RKG-3 anti-tank grenade
RKG-3 series | |
---|---|
Type | Anti-tank grenade |
Place of origin | Soviet Union |
Service history | |
In service | 1950–present |
Wars | |
Specifications | |
Mass | 1.07 kg (2.4 lb) |
Length | 362 mm (14.3 in) |
Effective firing range | 15–20 m (49–66 ft) |
Filling | TNT/RDX with a steel lined shaped charge with 220 mm penetration of RHA. |
Filling weight | 567 g (20.0 oz) |
Detonation mechanism | Impact fuse |
RKG-3 is a series of Soviet anti-tank hand grenades. It superseded the RPG-43, RPG-40 and RPG-6 series, entering service in 1950. It was widely used in the 1973 Arab–Israeli War and remained a common weapon into the 2000s and early 2010s, being favoured by Iraqi insurgents during the American-led occupation. Modified versions of the RKG-3 series have also emerged in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Design
RKG stands for Ruchnaya Kumulyativnaya Granata ("handheld
The fuze in the handle activates the grenade. When the parachute deploys, its ejection throws a weight to the rear of the handle and disables the safety. When it impacts or stops, inertia causes the weight to fly forward and hit the spring-loaded firing pin, which activates the primer detonator in the base. This sets off the booster charge in the base of the shaped charge, detonating and enhancing the main charge. The sensitive fuze guarantees that the grenade will detonate if it impacts any target.
Armour penetration depends on the model. The original RKG-3 used a basic shaped charge with a steel liner and could penetrate 125 millimetres (5 in) against
History
The RKG-3 was adopted into service in 1950. A few years later it was replaced by the improved RKG-3M and enhanced RKG-3T. Thicker top armor caused the Soviets to develop the larger RKG-3EM. In the early 1970s the Soviet Army replaced this grenade with the RPG-18, but many other countries and guerrilla movements are still using the RKG-3 in their armed forces. It was used extensively during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
RKG-3 and RKG-3M grenades were used by Chechen forces during the First Chechen War.[1][2]
RKG-3 grenades were widely used by
The grenade has also been seen in use by the
Models
- RKG-3 Penetration : 125 mm (4.9 in) RHA. Gross Weight: 1.07 kg. (2.35 lbs.)
- RKG-3M (-Modernizirovannaya, "Improved") Model with liner changed from steel to copper. Penetration : 165 mm (6.5 in) RHA. Gross Weight: 1.1 kg. (2.42 lbs.) Copies manufactured by East Germany (RKG-3Cu).
- RKG-3T Model with improved copper liner. Penetration: 170 mm (6.7 in) RHA
- RKG-3EM Model with larger warhead. Penetration: 220 mm (8.7 in) RHA Gross Weight: 1.7 kg. (3.74 lbs.)
- RKG-1600 Ukrainian adaptation with 3D printed stabilisation fins and modified fuzing for dropping from commercial drones.[12]
- UPG-8 (Uechebnaya Protivotankovaya Granata, "Training Anti-Tank Grenade"). Black body with white markings. The reusable warhead contains a reloadable black powder charge that mostly produces black smoke that is vented through holes in the heavy-gauge sheet-metal. A new fuze and parachute can be quickly reloaded in the handle after use by using special armorer tools.
- M79 Copy of the RKG-3EM by Yugoimport SDPR. Copies are now manufactured by Serbia (M79) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (RKB-M79). Filling: 400g (0.88 lbs.) Hexolite, Penetration: 220 mm (8.7 in) RHA, Gross Weight: 1.1 kg. (2.42 lbs.).
- Type F-3 Chinese licensed production of the original Soviet RKG-3 with improvements. Penetration: 130 to 170 mm (5.1 to 6.7 in) RHA Gross Weight: 1.07 kg. (2.35 lbs.)
See also
- List of Russian weaponry
- List of 3D printed weapons and parts
Bibliography
- ISBN 0-7106-0963-9.
- Jones, Richard D. (2005). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2005-2006. Jane's Information Group.
- ISBN 978-1-78200-278-9.
References
- ^ a b Galeotti 2014, pp. 40–42.
- ^ a b "How Ukraine Uses Obsolete Soviet Grenades To Destroy Russian Tanks From Above". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ Video of RKG-3 Near Miss on Stryker
- ^ Be the Hunter, not The Hunted Archived 2017-01-25 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Ismay, John (17 October 2013). "Insight Into How Insurgents Fought in Iraq". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
- ^ Hernandez, Chris (19 September 2018). "The Russki RKG-3 Anti-Tank Hammer | WCW". Breach Bang Clear. Archived from the original on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "Завод "Маяк" та "Аеророзвідка" випробували ударний дрон на навчаннях ЗСУ (фото)" ["Mayak" and "Aerorozvidka" plants tested an attack drone at the exercises of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (photos)]. defence-ua.com (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- ^ "CAT-UXO RKG 1600". cat-uxo.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ Ukrainian Forces Showed Their RKG-1600 Drone-dropped Munition Attacks on Russian Armored Vehicle. Military Leak. 17 March 2022. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ ChrisO [@ChrisO_wiki] (11 May 2022). "DRONES: Ukraine has been using octocopters (like the one pictured) to drop RKG-1600 grenades - anti-tank grenades of a 1950s design converted into aerial bombs by fitting 3D-printed fins. They can penetrate 200mm of armour, more than enough to destroy a tank. /6 https://t.co/i7XV5oQNhs" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "How Ukraine Uses Obsolete Soviet Grenades To Destroy Russian Tanks From Above". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 5 May 2022. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ^ Hambling, David. "How Ukraine Perfected The Small Anti-Tank Drone". Forbes. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
External links