The United States Marine Corps’ New Rocket Launcher Has One Mission

[Peter1469]

That's not new! It is the Carl Gustaf. The Ranger Regiment never got rid of them. Go to see the Corps pick them up.


The United States Marine Corps’ New Rocket Launcher Has One Mission

The United States Marine Corps has begun fielding a new rocket launcher, specially tailored for urban operations.

The rocket launcher, called M3A1 MAAWS or Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapons System, is, in essence, a portable, reloadable, shoulder-fired recoilless rocket system that will supplement similar systems that are currently in the Corps’ inventories.


Old But Gold


The MAAWS is the latest iteration of the iconic and incredibly long-lived Carl Gustaf Recoilless Rifle. The original Carl Gustaf, a Swedish design, made its debut in the aftermath of World War II. Today, the rocket system is particularly valued by Soldiers and Marines for both its lightweight as well as the wide variety of 84mm ammunition it can fire.



“It [MAAWS] has the ability to fire [illumination], smoke and airburst-style rounds,” explained Chief Warrant Officer 4 David Tomlinson, the MCSC’s infantry weapons officer in a recent USMC statement outlining the weapon’s acquisition. “The capability will allow the warfighter to engage the enemy in defilade, reinforced bunkers and buildings.”


The Carl Gustaf has gone through several iterations since 1948, but compared to its immediate predecessor, the M3A1 is a whopping 7.5 pounds lighter. Thanks to new light-weight carbon fibre and titanium components, the M3A1 tips the scales at a scant 15 pounds, a boon to dismounted transport.


Out with the Old, and In with the New

Read the rest of the article at the link.

[Cletus]

I remember when we had the M67 90mm recoilless rifle. It was heavier than the Carl Gustav and didn't have quite the range, but it was a good weapon. It had HE, HEAT and Antipersonnel (Flechette) rounds. The Flechette round sent 2400 nails downrange when fired.

The M67 was good. The Carl Gustav is better.

[Tahuyaman]

I remember when we had the M67 90mm recoilless rifle. It was heavier than the Carl Gustav and didn't have quite the range, but it was a good weapon. It had HE, HEAT and Antipersonnel (Flechette) rounds. The Flechette round sent 2400 nails downrange when fired.

The M67 was good. The Carl Gustav is better.

When I was a private in the Berlin Brigade I was a 90 gunner for about a year. It was heavy at 37 pounds and difficult to carry through the woods on patrols and such.


I loved firing the thing, but you could only fire a very limited number of live rounds as it kicked your ass. Yes it was a Recoilless rifle, but it wasn’t a percussionless rifle.