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.
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.
- Specifications:
- AT4
- AT4 CS
- AT4 CS HP
- AT4 CS LMAW
Type | Rocket launcher |
---|---|
Crew | 1 |
Caliber | 84 mm |
Length | 1.016 mm |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 6.7 kg |
Sights | Mechanical, flip up sights |
Ammunition | HEAT |
Guidance | None, free flight |
Velocity | 285 m/s |
---|---|
Range | |
Penetration | 400+ mm RHA |
Remarks | Disposable launcher |
Type | Rocket launcher |
---|---|
Crew | 1 |
Caliber | 84 mm |
Length | 1.04 m |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 7.5 kg |
Sights | Mechanical, flip up sights |
Ammunition | HEAT |
Guidance | None, free flight |
Velocity | 285 m/s |
---|---|
Range | |
Penetration | 400+ mm RHA |
Remarks | Disposable launcher |
Type | Rocket launcher |
---|---|
Crew | 1 |
Caliber | 84 mm |
Length | 1.04 m |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 7.5 kg |
Sights | Mechanical, flip up sights |
Ammunition | HEAT |
Guidance | None, free flight |
Velocity | 220 m/s |
---|---|
Range | |
Penetration | 500 to 600 mm RHA |
Remarks | Disposable launcher |
Type | Rocket launcher |
---|---|
Crew | 1 |
Caliber | 84 mm |
Length | ? |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | ? |
Sights | Mechanical, flip up sights |
Ammunition | HEDP |
Guidance | None, free flight |
Velocity | 235 m/s |
---|---|
Range | |
Penetration | 150mm RHA |
Remarks | Disposable launcher |