M67 recoilless rifle

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Not to be confused with M67 grenade.
M67 recoilless rifle
The M67 recoilless rifle
TypeRecoilless rifle
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1960s–present
Wars
[1][2]
Specifications
Mass
  • 37.5 lb (17 kg) Empty
  • 46.7 lb (21.2kg) Loaded
Length53 in (1,346 mm)
Height17 in (432 mm)
Crew3 – Gunner, Assistant gunner, Ammunition bearer
Cartridge weight
  • 9.25 lb (4.2 kg) HEAT round
  • 6.79 lb (3.08kg) HE round
Caliber3.54 in (90 mm)
Action
  • 13.7 in (350 mm) against RHA
  • 31.5 in (800 mm) against concrete
Rate of fire1-2 rpm
Muzzle velocity700 ft/s (213 m/s)
Effective firing range328 yd (300 m)
Maximum firing range2,300 yd (2,100 m)
Sights3x M103 Telescopic sight with stadia lines

The M67 recoilless rifle is a 90 mm (3.55 inch)

anti-tank recoilless rifle made in the United States and later in South Korea. It could also be employed in an anti-personnel role with the use of the M590 antipersonnel round. It was designed to be fired primarily from the ground using the bipod and monopod, but could also be fired from the shoulder using the folded bipod as a shoulder rest and the monopod as a front grip. The weapon was air-cooled and breech-loaded, and fired fixed ammunition. It is a direct fire weapon employing stadia lines
to allow simple range finding, based on a typical tank target bridging the lines once in range.

History and use

Adopted in 1959 in Army service, the M67 was used in the Vietnam War together with the much larger 106 mm M40.[3] The M67 proved an effective weapon, though it was primarily used against personnel in combat, and saw little or no use against armor and even against fortifications.[4] While troops praised its effectiveness, the M67 came under heavy criticism due to the weapon's weight and length as well as its backblast, which often precluded its use in offensive operations.[4] Because of these disadvantages, the Marine Corps units continued to use the old M20 Super Bazooka in preference to the M67.[5] It was largely replaced in Army service by the M47 Dragon anti-tank missile system starting in 1975.[4] The M67 was also issued to anti-armour platoons of 1 ATF (Australian/New Zealand Task Force) during the Vietnam war, being used near the perimeter of the defense bases due to its weight.[6] The M67 was issued in lieu of the standard issue Carl Gustav for these armies. This may have been to simplify logistics, or it may be that ammunition for the Carl Gustav could not be sourced due to Swedish opposition to the war in Vietnam.[citation needed]

The M67 was not completely withdrawn from infantry service.

Operation Urgent Fury in 1983.[7]
Lastly, Combat Engineer units used the M67 as a demolition gun to destroy bunkers and other hard point targets as part of their MTOE (Modified Table Of Organization & Equipment) at least as late as 1990.

The

Royal Saudi Land Forces fielded M67s against Iraq during Gulf War.[8]

In February 2011, it was reported that stocks of surplus M67 recoilless rifles were reintroduced to the

M3 Carl Gustav recoilless rifle to regular infantry units.[10]

Production

It was designed by the

Kia Motors, while rounds were manufactured by Poongsan Corporation [ko].[12] Additionally, a licensed version was made in Greece, the EM-67.[13]

Description

The M67 is shaped like a long tube with the sight assembly and trigger offset to the side in opposite directions about halfway along the barrel. Under this point is the monopod, with the bipod halfway back from there.[4] The weapon requires a crew of three to operate it; a gunner, assistant gunner (loader) and ammunition bearer. The breech is hinged on the right side, and has to be swung open to load the round. It is then swung closed and when the rifle is fired, the rear end of the shell case breaks up and is blown out of the back of the breech block. On the left side of the barrel, near the sight and trigger assemblies, is an asbestos heat shield to protect the gunner's shoulder and neck from the heat of the barrel when firing.

It is capable of maintaining a sustained fire rate of one round per minute, but the weapon could also be rapid fired at an increased rate of one round every six seconds (10 rpm) by a well trained crew. The rapid firing is limited to five rounds, with a mandatory 15 minute cool-off period afterward.

The M49A1 sub-caliber device, which uses NATO 7.62 mm rounds, is typically used for zeroing the sight and for qualifying purposes. The sight is visually zeroed by setting crossed strings over the gun barrel opening (a rubber loop and notches at the end of the barrel facilitate holding the string in the correct position), then looking through the barrel of the sub-caliber device (and crossed strings) and setting the fixed

stadia
, reticle sight to the same target. The sub-caliber rounds can then be used to further refine the zero and to qualify.

Ammunition

Ammunition for the 90 mm rifle was issued in complete fixed cartridges.[12] The term "fixed" means that the projectile and the cartridge case are crimped together. This ensures correct alignment of the projectile and the cartridge case. It also permits faster loading because the projectile and the cartridge case are loaded as one unit. The rear end of the cartridge case is made of frangible material that is completely destroyed when fired. The projectiles used are pre-engraved with a rifling band, that is, the rotating bands are cut to engage the rifled bore both to trap gases and to spin-stabilize the projectile.

