Rocket Propelled Grenade
The RPG-7 is a portable, reusable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and it’s predecessor, the RPG-2 were designed by the Soviet Union. They are now produced by the Russian company Bazalt. This weapon has been used in many fire-fights in Iraq and has caused many deaths and injuries for the U.S.
The low-cost, and effectiveness has lead to many countries to use the RPG. Currently 40 countries use the RPG-7 and it is very popular among guerrilla forces. The RPG has been used in many conflicts from 1960-2016, including the Vietnam War.
The launcher is reloadable and based around a steel tube 40 mm. in diameter. It is 95.3 cm. long and weighs 7 kg. Sighting is usually used with a back up iron sight also there is the optional infra-red night sights. the middle of the tube is wood to prevent the user from the heat.
An RPG can use different varieties of warheads. Armor penetration is one of them. It is 30-60 cm. in length and is used to penetrate reactive armor.
Firing an RPG accurately is difficult over a range of 300 meters. The phrase “the closer the better” is great advice for someone thinking to use an RPG. The RPG was the main anti-tank attack weapon used in the Soviet-Afghan War, and then it was usually used at a range of only 80 meters.
The RPG has done a lot of damage to the U.S. Once the U.S. lost two Black hawk helicopters in 1993 do to the use of RPG’s. In Afghanistan, the Taliban travel in groups with as many as 15 RPG’s on tasks to destroy armored vehicles. Though RPG’s have done a lot of damage to the U.S., we also use them in battles…and we use them well. Go USA.
