March 17th, 2022
7minute read
The ironies of contemporary world history are many and sometimes profound.
Both thePanzerfaustand thePanzerschreckhad demonstrated themselves to be formidable battle implements and the Russians sought to develop something similar.
By 1947, though, an improved design was taking shape that overcame the RPG-1s shortcomings.
A U.S. Marine with Black Sea Rotational Force fires the Romanian RPG-7 during Platinum Eagle training exercises. Image: U.S. DoD
Toward that end, in 1958 the Russians began working on an improved system that incorporated rocket assist.
It is an 85mm diameter shaped-charge warhead weighing 5 lbs.
that deploys four stabilizing fins in flight.
A precursor to the RPG weapons, thePanzerschreckis shown in this photo used by a German soldier towards the end of World War II.
Only those G-forces can initiate the sequence that ignites the sustainer motor and arms the shaped charges fuze.
In fact, it is fighting right now as this article is being written.
Thus, the RPG-7 lives on, albeit now with an American accent.
A Ukrainian soldier of the 1st Airmobile Battalion, 79th Air Assault Brigade fires an RPG-7 during qualification on May 4, 2017. Image: U.S. DoD
This RPG-2 was captured from the Viet Cong forces in the 1960s. It was a potent anti-tank weapon during its time. Image: NARA
A U.S. soldier from 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment carries a rocket-propelled grenade during a simulated assault during training. Image: U.S. DoD
Staff Sgt. James Bradsher demonstrates the use of a Soviet-made RPG-7 during exercise Volant Scorpion on January 28, 1984. Image: U.S. DoD
This RPG-7 was captured by U.S. troops during combat with Viet Cong forces in July 1967. Image: NARA
A U.S. Marine with the Black Sea Rotational Force fires a Romanian RPG-7 during the Platinum Eagle training exercise. Image: U.S. DoD
Russian main battle tanks navigating through the marshland and forests in Belarus. Image: Shutterstock/Maksim Safaniuk
A Ukrainian soldier assigned to the 1st Airmobile Battalion, 79th Air Assault Brigade loads his RPG-7. Image: U.S. DoD
