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piat
PIAT anti-tank grenade launcher, unloaded, left side view
PIAT anti-tank grenade launcher, loaded, right side view
HEAT (Anti-tank) projectile (bomb, grenade) for PIAT launcher
British soldier aiming PIAT anti-tank grenade launcher
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Caliber |
83 mm / 3.25”
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Type |
Spigot launcher
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Overall length |
990 mm
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Weight |
14.5 kg empty
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Max. effective range |
~100 meters
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Armor penetration |
75-100 mm / 90o
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The British PIAT anti-tank grenade launcher was developed during the early stages of WW2 by Maj. Jefferis as inexpensive, lightweight self-cocking anti-tank launcher (“projector” in contemporary British terminology) that could throw HEAT projectile (“bomb”) to extended ranges and with decent accuracy. Its design was based on the so-called Blacker bombard, which also featured spigot type design. PIAT was manufactured in significant numbers by British company Imperial Chemical Industries, and used by UKand Commonwealth forces as light anti-tank and infantry support weapon since about 1943 and through WW2 and Korean war. The PIAT was indigenous weapon, simple and inexpensive, but also rather heavy (compared, for example, to US-made Bazooka rocket launchers) and with unusual and uncomfortable cocking procedure for first shot. It also produced heavy recoil when fired. Its positive features included lack of dangerous backblast and muzzle flash.
The PIAT anti-tank grenade launcher uses so called spigot principle, in which the simple “barrel” for propelling charge is formed as the long, tubular tail of the projectile. Total weight of the HEAT bomb is about 1,2 kg (2.6 lbs), muzzle velocity is about 80 m/s. The tail of the projectile is open from the rear, and the launching charge (made in the form of a special blank cartridge) is loaded into the closed front of the tail tube at the factory. Upon discharge, long and heavy striker (spigot) enters the projectile tail from the rear, powered by large and very powerful spring. Spigot passes through the tubular tail until firing pin on its forward end strikes the launching cartridge, setting its charge off. The pressure of powder gases pushes the projectile forward, while at the same time, throwing the spigot rod rearward, compressing its spring until the spigot is self-cocked by the sear, making it ready for the next discharge. Cocking of spigot for the first shot is achieved by placing both feet against the shoulder rest of the weapon and pulling the weapon up by the trigger guard. The movable shoulder rest is connected to the spigot and cocks it when pulled. This procedure requires a lot of muscular strength. After first shot, spigot is recocked automatically due to the recoil blast. In combat situations, PIAT was normally carried cocked and with safety on, unloaded. The projectile, which has large diameter warhead, is loaded into the open-top tray at the front of the weapon. PIAT was normally fired from the ground, using integral folding support of “inverted T” or “A” shape. Aiming was achieved by using folding iron sights of aperture type, with two or three apertures in rear sight blade (for 50, 80 and 110 or 70 and 100 yards ranges).
PIAT projectiles (“bombs”) were available in three basic types – HEAT, White Phosphor and inert (for practice). Bombs were supplied pre-loaded with launching cartridge, loaded into cardboard containers of round shape.
HK GMG grenade launcher / machine gun (Germany)
HK GMG on tripod (high position) with ammunition box; note that ammunition canbe fed from either side.
image: Heckler-Koch
Caliber: 40x53mm High Velocity
Type: blowback operated, belt fed automatic grenade launcher
Overall length: 1180 mm
Weight: 28.8 kg gun body plus 10.7 kg tripod and 8 kg softmount
Effective range: up to 1500 meters against point targets, up to 2200 mmaximum
Rate of fire: 350 rounds per minute
The GMG (Grenade MaschinenGewehr in German or Grenade Machine
Gun in English) was initiated by the famous German Heckler-Koch company
as a private venture in around 1992. Bundeswehr (German army) commenced
trials of GMG in1995, and by now it is in use by German army, and is
also offered for export.
