| RPG-7 | |
|---|---|
 An RPG-7 launcher (top) with a Bulgarian PG-7G inert training warhead and booster (bottom) | |
| Type | Hand-heldrocket launcher[1] |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | since 1961 |
| Used by | SeeUsers |
| Wars | SeeConflicts |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Bazalt |
| Designed | 1958 |
| Manufacturer | Bazalt andDegtyarev plant (Russian Federation) |
| Unit cost | c. US$350[2] |
| Produced | since 1958 |
| No. built | 9,000,000+[3] |
| Variants |
|
| Specifications | |
| Mass |
|
| Length | 950 mm (37.4 in) |
| Cartridge | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Caliber | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Muzzle velocity |
|
| Effective firing range | 330 m (1,080 ft) (PG-7V) |
| Maximum firing range | 700 m (2,300 ft) (OG-7V) (self detonates at c. 920 m (3,020 ft)) |
| Sights |
|
TheRPG-7[a] is a portable,reusable, unguided,shoulder-launched,anti-tank,grenade launcher. The RPG-7 and its predecessor, theRPG-2, were designed by theSoviet Union, and are manufactured by the Russian companyBazalt. The weapon has theGRAU index (Russian armed forces index)6G3.
The ruggedness, simplicity, low cost, and effectiveness of the RPG-7 has made it the most widely used anti-armor weapon in the world. Roughly 40 countries use the weapon; it is manufactured in several variants by nine countries. It is popular withirregular andguerrilla forces.
Widely produced, the most commonly seen major variations are theRPG-7D (десантник –desantnik –paratrooper) model, which can be broken into two parts for easier carrying; and the lighter ChineseType 69 RPG.DIO of Iran manufactures RPG-7s with olive green handguards,H&K style pistol grips, and a commando variant.
The RPG-7 was first delivered to the Soviet Army in 1961 and deployed at the squad level. It replaced the RPG-2, having clearly out-performed the intermediate RPG-4 design during testing. TheRussian Federation produces theRPG-7V2, capable of firing standard and dualhigh-explosive anti-tank (HEAT)rounds,high explosive/fragmentation, andthermobaricwarheads, with a UP-7V sighting device fitted (used in tandem with the standard 2.7× PGO-7optical sight) to allow the use of extended range ammunition. TheRPG-7D3 is the equivalent paratrooper model. Both the RPG-7V2 and RPG-7D3 were adopted by theRussian Ground Forces in 2001.
The launcher is reloadable and based around a steel tube, 40 mm (1.6 in) in diameter, 950 mm (37 in) long, and weighing 7 kg (15 lb). The middle of the tube is wood wrapped to protect the user from heat and the end is flared. Sighting is usually optical with a back-upiron sight, and passiveinfrared andnight sights are also available. The launchers designated RPG-7N1 and RPG-7DN1 can thus mount the multi-purpose night vision scope1PN51[5] and the launchers designated RPG-7N2 and RPG-7DN2 can mount the multi-purpose night vision scope1PN58.[6]
As with similar weapons, the grenade protrudes from the launch tubes. It is 40–105 mm (1.6–4.1 in) in diameter and weighs between 2 kg (4.4 lb)[7] and 4.5 kg (9.9 lb). It is launched by agunpowder booster charge, giving it an initial speed of 115 m/s (380 ft/s), and creating a cloud of light grey-blue smoke that can give away the position of the shooter.[8] Therocket motor[b] ignites after 10 m (33 ft) and sustains flight out to 500 m (1,600 ft) at a maximum velocity of 295 m/s (970 ft/s). The grenade is stabilized by two sets of fins that deploy in-flight: one large set on the stabilizer pipe to maintain direction and a smaller rear set to induce rotation. The grenade can fly up to 1,100 m (3,600 ft); thefuze sets the maximum range, usually 920 m (3,020 ft).[9]
According to theUnited States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Bulletin 3u (1977)Soviet RPG-7 Antitank Grenade Launcher—Capabilities and Countermeasures, the RPG-7 munition has two sections: a "booster" section and a "warhead and sustainer motor" section. These must be assembled into the ready-to-use grenade. The booster consists of a "small strip powder charge" that serves to propel the grenade out of the launcher; the sustainer motor then ignites and propels the grenade for the next few seconds, giving it a top speed of 294 m/s (960 ft/s). The TRADOC bulletin provides anecdotal commentary that the RPG-7 has been fired from within buildings, which agrees with the two-stage design. It is stated that only a 2 metres (6.6 feet) standoff to a rear obstruction is needed for use inside rooms or fortifications. The fins not only provide drag stabilization, but are designed to impart a slow rotation to the grenade.[citation needed]
Due to the configuration of the RPG-7 sustainer/warhead section, it responds counter-intuitively to crosswinds. A crosswind will tend to exert pressure on the stabilizing fins, causing the projectile to turn into the wind (seeWeathervane effect). While the rocket motor is still burning, this will cause the flight path to curve into the wind. The TRADOC bulletin explains aiming difficulties for more distant moving targets in crosswinds at some length.
