The RPG-7 is a compact, reusable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. The RPG-7 and its predecessor RPG-2, also known as the RPG-2 were created for the Soviet Union, and are now manufactured in Bazalt, a Russian firm Bazalt. The weapon has been branded with the GRAU index.
The ruggedness, simplicity as well as the low cost and the effectiveness of RPG-7 has led to it being the most extensively employed anti-armor weapon around the world. Around 40 countries currently use the weapon, and it is manufactured in several variants by nine countries. It is extremely popular among irregular and guerrilla forces. The RPG was used in nearly every conflict across the globe in the 1960s, from in a lot of production is produced, the most frequently seen major variants of the RPG-7D (desantnik - desantnik - paratrooper) model that can be split into two pieces for ease of transport.
The RPG-7 was first introduced by the Soviet Army in 1961 and used at squad level. It was a replacement for the RPG-2 and clearly outperformed the intermediate RPG-4 design in tests. Its counterpart, the RPG-7D3 is the paratrooper equivalent model. Each of the RPG-7V2 as well as the RPG-7D3 have been adopted by Russian Ground Forces in 2001.
The launcher is reloadable and constructed around a steel tube, 40 millimetres in diameter, 950 millimetres long, and weighing 7 kgs. Launchers marked RPG-7N1 and RPG-7DN1 will thus be able to mount the multi-purpose night vision scope 1PN51 and launchers RPG-7N2 and RPG-7DN2 can mount the night vision scope that is multi-purpose 1PN58.
As with similar weapons, the grenade extends through the tubes of launch. It measures between 40 and 105 millimetres in width and weighs somewhere between 2.0 to 4.5 kilograms. It's launched using an explosion of gunpowder offering it an initial speed of 115 metres per second and producing a puff of smoke with a light grey-blue hue that may reveal where the shooter is. The rocket motor ignites after 10 metres , and maintains flight for up to 500 metres , with the maximum speed of 295 metres per second. The grenade's stability is ensured by two fins set to can be deployed in flight: one large set on the stabilizer pipe to keep the direction, while the smaller one is set to induce rotation. The grenade can fly for up to 1,100m and the fuze controls the maximum distance, which is usually around 920 meters.
Launcher--Capabilities and Countermeasures, the RPG-7 munition has two sections: a "booster" section and a "warhead and sustainer motor" section. Both sections need to be put together to create the ready-to-use , armed grenade. The booster is composed of the "small strip powder charge" which is used to propel the grenade away from the launcher; the sustainer motor then ignites and drives the grenade for the remaining time, giving it a top speed of 294 metres each minute (660 mph). The TRADOC bulletin contains anecdotal information that the RPG-7 has been fired from inside buildings which is in accordance with the design of two stages. It states that only a 2 metre standoff from a rear obstacle is required in spaces or fortifications. The fins do not just provide drag stability, but are designed to impart a slow rotation of the grenade.
Due to the layout that is present in the RPG-7 sustainer/warhead section, it responds counter-intuitively to crosswinds. The force of a crosswind is likely to cause pressure on the stabilizing fins and cause . When the motor of the rocket is still running and the fins are still in motion, the flight path to curve toward the wind. The TRADOC bulletin provides guidance on aiming problems for moving targets that are further away with crosswinds that are at least a certain distance. Similar to recoilless rifles, the RPG-7 does not have any recoil at all The only impact during firing is the sudden lightness of the launcher as the rocket leaves the tube.
The RPG-7 can shoot a variety of warheads for anti-armor (HEAT, Protivotankovaya Granata) as well as anti-personnel (HE, Oskolochnaya Granata) purposes, usually fitted with an impact (PIBD) as well as a 4.5 seconds fuze. The penetration of armor is dependent on the warhead and varies between 30 and 60 centimetres .
The current production ammunition for the RPG-7V2 includes four types of ammunition:
PG-7VL [c.1977] Improved 93mm HEAT warhead, effective against most vehicles as well as fortified targets.
