Rocket Launchers

The AT4 is a Swedish 84mm disposable single-shot anti-tank recoilless rifle developed by Saab Bofors Dynamics. It is the standard-issue light anti-armor weapon for the U.S. military (as the M136) and many NATO forces, replacing the M72 LAW.

The Armbrust is a German 67mm disposable single-shot anti-tank recoilless weapon with a unique countermass system that eliminates backblast, making it safe to fire from enclosed spaces. This was achieved by balancing the projectile with a countermass of shredded plastic that was ejected from the rear of the tube and stopped almost instantly by air resistance, while the warhead continued toward the target. The weapon was lightweight at 6.3 kg, capable of penetrating 300 mm of rolled homogeneous armor, and produced minimal firing signature, making it ideal for urban combat and special operations use. The Armbrust was widely exported and used by numerous special forces units worldwide.

The Carl Gustaf M4 is a Swedish 84mm multi-role, reusable, shoulder-fired recoilless rifle. Unlike disposable anti-tank weapons, the Carl Gustaf fires a wide variety of ammunition types including anti-armor, anti-structure, anti-personnel, smoke, and illumination, making it one of the most versatile infantry support weapons in the world.

The LRAC F1 was a French 89mm reusable anti-tank rocket launcher that replaced the US M20 Super Bazooka in French service. It featured a fiberglass launch tube with a pistol grip and shoulder stock. The weapon could fire both anti-tank and anti-personnel rockets.

The M1 Bazooka was the first shoulder-fired rocket launcher adopted by the US military, firing a 2.36-inch high-explosive rocket. It consisted of an open-ended steel tube with a simple ignition system and folding bipod. The weapon gave infantry a portable anti-tank capability for the first time.

The M141 BDM is a US Army 83mm disposable shoulder-launched weapon designed specifically for destroying fortified bunkers and field fortifications. It is derived from the Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW) used by the US Marine Corps. The weapon uses a high-explosive dual-purpose (HEDP) warhead that can penetrate reinforced concrete walls before detonating inside the structure.

The M202A1 FLASH is an American four-barreled 66mm incendiary rocket launcher developed as a replacement for infantry flamethrowers. It fires M74 incendiary rockets loaded with approximately 0.61 kg of thickened pyrophoric agent that ignites spontaneously upon contact with air, capable of engaging area targets and fortified positions at ranges out to 750 meters. The reusable launcher features a distinctive quad-barrel cluster mounted on a detachable launcher unit with a folding stock, pistol grip, and optical sight. Although effective, the M202 was limited in its deployment and was eventually withdrawn from frontline service as incendiary weapons fell out of favor under international conventions.

The M72 LAW (Light Anti-tank Weapon) is a disposable single-shot 66mm unguided anti-tank rocket launcher adopted by the U.S. military in 1963. Its lightweight, disposable design makes it a standard issue weapon for infantry squads needing a portable anti-armor or bunker-busting capability.

The M72A7 is the latest variant of the M72 LAW series, an American disposable 66mm anti-tank rocket launcher. It features an improved rocket motor and a new warhead for increased penetration. The M72 series has been in service since the 1960s.

A Swedish-British disposable anti-tank missile system designed for one-man operation. It uses a unique overfly top-attack guidance system.

A German disposable anti-tank rocket launcher developed to replace the Carl Gustaf M2. It uses a high-explosive anti-tank warhead with a unique recoilless launch system.

The Panzerfaust 30 was the first mass-produced version of the German disposable anti-tank recoilless launcher. It consisted of a simple steel tube with a propellant charge and a fin-stabilized HEAT warhead. The weapon was cheap to produce and gave individual infantrymen an effective anti-tank weapon for the first time.

The Panzerfaust 60 was the most widely produced variant of the German Panzerfaust series of disposable anti-tank recoilless weapons used in World War II. It featured a larger 149 mm diameter warhead and a more powerful propellant charge than the earlier Panzerfaust 30, giving it an effective range of 60 meters and the ability to penetrate up to 200 mm of armor plate. The weapon was a single-use, shoulder-fired design consisting of a steel tube containing the propellant charge and a large shaped-charge warhead that could defeat any Allied tank in service at the time. The Panzerfaust 60 was simple enough to be issued to minimally trained Volkssturm militia and Hitler Youth units, making it one of the most feared infantry anti-tank weapons of the war.

The Panzerschreck was a German 88mm anti-tank rocket launcher developed from captured American Bazooka technology. It featured a larger caliber and a blast shield to protect the operator from the rocket motor backblast. The weapon gave German infantry a powerful anti-tank capability against Soviet and Allied armor.

The RPG-16 is a Soviet 58.3mm portable rocket-propelled grenade launcher developed specifically for Soviet airborne forces (VDV). Unlike the widely used RPG-7 which fired an 85mm over-caliber warhead, the RPG-16 used a smaller 58.3mm rocket but with a longer, more aerodynamic projectile that provided improved accuracy and a flatter trajectory at extended ranges. The launcher featured a two-piece design that could be broken down for parachute jumps and reassembled quickly upon landing, making it ideal for airborne operations. It used PG-16 high-explosive anti-tank rockets and was the primary light anti-armor weapon of Soviet paratroopers throughout the 1970s.

