RPG-29
| RPG-29 | |
|---|---|
 RPG-29 launcher with PG-29V rocket (mirrored image) | |
| Type | Rocket-propelled grenade |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1989–present |
| Used by | SeeOperators |
| Wars | War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Iraq War[1] 2006 Lebanon War Syrian Civil War[2] 2014 Gaza War War in Iraq (2013–2017) Israel–Hamas war |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Bazalt |
| Designed | late 1980s |
| Manufacturer | Bazalt[3] |
| Produced | 1989 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 12.1 kg (27 lb) unloaded (with optical sight) 18.8 kg (41 lb) loaded (ready to fire) |
| Length | 1 m (3 ft 3 in) (dismantled for transport) 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) (ready to fire) |
| Cartridge | PG-29V tandem rocket TBG-29V thermobaric rounds |
| Caliber | 105 mm (4.1 in) barrel 65 and 105 mm (2.6 and 4.1 in) warheads |
| Rate of fire | 2 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 280 m/s (920 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 500 m (1,600 ft) 800 m (2,600 ft) (with tripod and fire control unit)[4] |
| Sights | Iron, optical, and night sights available with ranges up to 450 m (1,480 ft); automated day and day-night sights with laser rangefinder[4] |
| Blast yield | 750 mm (30 in)RHA 650 mm (26 in)RHAafterERA 1,500 mm (59 in)Reinforced concrete 3,700 mm (150 in) Log and earth fortification |
TheRPG-29 "Vampir"is aSovietreusablerocket-propelled grenade(RPG) launcher. Adopted by theSoviet Armyin 1989, it was the last RPG to be adopted by theSoviet militarybefore thefall of the Soviet Unionin 1991.
The RPG-29 has since been supplemented by other rocket-propelled systems, such as theRPG-30andRPG-32.
Description[edit]
The RPG-29 is ashoulder-fired,unguided, tube-style, breech-loadinganti-tank rocketsystem with an effective range of 500 m (1,600 ft).[5]Thelight weaponis designed to be carried and used by one soldier. Atop the launch tube is a 2.7× 1P38optical sight.
When launched, the missile deploys eight fins as the rocket leaves the launcher, stabilizing the rocket during flight, up to an effective range of 500 m (1,600 ft).[6]
Three warheads are available for the weapon:
- The TBG-29Vthermobaricanti-personnelround.
- The OG-29 high-explosive/fragmentation (HE/FRAG) round for anti-personnel purposes. This is an Iranian round produced by Shahed Weaponry with a time fuze and over 2,000 premade fragments.[7]
- The PG-29V anti-tank/bunker round has atandem-chargehigh-explosive anti-tank(HEAT) warhead to defeatexplosive reactive armor(ERA). This warhead is standardized with that of the PG-7VR round fired by the RPG-7V rocket launcher.[8]With a tandem-charge, an initial small charge detonates any reactive armor. Ifexplosive reactive armor(ERA) orcage armoris absent, this charge strikes the main armor. Behind the primary charge, a much larger secondaryshaped chargebursts at the rear of the initial warhead and projects a thin, high-speed-jet of metal into the armour compromised by the first charge. PG-29V can kill hard targets, including tanks with ERA.[citation needed]
The RPG-29 is unusual among Russian anti-tank rocket launchers in that it lacks an initial propellant charge to place the projectile at a safe distance from the operator before the rocket ignites. Instead, the rocket engine starts as soon as a trigger is pulled, and burns out before the projectile leaves the barrel.
On the bottom of the tube is a shoulder brace for proper positioning along with apistol griptrigger mechanism. A side rail on its left side accepts a1PN51-2night sight.[9]
History[edit]
The RPG-29 was developed during the late 1980s, following the development of theRPG-26,and entered service with the Soviet Army in 1989. It has recently seen intermittent use byirregular forcesin the Middle East theater, including in combat against Allied forces during theIraq War,and the2006 Lebanon War,when it was used against Israeli forces.
