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Caliber: 40 mm launcher; 40 and 70 105mm warheads (depending on the grenade
model)
Type: recoilless launch + rocket booster
Overall length: 650 mm
Weight: 6.3 kg unloaded, with PGO7 telescope sight
Effective range: 200500 meters, depending on the grenade type
Some grenades, used in RPG7 (Soviet/Russian origins)
OG
PG7V PG7VL PG7VR TBG7V
7V
Year of adoption 1961 1977 1988 1988 1999
Warhead
85 93 64 / 105 105 40
caliber, mm
Weight, kg 2.2 2.6 4.5 4.5 2.0
Effective range,
500 500 200 200 350
meters
Armor
260 500 ERA + 600700
penetration, mm
The RPG7 is a further development of the previous RPG2 antitank grenade launcher.
RPG7, in its first version, known as RPG7V, has been adopted by Soviet army in 1961,
and still is widely fielded in Russia and at least 50 more countries. By far, RPG7 can be
considered as one of the most successful antitank grenade launchers ever made. Initially
thought as an antiarmor weapon, it latter has been adopted for other firesupport
missions by introduction of various types of grenades, such as antiinfantry HEFRAG,
multipurpose Thermobaric / FAE, and some other types of ammunition. The antitank
grenades for RPG7 also came a long way, from original PG7V grenade, with
penetration of about 260mm/10inches of RHA, and up to 500mm/20inches of RHA or 1.5
meters/5ft of brick wall with singlewarhead PG7VL grenade, developed in 1977. By the
late 1980s, a tandemtype PG7VR grenade has been introduced. This grenade has two
warheads and is intended against the most modern tanks, fitted with ERA (Explosive
Reactive Armor). Front warhead sets off the ERA, and second warhead then penetrates
more than 600mm/24in of armor.
The RPG7 is a shoulder
fired, singleshot,
smoothbore recoilless
launcher. Grenades are
loaded from the front, and
the rear of the barrel is fitted
with venturi nozzle. Because
of the recoilless design, there
is a dangerous backblast
zone, more than 20
meters/60ft long. The
antitank grenades are of
combination type, using a
charge of smokeless powder for RCLtype launch. Once grenade reaches safe distance
from the shooter (about 1020 meters), the builtin rocket booster engine ignites and
further accelerates the grenade, greatly enhancing the effective range (up to 500+
meters for single warhead grenades, up to 200+ meters for much heavier tandem or FAE
grenades). Because of increase in range, RPG7 is usually issued with 2.7X fixed
magnification optical sight, designated PGO7. The sight has a rangefinding scale for
typical targets (tanks) with height of 2.7m/9ft, and windage adjustment scales. RPG7
also fitted with backup iron sights. RPG7 uses mechanical ignition system with manually
cocked external hammer, and a singleaction trigger. Because of this, grenade must be
properly aligned with the firing mechanism upon loading.
Each AT grenade consists of a largecaliber HEAT warhead with base fuze, with the
40mm diameter rocket engine behind. The rocket nozzles are located at the front of the
engine, close to the warhead. The tail of the rocket is fitted with folding stabiliztator fins,
which are extended when grenade leaves the barrel. The launch charge, made of black
powder, is loaded into a combustible cardboard case, and attached to the rear of the
grenade prior to loading into launcher. Grenades and launch charges are carried in
special backpacks. By the original soviet standards, grenadier carries two rounds, and
his assistant carries three more. There were several minor upgrades to the basic design
of the RPG7 in USSR and Russia, the most important being the RPG7D, with twopart
takedown barrel, which was issued to the airborne troops. Since RPG7 was, and still is
manufactured in many countries (such as Bulgaria, China, Iraq and Romania, to name a
few), there are plenty of modifications in launcher, and, more important, in grenades.
RPG7 is a simple and inexpensive weapon, yet it possess a high threat to most modern
tanks, and also can serve in a number of other roles, making it a true oneman artillery.