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Infantry weapons / Rocket launchers / AT4

AT4

General Facts

  • TYPE
    Rocket launcher

  • ORIGIN
    Sweden

  • NICKNAMES
    Panserværnsvåben / PVV M/95 (Denmark)
    Anti Blindé Léger / ABL (France)
    Short Range Anti Armour Weapon / SRAAW (Ireland)
    Pansarskott m/86 (Sweden)
    L2A1 I Interim LAW / ILAW (United Kingdom)
    M136 (United States)

  • DESIGNED
    Early 1980's

  • DESIGNER
    Bofors and ATK

  • PRODUCTION
    1980's - present

  • PRODUCERS
    Sweden - Bofors
    United States - ATK

  • QUANTITY
    Over 600.000

  • UNIT COST
    Unknown

  • CHARACTERISTICS
    Good range
    Confined space models available
    Average penetration
    Rather heavy

Introduction

The AT4 is a rocket launcher of Swedish origin. It was developed by Bofors to replace the earlier Miniman and to offer a sort of single shot Carl Gustav. The AT4 is a potent weapon but will not piece a modern main battle tank's armor over the frontal arc. A mcuh larger version which was able to do that, called the AT12, was being developed, but was cancelled as the Cold War came to an end.

Design

The AT4 is a preloaded single shot weapon that is disposed once used. The design is based on the earlier Miniman, but features a larger caliber rocket. The larger caliber allows for a larger warhead and 84mm was chosen in order to reuse many components from the Carl Gustav recoilless rifle. The smoothbore rigid launch tube is made from fiberglass. The launch tube includes a forward grip, flip up sights with adjustable rearsight and trigger button. Various types of warheads exists. All warheads are also produced in a form that uses the Davis countershot principle for use in confined spaces.

Firepower

The original version uses a HEAT warhead of similar design as used on the Carl Gustav. The penetration is over 400 mm RHA. Other versions with HEDP and extra high penetration are also available. The effective range is 300 meters with the maximum range being 500 meters.

Users

The main user of the AT4 is the US military. It was adopted as the M136 and remains in use today. The AT4 was also acquired by many European and various nations around the world. The AT4 will likely remain in production even though more capable anti-armor weapons such as the MBT LAW are entering production.

Variants

AT4

The original version of the AT4 features a HEAT warhead for use against armored vehicles and cannot be fired from confined spaces. The AT4 CS is a model that fires the same warhead as the original but uses a countershot launch method allowing it to be fired from Confined Spaces as CS denotes. The AT4 HP uses an improved warhead with High Penetration capability. A version with HEDP warhead is known as the LMAW, which stands for Light Multipurpose Assault Weapon. The LMAW features the same HEDP warhead as used in the Carl Gustav model 502 HEDP rocket. The fuze may be set for delay or impact. The HP and LMAW models usually feature the CS capability but are also available with the original AT4 backblast firing method. All CS models can be identified by their straigh launch tube, whereas the conventional models feature a slightly conical rear end.

TypeRocket launcher
Crew1
Caliber84 mm
Length1.016 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight6.7 kg
SightsMechanical, flip up sights
AmmunitionHEAT
GuidanceNone, free flight
Velocity285 m/s
Range
Penetration400+ mm RHA
RemarksDisposable launcher
TypeRocket launcher
Crew1
Caliber84 mm
Length1.04 m
Width?
Height?
Weight7.5 kg
SightsMechanical, flip up sights
AmmunitionHEAT
GuidanceNone, free flight
Velocity285 m/s
Range
Penetration400+ mm RHA
RemarksDisposable launcher
TypeRocket launcher
Crew1
Caliber84 mm
Length1.04 m
Width?
Height?
Weight7.5 kg
SightsMechanical, flip up sights
AmmunitionHEAT
GuidanceNone, free flight
Velocity220 m/s
Range
Penetration500 to 600 mm RHA
RemarksDisposable launcher
TypeRocket launcher
Crew1
Caliber84 mm
Length?
Width?
Height?
Weight?
SightsMechanical, flip up sights
AmmunitionHEDP
GuidanceNone, free flight
Velocity235 m/s
Range
Penetration150mm RHA
RemarksDisposable launcher

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