Vampire launcher. "Vampire" that frightened the Israeli army. Disservice and dividends from it
The RPG-29 hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher with a PG-29V round (the name of the ROC is Vampire) was developed by B.C. Tokarev. In terms of its combat capabilities, the RPG-29 is significantly superior to the RPG-7 and RPG-16 grenade launchers. Improvements have been made to the design of its shot and launcher, which make it possible to attribute the RPG-29 to the third generation of anti-tank grenade launchers.
The main purpose of the RPG-29 is to defeat main battle tanks with modern dynamic protection. In addition, it can be effectively used to suppress firing points and defeat enemy manpower located in buildings and structures made of brick or reinforced concrete, wood-and-earth shelters.
The basis of the grenade launcher system is a 105-mm round with a tandem cumulative warhead. The main difference between the PG-29V shot and those previously used in second-generation hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers is the absence of a propellant (starting) charge in its composition. The grenade receives propulsion from a jet engine, the operation of which occurs only within the length of the grenade launcher barrel. The PG-29V shot engine can be performed in two versions: with a fiberglass or steel chamber, and gives the grenade an initial speed of 255 m / s or 230 m / s, respectively. The shot has two main parts: a tandem warhead and a jet engine with a stabilizer. This simplified its design, reduced the length, and facilitated preparation for firing. The absence of an active section of the trajectory - the engine finishes its work before the departure - simplified the rules for taking into account corrections for crosswinds.
The tandem warhead of the PG-29V shot has two parts - the front with a precharge and the main one, interconnected by a tube. In terms of action, the warhead of the PG-29V shot is similar to the warhead of the PG-7VR "Resume" shot. The front warhead, when it hits the dynamic protection unit of an armored object, initiates explosives, the DZ plates scatter and act on the cumulative pre-charge jet. At the same time, the fuse of the main warhead begins to function, undermining the main warhead after a specified time, which pierces the armor freed from dynamic protection, strikes the crew, destroys equipment, ignites and undermines ammunition.
The design scheme of the PG-29V jet engine is similar to the RPG-27 grenade engine: a “brush-type” charge of pyroxylin gunpowder was used; in order to reduce the impact on the shooter of powder gases when fired, constructive measures were taken to rationally position the grenade in the barrel; there is a special flame arrester in the grenade nozzle. The ignition of the powder charge of the engine comes from an electrical impulse from the generator of the trigger mechanism located on the grenade launcher. The supply of an electrical impulse to the electric igniter of the reactive charge occurs through an electrical circuit through a contact ring on the grenade stabilizer. A similar charge ignition scheme is also used in the SPG-9 and RPG-16 grenade launchers.
When a certain pressure is reached in the engine chamber, the forcing unit is pushed back, the stabilizer is released from the contact sleeve and the grenade starts moving. The jet engine works only within the length of the grenade launcher barrel, then the grenade's flight occurs by inertia. Grenade flight stabilization is provided by eight stabilizer blades, which open after the grenade takes off under the action of springs and oncoming air flow. To monitor the flight of the grenade and correct the fire, the grenade has a tracer.
The RPG-29 grenade launcher in the stowed position (disconnected) consists of two parts and is carried in a pack on a belt. The RPG-29 is transferred to the combat position by connecting pipes with a rotary coupling. The grenade launcher has a folding bipod. An open mechanical sight is attached to the barrel.
The main sight is a 1P38 optical sight with a field of view of 13 ° and a magnification of 2.7x. The RPG-29 grenade launcher can be equipped with a 1PN51-2 night sight. In this case, it has the designation RPG-29N.
The combat rate of fire of a grenade launcher when it is served by two calculation numbers - a grenade launcher and his assistant - reaches 4 rounds per minute. The mass of a grenade launcher with an optical sight is 12.1 kg.
The RPG-29 with the PG-29V was adopted in 1989. In 1993, it was first presented at the IDEX-93 international arms exhibition in Abu Dhabi. On demonstration firing, the PG-29V grenade broke through an armored barrier 300 mm thick with a DZ block installed at an angle of 60 ° (that is, 600 mm along the cumulative jet).
