. The shorter length was in response to the need to wield the weapon in urban terrain, and weight savings were achieved through using lighter components whenever possible including a carbon fibre tube with titanium liner, and a new venturi design. Other new features include a red-dot sight, a travel safety catch to allow the M4 to be carried while loaded, an adjustable shoulder rest and forward grip for improved ergonomics, a shot counter to keep track of how many rounds have been fired to manage the weapon's 1,000-round barrel life, double that of the M3, picatinny rails for grips and sight mounts, and a remote round management function so intelligent sights can communicate with programmable rounds.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 2014 – M4 export; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
In April 2019, a contract of SEK 168 million (US$18.1 million) was approved to supply the Australian Army with ammunition for the Carl-Gustaf M4 84 mm multipurpose weapon systems ordered by the service in September 2018.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 2014 – M4 export; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
By using titanium, it is more than 2.7 kilograms (6 lb) lighter than the 2014 M4 and is also 64 millimetres (2.5 in) shorter.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 2017 – M4 in US (M3A1 MAAWS); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
The M3A1's main sight is the Aimpoint FCS13RE, an advanced fire control system with an integrated laser rangefinder and a modular ballistic computer capable of programming high-explosive air-bursting ammunition (up to 1400 meters) and engaging moving targets (up to 600 meters).[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 2017 – M4 in US (M3A1 MAAWS); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Testing with soldiers and SOF operators during live-fire exercises has demonstrated a hit rate of 90% or higher on both moving targets at 300 meters and stationary targets out to 850 meters, leading to a 60% increase in operational effectiveness compared to the older M3 MAAWS.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 2017 – M4 in US (M3A1 MAAWS); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
In 2018 the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration ( Swedish : Försvarets materielverk , FMV ) signed a contract with Saab to purchase the Carl Gustaf M4 as the 8,4 cm granatgevär m/18 ("8,4 cm grenade rifle", model 2018), often written without the "m/" to distinguish it from older m/18 (model 1918) systems ( 8,4 cm granatgevär 18 , abbr. 8,4 cm grg 18 ). The M4 will replace the old M1 models ( 8,4 cm grg m/48 ) models still in service as some units are pushing 70+ years in service. The 8,4 cm grg 18 will feature an advanced laser rangefinder and will be acquired with new programmable ammunition (preliminary name HE 448 ), and a new, improved HEAT shell.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Development history / 2018 – M4 in Sweden (8,4 cm grg m/18); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
In November 2011, the US Army began ordering the M3 MAAWS for regular units deployed in Afghanistan. Soldiers were being engaged with RPGs at 900 meters, while their light weapons had effective ranges of 500–600 meters. The Gustaf allows airburst capability of troops in defilade out to 1,250 meters, and high-explosive use out to 1,300 meters.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Combat history / 2011–2021: War in Afghanistan; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
In late 2012, the Army fielded 58 M3s and 1,500 rounds of ammunition to units deployed to Afghanistan to destroy enemy targets out to 1,000 meters.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Combat history / 2011–2021: War in Afghanistan; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
This was because RPG and machine gun teams could attack 900 meters away, while existing weaponry such as the M141 Bunker Defeat Munition , M72 LAW , M136 AT4 , and MK153 SMAW have effective ranges of only 500 meters.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Combat history / 2011–2021: War in Afghanistan; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Employing the 10 kg (22 lb) M3 is easier than the 24 kg (50 lb) FGM-148 Javelin with its launcher with missile and reusable command launch unit, is faster than waiting on mortars, and is cheaper than the Javelin and artillery shells for engaging targets in hard cover.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Combat history / 2011–2021: War in Afghanistan; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Since 2022, the Carl Gustaf has been used in combat in the Russian invasion of Ukraine by Ukrainian forces, being used to target both tanks and infantry. According to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense , a Carl Gustaf was used to destroy the first Russian T-90M main battle tank of the war.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Combat history / 2022–: Russian invasion of Ukraine; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
The Carl Gustaf 84 mm recoilless gun fires a 84 × 245 mm rimmed recoilless (84×245R RCL) cartridge with a blowout base for propellant gas ventilation.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Ammunition; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
AEI Systems Ltd., a British defence products manufacturer, offers a variant of the platform dubbed the AE84-RCL designed to fire the M540/M550 line of 84×245 mm R ammunition manufactured in Belgium by Mecar .[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Ammunition; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
FFV441 is an HE round, useful in a "lobbed" trajectory to 1,000 m, which can be fused to either detonate on impact or as an airburst .[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Ammunition; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
FFV441B is an HE round with an effective range against personnel in the open of 1,100 m. The round arms after 20 to 70 m of flight, weighs 3.1 kg, and is fired at a muzzle velocity of 255 m/s.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Ammunition; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
FFV448 is a programmable HE round with a Firebolt interface, 1500m effective range, and 2.7kg weight.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Ammunition; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
FFV469 is a smoke round fired like the FFV441, with a range of about 1,300 m. The 3.1 kg round is also fired at 255 m/s.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Ammunition; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
FFV502 is an HEDP round with the ability to be set to detonate on either impact or one-tenth second later. Effective range is 1,000 m against dispersed soft targets such as infantry in the open, 500 m against stationary targets and 300 m against moving targets. Minimum range is 15 to 40 m to arm the warhead. Penetration exceeds 150 mm of rolled homogeneous armour (RHA). Ammunition weight is 3.3 kg and muzzle velocity is 230 m/s.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Ammunition; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
FFV509 is an ASM (Anti-Structure Munition), designed especially to destroy buildings and other types of urban constructions. The fuse has two modes: impact or a delayed function. The muzzle velocity is approximately 170 m/s and the maximum effective range is 300 meters.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Ammunition; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
FFV545 is an illuminating star shell, fired up to 2,300 m maximum range, but with an effective envelope of 300 to 2,100 m. Suspended by parachute, the star shell burns for 30 seconds while producing 650,000 candela , providing a 400 to 500 m diameter area of illumination.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Ammunition; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
FFV551 is the primary HEAT round and is a rocket-assisted projectile (RAP). Effective range is up to 700 m (400 m against moving targets) and penetration up to 400 mm of RHA. The ammunition weighs 3.2 kg and has a muzzle velocity of 255 m/s. After rocket ignition, the maximum velocity at 500 meters is 330 m/s.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Ammunition; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
FFV551C RS is an evolution of FFV551, with improved Reduced Sensitivity (RS) munition properties and significant behind-armour effect. The ammunition weighs 3.5 kg and has a muzzle velocity of 245 m/s. After rocket ignition, the maximum velocity at 500 meters is 330 m/s. The maximum effective range is 700 meters and the armor penetration is about 400 mm.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Ammunition; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
HEAT 655 CS (Confined Spaces) "high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) round that can be fired by the 84 mm Carl Gustaf recoilless weapon from within small enclosures."[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Ammunition; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
FFV751 is a tandem-warhead HEAT round with an effective range of 500 m and ability to penetrate more than 500 mm of armour. The round weighs 3.8 kg and has a muzzle velocity of 210m/s, while maximum velocity after rocket ignition is 336m/s.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Ammunition; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Guided Multipurpose Munition (GMM) is a laser guided projectile developed between Saab and Raytheon , featuring a multipurpose warhead capable of defeating bunkers and moving light armored vehicles at a range of 2,500 m and can be fired from enclosed spaces.[source]Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle · Ammunition; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage