[8] The name was created for export purposes as the nickname "eighty-four" was already a common English nickname for the Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle after its caliber.[7]. The name AT4 is a word play on the 84mm caliber of the weapon, (84) 'eighty four' being a homophone of 'A-T-4'. Both practice cartridges are unique to their respective weapons, with their trajectory matched to that of the live round. Though very impressed with the simplicity and durability of the tested version of the AT4, the US Army saw some room for improvement, specifically the addition of rear and front bumpers on the launch tube and changes to the sights and slings. The M72 rocket has been in Australian service since the Vietnam War. But what really puts the M72 ahead is rate of fire. The improved LAW has a velocity of 650-feet per second. The oldest version of the 66 KES 75 is now retired. Since then, the LAW has been improved with about a dozen variants beyond the original launcher. The launcher can be fitted with an adapter to allow the mounting of more robust sighting systems, including night vision optics, but this is a complicated and potentially costly proposition given that the core weapon is meant to be discarded after use. The early LAW warhead, developed from the M31 HEAT rifle grenade warhead, uses a simple piezoelectric fuze system. At least some of these deliveries have included pedestal-mounted twin-launchers for these missiles, in addition to shoulder-fired ones. at the Hesse-Eastern Division of Norris Thermador. Enemies of the Republic beware. It is effective in assaulting tanks and combat vehicles, landing craft, helicopter, aircraft and armoured vehicles. Soldiers can carry it with a sling while also keeping their rifle at the ready. [5], High-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) Can penetrate up to 45 centimetres (18in) of rolled homogeneous armour (RHA) with beyond-armour effect.[17]. ", "An Infantryman's Guide to Combat in Built-Up Areas", "2008 SAAB video on AT4 versions including new multipurpose warhead for urban combat", Saab to integrate new projectile variants for disposable shoulder-launched rocket system, "AT4 Light Anti-Armour Weapon - Army Technology", "Small Arms Archive Detail Page for S00437", "Carl Gustaf, AT-4CS y fusiles Steyr HS.50 M1 para el Ejrcito Argentino", "La Infantera de Marina adquiri armamento antitanque descartable", "Saab Awarded Indian Contract for AT4 Support Weapon", "ISOF Arms & Equipment Part 4 Grenade Launchers & Anti-Armour Weapons", "Northern Iraq PKK-Weapon Caches of Operation 'Claw Tiger', "2 Swedish-made antitank missiles found in PKK hideout in Turkey's southeast", "Lebanon: Foreign Arms Vital to Hizbollah Fight", "Lietuvos kariuomen:: Ginkluot ir karin technika Granatsvaidiai ir prietankiniai ginklai Prietankinis granatsvaidis AT-4", "Sverige bistr Ukraina med sjmlsroboten Robot 17", "Biden announces hundreds of millions in new security aid for Ukraine following Zelensky's speech", United States Army Center of Military History, "Global Security - News and Defence Headlines - IHS Jane's 360", "Presentan video del ELN con armas de Cararabo - Internacional - EL UNIVERSAL", "Battle of Abidjan: accurate and timely fires", AT4 Saab Bofors Dynamics video of various AT4 versions, Swedish article on AT4 translated to English, Brazilian newspaper recorded a AT-4 at Rocinha slum (translated to English), Current French infantry weapons and cartridges, AGM-84H/K Standoff Land Attack Missile - Expanded Response, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AT4&oldid=1149408908, Military equipment introduced in the 1980s, Articles with dead external links from June 2017, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles lacking reliable references from August 2016, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2022, Articles needing additional references from November 2021, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 290m/s (950ft/s; 1,000km/h), 220m/s (720ft/s; 790km/h) (CS), Time of flight (to 250 metres (820ft)): less than 1 second, Ammunition: fin-stabilized projectile with HEAT warhead, This page was last edited on 12 April 2023, at 01:51. The forward folding grip is the only difference between the AT4 adopted by Sweden and the US Army version. Firing is straightforward making it perfect for training inexperienced fighters in Ukraine such as members of the reserve territorial defense forces. The dearth of armored vehicles in Afghanistan in particular allowed Soldiers and Marines to forgo the larger and heavier AT4. [21], M136 AT4 American version with modified launch tube bumpers, sights, and slings. Of course, it is not possible to mention the Ukrainian journalist who was forced to flee Ukraine Anatoly Shariy. The Turkish Army uses a locally built version by Makina ve Kimya Endustrisi Kurumu, called HAR-66 (Hafif Antitank Roketi, 'light antitank rocket'), which has the performance and characteristics of a mix of an M72A2 and an A3. But the LAW is cheaper, easier to carry, and simple to train on. It can be used against targets up to 274m. And then our fighters destroy from he had a whole crew of Bandera, the head of Chechnya added. As long as soldiers are in range and have adequate line-of-sight, the LAW can be