HK GMG is air cooled, belt fed, blowback operated grenade machine gun / launcher.It fires
from open bolt and uses advanced primer ignition to decrease the peak
recoil. Feed is using NATO-standard disintegrating belts; feed unit can
be easily set up to fed belt from either side of the weapon. Cradle for
standard ammunition boxes is attached to the mount; standard box holds
32 linked rounds and weights about 19 kg loaded. GMG can fire in single
shots or bursts; fire mode is controlled by the safety / fire selector
switch. Gun controls includes pade grips at the rear of the receiver
with the trigger between. GMG is attached to special tripod or US M3
tripod through proprietary soft mount, which also carries additional
trigger and horizontal spade grips, shoulder rod and sight mountings.
GMG can be fitted with a variety of day and night sights;backup iron
sights are provided by default.
AG36 / AG-C / EGLM / XM320 grenade launcher (Germany)
HK AG36 grenade launcher, with the breech opened for reloading.
AG36 grenade launcher in action with Spanish soldier, mounted under the HK G36Erifle.
Caliber: 40x46mm
Type: single shot
Overall length: 348 mm
Weight: 1.5 kg unloaded
Effective range: up to 400 m area targets; up to 150 m point targets
The AG36 grenade launcher has been developed by the famous German
company Heckler& Koch as a replacement for its previous add-on 40mm
grenade launcher, the HK79. The initial platform (host rifle) for AG36 was the HK G36 assault rifle,which is now in service with German and Spanish armies. Later on, the AG36 hasbeen adopted to British L85A2 assault rifle, and to Diemaco C7A1 assault rifle,which
is in service with Dutch army. The latest version of the AG36 is the
AG-C/ EGLM (Enhanced Grenade Launcher Module), a modification which can
be mounted on the M16A4 assault rifles and M4 carbines using Picatinny type rails
under the forend. A version of the AG-C grenade launcher, known as
XM320, is now considered by the US Army as a possible replacement to the
venerable M203
underbarrel launcher under the OICW Block 1 program. If it will be
adopted, it then would receive the M320 designation. A special kit is
available to convert AG36 into a stand-alone weapon. This kit includes a
detachable shoulder stock.
AG36is a single shot, break open weapon. The barrel opens by unlocking
and swinging its breach to the left. This allows the operator to use
projectiles of any length, including extra-long less-lethal 'baton' and
tear gas warheads. The trigger of AG36 is of double-action only type,
and it is provided with ambidextrous manual safety. Standard sight is of
ladder type, with electronic rangefinding sight being developed for
future precision applications. AG36 canfire all standard types of 40x46
mm 'low velocity' grenades.
HK79 40mm underbarrel grenade launcher (Germany)
HK79 grenade launcher, mounted on the 7.62mm HK G3 rifle.
Caliber: 40mm (40x46)
Overall length: n/a
Weight: 1.5 kg unloaded
Effective range: up to 150 meters point target, up to 350 meters area targets
The HK79 underbarrel grenade launcher has been developed by the famous company Heckler-Koch from Germany. This add-on launcher was mounted on 7.62mm G3 and 5.56mm HK33 and G41 rifles, developed by the same company, and is (or was) in service with armed forces of Germany, Norway and few other countries.
HK69 is a single shot, breech-loading add-on weapon with rifled barrel. The barrel is made of steel,
and is hinged to the launcher frame at the front, to be tipped down at
the rear for loading and unloading. The single-action firing mechanism
has manually cocked action and manual safety, located at the rear of the
launcher. The button-shaped trigger is located at the left side of the
launcher frame, above the barrel. Rear sight of ladder type is marked
from 50 to 350 meters, and is clamped onto the top of the host rifle
receiver. The HK79 can fire all types of 40mm low-velocity ammunition,
including the HE-FRAG, HE-DP, smoke, illuminating and various
less-lethal (tear gas canister, rubber baton) rounds.