One warhead (64 mm HEAT) blasts off the armor block that is reactive early, while the second (105 millimeter HEAT) is able to pass through the gap to strike the armor beneath.
TBG-7V Tanin [c.1988] 105 mm Thermobaric Waread for anti-personnel as well urban warfare.
OG-7V [c.199940 mm fragmentation warhead designed to combat anti-personnel weapons. Has no sustainer motor.
Other warhead designs are:
PG-7V [c.1961Baseline 85mm HEAT warhead capable of penetrating the 260mm RHA.
PG-7VM [c.1969] Redesigned 70 mm HEAT warhead capable of penetrating 300 millimeters RHA.
GSh-7VT [c.2013] Anti-bunker warhead with cylindrical blast-fragmentation munition that follows by a penetrator that is explosively formed.
RPG-7 RPG-7 was first utilized during the year 1967, by Egypt in it was not widely used use in Vietnam until the year following.
Precision firing is challenging in distances that exceed 200 meters. During the Soviet-Afghan War, the mujahideen were known to fire the weapon with a range of less than 80 metres.
The RPG-7 was employed in the Provisional Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland from 1969 to 2005, with the most notable use being at Lurgan, County Armagh, in County Armagh, where it was employed against British Army observation posts and the massive military base at Kitchen Hill in the town. The IRA also employed them in Catholic areas that were located in due to assaults on British troops.
Within Mogadishu, Somalia, RPG-7s were used to shoot down two U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters in 1993.
Powerful. Cheap. Simple. Robust. The RPG-7 is undoubtedly the most well-known anti-tank rocket launcher that has been invented and a large number of irregular military organizations.
The RPG-7 which is the Russian Ruchnoy Protivotankovvy Granatomyot or hand-held anti-tank launcher of grenades (although it is often called"Rocket Propelled Grenade" or "Rocket Propelled Grenade" or "RPG") It's an upgrade of the 1949 RPG-2, itself based on it's predecessor -- the World War II German Panzerfaust and US Bazooka. The most notable improvements over the RPG-2 include a significantly improved range as well as greater armor penetration.
The RPG-7 is reusable single-shot smoothbore tube made of steel with the diameter in the range of 40 millimeters. This recoilless, shoulder fired, muzzle-loaded launcher is capable of firing a wide variety of rockets. The iron and optical sights usually are the norm, however night vision sights may be utilized.
The two handles are close in the center of the weapon.
Another advantage of this versatile weapon is the fact that it is able to be fired inside buildings due to the small size of its back-blast. Nonetheless, this weapon gives an extremely noticeable flash, sound and smoke.
After 10 meters after 10 meters, the rocket's internal motor starts to fire and four stabilization fins fold out to give the weapon a maximum speed which is around 300 meters per minute.
Typically it is that the RPG-7 is controlled by a gunner, and an assistant who can hold extra rounds, and protects the gunner from attacks.
At that the rocket goes off. However, it's only capable of delivering its power to 200 meters. At that distance it is estimated to have roughly 50% of hitting a slowly moving 5 by 2.5 meters target.
During its nearly 60-year service existence the RPG-7 has been used to take out tanks, demolish armored personnel carriers, fortifications, buildings in the attack on infantry, and shoot down low-flying helicopters. Also, the simple RPG-7 was able to take down more helicopters in the past than any of the man-portable air defense missile systems. Insurgents have also made extensive use of "small boats" that are armed with mostly the RPG-7 and machine guns.
The larger rockets are positioned on the very end to the launcher. This type of weapon is often referred to as "spigot mortars".
Rockets can be used to:
homogenous armor that is rolled.
PG-7VM improved 70 mm HEAT rocket. It penetrates up to 300 mm or armor. The rocket is faster than the PG-7V's baseline model and is more resistant to crosswinds and hence more accurate.
