RPG-7

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RPG-7
RPG-7 grenade launcher
general information
Surname: RPG-7
Military designation: 6G3 ( GRAY index )
Country: Russia
Production period: from 1961
Dimensions
Overall length: 1000 mm
Length of tube: 953 mm
Weight:
(unloaded) 		6.30 kg
with optical visor
Weight grenade:
(with maximum equipment) 		2.00 kg
Technical specifications
Caliber tube: 40 mm
Caliber grenade: 85 mm
Functionality: reactive (recoilless)
weapon for firing PG-7
tank
shells
Sight range: 500 m
Effective combat distance: 350 m
Rate of fire: 4-6 rounds / min
Muzzle velocity of
the grenade (V 0 ):		 120 m / s

The RPG-7 is a reactive anti-tank rifle that was developed in the Soviet Union . Due to its simple and reliable construction and its low price, it became the most popular anti-tank weapon in the world. Estimates from 2002 assume that over 9 million units were built.

The abbreviation stands for rutschnoi protiwotankowy granatomjot , Russian ручной противотанковый гранатомёт , in German about hand grenade launcher for anti-tank defense . The English-language “ R ocket- P ropelled G renade” is a backronym .

development

The RPG-7 is the successor to the RPG-2 . The improvements included a second handle, an optical visor, and a conical tube end that acts as a diffuser . It facilitates the escape of combustion gases, reduces the safety distance to be maintained behind the weapon in relation to house or trench walls and reduces recoil.

function

Before firing, the tubular propellant charge is screwed onto the grenade and inserted into the barrel from the front. Then the weapon is cocked, aimed and released. The hammer strikes a firing pin, which hits the detonating capsule integrated in the starting propellant charge and ignites it. The combustion gases drive the grenade out of the barrel, then the self-destructing device ignites and the four stabilizers unfold. After ten meters of flight the solid rocket motor ignites , the grenade is armed and accelerated to about 300 m / s (1080 km / h). If the grenade hits a hard target within four to six seconds, the piezoelectric percussion fuse triggers the detonation. Otherwise, the self-destruct device delay rate will ignite the warhead.

commitment

Afghan National Army soldier fires RPG-7
RPG 7 with combat grenade
Several RPG-7 without grenades from Donbass

The low price and the availability of the weapon in large quantities make it a preferred means of asymmetrical warfare alongside the Kalashnikov .

Although primarily intended for use against armored targets, the RPG-7 can also be used as an improvised anti-aircraft weapon against helicopters , which was first effectively practiced by the mujahideen in Afghanistan against Soviet helicopters. More recently, the US military has lost several helicopters to RPG fire, such as in the Battle of Mogadishu or the Iraq War . 128 American RPG-2 and RPG-7 helicopters were shot down during the Vietnam War . Several Boeing AH-64s and Boeing-Vertol CH-47s were destroyed during the war in Afghanistan and Iraq (see list of aircraft accidents and aircraft being shot down in the Afghan war ). Helicopters and planes were also shot down by RPG during the civil wars and armed conflicts in Africa. B. a South Rhodesian Douglas C-47 in Mozambique on May 30, 1977 and a Libyan Lockheed C-130 in Uganda on April 7, 1979.

effect

The classic warhead of the RPG-7 grenade contains a shaped charge . If the warhead hits a hard object, the explosive effect unfolds in a forward-facing direction and penetrates up to 300 millimeters of armor steel.

Variants have also been developed for use against infantry . A 40 mm fragmentation grenade is designated OG-7W . A warhead like an aerosol bomb was specially designed for urban warfare . This variant, called TBG-7W, first creates a finely divided fuel-air mixture with a small charge, which is then ignited. This results in only a slight pressure effect, but the fuel can penetrate into buildings and roofs and have a great effect there due to the enormous amount of heat generated.

In addition, the RPG is often used by irregular forces as the “little man's artillery”, as the warhead takes about 4.5 seconds to self-destruct. This corresponds to about 1000 m flight distance. The frequently chosen combat distance to open fire in Afghanistan is around 900 m.

Countries of manufacture

The RPG-7 was developed in 1961 in the Soviet Union and u. a. manufactured in series in the Degtjarjowwerk . Soon after, similar models were produced under license in other countries, including the People's Republic of China , Iran , Romania , Pakistan , Bulgaria and, before 1991, Iraq . The designations RPG-16 or RPG-22 also come from these states.

The weapon was produced in large, probably six-digit numbers, is widespread in over 40 countries and is said to be partly traded on the black market.

variants

Practice ammunition for RPG-7

The variants of the RPG-7 mainly differ in terms of their different warheads. In the case of the RPG-7D paratrooper version, the tube can be dismantled into two parts of roughly the same length.