In the early 2000s, the Tochpribor Central Design Bureau, based on a miniature laser emitter of its own design with an active element of neodymium-activated potassium gadolinium tungstate, created a 2Ts35 grenade fire control device. When the RPG-29 is equipped with such a device and installed on a tripod machine, the grenade launcher turns into an even more formidable and accurate portable anti-tank weapon. In this case, one more person is included in the calculation.
The combat capabilities of the RPG-29, both fire and maneuverability, are highly rated by experts. It is one of the most powerful weapons of this class in the world. Despite the significantly increased weight and size characteristics compared to the most common RPG-7, the RPG-29 grenade launcher is simple and easy to use, reliable and trouble-free in any climatic conditions.
Calculation of the easel RPG-29 in position. The grenade launcher is equipped with PUO 2Ts35 |
MAIN TTX RPG-29 AND SHOT PG-29V |
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Starter type |
Reusable, recoilless, for shooting from a standing position, from a kneeling position, prone (with a bipod), from a machine |
Used ammunition |
Caliber cumulative grenade with two warheads (tandem warhead) and a jet engine |
Barrel caliber, mm |
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Grenade caliber, mm |
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Grenade launcher length, mm: |
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In the stowed position |
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Combat position |
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Mass of a grenade launcher with an optical sight, kg |
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Mass of grenade launcher without optical sight, kg |
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The initial speed of the grenade, m / s: |
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Engine with fiberglass chamber |
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Steel chamber motor |
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Firing range, m: |
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Sighting |
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direct shot |
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Accuracy at a direct shot range, m |
Vv, Vb = 0.4 |
Armor penetration behind DZ, mm |
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Combat rate of fire, rds / min |
The RPG-29 rocket-propelled grenade launcher (chief designer V.S. Tokarev) with the PG-29V round was adopted by the Soviet Army in 1989. It was first introduced in 1993 at the IDEX-93 international arms exhibition in Abu Dhabi. RPG-29 "Vampire" is designed to fight the most advanced modern tanks, equipped with dynamic protection and powerful armor capable of withstanding conventional cumulative ammunition. RPG-29 is a development of such previous systems, like the RPG-16 and RPG-7, however, it differs from them not only in its large size, but also in a number of design features. From the RPG-7, the new grenade launcher inherited the tandem warhead from the PG-7VR grenade, with two HEAT warheads located one after the other. The front warhead of a smaller size is designed to destroy the block of dynamic protection (reactive armor) or anti-cumulative screen, after which a more powerful rear warhead part already hits the tank hull directly. From the RPG-16, a system with a detachable caliber smooth barrel for transportation, as well as a trigger mechanism with electronic ignition of the grenade engine, was inherited. Unlike the previous domestic systems, the PG-29V grenade is purely reactive. The complete burnout of the charge of a powerful rocket engine occurs during the time that the grenade is in a sufficiently long barrel of a grenade launcher, and the energy received by it is enough to achieve an effective firing range that is more than two times greater than the firing range of a PG-7VR grenade from an RPG-7. Grenade stabilization on the trajectory is carried out with the help of eight folding stabilizers located in its tail section. Aiming is carried out using a standard 1P38 optical sight with a field of view of 13 degrees and a magnification of 2.7x, in addition, reserve open sights are located on the barrel of the grenade launcher. Also, the grenade launcher can be equipped with a 1PN51-2 night sight, in which case it has the designation RPG-29N. To ensure greater convenience when firing from a prone position, a folding bipod is located in the rear of the grenade launcher - a support.
For ease of transportation, the grenade launcher is divided into two equal parts.