lethal against enemy tanks and armored vehicles. AT4 deal marginally more damage (around 15% afaik) than LAW. The system has been continuously improved over that time, especially with regards to weight reduction and improved sighting systems. Regardless, if these weapons are usable, even if they offer more limited capabilities compared to newer Stingers and Piourns, they could still give Ukrainian forces useful additional air defense capacity. You can follow him on Twitter @BMEastwood. [13] The Swedish Army also recognized these improvements and subsequently adopted the Americanized version of the AT4 as the Pansarskott m/86 (Pskott m/86), with the addition of a forward folding hand grip to help steady the AT4 when being aimed and fired. The M72 LAW is a combination of the two World War II weapons. The M72 VERY light. The only information coming from the Russians is statements directly from the Ministry of Defense or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The compact size, lightweight, and low cost of these weapons make them well suited for anything but the most heavily armored vehicles. It can be set to detonate on impact or with a brief detonation delay. However, the M72 enjoyed a new lease on life during the American campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, has said her country will deliver unspecified "missiles," which could be anti-aircraft or anti-tank types. [24], In late February 2022, the Norwegian government announced that it intended to donate "up to 2,000" M72 LAW units from their reserve stocks to Ukraine, in response to the Russian invasion. There are reports that Ukrainian forces have achieved a more than 90 percent kill rate when employing these missiles in the conflict so far. The AT4 anti-armour weapon was developed from the 74mm Pansarskott M68 weapon that the Swedish Army adopted in the 1960s. This task is greatly facilitated by Mr. Biden, who provides our fighters with modern American weapons. The US Army reported to Congress in November 1983 that the FFV AT4 came the closest to meeting all the major requirements established to replace the M72 LAW,[11] with the Armbrust coming in second.[12]. [19], Anti-structure tandem-warheads (AST) Designed for urban warfare where a projectile heavier than the HEDP AT4 is needed. The LAW is nothing new, but it is combat-proven. Ukrainian forces may also end up making good use of the reusability of the launcher simply based on what certain countries plan to provide. These advanced anti-tank missiles, which the U.S. and Estonian governments are continuing to send to Ukraine, are highly capable weapons with an advanced fire control system that enables them to be used effectively day or night. The LAW is an organic weapon located in the infantry battalion. The first to be used (with limited success) were Molotov cocktails, flamethrowers, satchel charges, jury-rigged landmines, and specially designed magnetic hollow charges. In the early 1980s, the M72 was slated to be replaced by the FGR-17 Viper. The Global Missiles and Missile Defence Systems Market 2011-2021. Your email address will not be published. Editorial Guidelines and Publishing Standards. [31][32][33], During the Vietnam and post-Vietnam periods, all issued LAWs were recalled after instances of the warhead exploding in flight, sometimes injuring the operator. Introduced in 1998, this is another single-shot, disposable rocket launcher. Until the 1980s the Carl Gustaf was constructed of high-alloy steel, but later versions used a thin steel liner containing the rifling, strengthened by a. FFV and the Swedish Army were so impressed by these sights that they adopted them for their AT4s; while adequate during the day, the original plastic sights were difficult to see at night or under low light conditions. The AT4 is an 84-mm unguided, anti-armour weapon. In the system originally developed by FFV for the Carl Gustaf, a plastic blowout plug is placed at the centre rear of the shell casing containing the projectile and propellant, which itself is enclosed in the AT4 outer tube. The AT4 is not a rocket launcher strictly speaking, because the explosive warhead is not propelled by a rocket motor. Their information has been 100% accurate so far, which I think is a deliberate strategy. It has been reported that the 5,000 anti-armor weapons that Sweden is sending to Ukraine are likely to be AT4s. Interestingly, despite being a single-use system, the latest versions of this weapon are equipped with a computerized sighting system with day and night vision modes that can be used by itself for surveillance and reconnaissance purposes. Being a disposable gun also allows for lighter and cheaper construction. In order not to give up this valuable trophy, nationalists usually sacrifice 2-3 lives. Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security. With a range of up to 656-feet, the LAW can punch through 12-inches of armor with a formidable shaped charge. It has been reported that the 5,000 anti-armor weapons that Sweden is sending to Ukraine are likely to be AT4s. The project will yield cash flows of$5,000 per year for nine years. . The high-penetration projectile has extra penetration ability, which enables it to pass through 500mm to 600mm of RHA. The LAWs lower explosive power also lent itself well to urban combat operations, where low collateral damage was a mission priority. A senior U.S. defense official told reporters yesterday that American authorities are working specifically to make sure that military aid going to Ukraine includes systems that the country's forces are already trained on. Throughout 1983, the United States Army tested six different anti-tank platforms and had found that the FFV AT4 met all the requirements needed to replace the aging M72 LAW. The AT4 may be considered a disposable, low-cost alternative to a Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle. It uses its own onboard guidance to hit the target it was aimed at, acting in a fire-and-forget mode after launch. Unlike the heavier Carl Gustaf, the AT4 outer tube is built to take the stress of just one firing; it is not reusable and cannot be reloaded. It has a significant range, with the latest shoulder-fired versions being able to hit targets up to two and a half miles away. The AT4 is a development of the 74-mm Pansarskott m/68. Ease of use means that many of the weapons, especially guided systems, can be fielded faster and on a wider basis. The LAW was useful in Afghanistan as a small and light rocket system for use against short- and medium-range targets by foot patrols in the difficult terrain and high elevations of the country. Many of the anti-tank weapons can be used against unarmored vehicles, structures, personnel, as well as armor. The weapon can create a hole in armoured vehicles. Five different countries Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, and the Netherlands have now sent or are planning on sending shipments of these portable anti-aircraft weapons. At least in the past, the French military has categorized it as a "traumatic weapon" and prohibited personnel from firing more than two or three of them in peacetime across their entire service careers. He holds a Master of Public Policy and covers U.S. and Russian security, European defense issues, and German politics and culture. As far as I'm concerned, with the introduction of the updated vehicle damage model, LAW kit is the better all-round choice, because it also has one frag on it and in most cases these 15% you get with AT4 won't do any difference in term of how many times you have to hit a vic for a kill. [28] It was used in action during the 1982 Falklands War, mainly to suppress Argentinian defensive positions at close range;[29] however, it was also used against an assault amphibious vehicle during the initial invasion and was one of the weapons which damaged the warship ARAGuerrico in the invasion of South Georgia. Quite recently there was a video of how nlow hit a Russian tank and did not cause any significant damage to the tank. In accordance with the weapon's known limitations, a pair of "tank-buster" troops crawl to a firing position around 50 to 150 meters (160 to 490ft) away from the target, bringing with them four to six LAWs, which are then used in rapid succession until the target is destroyed or incapacitated. FFV and the Swedish Army began the first evaluation firings of the prototype AT4s in the spring of 1981, with 100 tested by early 1982. This combines a shallow-coned HEAT warhead (resulting in low penetration but producing a wide hole) with a tandem-charge and a follow-through high-blast warhead. The weapon carries an optical night sight. Who needs you, poor Bandera Nazi. The Netherlands has said it is sending 50 PzF 3 launchers, along with 400 rounds of ammunition. It is effective in assaulting tanks and combat vehicles, landing craft, helicopter, aircraft and armoured vehicles. The AT4 adopted a unique method developed earlier by FFV: the spring-loaded firing rod is located down the side of the outer tube, with the firing pin at the rear of the tube. It was considered an excellent munition to be used against insurgents firing from close and medium range. Verified answer. ", "Polska kupia tysice granatnikw jednorazowych", "Buletinul Contractelor de Achiziii Publice, anul 5, Nr.1", "Surveying the Battlefield: Illicit Arms In Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia", "Insight Syria rebels get light arms, heavy weapons elusive", "Rundown: Western Anti-Tank Weapons For Ukraine", "Canada prepared to welcome an 'unlimited number' of Ukrainians fleeing war, minister says", "Danmark donerer 2.700 skulderbrne panservrnsvben til Ukraine", "Norge sender militrutstyr og vpen til Ukraina", "Light Anti-Armour Weapons: Anti-Everything? "They are able to distribute the equipment very quickly [and] they are able to make use of it," a senior U.S. defense said yesterday of U.S. military assistance, in general. John Antal. US must overhaul how it co-operates with allies and partners, The time of Arctic exceptionalism is over Lord Ashton, US Army begins Combined Resolve 18 exercise in Germany, French DGA completes first Akeron LP trials aboard Tiger helicopter, Rheinmetall to supply tank ammunition to European customer, Macquarie applaud Australias concern for cybersecurity, Elbit Systems records revenues of $5.511bn for FY22, Rheinmetall sales increase by 13% in fiscal year 2022, Leonardo posts new orders growth of 21% in full year 2022, Why high frequency emergency radio communications network