Will only RANGERS have Carl Gustav 84mm Recoilless Rifles in a city fight for SHOCK ACTION?
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We need the Carl Gustav Recoilless Rifle to be issued to regular U.S. Army infantry units. Currently, only the Rangers have them and they are a highly effective weapon for close support. This is an area that we currently have no solution for, and this needs to be remedied.
It is inexcusable for U.S. Infantry to go into combat with no close support weapon of this caliber. The AT-4 (one-shot, only one type of warhead) and M-203 grenade launchers (small explosive effect in palm-sized round) are effective for limited close-range support, but do not provide the necessary firepower to deal with bunkers, fortifications, sturdy buildings, lay smoke screens etc. In an urban fight, which is very likely in any future conflict, this is an absolute must. The Carl Gustav has an entire family of rounds to meet the demands of infantry in an urban fight and ranges out to 700 meters. Why are the Rangers afforded such a luxury and we are not? Because they are high profile and have the budget, that's why. However, we will fight the majority of the fight in any decent sized conflict and they will only be assigned special missions.
I, and many of my colleagues, would love to have this system, if only the Army would see fit to issue it to us. It already is in the system, so the costs would only be for acquisition and procurement of ammo and weapons. Granted, there are budget restraints, but this should be a serious priority.
Thank you,
SSG XXXXX XXXXX
The Carl Gustav can be seen in action on The Discovery Channel's American Commandos show (1-800 765-0066 $19.95). This weapon was used by British troops in the Falklands war to destroy Argentine bunkers and almost sank a frigate when it ventured too close!
Links for Carl Gustav, the M3 Ranger Anti-armor/Assault Weapon System (RAAWS).
http://www.army-technology.com/contractors/missiles/bofors/bof1.html
Rounds available:
HEAT 751, with the combined effect of explosively formed penetrator and hollow charge, penetrates ERA tiles without initiating them then its main charge blasts through the armour protection leaving massive internal damage.
HEAT 551 round knocks out approximately 90% of all armour vehicles at ranges up to 700 m. It is also highly effective against other hard targets, such as concrete bunkers, landing craft and aircraft.
TP 552 is for target practice. The 84 mm TP 552 round is ballistically matched to the 84 mm HEAT 551 round but has an inert warhead.
HEDP 502 round is a dual-purpose HE and HEAT round optimised for combat in urban areas. It is effective against light armoured vehicles, concrete and brick walls, field fortifications and ground forces.
HE 441 B round can be set to either impact detonation or air burst, to combat troops in the open or behind cover, soft-skinned vehicles and similar types of targets.
Illum 545 round rapidly illuminates target areas.
SMOKE 469 B round develops a smoke screen instantaneously on impact
Bofors AB
Imagine a Blackhawk/HMMWV/Mk-19/Javelin ATGM combination moving to key blocking positions in a mountainous Korean fight. Wheeled and tracked mobility in ROK is a serious consideration- getting rounds on target to suppress/fix/bypass/etc the bad guys who will hide like "ewoks" in the forest with bad missiles for the Bradleys and other stuff for the Hummers.
To me its actually very simple. The Platoon's Anti-Tank (AT) specialists become Assault/Anti-Tank (AAT) Specialists who can fire the Carl Gustav or the Javelin ATGM depending on if its a fight versus armored vehicles or lots of enemies in buildings/bunkers.
What do you think???
AIRBORNE!
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
America had better do something to get high explosives firepower in every infantry squad! We are getting clobbered by RPGs in Iraq...get us an American RPG, rifle/hand grenades...Carl Gustavs...
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