RPG-18#Users
{{Infobox weapon
| name = RPG-18
| image = RPG-18-cutaway.JPG{{!}}border
| caption = RPG-18 rocket launcher with PG-18 rocket
| origin = Soviet Union
| type = Rocket-propelled grenade
| is_ranged = yes
| is_bladed =
| is_explosive = yes
| is_artillery = yes
| is_vehicle =
| service = 1972–present
| used_by = See users
| wars = Vietnam War
Cambodian Civil War
Laotian Civil War
Sino-Vietnamese War
Cambodian–Vietnamese War
Third Indochina War
Soviet–Afghan War{{cite book|title=Soviet Paratrooper vs Mujahideen Fighter: Afghanistan 1979–89|series=Combat 29|publisher=Osprey Publishing|first=David |last=Campbell|date=30 Nov 2017|isbn=9781472817648|page=62}}
Salvadoran Civil War
Gulf War
First Nagorno-Karabakh War
Tajikistani Civil War
First Chechen War
Congo Civil War
Second Chechen War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Russo-Georgian War
Kivu conflict
Syrian civil war
Russo-Ukrainian War
| designer =
| design_date = 1972
| manufacturer = Bazalt (Soviet Union)
VEB Mechanische Werkstätten (East Germany)
| production_date = 1972-1990 (Soviet Union)
1978-1989 (East Germany
| number =
| variants =
| weight = 1.4 kg (projectile)
2.6 kg (loaded)
| length = 705 mm (unarmed)
1,050 mm (ready to fire)
| part_length =
| crew = 1
| cartridge = PG-18 HEAT
| caliber = 64 mm
| action =
| rate = Single shot
| velocity = 115 m/s
| range = 100-150m
| max_range = 200m
| feed =
| sights = Mechanical flip-up sight
| breech =
| recoil =
| carriage =
| elevation =
| traverse =
| blade_type =
| hilt_type =
| head_type =
| haft_type =
| diameter =
| filling =
| filling_weight =
| detonation =
| yield =
}}
The RPG-18 Mukha ({{langx|ru|Муха|translit=Fly}}) is a Soviet short-range, disposable light anti-tank rocket launcher designed in 1972, based on the American M72 LAW. The RPG-18 has been in service in over 20 conflicts and used by over 20 armed forces across the world.
History
File:Ручные реактивные гранатометы и огнеметы производства России и СССР - Russian RPG launchers.jpg
File:Combat UAV "Soaring tube" complex during the "Armiya 2021" exhibition.jpg
The RPG-18 is very similar to the US M72-series LAW anti-tank rocket launcher,{{Cite web |title=RPG-18 Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher {{!}} MilitaryToday.com |url=https://www.militarytoday.com/firearms/rpg_18.htm |access-date=2023-09-11 |website=www.militarytoday.com}} with captured examples during the Vietnam War likely being sent to the Soviet Union.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NDa1CwAAQBAJ&q=m72+law+rpg&pg=PA34 |title=The Rocket Propelled Grenade |isbn=9781849081542 |last1=Rottman |first1=Gordon L. |date=2011-03-15|publisher=Bloomsbury }}{{Cite web |title=RPG-18 Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher {{!}} MilitaryToday.com |url=https://www.militarytoday.com/firearms/rpg_18.htm |access-date=2023-09-11 |website=www.militarytoday.com}} The RPG-18 has been succeeded by the RPG-22, a very similar design with a larger warhead.
Description
The RPG-18 fires a 64 mm PG-18 high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead mounted on a small rocket able to engage targets within 200 meters. The warhead self-destructs six seconds after launch, placing a limit on range even if a sight was used that was effective with targets beyond 200 meters.{{Cite web |date=March 29, 2022 |title=RPG-18 (Mukha) Disposable Lightweight Anti-Tank Weapon (LAW) |url=https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.php?smallarms_id=946 |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.militaryfactory.com}}
The RPG-18 can penetrate up to 300 mm of conventional vehicle armor (RHA); up to 500 mm of reinforced concrete; and up to 1,000 mm of brickwork.{{Cite web |title=RPG-18 Mukha Russian Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher |url=https://odin.tradoc.army.mil/WEG/Asset/78d5a66747174ac105645801d1f3589b |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=odin.tradoc.army.mil}} However, performance is significantly lessened when the RPG-18 is used against targets protected by HEAT-resistant explosive reactive armour (ERA) or composite armor.{{Cite web |title=RPG-18 Mukha |url=https://weaponsystems.net/system/1069-RPG-18+Mukha |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Weaponsystems.net |language=en}}
Unlike similar weapons, the RPG-18 requires only one operator as it is not reloadable.
