Login
Login

RPG-43

{{Infobox weapon

|name=RPG-43

| image= Kim Shin-jo weapons RPG43 (1).JPG

| image_size = 200

|caption=

|origin=Soviet Union

|type=Anti-tank grenade

|is_ranged=yes

|is_explosive=yes

|service= April 1943–1960 (Soviet Union)Оружие Победы / колл. авт., отв. ред. В. Н. Новиков. 2-е изд., пер. и доп. М., "Машиностроение", 1987. стр.427 {{In lang|ru}}.{{sfn|McGuire|1960|page=38}}

|used_by=Soviet Union and Warsaw pact countries

|wars={{Plainlist|

}}

|designer= N. P. Belyakov

|design_date= 1942–1943

|manufacturer=

|unit_cost=

|production_date=

|number=

|variants=

|spec_label=

|weight={{convert|1.2|kg|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Hogg|1987|page=438}}

|length={{convert|279|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Hogg|1987|page=438}}

|part_length=

|width=

|height=

|diameter={{convert|102|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Hogg|1987|page=438}}

|crew=

|cartridge=

|caliber=

|action=

|rate=

|velocity=

|range=

|max_range=

|feed=

|sights=

|filling=TNT{{sfn|Hogg|1987|page=438}}

|filling_weight={{convert|612|g|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Hogg|1987|page=438}}

|detonation=Instantaneous impact{{sfn|Hogg|1987|page=438}}

|yield=

}}

File:РПГ--43.svg

The RPG-43 (ruchnaya protivotankovaya granata obraztca 1943 goda, meaning hand-held anti-tank grenade) was a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shaped charge hand grenade used by the Soviet Union during World War II. It entered service in 1943, replacing the RPG-40; the RPG-40 used a simpler high explosive (HE) warhead. The RPG-43 had a penetration of around {{convert|75|mm|in}} of rolled homogeneous armour at a 90° angle. Later in the war, it was improved and became the RPG-6.

History

Prior to World War II, the Red Army anti-tank weapons included the PTRD-41 and PTRS-41 anti-tank rifles and the RPG-40 hand grenade, which were marginally effective against early German tanks, quickly becoming obsolete when the Germans started fielding heavier tanks to counter the Red Army T-34 and KV tanks.{{sfn|Marine Corps Intelligence Activity|1995|pages=II-1−II-2}} The Soviets also relied on 45 mm anti-tank guns, which started to become obsolete mid-1942.{{sfn|Marine Corps Intelligence Activity|1995|pages=II-1−II-3}}

In response, the Soviets developed the RPG-43 which had enough penetrating power to threaten German Panzer IIIs, Panzer IVs, and StuGs, forcing the Germans to increase armor thickness in their designs and install spaced armour side plates to provide protection against these new grenades.{{sfn|Tucker-Jones|2020|page=29}} It could also destroy a Panther tank if thrown against the thinly armoured turret roof or engine compartment.{{sfn|Rottman|2013|page=63}} While the RPG-43 was succeeded by the RPG-6, both grenades remained in use during WWII against armoured vehicles and fortified positions, such as bunkers.{{sfn|Hogg|1987|pages=438−439}}

In the post-war period, the Soviets continued using the RPG-43 and RPG-6 as late as 1960, being replaced by the RKG-3 which offered greater penetration against armour.{{sfn|McGuire|1960|page=38}} They also supplied the grenade for several Warsaw Pact allies, including Albania, East Germany, Hungary, and Poland.{{sfn|Department of the Army|1960|pages=29,95,117,139}}

Communist forces in the Korean War made use of several stick grenades including the RG-43;{{sfn|Bunker|2010|pages=292−293}} During the Vietnam War the North Vietnamese used grenades supplied by the Soviets;{{sfn|Embassy of Vietnam|1971|page=20}} The grenade was also used by Egyptian troops during the Yom Kippur War;{{sfn|Hogg|1987|page=438}}{{sfn|Bregman|1990|page=123}} and paramilitary forces such as the As-Sa'iqa during the Lebanese Civil War;{{sfn|Windrow|2012|page=369}} In the 1990s, during the Georgian Civil War several paramilitary groups purchased ex-Soviet surplus grenades from Russian officers.

Description

The RPG-43 is a stick grenade with a {{convert|102|mm}} shaped charge warhead filled with {{convert|612|g}} of TNT. When thrown a conical metal sleeve would open, revealing two strips of cloth to stabilise flight and ensure the head of the grenade would strike its target.{{sfn|Hogg|1987|pages=438−439}} It has an effective fragmentation radius of {{convert|20|m|ft}},{{sfn|Hogg|1987|page=438}} and can penetrate {{convert|75|mm}} of armour at a 90° angle.{{sfn|Tucker-Jones|2020|page=29}}

According to US military manuals, the RPG-43 can be thrown at a distance of approximately {{convert|15-20|yd|m}}.{{sfn|Department of the Army|1952|page=49}}

The RPG-43 is heavy, making it awkward to use effectively.{{sfn|McNab|2022|page=6}} While it needed to be thrown at very close range, it produced no sound, smoke, or light when used, unlike other anti-tank weapons.{{sfn|Tucker-Jones|2020|page=29}} Despite its shortcomings, Chinese troops considered the RPG-43 as the best anti-tank weapon at their disposal during the Korean War.{{sfn|Department of the Army|1952|page=49}}