HK69 40mm grenade launcher (Germany)
HK69 grenade launcher, with shoulder stock retracted; short-range rear sight in ready position.
image courtesy www.autoweapons.com
Caliber: 40mm (40x46)
Overall length: 683 mm with stock extended; 463 mm with stock retracted
Weight: 2.76 kg unloaded
Effective range: up to 150 meters point target, up to 350 meters area targets
The HK69 grenade launcher has been developed by the famous company
Heckler-Koch from Germany. This launcher has been adopted by the
Bundeswehr (German army) in 1974 as the "Granatpistole 40 mm", or "GraPi
40mm" in short. This weapon is also offered for export under its
original name, the HK69.
HK69 is a single shot, breech-loading weapon with rifled barrel. The
barrel is made of steel, and is hinged to the receiver to be tipped up
at the rear for loading and unloading. The single-action firing
mechanism has an exposed hammer and ambidextrous manual safety, located
above the trigger. The barrel latch, which unlocks the barrel for
reloading, is located next to the hammer but operates independently, so
the launcher could be safely reloaded with the hammer down, and the
hammer can be cocked later at necessary moment. The launcher is fitted
with polymer pistol grip and with retractable shoulder stock with rubber
buttpad. The sights consist of a front blade and a folding-down ladder
sight, graduated from 50 to 400 meters in 50m increments, with
additional "short-range" flip up rear sight, graduated for 50 and 100
meters range. The HK69 can fire all types of 40mm low-velocity
ammunition, including the HE-FRAG, HE-DP, smoke, illuminating and
various less-lethal (tear gas canister, rubber baton) rounds.
Metal Storm multi-shot grenade launcher (Australia)
Diagram of the Metal Storm 40mm 3-shot grenade launcher, mounted above the F88 (Steyr AUG) rifle.
Note the electronic fire control module, loaced in the butt of the rifle.
Caliber: 40mm (others possible)
Type: stacked-projectile, caseless multishot system
Overall length: n/a
Weight: n/a
Effective range: up to 400 m
Capacity: 3 shots (current 40mm model, single barrel)
The Metal Storm grenade launching system is a radical step from most
conventional firearms. Using the ancient principle of an "Roman candle",
Metal Storm weapon systems currently are promoted in a variety of
calibers and applications. One of such applications is the 40mm,
multi-shot grenade launcher, that could be either mounted on the
infantry rifle to create an enchanced-capability infantry weapon like
the Australian AICW system, or to be mounted on stationary or vehicle platforms in multi-barrel configurations.
Key advantage of Metal Storm system is its mechanic simplicity. In
fact, the standard Metal Storm grenade launching unit is no more than a
single rifled barrel, loaded with several projectiles, stacked one upon
the another. There are no loading mechanisms, no feed units nor
magazines or belts
- each barrel is a magazine itself. Projectiles are fired using powder
charges, located in the hollow hase of each projectile, and there's no
case left to extract
and eject after each shot;Powder is ignited by the electric ignition
system, wired to the electrinic fire control module through small ports
in the wall of the barrel. When user press the firing button or trigger,
electronic fire control module sends the ignition impulse to the charge
of the foremost projectile in the stack; when trigger is pressed for
the second time, module ignites the second charge and then next, until
barrel is empty. Once all the rounds in the barrel are shoot out, it can
be removed from the host and then either collected and later sent to
factory for reloading, or simply discarded.
Current 40mm grenade launching module, developed for the AICW rifle/GL system, contains three grenades stacked one in front of another in single barrel. Each barrel has an electronic interface which is connected to the fire control unit, built into the host platform. This is about the simplest systems, at least from the operator's point of view (from developer's point of view, there's plenty of complications and difficulties, most of which seems to be already overcome).However, there is one drawback when Metal Storm system is compared to existing mechanically or manually reloaded systems - latter systems still can be fired once batteries are dry; Metal Storm always require some sort of electric power to operate. This problem may seem critical, especially for military purposes, but, actually, it is not. For example, several Soviet/Russian anti-tank grenade launchers (like RPG-16 or RPG-29) are built using electric rocket ingnition; necessary electricity is provided by the magneto-impulse generators, powered by the pull of the trigger. Same idea also could be possibly applied to the Metal Storm system.