Users
- {{AFG}}{{cite book|title=Afghanistan, Arms and Conflict: Armed Groups, Disarmament and Security in a Post-War Society|first1=Michael Vinai|last1=Bhatia |first2=Mark |last2=Sedra|publisher=Routledge|editor=Small Arms Survey|editor-link=Small Arms Survey|isbn=978-0-415-45308-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P4N9AgAAQBAJ|page=66|date=May 2008}}
- {{ARM}}
- {{AZE}}
- {{BLR}}
- {{flag|Chad}}
- {{flag|Congo}}{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2003.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112154702/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2003.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 12, 2010|chapter-url= http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2003/en/Small-Arms-Survey-2003-Chapter-08-EN.pdf|chapter=Making the Difference?: Weapon Collection and Small Arms Availability in the Republic of Congo|title=Small Arms Survey 2003: Development Denied|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2003|author=Small Arms Survey|pages=267|isbn=0199251754|ref={{harvid|Small Arms Survey 2003}}|author-link= Small Arms Survey}}
- {{flag|Georgia}}{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP06-Georgia.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112185639/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP06-Georgia.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 12, 2011|title=Politics From The Barrel of a Gun|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1998|author=Small Arms Survey|pages=40|author-link=Small Arms Survey}}
- {{GRE}}{{Cite web|url=http://army.gr/el/organosi/oplika-systimata/t-rpg-18|title=Α-Τ RPG-18|website=army.gr}}
- {{Flagicon image|Flag of al-Qassam Brigades.svg}} Hamas{{Cite news |last=Khalili |first=Moriah |last2=Parenzo |first2=Beniamino |date=July 27, 2017 |title=Covert Attempts to Smuggle Weapons by Hamas |url=https://jij.org/news/covert-attempts-smuggle-weapons-hamas/ |access-date=February 27, 2025 |work=Jerusalem Institute of Justice}}
- {{flagicon|Iraq|1991}} Iraqi insurgents{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2012.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830000609/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2012.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 30, 2012|chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2012/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2012-Chapter-10-EN.pdf|chapter=Surveying the Battlefield: Illicit Arms In Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia|title=Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2012|author=Small Arms Survey|page=324|isbn= 978-0-521-19714-4|author-link=Small Arms Survey}}
- {{flaglist|Islamic State}}{{cite book |title=Weapons of the Islamic State |date=2017 |publisher=Conflict Armament Research |location=London |page=184 |url=https://www.conflictarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Weapons-of-the-Islamic-State.pdf |access-date=13 September 2024}}
- {{KAZ}}{{Citation |title=List of equipment of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan |date=2024-11-17 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_equipment_of_the_Armed_Forces_of_the_Republic_of_Kazakhstan |access-date=2025-01-30 |language=en}}{{Circular reference|date=April 2025}}
- {{KGZ}}
- {{MLD}}
- {{flag|Transnistria}}{{Cite web |title=Маленькая и малобоеспособная {{!}} Еженедельник «Военно-промышленный курьер» |url=https://vpk-news.ru/articles/14870 |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=vpk-news.ru}}
- {{flag|Panama}}{{cite magazine|title=Portable Anti-Tank Weapons in Mexico & the Northern Central American Triangle|url=http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=2954|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402142813/http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=2954|archive-date=2 April 2019|first=Julio A. |last=Montes |date= 8 May 2015|magazine=Small Arms Defense Journal|issue=1|volume=7}}
- {{RUS}}
- {{SYR}}
