How Rocket-Propelled Grenades Work

HowStuffWorks.com ^ | Shane Speck

[John Jorsett]

After hearing about the question regarding armor thrown at SecDef Rumsfeld, I found myself wondering how RPGs function, so I went and found this article. Thought others might find it informative as well.

[UnklGene]

Good post; great pictures!

[demlosers]

Good post. Here's some info. on the 66mm rkt, LAW M-72:

General Information

a. Launcher.

-Length (Extended) ........ Less than 1 meter (34.67 inches)

-Length (Closed) .......... 0.67 meters (24.8 inches)

-Weight …………... 2.5 kg (5.5 pounds)

-Firing Mechanism ......... Percussion

b. Rocket.

-Caliber .................. 66 mm

-Length ................... 50.8 cm (20 inches)

-Weight.................... 1.8 kg (2.2 pounds)

-Muzzle Velocity........... 144.8 mps (475 fps)

-Minimum Range (Combat).... 10 meters (33 feet)

-Minimum Arming Range...... 10 meters (33 feet)

-Maximum Range............. 1,000 meters (3,300 feet)

[patton]

LOL. Speak of the devil.

[pgobrien]

ping

[Squantos]

Yep.........a good web site. The PG7 series is a PITA for our troops. Good Weapon...can't deny that. Simple, low cost, long shelf life and even a iraq rock ape can make hits with it.

[demlosers]

Dang Tripod LoL!...again:

M-72 Series Light Anti-Tank Weapon (LAW)

The M-72 Series LAW was the successor to the M-20 Series 3.5-inch rocket launcher. The M-20 was a Korean War developed weapon that replaced the M-1, M-9, and M-18 2.36-inch rocket launchers of World War 2. Users felt the M-20 was too big and bulky. The M-72 was designed as a one-shot, disposable, anti-tank rocket launcher and fielded by the Army in the early 1960s. The M-72 is totally man-portable and is issued as a pre-packaged round of ammunition. The M-72 can penetrate 12 inches of armor and has a range of 170 to 220 meters. It became a NATO standard weapon and was copied and produced by Czechoslovakia and Russia as the RPG-18 and RPG-26.

The M-72 required little from the user -- only a visual inspection and some operator maintenance. The launcher consists of two tubes that telescope inside each other and form a watertight packing container for the rocket. A percussion-type firing mechanism is used to fire the rocket. The M-72 has three basic parts: (1) outer tube, (2) inner tube, and (3) rocket.

OUTER TUBE. The outer tube contains the trigger housing (which houses the trigger), the trigger arming andle, front and rear sight assemblies, and tube covers.

INNER TUBE. The inner tube telescopes from the outer tube to the rear, guided by a channel assembly and alignment slot. The channel assembly also contains the firing pin rod which includes a detent assembly. The detent lever assembly moves under the trigger, and is cocked when the tubes lock into firing position.

ROCKET. The rocket is percussion-ignited, fin-stabilized, fixed ammunition. It is attached by the igniter to the inside of the launcher. The rocket is a 66mm HEAT round with a piezo-electric point-initiated, base-detonating fuze and a rocket motor. Six spring-loaded fins pop out when the rocket leaves its launch tube. When ignited, the propellant in the rocket motor burns completely before the rocket leaves the tube. The gas pressure pushes the rocket toward the target and exits to the rear as back blast.

TECHNICAL DATA. Launcher extended -- 34.7 inches; launcher closed -- 24.8 inches. Weight (M-72A2) -- 5.1 pounds; (M-72A3) -- 5.5 pounds. Firing mechanism -- percussion. Rocket -- 66mm HEAT. Length -- 20 inches. Weight -- 2.2 pounds. Muzzle velocity -- 475 feet/second. Minimum combat/arming range -- 33 feet. Maximum effective range (stationary) -- 660 feet; (moving) -- 541 feet. Maximum range -- 3300 feet.

Photos: US Army
These two photos show the components of the M-72 Light Anti-tank Weapon (LAW) and the M-72 being fired. The photo on the left shows the components of the M-72 LAW: the 66mm fin-stabilized HEAT rocket; the launcher tubes extended and sights erected; and the end caps with the carrying sling. The right photo shows a soldier firing the M-72 from the prone position.

http://www.mst2-vietnam.info/Stoner_ordnance_notes/stonerhtml/LAW.htm

[Squantos]

Dear Santa........

[freedumb2003]

Looks like All-You-Can-Eat night at Joe's Chili Shack ;)

[ABN 505]

The article is a little misleading about comparing RPG's and mortars. A RPG is not just a better version of a Mortar. A mortar can hit targets behind a wall, building, hill, or in any number of defensive positions such as a trench or dugouts. In short it does what it does and better than any other weapon we have at the moment for getting at anything you can't get a straight shot at. Also for any good mortarman hitting a target he can see is not a problem, only when a spotter has to used giving coordinates is there a time lapse between zeroing in on a target.

[patton]

I have been wondering what to get myself for christmass...how much?

[demlosers]

And old...

Mark II fragmentation grenade is inserted:

[Squantos]

Not sure but the yellow sheet says 4 year enlistment minimum......

[montag813]

Every American hould have an RPG in their pickups.

[patton]

been there, done that!

[KoRn]

ping

[demlosers]

Every American hould have an RPG in their pickups.

And every Wiberal would pee in their panties.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Very good info, appreciate your efforts to present it.

The armoring of trucks, humvees and such will only have very limited success. The most heavily armored tank is just a vulnerable target when hit with the right weapon. Those basic light transports will never be safe from destruction.

[John Jorsett]

The outer tube contains the trigger housing (which houses the trigger),

That's very interesting (which makes it a matter of interest).