Caliber 105.2 mm
Grenade caliber 105 mm
Weight of equipped grenade launcher without optical sight 11.5 kg
The mass of the equipped grenade launcher with an optical sight is 12.1 kg
Grenade weight 4.5 kg
The length of the grenade launcher in the stowed position 1000 mm
The length of the grenade launcher in combat position 1850 mm
The initial speed of a grenade with a fiberglass combustion chamber is 230 m / s
The initial speed of a grenade with a combustion chamber made of steel 255 m / s
Combat rate of fire by a combat crew of two people 4 in / m
RPG-29 "Vampire"- Soviet hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher. This is a modern weapon of a motorized rifle squad for destroying all types of modern tanks, armored and non-armored vehicles, as well as manpower in defensive structures. various types.Caliber: 105.2 millimeters,
Firing range: up to 500 meters.
Length:
- in the stowed position - 1 meter, in
- combat position - 1.85 meters.
The weight of the equipped grenade launcher is 11.5 kg,
Grenade weight - 6.7 kg.
Equipped with an optical sight for shooting in the daytime and a night vision device for shooting at night, as well as a bipod for emphasis when shooting prone.
Designed to fight modern main battle tanks equipped with side screens and dynamic protection.
The main ammunition of the RPG-29 is PG-29V rounds. These are tandem ammunition with two HEAT warheads located one behind the other. The front warhead with a caliber of 64 mm provides penetration of protective screens and dynamic armor, the main one, with a caliber of 105 mm, directly affects the armor of a combat vehicle. Armor penetration 750 or 650 + NDZ.
In addition, the TBG-29V thermobaric shot can be used to combat enemy manpower.
Warhead tandem
Caliber, mm 105
Weight, kg:
grenade launcher 11.5
shots 6.7
Range of aimed fire, m 500
The thickness of the pierced barrier, m:
homogeneous armor after overcoming DZ 0.6+
reinforced concrete and brick 1.5+
tree earth 3.7+
It is designed to fight tanks of all types, including those equipped with dynamic protection, and other armored vehicles, to suppress firing points and manpower in buildings and structures. Reusable grenade launcher. Equipped with mechanical, optical and night sights.
The basis of the complex is a 105-mm shot with a tandem warhead. The main difference between the PG-29V shot and those previously used in second-generation hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers is the absence of a propelling (starting) one in its composition.
charge. The grenade receives propulsion from a jet engine, which operates only in
within the length of the barrel of the grenade launcher. The PG-29V shot engine can be made in two versions (with a fiberglass or steel chamber) and
reports the initial speed for shooting. Absence of an active section of the trajectory - engine
finishes work before departure - simplified the rules for accounting for crosswind corrections.
The tandem warhead of the PG-29V round has two parts - the front (precharge) and the main, interconnected by a tube. In terms of action, the warhead of the PG-29V shot is similar to the warhead of the PG-7VR shot. The front warhead, when it hits the DZ, initiates explosives,
DZ plates scatter and act on the cumulative precharge jet. At the same time, the fuse of the main warhead begins to function. The main purpose of the PG-29V shot is to defeat tanks with dynamic protection. In addition, it can be effectively used to suppress firing points and defeat enemy manpower located in buildings and structures.
from brick or reinforced concrete, wood-and-earth shelters.
The design scheme of the PG-29V jet engine is similar to the RPG-27 grenade engine, but the ignition of its powder charge occurs from the electric pulse of the trigger generator.
The shot has two main parts: a tandem warhead and a jet engine with a stabilizer. Giving an electrical impulse
on the electric igniter, the reactive charge occurs through an electrical circuit through a contact
grenade stabilizer ring. A similar charge ignition scheme is used in grenade launchers.
SPG-9 and RPG-16. When reaching in the engine chamber
of a certain pressure, the forcing unit is pushed back, the stabilizer is released from the contact sleeve and the grenade starts moving. The jet engine operates only within the length of the grenade launcher barrel, then the flight of the grenade
happens on impulse. Grenade flight stabilization is provided by eight stabilizer blades, which open after the grenade takes off under the action of springs and oncoming air flow.
To monitor the flight of the grenade and correct the fire, the grenade has a tracer.