Garnet variants
Country of manufacture Surname Type Weight
(kg) 		Diameter
(mm) 		Range
(m) 		Penetration
(mm RHA ) 		Effective radius
(m)
RussiaRussia Russia PG-7 Monoblock shaped charge 2.3 73 300 280 -
RussiaRussia Russia PG-7M Monoblock shaped charge 1.98 70 300 300 -
RussiaRussia Russia PG-7W Monoblock shaped charge 2.3 85 300 330 -
RussiaRussia Russia PG-7WL Monoblock shaped charge 2.6 93 300 500-550 -
RussiaRussia Russia PG-7WN Monoblock shaped charge - 70 500 400 -
RussiaRussia Russia PG-7WR Tandem shaped charge 4.5 105 200 600-700 -
RussiaRussia Russia OG-7W Splinter 2.1 40 1000 - 150
RussiaRussia Russia TBG-7W Thermobar 4.5 105 300 - 10-15
RomaniaRomania Romania PG-7WM Monoblock shaped charge - 71 500 300-330 -
RomaniaRomania Romania PG-7WS Shaped charge & splinters 2.0 71 500 250 10
RomaniaRomania Romania PG-7PGI Fuel - 70 300 - 6-10
RomaniaRomania Romania PG-7PG-I Fuel - 70 500 - 6-10
BulgariaBulgaria Bulgaria PG-7WLT Tandem shaped charge 2.9 93 300 460 -
BulgariaBulgaria Bulgaria OG-7WM Splinter 2.1 40 700 - 150
BulgariaBulgaria Bulgaria OG-7WM3 Splinter - 40 900 - -
BulgariaBulgaria Bulgaria OG-7G / E Splinter 2.1 40 1000 - 150
BulgariaBulgaria Bulgaria OFG-7WE Splinter 2.1 40 2000 - -
BulgariaBulgaria Bulgaria KO-7W Shaped charge & splinters 2.1 90 260 260 10-15
BulgariaBulgaria Bulgaria GTB-7BG Thermobar 4.7 - 200 - 15th
China People's RepublicPeople's Republic of China People's Republic of China Type 69 Monoblock shaped charge 2.2 85 300 110/65 ° -
China People's RepublicPeople's Republic of China People's Republic of China Type 69-1 Monoblock shaped charge 2.2 85 300 150/65 ° -
China People's RepublicPeople's Republic of China People's Republic of China Type 69-2 Monoblock shaped charge 2.9 94 200 180/65 ° -
China People's RepublicPeople's Republic of China People's Republic of China Type 69-3 Monoblock shaped charge 2.3 94 290 180/65 ° -
China People's RepublicPeople's Republic of China People's Republic of China Type 84 Monoblock shaped charge 1.8 85 350 180/65 ° -
China People's RepublicPeople's Republic of China People's Republic of China Type 84-1 Shaped charge & splinters 2.7 92 1800 150/60 ° 20th
China People's RepublicPeople's Republic of China People's Republic of China Type 84-2 Incendiary material & splinters 2.7 76 1500 - 15th
China People's RepublicPeople's Republic of China People's Republic of China Type 69-1F Splinter 2.1 75 1500 - 15-20
SlovakiaSlovakia Slovakia RPG-7M110 Tandem shaped charge - 110 250 700 -
SlovakiaSlovakia Slovakia RPG-7V110 Incendiary material & splinters - 110 250 - -
IranIran Iran NAFEZ-1 Monoblock shaped charge 2.7 85 350 500 -
IranIran Iran NAFEZ-2 Tandem shaped charge - - 300 350 -
EgyptEgypt Egypt SAKR Cobra Monoblock shaped charge 2.2 - 500 500 -
EgyptEgypt Egypt SAKR PG-7 Monoblock shaped charge 2.3 85 500 260 -

literature

  • Council of Ministers of the GDR: A 250/1/106 40mm anti- tank rifle RPG 7 - description and use . 1978.
  • Dan Shea: The RPG-7 System. (Pdf, 5.22 MB) Raffica special. In: The Small Arms Review, Vol. 10, No.3. December 2006, pp. 22-87 , archived from the original on June 12, 2009 ; accessed on May 27, 2015 .
  • Ilya Shaydurov: Russian close combat equipment: types, technology . 1st edition. Motorbuch, 2017, ISBN 978-3-613-03974-2 , pp. 158 ff .
  • 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. 179, 423-424 .
  • Carlo Kopp: Are Helicopters Vulnerable? (=  Australian Aviation ). March 2005, p. 59–63 ( ausairpower.net [PDF; 449 kB ; accessed on May 31, 2017]).

Web links

Commons : RPG-7  - Collection of Images

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ilya Shaydurov: Russian melee media: types, technology, data . 1st edition. Motorbuch, 2017, ISBN 978-3-613-03974-2 , pp. 160 .
  2. ↑ David Anderson, Douglas Thomson: Analyzing helicopter evasive maneuver effectiveness against rocket-propelled grenades . Ed .: University of Glasgow (=  Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics . No. 37 ). 2014, ISSN  0731-5090 , p. 277–289 ( gla.ac.uk [PDF; accessed May 31, 2017]).
  3. ↑ RPG-7: The Devil's Lance. In: specialoperations.com. Retrieved May 31, 2017 .
  4. ↑ No 3 Squadron, The Rhodesian Air Force. In: rhodesianforces.org. Retrieved May 31, 2017 .
  5. ^ ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-47A-30-DK (DC-3) R3702 Mapai. In: aviation-safety.net. Retrieved May 31, 2017 .
  6. ↑ Hans Joachim Wagner: Modern protection technologies . In: Strategy and Technology . February 2009, ISSN  1860-5311 , p. 29 .