Current 40mm grenade launching module, developed for the AICW rifle/GL system, contains three grenades stacked one in front of another in single barrel. Each barrel has an electronic interface which is connected to the fire control unit, built into the host platform. This is about the simplest systems, at least from the operator's point of view (from developer's point of view, there's plenty of complications and difficulties, most of which seems to be already overcome).However, there is one drawback when Metal Storm system is compared to existing mechanically or manually reloaded systems - latter systems still can be fired once batteries are dry; Metal Storm always require some sort of electric power to operate. This problem may seem critical, especially for military purposes, but, actually, it is not. For example, several Soviet/Russian anti-tank grenade launchers (like RPG-16 or RPG-29) are built using electric rocket ingnition; necessary electricity is provided by the magneto-impulse generators, powered by the pull of the trigger. Same idea also could be possibly applied to the Metal Storm system.
gm 94
GM-94 grenade launcher in ready position.
GM-94 launcher with barrel opened forward for reloading, and shoulder stockfolded.
Caliber: 43mm
Type: multi-shot, manually reloading, cartridge firing
Overall length: 810 mm (540mm with shoulder stock folded)
Weight: 4.8 kg unloaded
Effective range: up to 300 m
Magazine capacity: 3 rounds
GM-94 grenade launcher is a relatively recent development of famous
Rusian KBP design bureau, located in the city of Tula. It is intended
mostly for various Spetsnaz elements of Russian army, FSB (Federal
Security service) and MVD (Internal Affairs Ministry). GM-94 is a weapon
for urban warfare - its main goal is to provide troops with short and
very short range weapon firing high explosive and non-lethal (tear gas)
shells.It uses proprietary 43mm ammunition, available in several
loadings, with non-fragmenting HE (FAE / thermobaric) warhead,
less-lethal (tear gas canister or rubber slug), and several others. The
key feature of HE warhead is that it is made mostly of plastic, and its
primary kill effect is achieved by the blast (high temperature and high
pressure). Kill radius is said to be about 3 meters, while safe standoff
(minimal range of fire) range is only few meters more. Therefore,such
ammunition can be safely used during room-to-room searches from very
short range, without the danger of hitting the operator or his teammates
with occasional fragments.
GM-94 is manually operated, magazine fed weapon. Tubular magazine holds
three rounds and is located above the barrel. Magazine loading gate is
located at the top of the receiver. The sliding, rifled barrel is
located below the receiver. Breech of the weapon is stationary, and for
reloading barrel is moved forward (to eject spent case), then moved
rearward to load fresh round from magazine above. Barrel is enclosed
into polymer heat shield / handguard. GM-94 is fitted with double-action
trigger and manual safety. Sights are of open type, with flip-up rear.
Shoulder stock is made from steel tube and is fitted with rubber
buttpad. For more compact transportation and storage shoulder stock can
be folded up and forward. In emergency situations GM-94 can be fired
with shoulder stock folded, from off-hand position. Alternatively, GM-94
can be supplied with fixed, skeleton type buttstock made of plastic.
43mm VGM-93 grenade weights about 250 gram and contains up to 160 gram of thermobaric explosive mixture. Muzzle velocity is about 85 m/s. With direct hit,it can destroy armor plates up to 8mm (~1/3 of an inch) thick.
43mm VGM-93 grenade weights about 250 gram and contains up to 160 gram of thermobaric explosive mixture. Muzzle velocity is about 85 m/s. With direct hit,it can destroy armor plates up to 8mm (~1/3 of an inch) thick.
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
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