Posted on 10/31/2017 5:37:35 PM PDT by Simon Green
The U.S. Army is rushing 1,000 new M3E1 Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon Systems, or MAAWS, to Afghanistan, according to Scout Warrior.
The M3E1 is the latest version of the 84mm Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle that special operations forces have been using since the early 1990s. It’s lighter, shorter and more ergonomically designed.
The Army is fast-tracking acquisition of more than 1,000 upgraded, lightweight shoulder-fired weapons able to destroy enemy targets hidden behind rocks, trees and buildings, service officials told Scout Warrior.
As KitUp previously reported, the Army has approved a requirement for 1,111 M3E1 Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon Systems, or MAAWS.
The M3E1 is part of the Product Manager Crew Served Weapons portfolio, which is processing a contract to procure 1,111 M3E1s and an Urgent Material Release to field them as soon as possible.
The service announced in May of 2016 that it planned to permanently assign the devastating anti-armor weapon to infantry platoons.
Army light infantry units began using the M3 in Afghanistan in 2011 when the AT4 proved ineffective. The breech-loading weapon, made by Saab North America, can reach out and hit enemy targets up to 1,000 meters away. The M3 offers the units various types of ammunition, ranging from armor penetration and anti-personnel, to ammunition for built-up areas, as well as special features like smoke and illumination.
Nice lookin’ rifle. Every militia ought to have a couple.
Gun shows probably sell them.
/s
Reminds me of the old 90 mm reckless!
Every militia ought to have a couple.
For when you want to reach out and touch someone.
THE ENEMY IN AFGHANISTAN has ARMOUR vehicles?
Who is in charge of the inventory?
Hope these devices are used for the intended purpose.
There are a lot of high end scopes on the market. Try trackingpoint.com. Can’t afford one but everyone is a sniper with one of those.
Needs either a belt feed or a drum magazine....
The size is a Great improvement over the 'reckless'.
It's useful against more than armor. From Wikipedia: In late 2012, the Army fielded 58 M3s and 1,500 rounds of ammunition to units deployed to Afghanistan to destroy enemy targets out to 1,000 meters. This was because RPG and machine gun teams could attack 900 meters away, while existing weaponry like the M141 Bunker Defeat Munition, M72 LAW, M136 AT-4 and MK153 SMAW had effective ranges of only 500 meters. The AT-4 is lighter and cheaper but is made of reinforced fiberglass, while the M3's rifled metal/carbon fiber launch tube allows for reloading. Employing the 22 lb M3 is easier than the 50 lb FGM-148 Javelin with its launcher with missile and reusable command launch unit, is faster than waiting on mortars, and is cheaper than the Javelin and artillery shells for engaging targets in hard cover.
Sure but at $20,000 each and $550 a round for ammo who can afford them? :o)
Good point
Reminds me of the old 90 mm reckless!
>><<
I fired one of those beasts twice and that was enough. Lol.
I have a Swedish Mauser which is stamped (in translation) Carl Gustav’s City Rifle Factory.
I wonder if that is the same factory.
Perfect answer to the guy going slow in the left lane who won’t get over
It is a descendant of it.
When you guys say stuff like “recoilless rifle” I automatically
imagine something with a tube 10+ feet long mounted on a Jeep.
I guess I really am getting old.....
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