U.S. Marine Corps introduces Carl Gustaf to eventualy replace MK153 SMAW
The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) is introducing Gustaf recoilless rifle into its inventory to eventually replace the MK153 Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW).
The Marines had conducted the live fire training of the Carl Gustav rocket system at Range 7 aboard Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan on Oct. 25.
Carl Gustaf
Carl Gustaf (Gustaf Bazooka or M2CG) is an 84 mm man-portable reusable anti-tank recoilless rifle produced by Saab Bofors Dynamics in Sweden. Although most rounds fired by the Carl Gustaf work on the classic recoilless principle, modern rounds sometimes add a post-firing booster that technically make it a rocket launcher.
The system is sold to more than 40 countries. In U.S. military service, it is known as the “M3 Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon System” (MAAWS) or “Ranger Anti-tank Weapons System” (RAWS).
Specifications:
Calibre: 84 mm rifled (24 lands, progressive twist)
Crew: 2 optimal, 1 minimal
Weights: 14.2 kg (M2); 8.5 kg (M3); 0.8 kg (mount); 7.0 kg (M4)
Length: 1.13m (M2); 1.07m (M3); 1.0m (M4)
Breech: Hinged
Rate of fire: 6 rounds per minute
Sights: Iron sights, optical 3×, laser rangefinder, image intensification system
Mk 153 SMAW
Mk 153 Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW) is a shoulder-launched rocket weapon with the primary function of being a portable assault weapon and a secondary anti-armor rocket launcher.
It was developed from the B-300 reusable man-portable anti-tank weapon system developed by Israel Military Industries (IMI).
The weapon can be used to destroy bunkers (bunker buster) and other fortifications during assault operations; it can also destroy other designated targets using the dual mode rocket and main battle tanks using the High-Explosive Anti-Armor (HEAA) rocket.
SMAW has a maximum range of 500 metres (550 yd) against a tank-sized target.
D, it was introduced to the U.S. Armed Forces in 1984. Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq saw a thermobaric rocket added (described as a “Novel Explosive” (NE)), which is capable of collapsing a building.
