Enhanced Anti Tank Rocket Propelled Grenades A Quick Comparison Dolarian Capital, Inc. www.dolarian.com Dolarian@dolarian.com Fresno California 93711 US +1 (559) 245-0117 /+1 (559) 243-0126 (Fax) (USA Pacific Time Zone) Compiled by M. Duenes, Technical Specialist
RPG-29*****************************PG-7VLT RPG-29 PG-7VLT Place of Origin Russia Bulgaria Manufacturer Bazalt VMZ Caliber 105mm 85mm (40mm tube) Weight 18.8 Kg (w/ launch tube) 41lb 10.31 Kg (w/launch tube) (22.7 lb) Length 1.85m (6 1 ) assembled 1.5m (4.9 ) assembled to tube Muzzle Velocity 280 m/s (920 ft/s) 90 m/s (295 ft/s) Range 500 m (1,600 ft) 300 m (1984 ft) Penetration Armor 750mm (30 ) 550 mm (21.6 ) Penetration 1,500 mm (59 ) 1,400 mm (55 ) Reinforced Concrete Penetration Log and earth fortifications 3,700 mm (150 ) 2,000 (78.7 )
PG-29 V (Vampire) The PG-29 is a round of ammunition fired from a shoulder held, reloadable launch tube, one man carried infantry weapon. Unlike the RPG-7 the round is initiated and the rocket charge is fired and burns out prior to the round leaving the launch tube. The PG-29V is fired from a smooth bore launcher and is stabilized by way of folding fins which deploy when the round leaves the launch tube. The firing system does not require any battery power for rocket ignition. The optical sight has 1.8x magnification and is fitted with an aiming reticule with tritium dots for optimum sighting in low light conditions. The PG-29V was designed to be an enhanced anti-tank round for use against vehicles equipped with reactive armor as well as being effective against improvised fixed fortifications. PG 7VLT The PG-7VLT is a shoulder fired anti tank weapon system which consists of a reusable shoulder held launcher tube and individual rocket rounds. Rocket ignition is by way of a percussion train. The launcher can be provided with iron sights as well as optical sights. The optical sights can be upgraded with infrared and passive night vision capability. The VMZ PG-7VLT is a tandem warhead, expendable round meant to be fired from a RPG-7 type launcher. It is an enhanced anti-tank round with a capability for attacking structures and blockhouses. With the addition of the PG-7VTL a new capability has been passed on to the legacy RPG-7 type launcher system.
The Advantages/Disadvantages of the PG- 7VLT Class Weapon and the RPG-29 System system, the PG-7VLT is utilized in the legacy RPG-7 type system. 1. Length- When disassembled the PG-7VLT and the RPG type launcher tube make for a compact carrying silhouette. 2. Weight- The assemble PG-29 round and launcher is approximately 54% heavier then the PG-7VLT assemble to its launcher tube 3. Cost- The cost of the individual PG-7VLT is substantially less then that of the PG-29 round. 4. Equipment cost- To utilize the PG-29 round it is necessary to acquire the RPG-29 launch tube; the PR-7VLT is fired from the RPG-7 type system. 6. Both rounds have been proven in combat to be effective against armor including Rolled Homogenous Armor (RHA) and Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA). The PG- 29 round due to its larger size holds an edge over the PG-7VLT in armor penetration. 7. The RPG type system has been and is being manufactured in many places in the world so resupply can be simplified anywhere in the world. 8. The RPG system is of rugged construction and has a soldier proof factor built into the system. 5. Training- There must be initial training provided to the new users of RPG-29
RPG = FLEXIBILITY Typical RPG-7 type (note size difference between the 2 types) RPG-29 Launcher
RPG-29Launcher and round (in center) Typical RPG-7 (w/ standard HEAT round)
Armor Protection Modern armored vehicle rely on a variety of metallurgy and materials to provide crew protection. In the early days of tank production tempered metals and alloys of varying thicknesses were used to provide protection from projectiles and bomb fragments. With the development of specific anti-tank ordnance a variety of techniques were developed including, rolled homogenous armor (RHA), layered armor and composite armor. Along with the new metallurgy came advances such as explosive reactive armor (ARM), appliqué armor, and cage armor. The materials used in modern day armored vehicles can include steel, steel alloys, non-ferrous alloys, depleted uranium, and high tech ceramics. Table 1 Frontal Reactive Armor Appliqué Armor T-55 200mm 1 st Gen: 700-900mm (HEAT) 2 nd Gen: 450-480mm (kinetic)/700-900mm (HEAT) Type-59II 203mm N/A Track skirts T-62 230mm Similar to T-55 100mm+ on turret and track skirts T-72 520-950mm Kontaki or Kontakt-5 Available for turret, side and track skirts T-80 500-550mm 1 st Gen N/A T-80U 780-1320mm Kontakt-5 (2 nd Gen) Side of hull and track skirts Unk composite N/A Track skirts, composite type panels avail. Type 85- IIM T-90 550mm Kontakt 5-800-830 (HEAT) 1150-1350mm (kinetic) BMP-1 6-33mm N/A N/A BMP-2 23-33mm French SNPE kit availible N/A BMP-3 35mm ERA kit availible N/A BTR-60P 7-9mm N/A N/A BTR-70 7-10mm N/A N/A BTR-80 7-25mm N/A N/A AMX-30 80mm BRENUS ERA kit avail (400mm N/A equiv) Leopard 1 60-70mm N/A N/A Leopard 2 700-1000mm N/A Track skirts M1A2 Abrams 560-1620mm Classified Classified M-60A1 155mm N/A N/A Turret, hull and track skirts
Frontal Reactive Armor Appliqué Armor AMX 10P 12.7mm SNPE ERA kit N/A AML 40 12mm N/A N/A AML 90 8-12mm N/A N/A Saxon 9mm Stryker 14.5mm Available Available Scout 9mm 100-800mm Patria NEMO M-113 44mm Available Available Bradley 6.5mm Available Available
Comparison of Armor Thickness (actual/relative, in mm ) Bradley/ 6.5mm M-113/ 44mm NEMO/ 800mm Scout/ 9mm Stryker/ 14.5mm Saxon/ 9mm AML 90/ 12mm AML 40/ 12mm AMX 10/ 12.7mm M-60A1/155mm M1A2 Abrams/ 1620mm Leopard 2/ 1000 Leopard 1/ 70mm AMX-30/ 80mm BTR-80/ 25mm BTR-70/ 10mm BTR-60/ 9mm BMP-3/ 35mm BMP-2/ 33mm BMP-1/ 33mm T-90/ 550mm T-62/ 230mm Type-59/203mm T-80/ 550mm T-72/ 950mm T-55/ 200mm 0.00 500.00 1000.00 1500.00 2000.00