RPG-2 is a man-portable, shoulder-fired anti-tank weapon developed in the Soviet Union. The RPG-2 was the very first fully-fledged anti-tank weapon in its class as it was a sequel to the earlier but ineffective RPG-1.
The RPG-2 offered better range and penetration into armor and was therefore more useful in combating post-World Wars II and later tanks, in contrast to the RPG-1 that had only marginal use. The design and layout was upgraded to create the ubiquitous RPG-7.
Examining German or US Anti-tank missile designs, in 1944, the Soviets started developing the RPG-1 with the intention to combine the best characteristics of the German Panzerfaust single shot recoilless weapon and the US Bazooka rocket launcher. With a 30mm cartridge, the 70 millimetre (2.8 inches) High explosive anti-tank (HEAT) round was able to penetrate about 150 mm (5.9 in) of armour that was homogeneous.
Early tests showed a range of minor issues, however as these were being solved, 150 mm of penetration was not considered effective against modern tanks. This included late-war designs like the Panther. The warhead was already challenging the capabilities of the gun and its range was already considered to be too small. Improvements were made to this but in 1947, the RPG-2 program began as a parallel program. The development of RPG-2 was handled by the design bureau GSKB-30. initially in the Commissariat for Munitions, but in the post-war period handed into the Ministry of Agriculture to help design farm equipment.
The primary differences increased penetration was up to 180 millimeters (7.1 in), which allowed its front armor to be penetrated by all, excluding the heaviest tanks, and the rear and side armor of any tank. The larger size of the cartridge allowed the PG-2 warhead a slightly greater performance, and also a greater range of about 150 m (490 feet) for stationary targets.
The layout of the PG-2 differed considerably from that from it's predecessor PG-1 in the RPG-1. The rear portion of the PG-1 was comprised of a central tube holding the propelling charges, and a second tube around this with fins. As the round was placed into the launcher this tube was situated outside the launcher tube and required that the top of the rocket to be clear of any fittings. The PG-2 changed the fins to small metal leaves that are attached to the inner tube and removed the outer tube on the PG-1. This permitted the entire propellant section to be fitted into the launcher. This let the trigger and sights assembly to be put right at the front of the launcher. This slightly reduced the length in comparison to the RPG-1 and made the whole assembly stronger and also allowed the use of conventional fore-and-aft sights.
The new model was such an improvement over the prior design that development on the RPG-1 was completed in 1948. The initial production versions of the RPG-2 started service with the infantry units of the Soviet Army in 1954. Although it was true that the RPG-2 could be operated by one man, the standard procedure in the military required two people in the unit: a grenadier carrying the Stechkin APS, the launcher and a backpack with three grenades and an assistant, armed with a rifle and transporting another three-grenade backpack.
In 1957 the launcher was modified to enable mounting the NSP-2's infrared (IR) night-sight system which consisted of an IR light source and a detector, which together weighed (with battery) 6 kg (13 4 oz, lbs.). The NSP-2 was able to be used for 150-200 metres (490-660 feet) in ideal conditions. When fitted with the NSP-2 the launcher was called the RPG-2N.
The weapon was widely distributed throughout the allies of Soviet Union, it was also manufactured under license through China, North Vietnam and North Korea. Utilized for North Korea and the U.S. military in the Vietnam War, its Vietnamese versions were known as the B40 (Ba Do Ka, which translates to "Bazooka 40mm") and B50.
The RPG-2 anti tank grenade launcher a simple 40 millimeter steel tube, into which the PG-2 grenade fits. The grenade's tailboom fits in the launcher. The size of the PG-2 warhead is 80 millimeters. The middle section of the tube features a protective wooden shell to protect the user from radiation generated by the grenade launch. The wood cover also helps in making the use of the weapon when it is extremely cold.
The dimensions of the firearm that had the grenade on it is 120 cm (47 inches) and the weight was 4.48 kilograms (9.8 tons). The only iron sight was available for aiming.
There was only one type of grenade, one called the PG-2 HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank), was used within the RPG-2. The propellant, consisting of powder granulated, was contained in a rolled cardboard case that was coated with wax. It required to be bonded to the grenade in order to load it. After being attached to the propellant load, the gun was put into the launcher with a smooth bore at the rear. Indexed through a notch in the tube in order that the primer inside the propellant charge is aligned with the pin that fires and the hammer mechanism.
To launch the RPG-2 the grenadier turned an external hammer with his thumb, directed it and then pulled the trigger to fire. After the launch six stabilizer fins detonated from the grenade.
The weapon was accurate depending on the individual's experience, against stationary targets that could reach up to 150 meters as well as against moving targets in ranges of less than 100 meters. It was capable of firing at a speed of about 84 meters per minute and could penetrate armor up to 18 millimeters (7.17 inches) thick.
- RPG-2N - Introduced in 1957, it's equipped with a NSP-2 night sight which is connected to the battery man's pack by cable.
- B40 North Vietnamese clone of the RPG-2. Rear barrel guards are 50mm shorter than the Type 56.
- B50 Version with a larger size than the B40.
- Type 56 Type 56 Chinese clone of the RPG-2.
- P-27 P-27 - Czech version of the RPG-2.
- RPG-2 clones developed by Islamic terrorists
The RPG-2 is the predecessor to the famous RPG-7. It was released in 1949 and, in the next few years, was in fact obsolete against numerous modern tanks. It played the role of an additional weapon to aid in destruction of buildings, vehicles as well as "soft areas".
It is important to note that the RPG in the title RPG-2 is not a reference to goal was to create an instrument that had the best characteristics of the German Panzerfaust and the US Bazooka. They came up with a design called the RPG-1. It had a few problems , such as low protection from armor, inconsistency of the RPG-2. While it was launched in 1949 the RPG-2 was not widely used in service until its introduction in the Korean War.
Tanks rapidly developed more heavy armor, which meant that the RPG-2 was no longer useful against them. Therefore, the RPG-7 was invented in 1960 to be a replacement for RPG-2 as an anti-tank weapon while the RPG-2 was in use by Soviet allies for many years. The weapon is still used to this day.
Although it's not able to take on even obsolete main battle tanks The RPG-2 remains somewhat popular for many years now, because of its reliability, simplicity lightweight, low weight and vehicles that are not armored, as well as other targets of similar nature.
RPG-2 RPG-2 is a single shot, reusable smoothbore steel tube with a diameter of 40 millimeters. This shoulder-fired, recoilless muzzle-loaded launcher has flip-up iron sights with sights that extend to 150 meters in usual, but night vision sights can be included in the RPG-2N model.
The RPG-2 is effective against moving targets to a maximum range of 100 meters. When it comes to stationary targets or buildings it is increased to 150 meters, which is the maximum distance for the standard iron flip-up sights. For later projectiles the rocket will self-destruct at the distance of 460 meters.
The RPG-2 is simple to use. It is as simple as inserting the PG-2 round into barrel that is located at the rear of the rifle, then cock the hammer that is located on the back of the grip, point and pull the trigger.
The barrel's middle is covered in wood to protect the user from the heat of the launch, and the sole handle is in the front on the gun.
With a weight of around 1.8 kilograms, the PG-2 is a fin-stabilized High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) round. This round is capable of piercing up to 200 millimeters of Rolled Homogenous Armor (RHA)--not the RPG-2 is currently being used by China (in reserves) however, other countries and organizations may utilize it as well. It has been used in the past by it was in service with all guns, the RPG-2 generally has a group consisting of two people: the gunner and his assistant. But, it is also able to operate by only one person.
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