The PG-7VS is an 73 mm HEAT rocket. It's an upgraded version of the previous PG-7VM that has more armor penetration. It still maintains its the same dimensions and weight. It can penetrate upto 400 mm of armor. The rocket was first used in 1973.
PG-7VS1 is a cheaper model of the larger PG-7VS. It is able to penetrate up to 360 millimeters or armor. It was introduced during the mid 1970s.
The PG-7VL is an upgraded HEAT rocket of 93 mm. It can reach up to 150 meters against tanks and 300 m when aimed at stationary objects. It penetrates up to 500 millimeters of armor.
The PG-7VR is an 105 mm rocket that has a tandeam HEAT warhead. Its range is 100 meters against tanks and 200 m for stationary targets. It penetrates up to 600 millimeters of steel armor beneath ERA and 750mm without ERA. The same warhead can be used by the RPG-27 single-use rocket launcher as well as the RPG-29 reloadable rocket launcher. The RPG-29 rocket was developed during the 1980s and designed to compete with the latest Western main battle tanks from the third generation, including American M1 Abrams and British Challenger;
The OG-7V is a 40mm H-FRAG rocket that has a huge the most devastating explosion.
The RPG-7 has been through such a wide and diverse service that it's almost impossible to mention all the battles it's participated in. From it's involvement in the Vietnam War to the Gulf War, the RPG-7 is certainly combat proven.
The RPG-7 continues to be manufactured in countries such as Iraq, Romania, China, and Bulgaria. Even though it will continue to be employed by low-budget troops for several years in a support fire role, it is being removed by the majority of militaries in the anti-armor field because of its weak effectiveness against modern main battle tanks.
One of the reasons the RPG-7s are so popular is their cost, which ranges from $500-2 000 for a launcher and between $100 and $500 per rocket.
RPG-7: initial model designation.
RPG-7V2: improved version. The model was first adopted in 2001 and is now a currently in production, and is utilized by the Russian Armed Forces, as well as several other countries.
RPG-7D is a lightweight paratrooper design which can be cut into two pieces to transport.
RPG-7D3 Improved paratrooper model. It is equivalent to the RPG-7V2. It was first introduced in 2001 and is now a model of production, which is being used by for the Russian military and perhaps some other countries.
Type 69: improved Chinese variant. Type 69: improved Chinese variant. Like the RPG-7D3 it folds into two pieces. The forward grip was left out for a more economical weapon.
AirTronic USA RPG-7: the American-made clone to the RPG-7. This model features numerous Picatinny-type accessory rails and uses common M16 assault rifle parts. This weapon has been reported to be used from Peru, Philippines and possibly several other countries. The company also created similarly-designed PSRL-1 Mk.777 and the GS-777, anti-tank missile launchers, which are improved and upgraded versions of the RPG-7. B-41: Cambodian and Vietnamese designation.
The anti-tank grenade launcher RPG-7 is robust, simple and lethal. It's also extremely well-known. In the beginning, there was only one "original" RPG -- built on the German Panzerfaust weapons against tanks was eventually adopted by RPG-2 as well as the RPG-3 and so on. In fact, although the RPG-4 was successful in field trials in 1961, tests of a more modern model, called the RPG-7, were released that same year, with considerably improved firing range and armor-piercing capabilities. Thus, in 1961, it was the RPG-7 rather than the RPG-4, which was the one that the Soviet Armed forces were able to adopt for use. The RPG-7 is used by the forces of more than forty nations, and also, reportedly, by a range of terrorist groups from the Middle East and Latin Americas.
Now that we've established the meaning of an RPG-7 and how it works, let's look at how one operates.
Firing an RPG-7
The RPG operator or an artillary assistant uses an propelling charge (booster, in image below) and then screws it to the warhead's end. It is basically stabilizer pipe with four stabilizing fins folded around the pipe with two additional fins located pipe that is stabilizing. The cardboard box contains a small amount of nitrogenglycerin powder is placed around the stabilizing pipe . the primer or charge of gunpowder is placed into the bottom of the pipe that stabilizes.
