Australia
 Metal Storm
China
 QLZ-87 / W87
 QLB-06 / QLZ-87B
Germany
 HK69
 HK79
 HK AG36/AG-C
 HK GMG
 Panzerfaust
 Panzerfaust 44 Lanze
 Panzerfaust 3
 Armbrust
Russia - USSR
 RPG-2
 RPG-7
 RPG-16
 RPG-18
 RPG-22
 RPG-26
 RPG-27
 RPG-28
 RPG-29
 RPG-32
 RShG-1
 RShG-2
 RMG
 RPO-A "Shmel"
 RPO-M "Shmel-M"
 MRO-A
 GP-25 and GP-30
 RG-6
 GM-94
 AGS-17
 AGS-30
 Balkan
 RGS-50M
 BS-1 Tishina
 Device D new
 Device DM new
Sweden
 Carl-Gustaf
 AT4
South Africa
 Milkor MGL
 PAW-20 "Neopup"
Switzerland
 B+T GL-06
USA
 M79
 M203
 EX-41
 MM-1
 XM25
 M72 LAW
 M136 AT4
 M202 Flash
 Mk.153 SMAW
 Mk.19 AGL
 Mk.47 AGL
 XM307 ACSW

all texts and some pictures
copyright © 1999-2009
by Max R. Popenker
and can not be used without author permission

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RPO-A "Shmel" disposable thermobaric grenade launcher / rocket-propelled flame-thrower (Russia)

RPO-A rocket-propelled flame-thrower, in ready to fire configuration, with FAE rocket shown next to it

Caliber: 93 mm
Type: recoilless 
Overall length: 920 mm
Weight: 12 kg complete
Effective range: up to 200 m (1000m maximum)

Development of the singe-shot, disposable grenade launcher for Soviet army, which fired incendiary, thermobaric / FAE (Fuel-Air Explosive) or smoke rockets was initiated in 1984. The resulting weapon, known as "Schmel" (bumblebee) was adopted by Soviet army in 1988 in three versions - RPO-A with thermobaric / FAE warhead, RPO-Z with incendiary warhead and RPO-D with smoke warhead. Since the weapon is officially classified as flamethrower, per Soviet / Russian TOE it is used by Chemical troops (regardless of actual version), and usually is not issued to ordinary infantry. It is also in limited use by various Special Operations forces, including Russian Internal Affairs Ministry troops. The RPO-A version is considered as main in the whole line-up and is still in production for Russian army and export.

The RPO-A is a single-shot recoilless weapon of somewhat unusual construction. It has a fiberglass smoothbore barrel which is factory pre-loaded with a round of ammunition, which, in turn, consists of a missile with warhead and tail fins, and propelling charge. Upon firing, the propelling charge, which is loaded into separate case, is fired; it stays in the barrel while powder gases accelerate the missile; when missile has left the barrel, the propelling charge is expelled to the rear by the residual pressure, and falls to the ground at several meters behind the weapon. Obviously, this weapon creates a dangerous back-blast when fired. The basic controls include dual folding grips and rifle-type trigger with manual safety. Rear sight is of diopter type, with several apertures for different ranges. It is installed on the folding base; front sight is fixed. The missile is nothing more than a thin-walled container loaded with Fuel-Air Explosive (RPO-A), smoke composition (RPO-D) or Incendiary composition (RPO-Z), with four folding fins at the base. The blast effect of the thermobaric / FAE RPO-A warhead, which contains about 2.2 kg of Fuel-Air Explosive is roughly equivalent to the blast effect of the 107mm / 4" HE artillery shell. Upon explosion, RPO-A warhead generates the cloud of high-temperature flame (blast) which is about 6-7 meters in diameter (blast radius 3 meters or more). The blast cloud lasts as long as 0.4 seconds, thus allowing for significant incendiary effect in addition to the massive pressure wave (typical HE explosion lasts much shorter).

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