Rocket-propelled grenade

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RPG-7.
RPG-7.

RPG, or rocket-propelled grenade, is a loose term describing hand-held, shoulder-launched anti-tank weapons capable of firing an unguided rocket equipped with an explosive warhead. RPG is a transliteration of РПГ, the Russian abbreviation of Reaktivnyy/Ruchnoy Protivotankovyy Granatomyot (реактивный/ручной противотанковый гранатомёт), "jet/hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher".

Most modern main battle tanks (MBTs) are largely immune to hand-held unguided anti-tank weapons due to advances in armor design requiring more precise aiming to hit vulnerable weak spots. RPGs, however, are still used very effectively against lightly-armoured vehicles such as armored personnel carriers (APCs) or unarmored wheeled vehicles, as well as against buildings and bunkers. They can still be a threat to an MBT under certain tactical conditions. One exception is the RPG-29, the most advanced model, which uses a tandem-charge high explosive anti-tank warhead to penetrate explosive reactive armor (ERA). It is capable of destroying even modern MBTs such as the T-90.[1] In August 2006, an RPG-29 round penetrated the frontal ERA of a Challenger 2 tank during an engagement in al-Amarah, Iraq.[2]

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[edit] History

The RPG has its roots in the 19th century, with the early development of the explosive shaped charge. The development of practical rocketry provided a means of delivering such an explosive, and such a weapon was invented just before the end of World War I; the end of the war led to the abandonment of the project. Later research, occasioned by World War II, produced such weapons as the famous bazooka, which combined portability with effectiveness against armored vehicles such as tanks.

The most widely distributed and used RPG in the world is the Soviet Union-developed RPG-7. The Soviets developed the basic design of this RPG during World War II, combining important design features of the US Bazooka and the German Panzerfaust. Today, advanced armies such as that of the United States, have implemented armor on their tanks that are invulnerable to grenades. Because of this, the RPG has become much more effective for guerrilla and insurgent fighters that have no accessibility or money to buy better weapons. However, new rounds have been developed to use with the RPG-7 launchers, that can defeat advanced armor types such as ERA.

[edit] Description

An RPG comprises two main parts: the launcher and the rocket, which is equipped with a warhead. The most common types of warheads are high explosive (HE) or high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds. These warheads are affixed to a rocket motor and stabilized in flight with fins. Some types of RPGs are single-use disposable units similar to the U.S. M72 LAW; others are reloadable, such as the Soviet RPG-7.

The RPG launcher is a hollow tube that concentrates the rocket exhaust to create an over-pressure within the tube. This over-pressure propels the warhead at a higher speed than from the specific impulse of the rocket alone. This higher speed is necessary for the rocket to be stable in flight. The launcher is also designed so that the rocket burns completely within the tube and exits the launcher without discharging an exhaust that would be dangerous to the operator. The high-temperature rocket exhaust is hazardous fifteen to twenty meters to the rear of an RPG launcher. The launcher must be cleaned periodically, as built-up residue will result in an excess of over-pressure, causing the sighting mechanism to be driven into the operator's eye when the rocket is fired. Blindness in one eye often results.

All RPGs are similar in concept, however, there are significant differences in their operation.

An RPG is an inexpensive way to deliver an explosive payload a distance of 100 yards (91m) with moderate accuracy. Substantially more expensive, wire-guided rockets are used when accuracy is important. These rockets trail a thin wire behind them during firing and can be steered by the operator while in flight. In 1982, British troops were sent to the Falklands War armed with a number of wire-guided MILAN anti-tank missiles even though there were no Argentine tanks in the Falklands Islands. The British used these expensive weapons to destroy Argentine bunkers at longer ranges. The British also used cheap 66 mm M72 LAW unguided rockets and recoilless 84mm against Argentine bunkers. The popularity and usefulness of such weapons prompted the U.S. military to field the SMAW, the U.S. equivalent of the RPG.

[edit] Warheads

The HE (high explosive) warhead is a general-purpose explosive warhead for use against unarmored targets such as infantry, unarmored wheeled vehicles, and fixed positions. The HE warhead detonates upon impact. The warhead case and charge generate a moderate amount of fragmentation.

The HEAT (high explosive anti-tank) round is a standard shaped charge warhead, similar in concept to those used in tank cannon rounds. In this type of warhead, the shape of the explosive material within the warhead focuses the explosive energy on a copper (or similar metal) lining. This crushes the metal lining and propels some of it forward at a very high velocity. The resulting narrow jet of metal can punch through the armor of most APC's and IFV's. However, the warhead on older RPG systems is too small to penetrate the main armor of most modern battle tanks, although it is still capable of causing secondary damage to vulnerable systems (especially sights, tracks, rear and roof of turrets) and can disable or destroy most lightly armored or unarmored vehicles.

Specialized warheads are available for illumination, smoke, tear gas, and white phosphorus. Russia, China, and many former Warsaw Pact nations have also developed a fuel-air explosive (a/k/a "thermobaric") warhead. Another recent development is a tandem HEAT warhead capable of penetrating reactive armor.[1]

Accuracy limits the standard RPG-7 to a practical range of 50 m, although it can reach 150 or even 300 m in skilled hands. It has an indirect fire (bombardment) range to 920 m, limited by the 4.5-second self-destruct timer.*

So-called PRIGs (Propelled Recoilless Improvised Grenade) were improvised warheads used by the Provisional IRA.