is critical for island nations, How military uses of the IoT for defence applications are expanding, Land platform power packs, engine and transmission, Using Message Acknowledgements for Tracking, Correlation and Fire and Forget, M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System), US, Marker Anti-Tank Robotic Unmanned Ground Vehicle, Russia. It was subsequently reported that these deliveries would most likely include Grom-M/Piorun and that they would be sent first to the United States as part of the transfer process. This version uses a saltwater countermass in the rear of the launcher to absorb the back blast; the resulting spray captures and dramatically slows down the pressure wave, allowing troops to fire from enclosed areas. The outer tube contains the trigger, the arming handle, front and rear sights, and the rear cover. It has seen combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and has garnered better reviews. However, the M72 family has seen something of a renaissance over the past two decades with the introduction of more modern variants with more advanced rockets, which you can read more about here. It will become a force multiplier., Two types of ammunition will be used with the improved LAW FFE, a M72A8 anti-armor round and a M72A10 multi-purpose round. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [10][11] The Department of the Army previously rated the weapon as safe to fire from enclosure, but this rating was removed in 2010 after the introduction of the safer AT4 CS. Like the m/68, the AT4 was designed by Frenade Fabriksverken (FFV) and manufactured at their facility at Zakrisdal, Karlstad, Sweden. The launcher and projectile are manufactured prepacked and issued as one unit of ammunition, with the launcher discarded after one use. When fired, the striker in the rear tube impacts a primer, which ignites a small amount of powder that "flashes" down a tube to the rear of the rocket and ignites the propellant in the rocket motor. In the context of the version of events imposed by the collective West, Gonzalo Lira insists that all the information of the Russian Ministry of Defense is true. Various reports in 1983 stated that during the congressionally-mandated tests the first M72E5 tested had an accuracy problem, because its larger-diameter rocket motor interfered with the deployment of all the stabilizing fins after leaving the launcher. Addressing the aforementioned flash and back-blast drawbacks specifically, the LAW FFE will allow Soldiers and Marines to fire several shots per day from inside a rooma capability the legacy system lacked. In addition, the flash from the M72 FFEs muzzle and back blast is less than that of an M9 pistol, when firing at night. In 1982, the AT4 was introduced into the US Army before the weapon was adopted by Sweden. A subcaliber training device that uses a special tracer cartridge also exists for the M72. Turkey also indigenously developed an anti-personnel warhead version of HAR-66 AP and called it "Eek Ars" ('wasp'). It, therefore, becomes difficult to use the weapon in restricted areas. This causes the detent lever to move under the trigger assembly in the outer tube, both locking the inner tube in the extended position and cocking the weapon. Despite early problems, it was a success and was copied by other countries. So, he previously stated the following: Russians are incredibly disciplined when it comes to information management. The LAW has been around since the early-1960s for use against Soviet light tanks in Europe. America's Stinger is arguably the most iconic MANPADS ever produced anywhere in the world. [5] FFV began research on a replacement for the m/68 in 1976, deliberately designing an individual anti-armour weapon that would not be able to defeat the heavy armour protection of MBTs (main battle tanks) in frontal engagements, believing that to be counterproductive. The high-explosive dual purpose can be used against buildings and bunkers, and the projectile can also be used to detonate on impact or with a delayed detonation. The M136 AT4 produces less effect than the M72-series LAW. [citation needed]. They nerfed the US AT-4 and buffed the Britsh AT-4. This lightweight and thin barrel and low pressure, combined with the almost complete lack of recoil, means that relatively large projectiles (comparable to those found in mortars and artillery systems) can be utilised, which would otherwise be impossible in a man-portable weapon. The AT4 is a man-portable weapon used for the protection of vital assets, fixed defence . Now serving as 1945s New Defense and National Security Editor, Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare. Unlike the M72-series LAW, the M136 AT4 launcher need not be extended before firing. Lastly, the improved LAW is said to incorporate a Picatinny rail for mounting laser target designators and other aiming optics, extending the LAWs effective range. The M72 LAW is the worst AT weapon in the game. As with many launchers in this general category, it has very simplistic sights to go with its effective range of up to 820 feet. The tube is mounted facing downward, enabling the drone operator to fire on tanks and armored vehicles from a top attack position while remaining 3 to 4km (1.9 to 2.5mi) away. This