The RPG operator or artillary person will then take the artillery, and places it on the front of the RPG launcher, so that it is aligned with the trigger mechanism.
When the RPG operator pulls the trigger, the following happens:
The pressure of the formed gases pushes the grenade to the outside of the tube at approximately 384 feet per second (117 metres per second). The abrupt acceleration of the blaster from the launcher triggers a piezoelectric fuze which sparks the primer (pyro-retarding gunpowder mixture). This ignites the squib of nitro, which then activates the rocket propulsion system (sustainer motor) that will carry the grenade along its course.
A socket inside the breach block reduces the recoil caused by firing. The exhaust gases go at the rear of the launcher , and the user can immediately load the weapon. In actual use, no RPG operator would ever remain still and not be able to reload. The launch flash and the whitish blue-gray smoke is a clear indicator to the enemy on his RPG launcher's location. A highly effective, successful RPG player is one who can quickly change position and is able to hide.
There are several types of grenades which can be employed in RPG-7. Some are equipped with a point-initiating and a bases-detonating (PIBD) piezoelectric fuze which means they are impact grenades. Many others also have back-up time delay systems, so that if they don't attained a goal in a specific amount of time (something similar to four and two-and-a-half hours) the grenade can self disappear. The most widely used guns are known as high Explosive(HE) as well as the High Explosive Anti Tank (HEAT) rounds.
The grenades that are fired from impact must not be armed until they are fired as any unintentional contact could start a fire. Since they're usually fired by a launcher, they should have an automatic arming mechanism. In some designs, like the one described above, the arming system is initiated by the propellant blast which drives the grenade out through.
In the case of the back-up timed delay the same mechanism that sets off the rocket will set it off. The spark is ignited by the slow-burning substance inside the fuze. Within about four seconds, the delay material starts to burn all the way. The end of the delay element is linked to the detonator. The burning material at conclusion of the detonator ignites the material inside the detonator, and explodes the warhead.
In addition to the AK-47 as a weapon, none has appeared on TV screens more in modern times more than the RPG-7. It's officially called to serve the same vital role in modern warfare as its small arms counterpart. Like the AK it's the reason behind this is that it's a user-friendly solid, reliable, and powerful weapon that is capable of taking out just about all other modern armor. The RPG-7 is now the most popular antitank gun with a shoulder-fired system of any kind in the world and can be predicted to continue to be a force of destruction for the future.
It had a design that, like most weapons of the time, can trace its roots back in the Second World War, when the Germans were using basic recoilless launchers that had an enormous Warhead, known as Panzerfausts.
Made up of an unfinished tube that had propellant sticks that are coupled to a semi-hemispherical Explosive AntiTank-shaped charge (HEAT), Panzerfausts were used with great success against Allied armor when they closed in on in on the Third Reich. Their design provided thousands of untrained young men and old ones in the last ditch VolkSturm units an immediate capability to destroy tanks. This caused great concern whenever armor was employed in areas that were restricted like forests or cities. In fact, so dismayed they were by the Americans at the German technique of degrading tanks, and then taking away the launcher and causing it to surrender, that they ordered anyone who was doing this to be shot, regardless of whether they put their hands up or waved a white flag.
At first, the Panzerfausts had an relatively short-range (30 meters), but were worked-up with time, using larger propellants to 60, 100, 150, and even the 250-meter version. After the Soviets faced the first prototypes that they were able to test, they immediately set to work during the war trying to create their own design and the main feature being that it could be reloadable.
The first prototypes of the LPG-44 were designed in 1944, and were referred to as the LPG-44. The LPG-44 featured a 30mm diameter launcher that the weight was weapon received later the designation RPG-1 as well as an effective range of 75 meters. Its penetration of 150mm steel was much less than that of the Panzerfaust however, and it was retired in 1948.