Based on the standard RPG-7, a lightweight airborne version with a detachable barrel was developed, along with a series of modifications differing in sighting systems:
The RPG-7 can fire a variety of warheads for anti-armor (HEAT, PG-Protivotankovaya Granata) or anti-personnel (HE, OG-Oskolochnaya Granata) purposes, usually fitting with an impact (PIBD) and a 4.5 secondfuze. Armor penetration is warhead dependent and ranges from 300–600 mm (12–24 in) ofRHA; one warhead, the PG-7VR, is a 'tandem charge' device, used to defeatreactive armor with a single shot.[citation needed] The Russian Ministry of Defense said in December 2023 that it has modified the RPG-7V grenade launcher in order to shoot 82-mm mines.[14]
Current production ammunition for the RPG-7V2 consists of four main types:
Other warhead variants include:
Manufacturer specifications for the RPG-7V1.[19]
| Name | Type | Image | Weight | Explosive weight[20][21] | Diameter | Penetration | Lethal radius |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG-7VL | Single-stage HEAT |  | 2.6 kg (5.7 lb) | 730 g (26 oz)OKFOL (95% HMX + 5% wax) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | >500 mm (20 in) RHA | |
| PG-7VR | Tandem charge HEAT |  | 4.5 kg (9.9 lb) | 1.43 kg (3.2 lb)OKFOL (95% HMX + 5% wax) | 64 mm (2.5 in)/105 mm (4.1 in) | 600 mm (24 in) RHA(withreactive armor) 900 mm (35 in) RHA(withoutreactive armor[22]) | |
| OG-7V | Fragmentation |  | 2 kg (4 lb) | 210 g (7.4 oz) A-IX-1 | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 7 m (23 ft)(vs. body armor)[23][24] | |
| TBG-7V | Thermobaric |  | 4.5 kg (9.9 lb) | 1.9 kg (4.2 lb) ОМ 100МИ-3Л + 0.25 kg (0.55 lb) A-IX-1 (as thermobaric explosive booster) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 10 m (30 ft) |
A 1976 U.S. Army evaluation of the weapon gave the hit probabilities on a 5-by-2.5-metre (16.4 ft × 8.2 ft) panel moving sideways at 4 m/s (13 ft/s).[25] Crosswinds cause additional issues as the round steers into the wind; in an 11 km/h (6.8 mph) wind, firing at a stationary tank sized target, the gunner cannot expect to get a first-round hit more than 50% of the time at 180 m (590 ft).[26]
| Range m (ft) | Percent |
|---|---|
| 50 (160) | 100 |
| 100 (330) | 96 |
| 200 (660) | 51 |
| 300 (980) | 22 |
| 400 (1,300) | 9 |
| 500 (1,600) | 4 |
The RPG-7 was first used in 1967 by Egypt during theSix-Day War, and by theViet Cong during theVietnam War, but it did not see widespread usage in Vietnam until the following year.[27]
The RPG-7 was introduced to North Vietnam starting in 1966 was widely used by North Vietnamese forces and the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. It was a crucial weapon for the Vietnamese, especially against American tanks and other armored vehicles. It was supplied to them by the Soviet Union and China (China produced a license-built version called the Type 65 RPG.).[28][29]
The RPG-7 was used by theProvisional Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland from 1969 to 2005, particularly inLurgan, County Armagh, against British Armyobservation posts and the towering military base at Kitchen Hill in the town.[30] The IRA also used them in Catholic areas of West Belfast against British Armyarmoured personnel carriers (APCs) and Armyforward operating bases (FOBs). Beechmount Avenue in Belfast became known as "RPG Avenue" after attacks on British troops.[31]
In Mogadishu, Somalia, RPG-7s were used to downtwo U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters in 1993.[32][33]
During thefirst andsecond Chechen wars, the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria used RPG-7s which they had captured from Soviet bases and used them against Russian armored columns. During the first war, Russians may have lost 100 tanks and 250armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) in Grozny.[34] The Chechens were able to knock out T-72s with three or four RPG-7 hits. Against T-72s withexplosive reactive armor, the Chechens fired an RPG in close range (within 50 m (160 ft)) to detonate the armor and followed this with RPG hits on the then exposed area of the tank, also from close range.[35] The RPG-7 was also effective against AFVs, buildings and personnel.[36]
