Crossbow (anti-tank weapon)
The crossbow is a recoilless anti-tank hand weapon developed by MBB with its own resources .
history
The development of the crossbow was based on the very obvious shortcomings of the common anti-tank weapons. These can only be fired to a limited extent from closed rooms or even vehicles, as they pose a considerable risk to the rest of the crew. The development of smoke and flames also quickly reveals the position of the shooter. At MBB, attempts were made to overcome these problems in the late 1980s. The result was the crossbow light anti-tank weapon . The crossbow can be fired from vehicles and small spaces. There just needs to be a space of 80 cm behind the shooter. However, since the Bundeswehr gave preference to heavier weapons such as the Panzerfaust 3 and otherwise relied on guided missile systems such as MILAN , the crossbow was only introduced in a few units. Some special forces, such as the American Delta Force , also took over the device. In the early 1990s, the crossbow was used, among others, by the Cambodian Khmer Rouge in their fight against government troops.
Due to the lack of economic success, MBB sold the licenses to produce the weapon in Belgium to PRB and in Singapore to ST Kinetics . The weapon is still produced there today. Production in Germany was stopped.
The Matador family of weapons represents a further development with the same weapon principle but a larger diameter .
technology
Crossbow is a single-use light anti-tank hand weapon. The main difference to other grenade weapons are the 5000 small plastic balls that are attached to the rear end of the barrel as a counterweight. When the projectile is fired, these absorb the thrust of the propellant charge and are thrown backwards out of the barrel. There is therefore only a space of 80 cm behind the shooter. So-called floating pistons prevent the telltale flames and smoke from developing, thus protecting the shooter from early detection. The crossbow is equipped with the LATAM laser target illuminator as standard. This makes the device suitable for night and all weather. A computer-aided, reusable target system can be used to increase the probability of a hit.
A HEAT bullet is mainly used for fighting tanks. But explosive projectiles with or without fragmentation can also be used.
Technical specifications
- Tube caliber: 67 mm (outside)
- Pipe diameter: 75 mm (maximum, outside)
- Bullet diameter: 67 mm
- Tube length: 850 mm
- Bullet length: 450 mm
- Bullet weight: approx. 1 kg
- Weight (total weapon): 6.3 kg
- Minimum distance: 12 m
- effective (maximum) range against vehicles: 300 m (corresponds to approx. 1.5 seconds of flight time)
- effective range against soft targets: 500 m
- Minimum distance: 12 m
- maximum flight distance: 1500 m
- Penetration capacity of hollow charge: 300 mm
- Muzzle velocity: 220 m / s
- Variants: shaped charge projectile, fragmentation warhead, practice ammunition
(summarized, sources manufacturer brochure (see below) and corresponding web article on Bellum.nu)
User states
literature
- Christopher F. Foss , David Miller: Modern combat weapons. Verlag Stocker Schmid, Dietikon 1989, ISBN 3-7276-7092-4 .
- Günter Wollert, Reiner Lidschun, Wilfried Copenhagen : small arms . (1945-1985). In: Illustrated encyclopedia of rifles from around the world . 5th edition. tape 1 + 2 . Brandenburgisches Verlagshaus, Berlin 1988, ISBN 3-89488-057-0 , weapons, p. 119-120, 165 .
Web links
Manufacturer's brochure with drawings, dimensions and performance data (external links)
- Soldier firing crossbow
- Details of crossbow and cut-away drawing
- Details of firing of Crossbow low launch signature
- Details of Armbrust anti-armor and anti-personnel projectiles
Individual evidence
- ↑ MBB Crossbow on www.bellum.nu ( Memento from June 10, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) (English)
- ^ New Straits Times : Khmer Rouge using Missiles made in West. March 12, 1994 (English)
- ↑ MBB Crossbow on www.bellum.nu ( Memento from June 10, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) (English)