- {{Flagicon image|Flag of Syria 2011, observed.svg}} Free Syrian Army{{Cite journal |last=Research |first=Conflict Armament |date=December 2017 |title=WEAPONS OF THE ISLAMIC STATE |url=https://web.kamihq.com/web/viewer.html?state=%7B%22ids%22%3A%5B%221WXtO-3zsEUYWTCDzv7ixayfmpjPzxr9x%22%5D%2C%22action%22%3A%22open%22%2C%22userId%22%3A%22116323042245880596608%22%7D&filename=undefined&kami_user_id=19085093 |journal=Conflict Armament Research}}
- {{TJK}}
- {{TKM}}
- {{UKR}}{{cite news |title=Special Operations Forces Soldiers hit enemy BMP-2 with RPG |url=https://mil.in.ua/en/news/special-operations-forces-soldiers-hit-enemy-bmp-2-with-rpg |access-date=29 December 2023 |work=Militarnyi |date=7 June 2022}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA6kkrYsvTU |title=Ukrainian Training Videos: RPG-18 (Now With Translation) |date=2022-03-30 |last=The Armourer's Bench |access-date=2025-02-27 |via=YouTube}}
- {{UZB}}
=Former users=
- {{Flagicon|Chechen Republic of Ichkeria}} Chechen Republic of Ichkeria{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b_poAAAAMAAJ|last1=Babchenko |first1=Arkady |title=One Soldier's War |date=2006 |publisher=Publishers Group West |location=New York, NY |isbn=978-0-8021-4403-4 |pages=9, 101, 157 |access-date=15 December 2022}}
- {{flagicon image|Flagge FDLR.svg}} Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2015/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2015-Highlights-EN.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701142546/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2015/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2015-Highlights-EN.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 1, 2015|chapter-url= http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2015/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2015-Chapter-07-EN.pdf|chapter=Waning Cohesion: The Rise and Fall of the FDLR–FOCA|title=Small Arms Survey 2015: weapons and the world|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2015|author=Small Arms Survey|ref={{harvid|Small Arms Survey 2015}}|page=203|author-link= Small Arms Survey}}
- {{flag|Donetsk People's Republic}}:{{cite book |last1=Ferguson |first1=Jonathan |url=http://armamentresearch.com/Uploads/Research%20Report%20No.%203%20-%20Raising%20Red%20Flags.pdf |title=Raising Red Flags: An Examination of Arms & Munitions in the Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine, 2014 |last2=Jenzen-Jones |first2=N.R. |date=November 2014 |publisher=Armament Research Services |isbn=978-0-9924624-3-7 |series=Research Report 3 |page=48}} Used by DPR forces during the War in Donbas and the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine before their annexation by Russia in November 2022.
- Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN)
- {{GDR}}"[https://www.armyweb.cz/clanek/kampfschwimmerkommando-ksk-18-bojovi-plavci-vychodniho-nemecka Kampfschwimmerkommando (KSK-18): Bojoví plavci východního Německa]" (in Czech). Army Web. 2020-08-26. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- {{NIC}}: Sandinista Popular Army
- {{USSR}}: Passed on to successor states.
- Real Irish Republican Army{{Cite web |date=2006-06-24 |title=Real IRA arms purchasing in Croatia indicates a change of tactics - Jane's Security News |url=http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/jtsm/jtsm000823_1_n.shtml |access-date=2024-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060624035820/http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/jtsm/jtsm000823_1_n.shtml |archive-date=2006-06-24 }}
See also
- {{lwc|RPG-76 Komar}}
- {{lwc|M80 Zolja}}
References
{{Reflist}}
=General=
- Jones, Richard. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2005–06. Coulsdon: Jane's, 2005. {{ISBN|0-7106-2694-0}}.
External links
{{commons category|RPG-18}}
- [http://www.weaponplace.ru/muha.php RPG-18] {{in lang|ru}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090220165434/http://world.guns.ru/grenade/gl38-e.htm Modern Firearms]
- [http://www.military-today.com/firearms/rpg_18.htm Military-Today]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
- [http://weaponsystems.net/weaponsystem/BB04%20-%20RPG-18.html Weapon Systems]
- [http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=946 Military Factory]
{{Russian RPG series}}