Rocket tube 80

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1950, 1958 and 1980 models
Ammunition for rak tube

The 8.3 cm Raketenrohr 80 (8.3 cm Rak Rohr 80) was a reusable anti-tank weapon introduced in 1980 by the Swiss Army .

origin

The rocket tube 80 was a Swiss license production of the RL-83 Blindicide of the Belgian company Mecar SA. Introduced in earlier versions in 1950/58, with 20,000 units it was the most widely used anti-tank weapon in Army 61 .

Characteristic

The rocket tube 80 was primarily a weapon for combating armored targets. The practical shooting distance was 210 m for moving targets and up to 300 m for stationary targets. Similar to the rocket armored rifle 54 , the rocket tube 80 was a pure rocket weapon, the propellant was used to propel the projectile even during the flight. Shaped charge projectiles and lighting rockets were fired from behind . As a special feature, the mountain troops were given a special pole sight that enabled the rocket tube 80 to be used to detonate an avalanche .

Technical specifications

The rocket tube 80 consisted of a launch tube made of aluminum and a removable protective shield.

  • Caliber: 83 mm
  • Length: 1300 mm
  • Weight: 8.25 kg

Burn closure speeds:

  • Shaped charge projectile: 200 m / s
  • Lighting rocket: 115 m / s

Armored steel penetration:

  • Full block: at least 300 mm

commitment

The deployment took place in a squad of two soldiers. One soldier as a rifleman, the second as a loader. The loader was also responsible for the missile transport. Four rockets were carried in a backpack. The performance standard stipulated that when ready to fire with three shots, a target had to be hit three times in 20 seconds, or three targets had to be hit once in 30 seconds.

The group leader led the two rocket tube troops of his group in parallel. The two squads were distinguished by position numbers 34 and 56 in the group. The goal, its distance and speed were given by the group leader. The shooter responded with the chosen sight, the vertical breakpoint and the horizontal lead. After approval or correction by the group leader, the selected target was fought independently by the shooter until the target was destroyed.

Example of a squad 56 fire control:

situation Fire control group leader Acknowledgment of contactors
Tanks in the house area, 150 m away, traveling at about 30 km / h 56, Panzer Haus, 150 meters, 30 15, middle, half forward
56, fire at will!

safety

Space behind the gun

When the rocket was launched, the drive cover and the ignition sleeve were ejected from the rear of the rocket tube. The ignition sleeve consisted of an aluminum tube about 10 cm long and 1 cm in outside diameter. Due to the high kinetic energy of the detonator sleeve, no one was allowed to be in a space 8 meters wide and 50 meters deep behind the rocket tube. This could lead to problems, especially when swiveling the weapon as a result of a target change, if the loader did not pay enough attention to the position of his legs.

Premature launch

The rocket tube had two safety levers for safety reasons. One for the shooter on the trigger and one for the loader at the end of the barrel, the so-called locking lever. As long as there was no fire, the locking lever was in position S for safe or L for loading. There were repeated accidents when the loader left the locking lever on F for fire and not on L while loading . This enabled the gunner to fire again during the loading process, which resulted in severe burns on the loader's hands when the rocket propellant ignited.

Rak badge

Due to the slight curvature of the protective shield, the jet of fire from the rocket was deflected downwards and the rocket tube 80 was torn slightly upwards. If the shooter was too close to the hole sight with his face, this was struck in the forehead between his eyebrows, which usually led to a laceration - the rak badge - which had to be sewn with two stitches.

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