[edit] Tactics

RPGs were used extensively during the Vietnam War (by the VPA and Vietcong), Soviet invasion of Afghanistan by the Mujahideen and against South Africans in Angola and Namibia (formerly South West Africa) by SWAPO guerillas during what the South Africans called the South African Border War. Twenty years later, it is still being used widely in recent conflict areas such as Chechnya, Iraq and Sri Lanka.

One of the first instances when it was used by terrorists was on 13 January 1975 at the Orly airport in France when Carlos the Jackal together with another member from the PFLP used two Soviet RPG-7 grenades to attack an Israeli El Al airliner. Both missed, and one of them hit a DC-9 of Yugoslav Airlines instead. [3]

Because of the inherent inaccuracy of the RPG, the operator must fire relatively close to the intended target, increasing the chances of being spotted and captured, shot or killed. Most modern armies deploy anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) as their primary infantry anti-tank weapon, but the RPG can still be effectively employed against tanks under certain tactical conditions, especially urban warfare, where they are favored by low-tech armies. They are most effective when used in restricted terrain as the availability of cover and concealment can make it difficult for the intended target to spot the RPG operator.

The operator must move after firing the RPG as the ignition of the rocket generates a flash visible to the enemy and usually leaves a smoke trail leading back to the firing position. In Afghanistan, Mujahideen RPG shooters who remained in position after firing were often killed by Soviet counter-fire.

When deployed against personnel, the warhead can be aimed at a solid surface to detonate, popular choices being trees or buildings. Another option is an indirect method of firing the warhead over the intended target area at ranges of 800–1000 m where the warhead would detonate automatically. More skilled shooters can use the RPG self-destruct feature to make it explode over the enemy at closer range.

Although they can be used against hovering helicopters, they should not be confused with anti-aircraft shoulder fired surface-to-air missile systems such as the Stinger or SA-7 Grail. Furthermore, firing at steep angles poses a danger to the user, because the backblast from firing reflects off the ground. In Somalia, militia members sometimes welded a steel plate in the exhaust end of an RPG's tube to deflect pressure away from shooter when shooting upwards at US helicopters. RPGs are used in this role only when more effective weapons are not available.

[edit] Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, Mujahideen guerrillas used RPG-7s to destroy Soviet vehicles. To assure a kill, two to four RPG shooters would be assigned to each vehicle. In areas where vehicles were confined to a single path (a mountain road, swamps, snow, urban areas), RPG teams trapped convoys by destroying the first and last vehicles in line, preventing movement of the other vehicles. This tactic was especially effective in cities. Convoys learned to avoid approaches with overhangs and to send infantrymen forward in hazardous areas to detect the RPG teams.

Multiple shooters were also effective against heavy tanks with reactive armor: The first shot would be against the driver's viewing prisms. Following shots would be in pairs, one to set off the reactive armor, the second to penetrate the tank's armor. Favored weak spots were the top and rear of the turret.

Afghans sometimes used RPG-7s at extreme range, exploded by their 4.5- second self-destruct timer, which calculates to an almost 1-km range. This performed expedient indirect antipersonnel bombardment and was sometimes used to discourage reconnaissance by aircraft.

[edit] Angola

Soviet RPGs posed a serious threat to lightly armored South African APCs, which would be targeted as soon as they stopped to let off troops. In reaction to ambushes, units such as Koevoet (Afrikaans for crowbar) developed the unique tactic of driving the APCs in widening circles, using automatic gunfire from one side to destroy the RPG teams. By not stopping to let off troops, the APCs were difficult to target. The secondary effect was also to confuse and surprise their attackers by deploying tactics not known or studied elsewhere that they could not have been trained or prepared for. The tactic was developed informally in the field and passed on to new drivers as it required good coordination between the vehicles which seldom numbered fewer than 2-4.

[edit] Chechnya

During the First (1994–1996) and Second Chechen Wars (1999–), Chechen guerrillas used RPGs to attack Russian tanks from basements and high rooftops. This tactic was effective because the tanks' guns could not be depressed or raised far enough to return fire. Russian forces had to rely on artillery suppression and infantry screens to prevent such attacks. Russian tank columns were eventually protected by attached self-propelled anti-aircraft guns (ZSU-23-4, Tunguska-M1) used in the ground role to suppress and destroy Chechen ambushes.

Chechen fighters formed independent "cells" that worked together to destroy a specific Russian armored target. Each cell contained small arms and some form of RPG (RPG-7V or RPG-18, for example). The small arms were used to button the tank up and keep any infantry occupied while the RPG gunner struck at the tank. While doing so other teams would attempt to fire at the target in order to overwhelm the Russians' ability to effectively counter the attack. To further increase the chance of success, the teams took up positions at different elevations where possible. Firing from the third and higher floors allowed good shots at the weakest armor (the top).[4]

When the Russians began moving in tanks fitted with ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor), the Chechens had to adapt their tactics, because the RPGs they had access to were unlikely to result in the destruction of the tank. Several RPG teams would position themselves in such a way that they could all hit the same section of a tank, but from different angles. One would fire and detonate the reactive armor to create a spot where the base armor was exposed. The other teams would aim for this spot, since it was now as vulnerable as if there were no ERA on the tank at all. This was a crude, but apparently effective, way to get the effect of a tandem warhead without actually having one.

