Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle

Carl-Gustaf 84 mm Recoilless Rifle
Carl Gustaf M4 anti-tank weapon
TypeShoulder-fired recoilless rifle
(crew-served multi-role infantry support gun)[1][2][3][4]
Place of originSweden
Service history
In service1948–present
Used bySee Users
WarsSee Wars
Production history
DesignerHugo Abramson, Sigfrid Akselson and Harald Jentzen
Designed
  • M1: 1946
  • M2: 1964
  • M3: 1986
  • M4: 2014[5][6]
ManufacturerSaab Bofors Dynamics (formerly Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori), Howa (license)[7][8]
Unit cost
  • US$20,000
  • Ammo cost=US$500 to
    3000 per round[9]
Specifications
MassM2: 14.2 kg (31 lb)[10]
M3: 10 kg (22 lb)[10]
M4/M3E1: 6.6 kg (15 lb)
Length(M2) 1,130 mm (44 in)[10] (M4/M3E1) 950 mm (37 in)
CrewTwo (gunner and loader), but may be used by a single operator at a reduced rate of fire.
Cartridge84 × 245 mm R RCL[11]
Caliber84 mm (3.31 in)
ActionRecoilless, single-shot, breechloader, laterally, percussion fired[12]
Rate of fire6 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity230–255 m/s (750–840 ft/s)
Effective firing range
  • 350 to 400 m (1,150 to 1,310 ft) against moving vehicles[13]
  • 500 m (1,600 ft) against stationary vehicles[13]
  • 1,000 m (3,300 ft) using smoke and high explosive rounds[13]
  • 2,500 m (8,200 ft) using rocket-boosted laser guided ammunition
Feed systemHinged breech
SightsOpen (iron) sights; optical 3× laser rangefinder; image intensification system

The Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle (Swedish pronunciation: [kɑːɭ ˈɡɵ̂sːtav], named after Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori, which initially produced it) is a Swedish-developed 84 mm (3.3 in) caliber shoulder-fired recoilless rifle, initially developed by the Royal Swedish Army Materiel Administration during the second half of the 1940s as a crew-served man-portable infantry support gun for close-range multi-role anti-armour, anti-personnel, battlefield illumination, smoke screening and marking fire,[1] which has seen great export success around the globe and continues to be a popular multi-purpose support weapon in use by many nations. The Carl Gustaf 84 mm recoilless rifle is a lightweight, low-cost weapon that uses a wide range of ammunition, which makes it extremely flexible and suitable for a wide variety of roles.

Development of the initial model started from 1946 as one of the many recoilless rifle designs of that era, based on the experience from the earlier Carl Gustaf 20 mm recoilless rifle and the success of man-portable rocket launchers during World War II, such as the bazooka and Panzerschreck. Production of the initial model was handled by Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori led by Försvarets Fabriksverk (FFV) and the weapon received the designation 8,4 cm granatgevär m/48, (8,4 cm grg m/48 – "8,4 cm grenade rifle", model 1948) in Swedish service. FFV would continue to further develop the weapon for the international market, later being merged into Saab Bofors Dynamics which handles development and export today. While similar weapons have generally disappeared from service, the Carl Gustaf is still in production and remains in widespread use today.

  1. ^ a b "31/127 – Arméförvaltningen, Tygavdelningen, Vapenbyrån, Serie F I, Avgångna och inkomna skrivelser ordnade efter klassifikationssystem, Volym nr 78 (Dnr 600022 – 680023: 1953): projekt 125000" [31/127 – The Swedish Army Materiel Administration, The Material Section, The Weapon Bureau, Series F I, Outgoing and incoming letters arranged according to classification system, Volume no. 78 (Dnr 600022 – 680023: 1953): project 125000] (Document) (in Swedish). Sweden: Armématerielförvaltningens arkiv via Krigsarkivet (the Royal Swedish Army Materiel Administration archive, via the Swedish Military Archive). 1953. SE/KrA/0062/D/01/008:H/F I/78.sok.riksarkivet.se/nad?postid=Arkis+4596cd59-f4f9-4833-a155-79ec6925b1a5
  2. ^ "Carl-Gustaf system". saab.com. Saab Dynamics. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2023. The Carl-Gustaf® recoilless rifle is a man-portable, multi-role weapon system
  3. ^ "The Carl Gustav Recoilless Rifle - 60 years and still going strong". newatlas.com. 24 April 2009. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Saab, Raytheon Team To Improve Army Shoulder-Fired Weapons". defensedaily.com. 13 November 2017. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  5. ^ Carl Gustaf M4, Saab, 2014, archived from the original on 30 September 2014
  6. ^ Saab's latest Carl Gustaf M4 system impresses customers in live fire demonstration (press release), Saab, 26 September 2014, archived from the original on 30 September 2014, retrieved 26 September 2014, The official Carl Gustaf M4 product launch will take place at the AUSA exhibition in Washington, DC, on 13–15 Oct 2014
  7. ^ "84mm無反動砲「カール・グスタフ」", Right-Wing (in Japanese), JP: Sakura, archived from the original on 25 February 2010, retrieved 4 November 2009
  8. ^ Exhibition of Equipments, JP: Plala, archived from the original on 13 March 2012, retrieved 29 July 2008.
  9. ^ "Weapons: Carl the Better". Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  10. ^ a b c http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=3977 Archived 8 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine Small Arms Defense Journal. THE NEW CARL-GUSTAF M4: LIGHTER–BETTER–SMARTER. 2 June 2017
  11. ^ AMREG A, Ammunitionsregister, Armén, 1960 års utgåva, ändringar 5-1972 (in Swedish). Stockholm, Sweden: Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). 1972.
  12. ^ "Chapter 2: Principles of Operation". TC 3-22.84, M3 Multi-Role, Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon System (PDF). Headquarters, Department of the Army (US). 18 July 2019. pp. 2–1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  13. ^ a b c User Handbook for the Gun, 84mm, INF, ATK, L14A1, Director of Army Equipment Policy. 1968. page 2