Armbrust
{{Short description|Recoilless anti-tank gun}}
{{for|the surname|Armbrust (surname)}}
{{Infobox weapon
|name= Armbrust
|image= Armbrust rocket launcher photo Iraq OIG.jpg
|image_size = 300
|caption=An Armbrust launcher
|origin= West Germany
|type=Recoilless gun
|is_ranged=yes
|is_bladed=
|is_explosive=yes
|is_artillery=
|is_vehicle=
|is_UK=
|service=
|used_by=See Operators
|wars=Cambodian–Vietnamese War
Croatian War of Independence
Slovenian War of Independence
Kosovo War
Cambodian–Thai border stand-off
2013 Lahad Datu standoff{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}
|designer=Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB)
|design_date=
|manufacturer=Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB)
Pouderies Réunies de Belgique (PRB)
ST Kinetics (STK)
|production_date=
|number=
|variants=Armbrust AT, Armbrust AP, Armbrust Ub, Armbrust SC
|weight={{convert|6.3|kg|lboz|abbr=on|lk=on}}
|length={{convert|850|mm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|part_length=
|width={{convert|126|mm|abbr=on}}
|height={{convert|140|mm|abbr=on}}
|crew=
|cartridge=
|caliber={{convert|67|mm|abbr=on}}
|action=Recoilless weapon
|rate=
|velocity={{convert|210|m/s|abbr=on}}
|range={{convert|300|m|abbr=on}}
|max_range={{convert|1500|m|abbr=on}}
|feed=Single shot
|sights=Reticle, externally illuminated for night
}}
Armbrust (German: Crossbow) is a lightweight unguided anti-tank weapon designed and developed by Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm of Germany, who later sold its manufacturing rights to Chartered Industries of Singapore (the predecessor of ST Kinetics).
Overview
File:ARMBRUST-MATADOR Comparison.JPG
File:Armbrust projectile Iraq OIG.jpg
The Armbrust is a recoilless weapon, and is one of the few weapons of this kind that may safely be fired in an enclosed space. The propellant charge is placed between two pistons with the projectile in front of one and a mass of shredded plastic in the rear. Unlike most recoilless weapons, it is a true counter-shot weapon, as the mass of the projectile is equal to the mass of the counterweight and they are ejected from the barrel at the same initial velocity. When the weapon is fired, the propellant expands, pushing the two pistons out. The projectile is forced out of the front and the plastic out of the back. The plastic disperses on leaving the back of the barrel, and is quickly stopped by air resistance. The pistons jam at either end of the barrel, locking the hot gases inside. Its warhead can penetrate up to 300 mm of steel armor.Jane's Infantry Weapons 1995-96, page 318, edited by T. Gander and I. Hogg, {{ISBN|0-7106-1241-9}}
Since 2004, Armbrusts have gradually been replaced by the Israeli-German-Singapore co-developed MATADOR.{{cite press release |title=Factsheet - MATADOR: Unguided Short Range Anti-Armour Weapon (SRAAW) |publisher=Singaporean Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) |date=15 June 2005 |url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2004/sep/04sep04_nr/04sep04_fs.html |access-date=16 June 2011 |archive-date=22 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022191938/http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2004/sep/04sep04_nr/04sep04_fs.html |url-status=dead}}
Combat use
During the Cambodian–Vietnamese War, Armbrust was supplied to the Cambodian Khmer Rouge. It was used in their fight against the Cambodian government, as well as against Vietnamese Army.New Straits Times: Khmer Rouge using Missiles made in West, March, 12. 1994Die Zeit, Michael Sontheimer: Die Mörder kehren zurück, January, 12. 1990 (German) Cuban troops in Angola captured several Armbrust launchers from UNITA during the late 1980s.{{cite journal |last1=Furlong |first1=Robert D.M. |title=US anti-tank missile developments. |journal=Armada International |date=Feb 1, 1990}}
Operators
File:Armbrust rocket launcher line drawing Iraq OIG.jpg
{{Externalimage
|topic=Armbrust 1980s brochure photos
|float=right
|image1=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/CROSSBOW/crossbow-infantry1-small.jpg Soldier firing Armbrust]
|image2=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/CROSSBOW/crossbow-illustration-cutaway-small.jpg Details of Armbrust and cut-away drawing]
|image3=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/CROSSBOW/crossbow-description-firing-small.jpg Details of firing of Armbrust low launch signature]
|image4=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/INFANTRY/CROSSBOW/crossbow-projectile-small.jpg Details of Armbrust anti-armour and anti-personnel projectiles]
}}
=Current operators=
- {{flag|Brunei}}Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). {{ISBN|978-0-7106-2869-5}}.
- {{flag|Cambodia}}
- {{flag|Chile}}
- {{flag|Indonesia}}: Komando Pasukan Katak (Kopaska) tactical diver group and Komando Pasukan Khusus (Kopassus) special forces group.{{cite web|url=http://www.hrvatski-vojnik.hr/hrvatski-vojnik/1612007/ind.asp |title=Kopassus & Kopaska - Specijalne Postrojbe Republike Indonezije |language=Croatian |publisher=Hrvatski Vojnik Magazine |access-date=2010-06-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822145526/http://www.hrvatski-vojnik.hr/hrvatski-vojnik/1612007/ind.asp |archive-date=2010-08-22 }}
- {{flag|Philippines}}: Philippine Army, Philippine Marine Corps, Presidential Security Group{{cite web|title=Armbrust in the AFP|url=http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=4229.0|access-date=6 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106180402/http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=4229.0|archive-date=6 January 2014|url-status=dead}}
- {{flag|Singapore}}
- {{flag|Slovenia}}
- {{flag|Thailand}}
See also
- {{lwc|PzF 44}}
- {{lwc|Panzerfaust 3}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Infantry-Weapons/ST-Kinetics-Armbrust-short-range-anti-armour-weapon-Singapore.html Jane's: ST Kinetics Armbrust short-range anti-armour weapon]
- [http://world.guns.ru/grenade/gl33-e.htm Armbrust antitank grenade launcher - Modern Firearms] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815052302/http://world.guns.ru/grenade/gl33-e.htm |date=2010-08-15 }}