[edit] Iraq

During the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the subsequent in-country status, the RPG has become a favorite weapon of the insurgent forces fighting U.S. troops. Since most of the readily-available RPG-7 rounds cannot penetrate M1 Abrams tank armor from the front or sides[citation needed], it is primarily effective against soft-skinned or lightly armored vehicles, as well as an anti-personnel weapon against infantry. However, even basic RPG-7 rounds can disable tanks and occasionally even lead to permanent losses if the tank is hit in the right place where armor is weak. Even if the RPG hit does not completely disable the tank or kill the crew, it can still damage external equipment, lowering the tank's effectiveness. Newer RPG-7 rounds are far more capable, and the RPG-29 is decidedly lethal, which has caused various armies and manufacturers to develop add-on tank armor and other systems for urban combat, such as the Tank Urban Survival Kit (TUSK) for M1 Abrams, slat armor for the Stryker, ERA kit for the FV432, AZUR for Leclerc, and others. The more radical solutions are active protection systems, engaging closing projectiles such as the Russian Drozd and Arena and Israeli TROPHY.

[edit] El Salvador

RPGs were a main tool used by the FMLN's guerrilla forces in the Salvadoran Civil War. During the June 19, 1986 overrun of the San Miguel Army base, sappers used RPGs to initiate the attack and blow through the wall and kill a number of Salvadorn soldiers. FMLN sappers dressed only in black shorts, the faces blackout with grease sneaked through barbedwire and avoiding guard lights made it to within range of the outer wall. Taking out outer guards and lights with the rockets, they made it into the inner wall which they punched through. They were then able to create mayhem as a their comrades attacked from the outside.[5]

[edit] Lebanon

During the 2006 Lebanon War, Hezbollah fired thousands of antitank missiles during the course of the conflict; 50 tanks were hit, and armour was penetrated in the case of 22 tanks, 14 at the Battles of Marjayoun and Wadi Saluki, killing 23. The penetrations were caused by tandem warhead missiles supplied by Syria and Iran, including the RPG-29 'Vampir', AT-5 Spandrel 'Konkurs', AT-13 Saxhorn-2 'Metis-M', and АТ-14 Spriggan 'Kornet' missiles. 18 of the damaged tanks were Mark IVs, although eight of the tanks were still serviceable. Two tanks were completely destroyed by powerful improvised explosive devices, although one was equipped with underside armour, limiting casualties in that tank to 1 of the 7 soldiers. The Israeli military said that it was satisfied with the tank's performance, and linked problems to lack of proper training prior to the war.[6][7]

[edit] Anti-aircraft

The RPG is somewhat useful in the anti-aircraft role. Helicopters are typically ambushed as they land or hover. In Afghanistan, the Mujahideen would modify RPGs for use against helicopters by adding a curved pipe to the rear of the launcher tube to divert the back blast, allowing the RPG to be fired upward at aircraft from a prone position. This made the operator less visible prior to firing and decreased the risk of injury from hot exhaust gasses. Mujahideen also utilized the 4.5-second timer on RPG rounds to make the weapon function as a flak battery. Multiple launchers were needed in order to increase the chances of a hit.

At the time, Soviet helicopters countered the threat from RPGs at landing zones by first clearing them with anti-personnel saturation fire. The Soviets also varied the number of accompanying helicopters (two or three) in an effort to upset Afghan force estimations and preparation. In response, the Mujahideen prepared dug-in firing positions with top cover, and again, Soviet forces altered their tactics by using air-dropped fuel-air bombs on such landing zones. As the U.S.-supplied Stinger surface-to-air missiles became available, the Afghans abandoned RPG attacks.

Both of the Black Hawk helicopters lost by the U.S. during the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia in 1993 were downed by RPG-7s. In Iraq and the second Afghanistan campaign, RPGs were deployed with mixed success against Coalition helicopter forces.

[edit] References

  1. ^ T-80U and T-90 Trials 20.10.99
  2. ^ Sean Rayment. "MoD kept failure of best tank quiet", Sunday Telegraph, May 12, 2007. 
  3. ^ Grant wardlaw, Political terrorism: Theory, Tactics and Counter-Measures (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989), 27
  4. ^ Foreign Military Studies Office Publications - Russian-Manufactured Armored Vehicle Vulnerability in Urban Combat: The Chechnya Experience
  5. ^ Spencer, David E. From Vietnam to El Salvador: The Saga of the FMLN sappers and Other Guerrilla Special Forces in Latin America; Praeger Publishers (1996)
  6. ^ Why did Armored Corps fail in Lebanon?. Ynet.
  7. ^ "Defense establishment favors Rafael tank protection system", Amnon Barzilai, Globes Online. Retrieved September 26, 2007.

[edit] See also

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