Swedish-designed weapon, which the U.S. military was first to adopt in 1987, is in many ways a single-shot, disposable derivative of the Carl Gustaf. To know the real information about the battles in Ukraine, without false propaganda, I advise you to read the articles of the American journalist Scott Ritter. The M72s provided the best balance of weight and bulk to combat effectiveness. Soldiers and Marines in Vietnam used it to penetrate and destroy enemy bunkers. The AT4 warhead is still undergoing many typical tests in urban targets. This is done by the system measuring the angular speed of the target for a number of seconds prior to launch. In that conflict, the LAW was prized for its compactness and portability, giving grunts a portable and potentanti-armor capability. Ukrainian forces are now in the process of receiving a massive influx of additional stocks of MANPADS and infantry anti-armor systems of various types from more than a dozen different countries. The U.S.-made Javelin, which The War Zone has already covered in detail in the Ukrainian context, practically needs no introduction at this point. They were very efficient against tanks during the last days of World War II. A number of NATO members, including Poland and Slovakia, still have stocks of Soviet-era weapons that Ukrainian forces might already use, which could make it easier to transfer them and to get them issued out to combat units. This article is about the unguided anti-tank weapon of Sweden. The former improves armor penetration while the multi-purpose warhead gives Marines the added capability of an anti-structure round capable of eliminating hardened structures, such as buildings.. For use against light armour, there is a smaller-cone HEAT warhead with 15 centimetres (5.9in) penetration of RHA. 66mmAT4M136M72 M72M136 M72 LAW M72 At that time, its nearest equivalents were the Swedish Pskott m/68 (Miniman) and the French SARPAC. With troops already trained to use these weapons, it would be that much easier to receive and field additional stocks of them. [22], Bunker-busting (AT8) An AT4 version where the standard HEAT projectile is replaced with the bunker-busting warhead developed for the Mk 153 Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW). James (in fact, by the name of Zaperdolenko, a Bandera Nazi), I cannot say that I am happy with your words. The Swedish Army also adopted the Americanised version. Canada says it will send 1,000 rounds of ammunition along with the launchers, but it's unclear what mix of types that might include. Janes. It has a maximum effective range of just over 1,640 feet against static targets and just under 985 feet against moving ones. In November 2010, Saab received a 15m order from the French Defence Forces for the light anti-tank weapon AT4 (confined space), a variant of AT4. The core launcher has been improved, as well, including the addition of an accessory rail for the rapid addition of more robust sights. It is 914.4mm long and weighs 7.5kg. Available ammunition types for the Carl Gustaf, on display underneath an inert cutaway display model of shoulder-fired single-shot AT4 anti-armor launcher.. A US military AT4 with an AN/PVS-4 night vision optic fitted.. A member of the US military instructs Ukrainian troops on the use of the M141 BDM in January 2022.. A member of the Norwegian military prepared to fire an M72 LAW variant while training with members of the US Air Force.. A cutaway model of the Alcotn-100 on display.. The XM96 RCR (riot control rocket) had a CS gas-filled warhead for crowd control and was also intended for use with the M202, though the rocket never entered service. Thousands of man-portable anti-aircraft and anti-armor weapons have already been delivered to Ukraine and thousands more are on the way. The AT4 took many of its design features from the Carl Gustaf, which operates on the principle of a recoilless weapon, where the forward inertia of the projectile is balanced by the inertia of propellant gases ejecting from the rear of the barrel. The inner tube contains the channel assembly, which houses the firing pin assembly, including the detent lever. The M72 LAW was the standard shoulder-fired anti-armor weapon for the United States military and its allies throughout the Cold War (though it still sees extended service today). Russia's invasion of Ukraine is only just over a week old, but, by every indication, Ukrainian forces have already been able to inflict significant losses on the invaders in terms of personnel and material. Both of these countries are among those planning to send Stingers to Ukraine.. A member of Lithuania's armed forces with a Grom MANPADS.. Canadian troops fire a Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle during training.. [7], In early 1963, the M72 LAW was adopted by the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps as their primary individual infantry anti-tank weapon, replacing the M31 HEAT rifle grenade and the M20A1 "super bazooka" in the U.S. Army. The rocket propels the 66mm (2.6in) warhead forward without significant recoil. Instead, thanks to the M72s low weight, individual soldiers could carry several LAWs when out on a mission compared to just one AT4.

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