The PG-7VR has been used byIraqi insurgents.[37] On 28 August 2003, it achieved amobility kill against an AmericanM1 Abrams hitting the left side hull next to the forward section of the engine compartment.[38]
During theWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021), severalM1A2 Abrams were temporarily disabled by RPG-7 hits.[39]
Afghanistan[40]
Albania Albania mainly owns the Type 69 rocket launcher, a Chinese copy of the RPG-7. They also have a locally manufactured variant called the "Tip-57." Both are inherited from the communist era and have been kept in storage. In 2022 the MoD published videos on their official YouTube channel where the ground forces were seen using them while training that same year.[40]
Algeria[40]
Angola[40]
Armenia[40]
Azerbaijan[40]
Bangladesh: ChineseType 69 RPG variant used byBangladesh Army.[42]
Belarus[40]
Benin[40]
Botswana[40]
Bulgaria: Produced locally byArsenal Corporation asATGL-L.[43][44]
Burkina Faso[45][46]
Cambodia[40]
Cape Verde[40]
Central African Republic[40]
Chad[40]
China:Type 69 reverse-engineered copy.[47]
Congo-Brazzaville[40]
Congo-Kinshasa[40]
Croatia[40]
Cuba[40]
Cyprus[40]
Czech Republic[40]
Djibouti[40]
Egypt:[40] Locally produced without license as PG-7 by the Sakr Factory for Developed Industries.[48]
Ethiopia
Eritrea[40]
Estonia[40]
Fiji[49]
Georgia: Modified version "RPG-7D" locally produced bySTC Delta.[50][51][52]
Ghana[40]
Guinea[40]
Guyana[40]
Honduras[53]
Hungary[54]
Indonesia[55] Bulgarian Made ATGL-L[56]
Iran[40] Produced locally asSageg.[57]
Iraq[40] Produced locally asAl-Nassira from the 1980s byBa'athist Iraq.[57][58]
Israel: Large stocks held as secondary ATW.[27] Rounds produced locally.[59]
Jordan[40]
Kurdistan[60]
Kazakhstan[40]
Kyrgyzstan[40]
Laos[40]
Latvia[40]
Lebanon[40]
Lesotho[61]
Liberia: Used by both the Liberian Army and guerrilla factions in theLiberian Civil War.[39]
Libya[40] (used by both sides in theLibyan Civil War)
Madagascar[40]
Malaysia: Bulgarian ATGL-L versions are purchased and used since the early 2000s[62][63]
Mali[64]
Malta[40]
Mauritania[40]
Moldova:[40]
Mongolia[40]
Morocco[40]
Mozambique: Non state-users.[65]
Myanmar: MA-10 RPG made byMyanmar Directorate of Defence Industries.[66]
Nicaragua[40]
Nigeria: Produced under license by theDefence Industries Corporation of Nigeria[40][67]
Niger[68]
North Korea[40]
North Macedonia[40]
Pakistan: Used by thePakistan Army and paramilitary forces.[40] RPG-7V version made under license by Pakistan Machine Tool Factory.[69][70]
Papua New Guinea[71]
Philippines: Thearmy has three different variants: 250 ATGL-L2 from Bulgaria, 30 Type 69 from China, and 744 RPG-7V2 from Russia.[72]
Poland:[40] Produced RPG-7 and RPG-7W variants.[73]
Romania:[40] Produced locally by SC Carfil SA from Brașov asAG-7 (Romanian:Aruncătorul de Grenade 7, Grenade Launcher 7).[74]
Russia[40]
Rwanda[40]
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic: Used by thePolisario Front.[75]
Sao Tome and Principe[40]
Senegal[40]
Serbia: Made byPPT Namenska.[76]
Seychelles[40]
Sierra Leone[40]
Somalia[40]
South Africa:South African National Defence Force.[77]
South Sudan:South Sudan Democratic Movement,Sudan Liberation Movement/Army,South Sudan Defence Forces,Sudan People's Liberation Army used RPG-7,Type 69s and Iranian-made RPGs.[78]
Sri Lanka
Sudan: Made byMilitary Industry Corporation as theSinar.[79]
Suriname: Used by theMilitary of Suriname.[40]
Syria[40]
Tajikistan:[40]
Togo[40]
Turkmenistan:[40]
Ukraine:[40]
Uzbekistan:[40] Produced locally.
Venezuela[40]
Vietnam:[40] Locally produced and designated as RPG7V-VN. Also popularly recognized under the designationB-41.[80]
Yemen[40]
Zambia[40]
Zimbabwe[40]
Al-Quds Brigades
ISIL[81]
Hezbollah[83]
Houthi movement[84]
Provisional Irish Republican Army[85]
Qassam BrigadesSyrian opposition[83]Taliban[83]
Ulster Volunteer Force[82]
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