The next evolution was the RPG-2. The exterior was comparable in dimensions to the RPG-1 but had some refinements. The biggest difference was a 40mm tube (6.4 lbs unloaded), and an 80mm warhead dubbed lower trajectory, resulting in greater accuracy. It could also penetrate armor, at 200 millimeters. Its mass deployment was first observed in 1954. North Vietnamese Army and the Vietcong during the initial stages of the Vietnam War against the U.S. Also, many more were Chinese produced versions and named the B40. On the battlefield, this designation ended up being used like the word RPG when describing antitank guns used by rebels.
Yet another deadly version came out which claimed to be the standard against which all others were judged. While not relying solely on the RPG-2 and RPG-3, the U.S.S.R was looking for a replacement at the time of the 1958. The result was the largely unnoticed RPG-4 model, with a 45mm launcher tube and 83mm warhead. The launcher was a hefty 10.3 pounds and had a double range by 300mm. It was able to penetrate more armor , at 220mm. It also, for the first time in the series one with an optic.RPG was introduced with the -7 model. The new design, even while it was being developed simultaneously, proved far and away better than the model -4, having an increased range of 300 meters for point targets and up to 500 meters for a large-area target. It too mounted an optical sight, which was mounted on a tube smaller than 40 millimeters and it fired a slightly larger 85 mm PG -7HEAT warhead capable of penetrating 260 mm of armor.
The regular RPG-7 round, the most frequently used variation as well as its later improvements have the same fundamental functions dating back to Panzerfaust. If the round starts to fire it, stabilizing fins release and give it a slow speed of rotation while it travels across the sky at approximately 965 ft./s. When it hits a hard object, a piezoelectric part in the nose crushes and transmits at the bottom of the explosives, which is located behind the hollow copper cone. After the explosives have ignited, it forces the cone to turn itself inside out and shoot forward in an molten, thumb-sized chunk of slag that is several thousand degrees, where in the case of an armored turbine, it will bore a similar sized hole through the metal until it reaches the interior. Inside, it ricochets along with flaming particles with speeds of up to a thousand miles an hour until it loses energy. Anything from metal to flesh is broken up, leaving nothing but a charred compartment and human remains that are so burned and damaged that they can be washed out with a hose.
This is the process that a shaped charge follows and all of it happens in a fraction of a second. This is a method that, prior to the time when advanced ceramics were integrated into armor for tanks during the 1970s. It forced designers to deal with a gap in vulnerability that could be overcome only by creating a tank that had the thickness of armor so that its weight made it nearly immovable. Thus, it was a pleasant relaxation when lighter ceramic became available.
There were many other targets the RPG proved equally effective at eliminating, and which is the kind that's still vulnerable. Helicopters. In this role, Western troops and America specifically have come to be accustomed to the RPG-7's capabilities. Mainly due to the most famous incident that occurred when a couple of RPGs were utilized to take the U.S. Army UH 60 Black Hawks hovering over Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993. The incident caused survivors of the planned operation to become trapped and forced to take part in some of the most difficult close quarters fighting seen in the history of close quarters combat since Vietnam War. Later , it was immortalized in a novel as well as a film it became known forever as 'Blackhawk Down.'
The RPG-7 was used to fight U.S. and coalition forces in the streets of Iraq and Afghanistan, with varying results. U.S in one incident during the War on Terror.
There have been numerous attempts over the years to improve upon the RPG-7 by developing new designs and larger warheads. They were produced in small quantities and have never been able to replace the standard RPG and continues to see developments in the warhead area including fragmentation, thermobaric and even tandem designs to defeat the latest sophisticated armor. But the launcher tube has remained nearly unchanged since 1962, showing that it is a weapon of merit, like the Kalashnikov. At just $300 that is, the RPG-7 is still the most popular weapon for soldiers or guerrilla looking to unleash a hefty dose of retail destruction at an affordable wholesale cost.
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