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Rocket-propelled grenade From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The RPG-18 Mukha (Russian: Муха, romanized: Fly) is a Soviet short-range, disposable light anti-tank rocket launcher designed in 1972. It was based on the M72 LAW.[2]
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RPG-18 | |
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Type | Rocket-propelled grenade |
Place of origin | Soviet Union |
Service history | |
In service | 1972–present |
Wars | Vietnam War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Sino-Vietnamese War Cambodian–Vietnamese War Third Indochina War Soviet–Afghan War[1] Salvadoran Civil War Gulf War First Nagorno-Karabakh War Tajikistani Civil War First Chechen War Congo Civil War Second Chechen War War in Afghanistan Iraq War Russo-Georgian War Kivu conflict Syrian civil war Russo-Ukrainian War |
Specifications | |
Mass | 1.4 kg (projectile) 2.6 kg (loaded) |
Length | 705 mm (unarmed) 1,050 mm (ready to fire) |
Crew | 1 |
Shell | HEAT |
Caliber | 64 mm |
Action | 300 mm: RHA 500 mm: Reinforced concrete 1000 mm: Brickwork |
Muzzle velocity | 115 m/s |
Effective firing range | 200 m |
The RPG-18 is very similar to the US M72-series LAW anti-tank rocket launcher, with captured examples during the Vietnam War likely being sent to the Soviet Union.[3][4] The RPG-18 has been succeeded by the RPG-22, a very similar design with a larger warhead.
The RPG-18 fires a 64 mm PG-18 high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead mounted on a small rocket able to engage targets within 200 meters. The warhead self-destructs six seconds after launch, placing a limit on range even if a sight was used that was effective with targets beyond 200 meters. The RPG-18 can penetrate up to 300 mm of conventional armor. However, performance is significantly lessened when the RPG-18 is used against targets protected by HEAT-resistant explosive reactive armour (ERA) or composite armor.
Unlike better known weapons, the RPG-18 requires only one operator because it is not reloadable. Assistant grenadiers are used to help reload the RPG-2, RPG-7 and RPG-16 systems.
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