The RPG-29 grenade launcher in the stowed position (disconnected) consists of two parts and is carried in a pack on a belt. The RPG-29 is transferred to the combat position by connecting pipes
swivel clutch. The grenade launcher has a folding bipod. An open mechanical sight is attached to the barrel. The main sight is a 1P38 optical sight with a field of view of 13 ° and a magnification of 2.7x. The RPG-29 grenade launcher can be equipped with a 1PN51-2 night sight. In this case, it has the designation RPG-29N.
The combat rate of fire of a grenade launcher when it is served by two calculation numbers - a grenade launcher and his assistant - reaches 4 rounds per minute. The mass of a grenade launcher with an optical sight is 12.1 kg. The RPG-29 with the PG-29V was adopted in 1989. In 1993, it was first presented at the IDEX-93 international arms exhibition in Abu Dhabi. Grenade
PG-29 penetrated a 300 mm armor barrier with a DZ block installed at an angle of 60 ° (i.e. 600 mm along
course of the cumulative jet).
Since the beginning of August, during the fighting with the Hezbollah group, the Israeli army suddenly began to lose 3-5 Merkava tanks per day. The record was on August 9, when the IDF lost 17 armored vehicles at once. The next day, 13 more. In addition, five tanks were hit on the 12th, four on the 13th.
The data came from information channels, controlled by Hezbollah, but Tel Aviv has never denied them (although it has not confirmed them). As a result, according to experts, in just a week of hostilities, the Israelis lost dozens of armored vehicles, which were considered "invulnerable", "the best in the world." It was on the Merkava that the Israeli military leadership made a big bet in solving combat missions in Lebanon. What happened?
Smuggling route RPG-29
First, the Minister of Internal Security of Israel, Avi Dichter, and after him the head of the military department of this country, Amir Peretz, immediately stated that the armored vehicles were destroyed by modern anti-tank systems Russian production, which Moscow allegedly secretly supplied to Hezbollah. And the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, citing sources in the Ministry of Defense and in the special services of the Jewish state, clarified that we are talking about the mass use of RPG-29 (“Vampire”) anti-tank grenade launchers in Lebanon. They, they say, Russia sold to Syria, from where they fell into the hands of Hezbollah militants.
The Russian Foreign Ministry, through the mouth of its official representative Mikhail Kamynin, immediately denied these reports, calling them "insinuations" that "cause at least bewilderment." However, Kamynin hinted that it would be nice to provide evidence. Especially since once, in November 2005, after an attack by militants on the positions of Israeli troops in the village of Rajar, Israel, contrary to established practice, handed over to Russia for analysis the tail section of one of the missiles. Then, let us recall, the Russian answer boiled down to the fact that, without having a serial number, only by the Cyrillic letters on this piece, it is difficult to judge whether an anti-tank round belongs to a batch of weapons sold to Syria. According to the RIA Novosti agency, citing experts in the Russian defense industry, Israel has provided similar "spare parts" to Russia even now. But they also turned out to be “without numbers”.
On this occasion, Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, expressed the opinion that if Israel had real evidence of the supply of Russian weapons to Hezbollah, this would have long been known to the whole world.
However, as the head of the independent Center for Military Forecasting, Colonel Anatoly Tsyganok, told NVO, “even if the representatives of Rosoboronexport had at their disposal a fragment of a missile with a number, they would never have confirmed that it was ammunition from exactly the batch of weapons that was delivered to Syria or Iran or somewhere else.”
“The scandal itself, of course, is interesting,” Tsyganok also said. - In the sense that Israel, then, can fight on foreign territory not only with its own tanks, but also mainly with American weapons (including armored vehicles, aircraft, helicopters and artillery), and the defending side, no matter how you treat it, defend itself with someone else's weapons are not allowed. The subtlety of this issue is that if Tel Aviv, Washington, the EU officially consider Hezbollah a terrorist structure, then in Russia, Hezbollah was not included in the recently published list of 17 terrorist organizations whose activities are legally prohibited on the territory of our country, like Hamas┘"
At the same time, Tsyganok emphasizes that “it would be wrong to interpret these words of mine in such a way that Russia could supply Hezbollah with RPG-29 by some direct supply, of course, through the“ black corridor ”, I generally consider this way of penetration of a grenade launcher into the conflict zone is unlikely.” “However, I do not rule out,” the expert continued, “that this anti-tank weapon could well fall into the hands of Hezbollah militants from Syria. Of course, it is unlikely that this was sanctioned by Damascus, and he officially denies this, but it is no secret that smuggling channels have long been established in the Middle East, through which weapons are transported to Lebanon. There was a message that Syrian military leaders may well be involved in organizing this “local black market.”
