Sinfulcurves_AK

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...09/ai_n8911890

The latest Russian thermobaric grenade-brought out on 23 July 2001 by the Bazalt Research and Production Center-is an improved variant of the RShG-1. Described as a "Multi- Purpose Rocket Propelled Grenade," the weapon has been listed as having an effective range of 500 meters and a maximum range of 800-1,000 meters. With this revelation, Bazalt may be trying to wring RPG-29 performance levels out of the original RShG-1.

The RShG- 1 is based on the RPG-27 LAW (a more powerful evolution of the RPG-26), which fires a 105mm rocket based on the PG-7VR tandem warhead grenade (used in the RPG-7). The PG-- 7VR warhead, which has a punch equivalent to that of a 120mm high-- explosive (HE) mortar or artillery shell, was actually developed in 1988. The Russians now believe it will be a useful antitank weapon out to 2005. (See also "The RPG-7 on the Battlefields of Today and Tomorrow," by Lester W. Grau, Infantry, May-August 1998.)

The PG-7VR is also used in the RPG-29, which looks more like a conventional "bazooka" or recoilless rifle than the LAW-series RPGs. The RPG29 can be broken down into two subassemblies carried by the gunner in a special bag. The assistant gunner carries additional grenades and protects the gunner. While fitted with iron sights, the launcher also has both optical day and night sights.

In late 1998, the Russians sold the Syrians a shipment of RPG-29 grenade launchers with night sights (as part of a larger arms package).

On 20 October 1999 the Russians conducted extensive survivability trials on T-80U and T-90 main battle tanks (MBTs). These tests involved firing large amounts of ordnance (including several versions of RPG ATGL, light and heavy ATGMs, and APFSDS rounds) at the frontal arc of T-80Us and T-90s, with and without Kontakt-V reactive armor (ERA). Three of each type tank were used (one with Kontakt-V ERA, one without the explosive packages, and one reserve vehicle). For the ERA part of the trials, knocked-out ERA packages were replaced after each shot. Each weapon was fired five times at each target, for a total of 20 shots per weapon.

The RPG-29 scored a total of three penetrations, while none of the other RPG rounds could penetrate even the stripped target. The RPG-29 also penetrated the T-80U three times with the ERA and all five times without. Of all other grenades, only one PG-7VR penetrated the stripped T-80U target.

The RPG-7 using the advanced 4.5kg, 105mm PG-7VR grenade had a penetration of 650mm of rolled homogenous armor (RHA), the RPG-26 disposable LAW had more than 500mm, while the RPG-29 105mm launcher was able to punch through 750mm.

The Russians concluded that the RPG-29 was by far the most potent weapon among those tested. It was as powerful as the heavy "Kornet" ATGM and, considering the proliferation of this fairly light infantry weapon, they figured that it had become the most dangerous adversary of modern Russian main battle tanks and a very disturbing development.

The RShG- 1 has a small HEAT (high-explosive antitank) precursor to penetrate targets before the 2.3kg thermobaric main charge warhead explodes, making it more useful than the RPO-A against lightly armored vehicles and field fortifications. With tandem warheads, the first charge blows a hole in the target's outer skin (or ERA blocks) for a thermobaric primary warhead to pass through. This provides an armor/concrete penetration capability, allowing the thermobaric charge to be detonated inside the target.

Thermobaric weapons contain slow-- burning explosive slurries that keep their explosive impulses on a target longer. Their burning plasma clouds can penetrate even the smallest cracks, and when the slurry is completely consumed, the resulting vacuum causes a massive backblast that crushes everything in the area. These weapons can be extremely dangerous to armored vehicles, as they penetrate engine compartments or vents.

Bazalt believes that the RShG-1 has no competitors on the global arms market and, with its excellent sales prospects, may be a weapon U.S. forces must face in the future.

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http://warfare.ru/?catid=278&linkid=2199


RPG-26 RPG-27 RShG-1
Calibre, mm 72.5 105 105
Type anti-tank anti-tank assault
Weight, kg 2.9 8 8
Aiming range, m 250 200 200
Armour penetration, mm 500
Max obstacle penetration, not less than, mm:
homogeneous armour after ERA penetration (normal) 750
reinforced concrete 1,000 1,500
brick 1,500 2,000
log-and-earth 2,400 3,700
Operational temperature range, °C ±50 ±50 ±50
Length, mm 770 1,155 1,155

The portable RPG-26 and RPG-27 RLs are disposable weapons with single-stage HE (RPG-26) and tandem HE (RPG-27) warheads designed to engage:

tanks at any course angles;
self-propelled gun mounts and other armoured materiel,
manpower located in bunkers, permanent and log emplacements, light field fortifications and brick buildings.

Disposable RShG-1 uses single-stage thermobaric warhead efficient against manpower sheltered in confined spaces of up to 300 cu. m or in open terrain within a radius of up to 10 m.

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Pretty damn deadly, huh? I hope this pic comes out, they look gorgeous!

__________________
Life and death come and go like marionettes dancing on a table. Once their strings are cut, they easily crumble

sniperdude411

Sounds quite scary, although simple slat armor can defeat this weapon.
Also looks very similar to the m71 LAW.

What's your obcession with Russian weapons, anyways?

Sinfulcurves_AK

M72, ya mean? Russians have their version, it's RPG-18 and 22, kinda obsolete now...

Hehe, as far as my fetish with Russian weapons...

I've always found Russia interesting, so
that's one, also I guess it's the foreign nature itself that I'm
turned on too. That and it's typically seen as ~uh-ohh, bad guy~ so I guess I'm also turned on by the whole bad, rough type vibe as well, hehe