RPG-29

The 'RPG-29' Vampir is a Russian handheld rocket propelled grenade launcher.

Contents

Description

Specifications

History

See also

References

External links

Description

The RPG-29 is a tube style rocket launcher designed to be carried and used by a single soldier. On the top of the launch tube is the x 2.7 1P38 optical sight. On the bottom of the tube is a shoulder brace for proper positioning along with a pistol grip trigger mechanism. A 1PN51-2 night sight can be fitted.
Two projectiles are available for the weapon; the PG-29V anti-tank/anti-bunker round, and the TBG-29V thermobaric anti-personnel round. The PG-29V round has a tandem-charge HEAT warhead for defeating explosive reactive armour (ERA). Eight fins pop out as the rocket leaves the launch tube and stabilize the missile in flight.
The warhead is extremely powerful, and in tests conducted against T-80 and T-90 tanks it penetrated the tanks over their frontal arcs.^[1]
If these reports are true about frontal penetration, the Russian HEAT weapons engineers have made an astonishing advance as a 105 mm warhead is considered inadequate. The French with their ERYX short range antitank weapon stated that a HEAT warhead had to be at least 135 mm in diameter to defeat the newer Russian main battle tanks frontally.
In 2007, British officials confirmed that an RPG-29 round penetrated the frontal ERA and hull of a top-of-the-line Challenger 2 tank during an engagement in al-Amarah, Iraq, injuring three crew members.^[2]

Specifications

★ 'Calibre:' 105 mm^[3][4]

★ 'Launcher weight:' 11.5 kg

★ 'Length:' 1 m

★ 'Round weight:' 6.7 kg

★ 'Projectile weight:' 6.2 kg

★ 'Aimed range:' 500 m

★ 'Operating temperature:' −50 °C to 50 °C

★ 'Penetration performance:'

★
★ 'Rolled homogeneous armor (after reactive armor effects):' 750 mm

★
★ 'Reinforced concrete or brick:' 1,500 mm

★
★ 'Log and earth fortification:' 3,700 mm

★ 'Sights:' Iron, optical, and night sights available with ranges up to 450 m

★ 'Muzzle velocity:' 280 m/s

History

The RPG-29 entered service with the Soviet army in 1989.
Claims were made by the Israeli newspaper ''Haaretz'' that significant numbers of the RPG-29 were passed on from Syria to Hezbollah and were reportedly a major source of IDF casualties in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.^[5]
A spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry denied that Russia had supplied arms directly to Hezbollah, saying that "such insinuations are a source of bewilderment in Moscow, to say the least".^[6] After talks between the two countries, then Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov stated "in my view, the subject in general is closed". According to the Kommersant, unidentified Russian sources involved in the talks acknowledged the possibility of a weapons transfer between Syrian officers and Hezbollah during the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon.^[7]

See also

★ Rocket propelled grenade (includes a description of tactics and history.)

★ RPG-7

★ RPG-26

References

1. http://armor.kiev.ua/fofanov/Tanks/TRIALS/19991020.html
2. MoD kept failure of best tank quiet
3. Rosoboronexport
4. OPFOR Worldwide Equipment Guide, TRADOC DCSINT Threat Support Directorate, January 1999
5. "Hezbollah anti-tank fire causing most IDF casualties in Lebanon", ''Haaretz'', 2006-08-06
6. "Russia denies sending anti-tank weapons to Hizbollah - ministry","RIA Novosti", 2006-08-10
7. "Russian Minister says Russia, Israel have settled differences over Hezbollah arms", ''International Herald Tribune'', 2006-10-20

External links

★ http://world.guns.ru/grenade/gl04-e.htm

★ http://www.rusarm.ru/p_prod/army/rpg29.htm

★ http://www.defense-update.com/products/r/rpg.htm RPG - A Weapon's Profile

★ http://www.defense-update.com/features/du-1-04/rpg-threat.htm Countering the RPG Threat