The same opinion is shared by a member of the Duma Security Committee, Gennady Gudkov, who believes that these weapons could also get into Lebanon through the underground markets of Syria.
As for the fact that Russian defenders received fragments of grenades “only with Cyrillic letters” on them, Anatoly Tsyganok believes that if the deliveries were illegal, then the numbers on both the grenade launchers themselves and on the ammunition for them could have been “knocked down”. The technology here is about the same as in the car theft business: when reselling stolen cars or disassembling them for spare parts, the numbers of the engine and other units are “cut down”. However, this is just a version.
At the same time, a military analyst points out that “similar smuggling channels exist in other geographic areas, and the RPG-29, which the Soviet army began to equip in 1989, then began to be supplied to the Warsaw Pact countries, and to others, therefore, this grenade launcher could well have hit Hezbollah from states that are now members of NATO.” "Besides, - noted Anatoly Tsyganok, - do not forget that a lot of "Vampires" and warheads for them remained in the republics of the former Soviet Union."
MOSSAD YAWING AND ISRAEL MINISTRY OF DEFENSE MISCALCULATION
At the same time, the head of the independent Center for Military Forecasting shared the following observation with the NVO: “Judging by the amount, as they say, of the vaunted Israeli tanks at one time, the deliveries of Hezbollah RPG-29s, wherever they came from, were most likely implemented recently. The fact is that even before the statements of Peretz and Dichter, an expert list of anti-tank weapons owned by Hezbollah was circulated in the Middle East. Most likely, this list was prepared not without the participation of Israeli intelligence, which, as you know, has eyes and ears everywhere. So, quite a lot of weapons appear in this document: there is an old Russian RPG-7, and its Iranian copy of the Shager, and the 9K14 Malyutka ATGM, and its upgraded version of the Raad, again of Iranian production, as well as the Bassoon ” and “Competition” from Soviet times and an Iranian copy of the last “Towsan-1 / M113”, plus Iranian ATGMs “Tupan” and “Tupan-2”, made already from American samples of the 1970-1980s. Note that the list is quite detailed, but there is not even a hint of the presence in it of the relatively new and more effective than the RPG-7 grenade launcher RPG-29.
From the above words of the expert, one can make an unambiguous conclusion that until the beginning of August, Hezbollah militants did not have RPG-29.
However, grenade launchers are grenade launchers, but it seems that something is not in order in the actions of the Israeli troops themselves. After all, if so many tanks were destroyed, then serious mistakes were made in the use of armored vehicles. In specific combat conditions, they, obviously, should have been thrown into the attack without fail under the cover of aircraft or helicopters, with a preliminary fire "cleansing" of the territory, on which the Merkavas were then to attack.
