ANTI-ARMOUR
L14A1 Carl Gustaf 84mm Recoiless Rifle
| Calibre: | 84mm | Muzzle Velocity: | 230-255m/s |
| Weight: | 9.3kg | Length: | 1.1m |
| Magazine Capacity: | Single Shot | Rate of Fire: | 6 rounds/min |
| Effective Range: | 700m | Date in Service: | 1964 |
The Carl Gustaf was developed by Hugo Abramson and Harald Jentzen at the Royal Swedish Arms Administration (KAFT) and produced at Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori from where it derives its name. The weapon was first introduced into Swedish service in 1948 as the 8.4 cm Granatgevär M48 (GRG M48), the Carl Gustaf used a rifled barrel for spin-stabilizing its rounds, as opposed to fins as used by the other systems. The M2 variant went into service with the British Armed Forces in 1964. The "Charlie-G", as it became known in the Britiah Army, was an 84 mm man-portable multi-role weapon and had an anti-armour, anti-fortification, and anti-personnel capability. It could also fire illumination rounds.
Carl Gustav 84mm with it's range of optics and projectiles
The Carl Gustaf can be used to attack larger stationary targets at up to 700 m, but the relatively slow speed of
the projectile restricts attacks on moving targets to a range of 400 m or less. To increase accuracy, the weapon was usually
mounted on a 0.8kg bipod type stand, although it could be shoulder operated. In a well documented incident during the
Falklands War, a Royal Marine damaged an Argentinian corvette using a Carl Gustaf.
Carl Gustaf shoulder operated
Rocket 66mm HEAT L1A1 (LAW)
| Calibre: | 66mm | Muzzle Velocity: | 145m/s |
| Weight: | 2.36kg | Length: | 0.655m - 0.893m |
| Magazine Capacity: | Single Shot Disposable | Rate of Fire: | N/A |
| Effective Range: | 300m | Date in Service: | 1967 |
The M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon, also referred to as the Light Anti-Armour Weapon or LAW) rocket launcher, is a
portable one-shot 66mm anti-tank weapon. The M72 LAW was issued as a pre-packaged round of ammunition.
Key features diagram of Rocket 66mm HEAT L1A1 (LAW)
The British Army used the Norwegian built version of the M72 under the designation "Rocket 66mm HEAT L1A1". The "HEAT" rocket,
(high explosive antitank), contains 340g of Octol and uses the M54 motor which burns all of the propellent before the rocket
leaves the tube.
Operating instructions printed on Rocket 66mm HEAT L1A1 (LAW)
Five LAw's are packed in fibreboard, and three packs per wire bound wooden crates. The inner pack of three LAW's weighs
12.5kg and the outer pack of fifteen LAW's weighs 54.4kg.
LAW 80 LIGHT ANTI-TANK WEAPON SYSTEM
| Calibre: | 94mm | Muzzle Velocity: | 165m/s |
| Weight: | 9.6kg | Length: | 1.0m - 1.5m |
| Magazine Capacity: | Single Shot Disposable | Rate of Fire: | N/A |
| Effective Range: | 500m | Date in Service: | 1986 |
The LAW 80 is a one-man portable, one-shot 94mm anti-tank weapon, designed to replace existing weapons which are
ineffective or are crew served. The LAW 80 fires a HEAT warhead capable of penetrating 600mm of armour plate at 500 metres.
The LAW 80 is stored and transported in Unit Load Containers (ULC) which hold 24 launchers, and these are issued direct to
the operator.
The LAW 80 has an inbuilt spotting rifle which is an integral part of the outer tube, and contains five preloaded rounds.
The 9mm spotting rounds are balistically matched to the main projectile, they are tracer marked and carry a flash head to
record a hit on the target. The operator can select and fire the main projectile at anytime.
The LAW 80 was designed and manufactured by Hunting Engineering Ltd. and the Royal Ordnance Factories.