2003 Iraq War[edit]
The RPG-29 is believed to have been used in skirmishes against American and British forces during the initial2003 invasion of Iraq.[10]An RPG-29 round was reported in August 2006 to have penetrated the frontal underside hull (equipped with ERA) of aChallenger 2tank during an engagement inal-Amarah,Iraq, maiming one and wounding several other crew members, but only lightly damaging the tank, which drove home under its own power.[11]
On August 25, 2007 a PG-29V hit a passingM1 Abramsin the hull rear wounding 3 crew members.[citation needed]On September 5, 2007, a PG-29V hit the side turret of anM1 Abramsin Baghdad, killing 2 of the crew and wounding 1, and the tank was seriously damaged.[citation needed]
In May 2008,The New York Timesdisclosed that another M1 Abrams tank had also been damaged by an RPG-29 in Iraq, while fightingShiamilitias atSadr City.[10]The US Army ranks the RPG-29 threat to armor so high that they refused to allow the newly formed Iraqi army to buy it, fearing that it would fall into insurgent hands.[12]
2006 Lebanon War[edit]
During the conflict, the Israeli newspaperHaaretzstated that the RPG-29 was a major source ofIsrael Defense Forces(IDF) casualties in the2006 Lebanon War.[13]Shortly before the end of the conflict the RussianKommersantmagazine acknowledged through anonymous sources the possibility of a weapons transfer betweenSyriaand Hezbollah during theSyrian withdrawalfromLebanon.[14]
2011 Syrian Civil War[edit]
During the Syrian Civil War,Syrian Opposition ForcesandIslamic State(ISIL) both used RPG-29s.[15]
Mexican Drug War[edit]
The cartels are known to have smuggled RPG-29s with some seized by Mexican forces.[16]
2014 Gaza War[edit]
During the2014 Gaza War,Hamashad used RPG-29s to attack IDF Merkava tanks, however because of the recently developedTrophy countermeasurethey had little effect.[17][failed verification]
Iraqi Civil War[edit]
During theIraqi Civil War,ISIL has used RPG-29s in Iraq, probably ones taken in Syria. And anti-ISIL Shia militias in Iraq have also used RPG-29s, the Iranian produced "Ghadir", which was supplied byIran.
Operators[edit]
State operators[edit]
Algeria[18]
Iran- Locally produced as the "Ghadir"[19]
Mexico[20]
North Korea[21]
Russia[22]
Syria[23]
Pakistan[citation needed]
Ukraine[24]
Vietnam- Locally produced[25][26]
Non-state organizations[edit]
Hezbollah[27]
Hamas[17]
Iraqi insurgents(2003–11)[28]
ISIL- At least one used during theSiege of Menagh Air Base
Taliban(during 2013-2015[29])
Syrian rebels[15]
Former operators[edit]
See also[edit]
- M47 Dragon– (United States)
- LRAC F1– (France)
- M79 Osa– (Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)
- Rocket-propelled grenade(includes a description of tactics and history)
References[edit]
- ^Totten, Michael J. (May 12, 2009).The Future of Iraq, Part I.Michaeltotten(Report).Archivedfrom the original on 14 August 2017.Retrieved16 March2019.
- ^"La 104ème brigade de la Garde républicaine syrienne, troupe d'élite et étendard du régime de Damas".France-Soir(in French). 20 March 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 19 October 2017.Retrieved4 September2018.
- ^"The World Market for Man-Portable Anti-Armor and Bunker Buster Weapons"(PDF).forecastinternational.Retrieved7 July2023.
- ^abRussian Close Combat Weapon.Moscow: Association "Defense Enterprises Assistance League". 2010. pp. 444–447.ISBN978-5-904540-04-3.
- ^"RPG-29 – Vampir".Guns and Weapons.June 9, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-06-20.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^OPFOR Worldwide Equipment Guide.United States Army Training and Doctrine Command(TRADOC) DCSINT Threat Support Directorate, US Army, viaScribd.2001.Archivedfrom the original on 2014-02-01.Retrieved2017-09-10.
