U.S. Army Gets Big-Ass Old-School Gun (Recoilless Rifle)

War is Boring ^ | March 10, 2014 | Joe Trevithick

[C19fan]

According to Swedish defense contractor Saab, the U.S. Army is planning to issue recoilless rifles broadly to regular units for the first time in more than 30 years. The decision reflects the service’s combat experience in Afghanistan.

The ground combat branch had previously made a small purchase of recoilless rifles in 2012, but just for units in Afghanistan. All light infantry units may now receive them.

[C19fan]

Cheaper weapon system more suited for the type of fighting the Army is facing instead of fancy ATGMs more suited for defending the Fulda Gap.

[headstamp 2]

http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2011/02/12/currahees-add-to-their-weapons-arsenal/

[Yo-Yo]

Also great at ski resorts to break up potential avalanche snow.

[headstamp 2]

We’re talking “Bazooka” here, and not what I think of mounted on a JEEP, right?

[Grzegorz 246]

Interesting that it (well, the 1st version) went into production very soon after the end of WW2.

[DBrow]

I wonder how many Davy Crocketts we have in stock.

[smokingfrog]

Fire and forget...

[TADSLOS]

The Carl Gustav has been in the inventory for decades being used primarily by the Ranger Regiment, but now being fielded across the force. It’s relatively lightweight compared to other legacy recoiless rifles (90mm), highly effective, simple to operate and re-usable. It comes with a variety of munition types.

[Jeff Head]

[Blood of Tyrants]

What was old is new.

[headstamp 2]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oyd1EVGBqro

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Crockett_(nuclear_device)

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M50_Ontos

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Under current conditions it might fare better than the old M18...which was a great way to give away your position when it was used in WWII.

[KeyLargo]

U.S. Marines used them effectively in Hue, Vietnam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjXutT92BwM

[Calvin Locke]

That looks bigger than 60mm. Korea, I take it?

[hoagy62]

Probably none. The units that used them were deactivated in 1968. To me at least, it doesn’t make sense that we’d still be maintaining a weapons system when we haven’t had units that knew how use them for 40+ years.

[Calvin Locke]

I saw a photo of a Vietnam-era low-profile vehicle. Aluminum armor. Had two tubes on each side that were loaded with flechette rounds (aka "beehive" rounds).

I guess the thing didn't carry extra rounds for reloading.

[headstamp 2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M113_armored_personnel_carrier

Could have been one of these.

[smokingfrog]

106mm - Vietnam

[smokingfrog]

Correction - that’s a 90mm.

[elhombrelibre]

This a shoulder-fired type of weapon.