When was the rpg made

An RPG comprises two main parts: the launcher and a rocket equipped with a warhead. The launcher is designed such that the rocket exits the launcher without discharging an exhaust that would be dangerous to the operator.

In the case of the RPG-7 , the rocket is launched by a gunpowder booster charge, and the rocket motor ignites only after 10 metres. In some other designs, the propellant charge burns completely within the tube. An RPG is an inexpensive way to deliver an explosive payload over a distance 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 steering corrections can be sent by the operator see Missile guidance while in flight, such as in the AT-3 Sagger.

Georgian soldiers prepare to fire a rocket propelled grenade. The HE high explosive warhead is a general-purpose explosive warhead for use against soft targets such as infantry, unarmored vehicles and fixed positions. The HE warhead detonates on impact or when the fuse runs out; usually the fuse is set to the maximum burn of the rocket motor but it can be shortened for improvised anti aircraft purposes. 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 heats the metal lining and propels some of it forward at a very high velocity in a highly plastic state.

The resulting narrow jet of metal can defeat armor several hundred milimeters of RHA equivalent, such as that used in light and medium armored vehicles. However, heavily armored vehicles such as main battle tanks are generally too well armored to be penetrated by an RPG, unless weaker sections of the armor are exploited. Various warheads are also capable of causing secondary damage to vulnerable systems especially sights, tracks, rear and roof of turrets and other soft targets.

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 thermobaric warhead.

Another recent development is a tandem HEAT warhead [8] capable of penetrating reactive armor. The RPG uses a tandem-charge high explosive anti-tank warhead to penetrate explosive reactive armor ERA as well as composite armor behind it. The driver lost part of his foot and two more of the crew were also injured but the driver was able to reverse 1. The incident was not made public until May , and in response to accusations, the MoD said "We have never claimed that the Challenger 2 is impenetrable.

Similar solutions are active protection systems , engaging closing projectiles such as the Russian Drozd and Arena , as well as the recent Israeli Trophy system. The RPG was designed to address the threat of active protection systems on tanks by using a false target to trick the APS. Twenty years later, they are still being used widely in recent conflict areas such as Chechnya, Iraq, and Sri Lanka. Both missed, and one of them hit a DC-9 of Yugoslav Airlines instead. RPGs can also be used to achieve a mobility kill , because no matter how thick the tank's armor is, its tracks remain the weakest components.

Once a tank has been immobilized, if the tank crew cannot provide covering fire e. However, if the tank is recovered and towed out of the battle zone, the tank can easily be repaired and ready for action. Due to the lack of a guidance system in the RPG rockets, the operator must fire relatively close to the intended target, increasing the chances of being spotted.

Most modern armies deploy anti tank guided missiles ATGM as their primary infantry anti-tank weapon, but the RPG still remains a potent threat to armored vehicles, especially in situations such as urban warfare or jungle warfare , where they are favored by guerrillas. 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.

Note that this concealment is often preferably outdoors, because firing an RPG within an enclosed area may create a dangerous backblast. 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 — 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.

When used in this fashion, the RPG is being used almost like an artillery weapon. MANPADS are capable of actively tracking the target as opposed to flying in a ballistic trajectory as the unguided RPG-missiles do; allowing kills at high altitude which are too far to be hit by an unguided projectile. Furthermore, firing at steep angles poses a danger to the user, because the backblast from firing reflects off the ground.

Reactive armor consists of explosive tiles; when struck by a projectile, they detonate -- disrupting the armor-piercing jet produced by a shaped charge. The response to this was the tandem warhead, with a precursor charge that sets off the reactive armor tile followed by a main charge that does the damage. Armor designers are now moving a step ahead to from reactive armor to active defenses, with systems like the Russian Arena , the much-hyped Israeli Trophy , and the forthcoming U.

These detect an incoming round and launch a projectile to meet it , destroying or disrupting the threat by impact or blast. Dense inert metal explosives , which spray out micro-shrapnel, are particularly suitable for this; they have a very limited radius of destruction and will not harm friendly troops nearby.

The RPG has mm tandem warhead reckoned to be capable of penetrating over mm of steel armor behind reactive armor. But its special feature is a second tube, firing a smaller-caliber decoy rocket a fraction of a second ahead of the real one.

The idea is that active protection systems will engage the decoy, but will not be able to engage a second threat immediately afterwards. Why getting in trouble early makes you a better leader. The ridiculous anatomy of most Army Reserve drill days. WATM is made in Hollywood by veterans. It's military life presented like never before. Check it out at We Are the Mighty.

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