The RPG-18 was a Soviet disposable anti-tank rocket launcher firing a 64mm HEAT rocket. It was designed as a one-shot disposable weapon that could be extended from a collapsed carrying tube. The weapon was issued to Soviet motorized infantry as a lightweight anti-armor solution.

The RPG-22 is a Soviet/Russian 72.5mm disposable rocket-propelled grenade launcher developed as an improved replacement for the RPG-18. It offers slightly better armor penetration and a more compact overall design. The weapon is issued as a sealed, preloaded tube and discarded after a single use.

The RPG-26 is a Soviet/Russian 72.5mm disposable rocket-propelled grenade launcher designed as a lightweight follow-on to the RPG-18. It is a single-shot, preloaded disposable weapon that is issued as a sealed tube ready for immediate use. The RPG-26 can penetrate approximately 440mm of armor, making it effective against light to medium armored vehicles and fortifications.

The RPG-27 Tavolga is a disposable single-shot anti-tank rocket launcher developed in Russia. It fires a 105mm rocket with a tandem shaped charge warhead. The RPG-27 was designed to penetrate explosive reactive armor. It uses a telescoping launch tube that extends before firing. The launcher is pre-loaded and issued as a sealed unit. After firing, the tube is discarded. The RPG-27 is intended to replace older rocket launchers in Russian service.

A Soviet/Russian reusable anti-tank rocket launcher firing 105mm rockets. It is known for its ability to penetrate modern explosive reactive armor.

The RPG-29 Vampir is a Soviet/Russian reusable 105mm rocket-propelled grenade launcher developed by the Bazalt design bureau. It features a distinctive two-stage launch tube design that breaks down into two sections for carrying. The RPG-29 can defeat over 750mm of armor behind explosive reactive armor, making it one of the most powerful man-portable anti-tank weapons ever fielded.

The RPG-30 Kryuk is a disposable anti-tank rocket launcher developed in Russia. It fires a 105mm rocket with a tandem shaped charge warhead. The RPG-30 is unique for featuring a preliminary dart projectile that defeats active protection systems. The dart fires first to trick the APS, followed by the main rocket. This design makes it effective against modern tanks equipped with hard-kill APS. The launcher is a single-shot disposable unit that extends before firing.

The RPG-32 Barkas is a modern multi-caliber rocket-propelled grenade launcher jointly developed by Russia's Bazalt and Jordan's JADARA. Its most distinctive feature is a quick-change barrel system that allows the operator to switch between 72.5mm and 105mm rocket calibers depending on the target type within seconds. The 105mm rocket is designed to defeat modern main battle tanks with explosive reactive armor, while the 72.5mm rocket is optimized for light armored vehicles and fortified positions. The weapon uses a recoilless launch principle with a collapsible launch tube, and is equipped with a sophisticated day/night sighting system. The RPG-32 has been adopted by the Jordanian Armed Forces.

The RPG‑7 is a man‑portable, reusable, unguided anti‑tank rocket launcher developed by the Soviet Union’s Bazalt design bureau. Conceived as a low‑cost, high‑impact solution for infantry to defeat armored vehicles and fortified positions, its design philosophy emphasizes simplicity, ruggedness, and ease of mass production. The launcher consists of a steel tube with a simple flip‑up rear sight and a detachable, reloadable rocket cartridge. Its primary purpose is military, though it has proliferated to irregular forces worldwide. Key innovations include a shaped‑charge warhead capable of penetrating up to 260 mm of rolled homogeneous armor, a dual‑purpose propellant that ignites both the launch charge and sustainer motor, and a universal 40 mm caliber that accommodates a wide variety of warheads (HEAT, HE, thermobaric, smoke). The RPG‑7’s reputation rests on its reliability, low logistical footprint, and iconic status as a symbol of guerrilla warfare, while its distinctive “saw‑tooth” warhead and characteristic back‑blast make it instantly recognizable.

The RPO-A Shmel is a Soviet single-shot disposable man-portable rocket flamethrower. Despite its flamethrower designation, it actually fires a thermobaric rocket warhead. The weapon is a sealed tube that contains the rocket, launcher, and ignition system. It was designed to engage fortified positions, bunkers, and personnel in enclosed spaces. The thermobaric warhead creates a high-temperature blast wave through fuel-air explosion. The RPO-A is significantly more powerful than conventional explosive rockets of similar size.

The SMAW is a portable shoulder-fired assault weapon developed for the United States Marine Corps. It is designed to engage bunkers, fortified positions, and armored vehicles. The weapon launches 83mm rockets from a reusable launch tube fitted with a telescopic sight. The SMAW can fire HEDP rockets for multipurpose use or a special rocket for breaching obstacles. It features a spotting rifle attachment that fires tracer rounds matching the rocket trajectory. The weapon provides Marine infantry with organic heavy firepower at the squad and platoon level.

The Type 69 RPG is a Chinese man-portable, shoulder-fired anti-tank rocket launcher. It was developed by Norinco as an improved copy of the Soviet RPG-7 and entered service in the 1970s. The Type 69 features a reusable launch tube with a pistol grip and a trigger mechanism. It can fire a variety of 85mm rockets, including high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT), high-explosive fragmentation, and tandem-charge warheads. The launcher is fitted with a simple optical sight and can be used with an infrared night sight. The Type 69 RPG has been widely exported and used in many conflicts around the world. It is known for its simplicity, low cost, and effectiveness against armored vehicles.