RPG-7
Encyclopedia : R : RP : RPG : RPG-7
The RPG-7 (Russian: ) is a widely-produced and used handheld anti-tank grenade launcher designed by the Soviet Union.
Development
The RPG-7 (Ruchnoy [Handheld] Protivotankoviy [Anti-Tank] Granatomet [Grenade Launcher]-7) 6G3, and its predecessor the RPG-2, are man-portable, shoulder-launched rocket propelled grenade weapons. Its ruggedness, simplicity, low cost and effectiveness have made it the most widely used RPG in the world. Currently around forty countries use the weapon and it is manufactured in a number of variants by nine countries. It is also popular with irregular and guerrilla forces, including terrorist organizations. Numerous recent conflicts with such forces have seen extensive use of the RPG-7, including Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
The most commonly seen major variations are the RPG-7D paratrooper model (able to be broken into two parts for more easy carrying), and the lighter Chinese Type 69 RPG.
The RPG-7 was first delivered to the Soviet Army in 1961 and deployed at a squad level. It replaced the RPG-3, having clearly out-performed the intermediate RPG-4 design during testing. Its original design concept originated with two WWII era weapons: the American Bazooka and the German Panzerfaust. The current model produced by Russia is the RPG-7V2, capable of firing standard and dual HEAT, high explosive/fragmentation, and thermobaric warheads (see below), with a UP-7V sighting device fitted (used in tandem with the standard optical sight) to allow the use of extended range ammunition. The RPG-7D3 is the equivalent paratrooper model. Both the RPG-7V2 and RPG-7D3 were adopted by the Russian Army in 2001.
Description
The launcher is based around a simple milled steel tube, 40 mm in diameter, 95.3 cm long, and weighing just 7 kg. The middle is wood wrapped to protect the user from heat and the end is flared to assist in blast shielding and recoil reduction. Sighting is usually optical with an iron sight, but passive infra-red and night-sights are available.
As with similar weapons, the grenade protrudes from the launch tubes. It is larger than a hand grenade (70 - 85 mm in diameter) and weighs between 2.5 and 4.5 kg. It is propelled by a gunpowder booster charge at 115 m/s, which creates a cloud of light grey-blue smoke. The rocket motor ignites after 10 meters and sustains flight out to 500 meters at a maximum velocity of 295 m/s. The grenade is stabilized by two sets of fins that deploy in-flight: one large set on the stablizer pipe to maintain direction and a smaller front set to induce rotation. The grenade can fly up to 1100 meters; the fuze sets the maximum range, usually 920 m.
Accurate firing is difficult over 300 m and with the RPG-7 the phrase "the closer the better" is always true. During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan the Mujahideen tended to use the weapon at ranges of less than 80 m.
Ammunition
The RPG-7 can fire a variety of warheads for anti-armor (HEAT, PG-) or anti-personnel (HE, OG-) purposes, usually fitting with an impact (PIBD) and a 4.5 second fuze. Armor penetration is warhead dependent and ranges from 30 to 60 cm of homogenous steel; two warhead types (PG-7BR and VR) are 'tandem' devices, used to defeat reactive armor with a single shot.
Current production ammunition for the RPG-7V2 consists of three types:
- PG-7VL standard HEAT warhead for most vehicles and fortified targets (93mm)
- PG-7VR dual HEAT warhead for defeating modern heavily armored vehicles (105mm)
- TBG-7V thermobaric warhead for anti-personnel and urban warfare (105mm)
- OG-7V fragmentation warhead for anti-personnel warfare (within caliber due to limitations of international treaties)
Specifications
Manufacturer specifications for the RPG-7V1 provided by [Rosoboronexport] and [Globalsecurity].
- Caliber: 40 mm (1.57")
- Weight: 7 kg (15 lb)
- Length: 95 cm (37")
- PG-7V:
- * Warhead: Single-stage HEAT
- * Round weight: 2.6 kg (5.7 lb)
- * Diameter: 70,5 mm (2.7")
- * Penetration: Over 330 mm RHA (12.9")
- PG-7VL:
- * Warhead: Single-stage HEAT
- * Round weight: 2.6 kg (5.7 lb)
- * Diameter: 93 mm (3.65")
- * Penetration: Over 500 mm RHA (19.5")
- PG-7VR:
- * Warhead: Tandem HEAT
- * Round weight: 4.5 kg (9.9 lb)
- * Diameter: 105 mm (4.1")
- * Penetration: Over 600 mm RHA after reactive armor (23.4")
- OG-7V:
- * Warhead: Fragmentation
- * Round weight: 2 kg (4 lb)
- * Diameter: 40 mm (1.6")
- * Maximum kill area for people wearing body armor: 150 m (492 ft)
- TBG-7V:
- * Warhead: Single-stage thermobaric
- * Round weight: 4.5 kg (9.9 lb)
- * Diameter: 105 mm (4.1")
- * Kill radius: 8 m (26 ft)
- * Penetration: From 150 to 480 mm RHA (6 to 18")
See also
- Rocket propelled grenade (includes a description of tactics and history.)
- Panzerfaust
- RPG-2
- RPG-18
- RPG-26
- RPG-29
- PG-7VR
- Type 69 RPG
- Yasin
- Carl Gustav recoilless rifle
External links
- [Nazarian`s Gun`s Recognition Guide]
- [Countering the RPG threat]
- [RPG a Weapon's Profile - Defense Update]
- [How Stuff Works - RPG(7)]
- [How the RPG works]
- [Kovrov Mechanical Plant- Military Parade]
Video links
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