TP M371 practice round

The TP M371 is a practice round for the M371A1 HEAT round.[12] It has the high explosive filler replaced with inert ballast to keep it at the same weight and flight properties. The nose cap contains a smoke pellet to mark the point of impact.

  • Cartridge weight: 9.25 lb (4.2 kg)
  • Cartridge length: 28.10 in (714 mm)
  • Projectile weight: 6.75 lb (3.06 kg)
  • Muzzle velocity: 700 ft/s (213 m/s)
  • Maximum effective range: 437 yd (400 m)
  • Fuse: PIBD M530A1

M371A1 HEAT round

The M371A1 round utilizes a special fin-stabilized projectile which employs the

HEAT
warhead to achieve maximum effect against the target.

The M371A1 HEAT round is used primarily against armor. It can also be used against secondary targets such as gun emplacements and pillboxes with excellent results. It is capable of penetrating 1.15 ft (350 mm) of

armor plate (steel), 3.5 ft (1.1 m) of packed soil, or 2.5 ft (0.8 m) of reinforced concrete.[14]

M590 Antipersonnel Canister

The Antipersonnel (Canister) Cartridge M590 (XM590E1) or M590 cartridge is a flechette round[12] designed for close-in defense against massed infantry attacks. The cartridge consists of an aluminum cartridge case crimped to an aluminum canister. The canister consists of a thin-walled, deep-drawn, aluminum body that contains a payload of 2,400 eight-grain (0.5 g), low-drag, fin-stabilized, steel-wire flechettes.[4] When the canister leaves the muzzle, the pressure ruptures the canister along inscribed score marks to release the flechettes, which disperse in a cone angle of approximately 8 degrees.

  • Cartridge weight: 6.79 lb (3.08 kg)
  • Cartridge length: 19.19 in (487 mm)
  • Projectile weight: 3.97 lb (1.8 kg)
  • Muzzle velocity: 1,250 ft/s (381 m/s)
  • Maximum effective range: 328 yd (300 m)
  • Fuse: none

M591 Antipersonnel round

The M591 is an HE round with a muzzle velocity of 475 metres per second (1,560 ft/s).[12]

Performance relative to comparable weapons

Weapon Diameter Muzzle Velocity Warhead Armor penetration (est.) Effective Range Sight
M67 90 mm 213 m/s 3.06 kg HEAT 350 mm 300 m 3×
M2 Carl Gustaf
 84 mm 255 m/s 1.70 kg HEAT 400 mm 450 m 2×
LRAC F1 89 mm 295 m/s 2.20 kg HEAT 400 mm 500 m 3x
RPG-7 93 mm 115 m/s 2.60 kg HEAT 500 mm 300 m 2.7×
B-300 82 mm 280 m/s 3.00 kg HEAT 400 mm 400 m N/A

Data is from Jane's Infantry Weapons 1984–85

Users

A South Korean Marine with a M67 in 2015.

Current

Former

See also

References and notes

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-1-107-04196-7. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on August 24, 2013.
  2. ^ rufus_mcdonald. "Wayback Machine has not archived that URL" – via Twitter.[dead link]
  3. ^ Green, Michael; Stewart, Greg (2004). Weapons of the Modern Marines. St. Paul, MN, USA: MBI Publishing Co. p. 51.
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-1-84908-801-5
    .
  5. ^ Rottman 2012, p. 76.
  6. ISBN 978-1-84908-505-2
    .
  7. ^ a b c Montes, Julio A. (January 2, 2015). "Infantry Support and Anti-tank Weapons in Latin America: 90 mm and 105 mm Recoilless Rifles". Small Arms Defense Journal. Vol. 6, no. 4.
  8. ^
    ISBN 978-1-85532-277-6
    .
  9. ^ Menzies, Kimberly K. (February 12, 2011). "Currahees add to their Weapons Arsenal". Task Force Currahee Public Affairs. Clarksville TN Online. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  10. ^ "The U.S. Army Wants to Give Troops a New Super Missile". Warisboring.com. December 16, 2015.
  11. ^ Jane's Infantry Weapons 1984–85. p. 740.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Gander, Terry J.; Cutshaw, Charles Q. (2001). "90 mm M67 recoilless rifle". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002–2003. pp. 5347–5348.
  13. ^ a b c Wiener, Friedrich (1987). The armies of the NATO nations: Organization, concept of war, weapons and equipment. Truppendienst Handbooks Volume 3. Vienna: Herold Publishers. p. 483.
  14. ^ "Worldwide Equipment Guide 2001" (PDF).
  15. ^ a b Rottman 2011, p. 20
  16. ^ Rottman 2011, p. 19.
  • (JIW) Hogg, Ian. Jane's Infantry Weapons 1984–85, London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1984.

External links

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