Users

  • {{flaglist|Albania|1946}}{{sfn|Department of the Army|1960|page=29}}
  • {{flagicon image|Flag of the Ba'ath Party.svg}} As-Sa'iqa − Used during the Lebanese Civil War{{sfn|Windrow|2012|page=369}}
  • {{CHN}}{{sfn|McNab|2022|page=6}}
  • {{GDR}}Artillerie des Einzelkämpfers // "Armeerundschau", № 6, 1968. s.66-67{{sfn|Department of the Army|1960|page=95}}
  • {{EGY}} − Used during the Yom Kippur War{{sfn|Bregman|1990|page=123}}
  • {{flag|Georgia|1990}} − Used by Georgian military and militia units during 1990s period.{{cite book |last=Demetriou |first=Spyros |date=November 2002 |url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP06-Georgia.pdf |chapter=Politics from the Barrel of a Gun: Small Arms Proliferation and Conflict in the Republic of Georgia (1989–2001) |title=Small Arms Survey |publisher=Cambridge University Press |number=6 |pages=40 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112185639/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP06-Georgia.pdf |archive-date=January 12, 2011}}
  • {{HUN}}{{sfn|Department of the Army|1960|page=117}}
  • {{PRK}}RPG-43 Antitank Hand Grenade. North Korea Country Handbook MCIA-2630-NK-016-97. U.S. Department of Defense, May 1997. page A-102
  • {{flag|Poland|1928}}{{sfn|Department of the Army|1960|page=139}}
  • {{flag|Soviet Union}}
  • {{VIE}}{{sfn|Embassy of Vietnam|1971|page=20}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

Bibliography

  • {{cite book |last1=Bregman |first1=Ahron |title=Israel's Wars: A History Since 1947 |date=1990 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-44608-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vFaBAgAAQBAJ |language=en}}
  • {{cite book |author1-last=Bunker |author1-first=Robert J. |editor1-last=Tucker |editor1-first=Spencer C |editor2-last=Pierpaoli Jr |editor2-first=Paul G |editor3-last=Kim |editor3-first=Jinwung |editor4-last=Li |editor4-first=Xiaobing |editor5-last=Matray |editor5-first=James I. |title=The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History [3 volumes] |date=2010 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=978-1-85109-850-7 |chapter=Grenades |pages=292−293 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QzHYEAAAQBAJ |language=en}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Department of the Army |first1=United States |title=Handbook on the Chinese Communist Army, September 1952 |date=1952 |publisher=U.S. Department of the Army |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OHZHAQAAIAAJ |access-date=17 September 2024 |language=en}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Department of the Army |first1=United States |title=Handbook on the Satellite Armies |date=1960 |publisher=Headquarters, Department of the Army |location=Washington, DC |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Eoc-FktJHr0C&dq=%22rpg-43%22&pg=PA139 |access-date=15 September 2024 |language=en}}
  • {{cite journal |last1=Embassy of Vietnam |first1=United States |title=The Soviet Role in North Viet-Nam's Offensive |journal=Vietnam Bulletin |date=20 April 1971 |volume=VII |issue=7 |pages=17−23 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l29uAAAAMAAJ |access-date=15 September 2024 |publisher=Embassy of Viet-Nam. |language=en}}
  • {{cite book |editor1-last=Hogg |editor1-first=Ian V |editor1-link=Ian V. Hogg |title=Jane's Infantry Weapons, 1987-88 |date=1987 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |isbn=978-0-7106-0843-7 |edition=13th |language=en}}
  • {{cite journal |last1=McGuire |first1=James D. |editor1-last=Zierdt Jr. |editor1-first=Lt. Col. William H. |title=Sino-Soviet Bloc Antitank Weapons |journal=Armor |date=May–June 1960 |volume=LXIX |issue=3 |pages=34−40 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q3VfLfMAts4C |access-date=17 September 2024 |publisher=United States Armor Association |language=en}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Marine Corps Intelligence Activity |first1=United States |title=Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices: 1945-1995 |date=1995 |publisher=Marine Corps Intelligence Activity |location=Quantico, VA |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XeM72t6oOZIC |access-date=16 September 2024 |language=en}}
  • {{cite book |last1=McNab |first1=Chris |title=US Soldier vs Chinese Soldier: Korea 1951–53 |date=2022 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-4728-4533-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xS8LEAAAQBAJ |language=en}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Rottman |first1=Gordon L. |title=World War II Infantry Anti-Tank Tactics |date=2013 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-4728-0541-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VbKdCwAAQBAJ |language=en}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Tucker-Jones |first1=Anthony |title=Hitler's Panzers: The Complete History 1933–1945 |date=2020 |publisher=Pen and Sword Military |isbn=978-1-5267-4161-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i17BEAAAQBAJ |language=en}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Windrow |first1=Martin |title=Osprey Men-At-Arms: A Celebration |date=2012 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-78096-267-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LlWbCwAAQBAJ |language=en}}

External links

  • [http://www.inert-ord.net/russ02i/rpg43/ RPG-43 on Inert-Ord.net]

{{Soviet infantry weapons of World War II}}

Category:Hand grenades of the Soviet Union

Category:Anti-tank grenades

Category:World War II infantry weapons of the Soviet Union

Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1943