Carl Gustav conquers America
The command of the Special Operations Forces (Special Operations Command, SOCOM) recently additionally ordered several thousand projectiles for the Karl Gustav 84-mm portable recoilless gun, which they have been using for more than two decades. In light of the continued success of SOCOM's use of the Karl Gustav gun in 2012, the US Army put it into service with its infantry. Karl Gustav was commissioned by the US Special Operations Forces Command for the Ranger Regiment in 1990. As a unit of the army, the ranger regiment is controlled by the US Special Operations Forces Command. Regular army units demanded to receive "Carl Gustav" ever since their rangers got it. Infantry like it weapon mainly due to its better accuracy with a greater range than, for example, a competing weapon (such as a Russian RPG), and also because non-command rangers did not initially come from US infantry command units and share information with their colleagues about how comfortable "Karl Gustav".
"Karl Gustav" is the first reusable grenade launcher of the US Army since the use of the Bazuka 1960-mm grenade launcher was discontinued in the 88s. "Karl Gustav" is a lightweight 8,5-kilogram recoilless gun with a length of 1,1 meters. The rifled barrel is able to withstand about a hundred shots.
The U.S. Army also got rid of its recoilless guns in the 1970s, replacing them with anti-tank guided missiles. The uniqueness of “Karl Gustav” lies in the fact that it provides a large firing range recoilless guns (which use rifled barrels), but it also has a shortened barrel and is much more portable. The most popular American recoilless gun was the 52 kg 75 mm M20. Thanks to the long barrel (2,1 meters), the M20 provided a firing range of 6400 meters. It was well suited to combat tanksbut army officials never appreciated the fact that recoilless guns were most often used against infantry in bunkers or buildings. “Carl Gustav” included all these advantages and became very popular among infantrymen due to its portability, long range, accuracy and accessibility.
84 millimeter cartridge-loading shots weigh about 2 kilograms and are of several different types (armor-piercing, high-explosive, cumulative-fragmentation, lighting and smoke). An armor-piercing shot is very useful in combat operations in urban areas, as well as against bunkers. The firing range is up to 500-700 meters (depending on the type of shells), but an experienced shooter can hit a large target at a distance of up to 1000 meters.
The US Army had previously adopted the one-off version of the Karl Gustav grenade launcher (AT4), but the special forces had chosen the recoilless Karl Gustav gun. It turned out better because it gives you the opportunity to get more shots with less weight (AT4 weighs about 6,8 kg). It turned out to be easier to carry one "Karl Gustav" weighing 8,5 kilograms and a bunch of missiles 2,2 kilograms each, than the same number of disposable grenade launchers.
New users of "Karl Gustav" should be the most cautious with a more intense volley flame than that of the AT4 grenade launcher. Army Rangers also found that the best way to use "Karl Gustav" - a team of two fighters. One man controls "Carl Gustav" (and is armed only with an 9-mm pistol as a personal weapon). The other fighter carries five to six 84-mm shots and acts as an observer for the shooter "Carl Gustav". Depending on the situation, the squad may carry "Karl Gustav" instead of the M240 light machine gun. If a collision with an enemy is expected at a certain distance (more than 500 meters), then it is better to use "Karl Gustav".
"Karl Gustav" was very useful in Afghanistan, but like in any open area. It must always be remembered that the 84-mm shot is not armed in the firing position at a distance of up to 100 meters. The shells of "Carl Gustav" cost from $ 500 to $ 3000 each, depending on their type and complexity. The launcher (with rifled barrel and scope) costs about $ 20000 for each.
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