On the other hand, the repeated hit of the Israelis "in a tank hole" once again confirms the version of Colonel Tsyganok about the recent, already in the course of hostilities, deliveries of RPG-29: that is, Israeli tankers in "invulnerable" armor were thrown into battle in the calculation on the fire from the RPG-7 or ATGMs mentioned by the expert, which is not so dangerous for them, but ran into much more formidable Vampires. The RPG-29 grenade is designed, among other things, to penetrate the frontal armor of such tanks as the Merkava, which, in layman's terms, has additional degrees of protection, that is, with a grenade launcher, it is not necessary to get close to the car from the side in order to hit it in the place where the armor "thinner"
A BAD SERVICE AND DIVIDENDS FROM IT
But after the aforementioned accusations of Tel Aviv against Moscow, another rather interesting aspect arose in the problem of "secret supplies". As you know, almost simultaneously with the statements of Amir Peretz and Avi Dichter, Washington imposed sanctions on Rosoboronexport and the Sukhoi airline. Their representatives regarded this US demarche as an attempt to influence the recent successes of the Russian Federation in the struggle for the global arms market (only more than a 3 billion contract with Venezuela is worth something, active work is underway to similarly "seduce" Argentina). And against this background, both the head of the Israeli Ministry of Defense and Chief Intelligence Officer Dichter did the United States, in fact, a disservice - as they say, they advertised Russian weapons for free, which, if used skillfully, can disable dozens of "the most invulnerable tanks in the world" during just one fight. Not to mention the fact that at the same time they created a "bad reputation" for their own "best in the world" tank.
And taking into account the fact that, in addition to tanks, Hezbollah also successfully shoots down Israeli helicopters (by the way, American ones), sinks military boats and burns other armored vehicles (including US ones again), the effect of this “advertising” only intensifies. “We are grateful to the gentlemen from Tel Aviv for this,” a NVO source at one of the defense enterprises said on this occasion (he, however, categorically refused to comment on the RPG-29 “supply problem” in any way). - I think that against this background, it would be a sin for Rosoboronexport not to take the opportunity and not try to speed up the signing of a number of contracts related to the sale of small arms. And above all to those countries where the US is losing its influence.”
It is curious that these days in Kovrov ( Vladimir region), where the well-known Degtyarev weapons plant is located (which also produces the Igla portable anti-aircraft missile systems), it was announced that foreign deliveries of the powerful heavy machine gun KORD would begin, which was successfully demonstrated at an arms exhibition held in early August ground forces"MVSV-2006". This, in particular, was announced on August 11 by the General Director this enterprise Alexander Tmenov: “The KORD heavy machine gun began to enter service power structures, including in Russian army, as well as for export as part of armored vehicles. The fact that there are no direct deliveries of KORD abroad yet, the head of the Degtyarevites called a “temporary phenomenon”: “Only for Last year many foreign delegations have visited our enterprise. For potential customers, practical firing from the "KORD" was carried out. All our guests, without exception, show great interest in this weapon.”
Observer "NVO" at the training ground in Krasnoarmeysk near Moscow in the framework of "MVSV-2006" on August 4, he himself observed demonstrative firing from a new machine gun. By the way, "KORD" with enhanced penetration bullets can hit both armored vehicles (except, of course, tanks) at a distance of 2 thousand meters, and low-flying air targets, including aircraft, at a distance of up to 1.5 thousand meters.
RPG-29 hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher
The RPG-29 was developed and put into service in the late 1980s. Designed to destroy all types of modern armored and unarmored vehicles, as well as enemy manpower in various types of fortifications with a PG-29V shot. In operation it is simple, reliable and practically trouble-free in any climatic conditions. Combat crew - 2 servicemen.
It consists of two parts: in the stowed position they are placed in a special pack and carried by one crew number. In this sense, the weapon is very convenient to transport. When brought into combat position, both parts are connected using a special connector. The grenade launcher is equipped with an optical sight for firing during the day and a night vision device for firing at night.
Caliber RPG-29 - 105.2 mm; curb weight - 11.5 kg; shot weight (grenade) - 4.5 kg; initial shot speed - 130 m / s; armor penetration - 650 mm; effective firing range - 450 m.
What technique is Israel using against Hezbollah militants?
In addition to the tanks of national production "Merkava", the Israeli army is armed with American armored personnel carriers M-113A1 / A2 and M-577A2, as well as helicopters delivered from the USA, in particular, AN-1E \ Bell-209, CH-53D Stallion, UH- 60 Blackhawk, S-70A, attack AN-64 Apache. Most of the Israeli Air Force combat aircraft were also built in the United States, and the main models of field artillery guns, including 227-mm MLRS multiple rocket launchers, entered the IDF from overseas.