- ^https://shahed-weaponry.org/product/rpg-29-multi-purpose-rockets/
- ^"RPG-29 anti-tank rocket launcher".Firearms Russia.Retrieved2015-10-08.
- ^ИЗДЕЛИЕ 1ПН51-2 ТЕХНИЧЕСКОЕ ОПИСАНИЕ И ИНСТРУКЦИЯ ПО ЭКСПЛУАТАЦИИ[Product 1PN51-2 Technical Description and Operating Instructions] (in Russian). September 1991. 52 pages.
- ^abGordon, Michael R. (May 21, 2008)."Operation in Sadr City Is an Iraqi Success, So Far".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on June 23, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 20,2017.
- ^Rayment, Sean (May 12, 2007)."MoD kept failure of best tank quiet".Sunday Telegraph.Archived fromthe originalon April 18, 2008.RetrievedMay 23,2019.
- ^Smith, Craig S. (August 28, 2005)."Big Guns For Iraq? Not So Fast".New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on October 13, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 20,2017.
- ^Schiff, Ze'ev (6 August 2006),Hezbollah anti-tank fire causing most IDF casualties in Lebanon,Haaretz,archived fromthe originalon April 16, 2018
- ^Russian Minister says Russia, Israel have settled differences over Hezbollah arms,International Herald Tribune, 20 October 2006, archived fromthe originalon 2006-11-26
- ^ab"The US is looking at a major tank upgrade, but a weapon to counter it is already out there".Business Insider Deutschland(in German).Archivedfrom the original on 2018-05-07.Retrieved2018-05-06.
- ^"Mexican Cartel Tactical Note #20: RPG-29 Anti-Armor Munitions | Small Wars Journal".smallwarsjournal.Retrieved7 July2023.
- ^ab"The Combat Performance of Hamas in the Gaza War of 2014".29 September 2014.
- ^"Пустынный" Вампир ": РПГ-29 принят на вооружение армии Алжира"[Desert "Vampire": RPG-29 adopted by Algerian army].rg.ru(in Russian). 11 November 2021.Retrieved25 January2022.
- ^"آرپی جی29؛تیری جدید در کمان ارتش ایران + عکس".مشرق نیوز(in Persian). 7 January 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 1 May 2017.Retrieved2 June2017.
- ^Montes, Julio A. (8 May 2015)."Portable Anti-Tank Weapons in Mexico & the Northern Central American Triangle".Small Arms Defense Journal.Vol. 7, no. 1. Archived fromthe originalon 2 April 2019.
- ^"North Korea sanctions evasion efforts detailed in UN's latest PoE report - NK News - North Korea News".nknews.org.12 March 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 15 March 2019.Retrieved16 March2019.
- ^Galeotti (2017),p. 56.
- ^"Trade Update: After the 'Arab Spring'"(PDF).Small Arms Survey 2015: weapons and the world(PDF).Cambridge University Press.2015. p. 107. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2018-01-28.Retrieved2018-08-29.
- ^"RPG-29 Vampir (Vampire)".militaryfactory.Retrieved2022-07-02.
- ^"Vietnam Builds So Many Weapons For Its Army | 21st Century Asian Arms Race".5 September 2018.
- ^"Vietnam produced RPG-29 rocket launcher and named it SCT-29".iMedia.19 Apr 2022.Retrieved19 Apr2022.
- ^"Hezbollah's Creative Tactical Use of Anti-Tank Weaponry".Jamestown.
- ^"Surveying the Battlefield: Illicit Arms In Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia".Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets.Cambridge University Press.2012. p. 326.ISBN978-0-521-19714-4.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2018-08-31.Retrieved2018-08-30.
- ^Antonio Giustozzi. "Counterinsurgency Challenge in Post-2001 Afghanistan".Small Wars & Insurgencies:18.
Bibliography[edit]
- Galeotti, Mark (2017).The Modern Russian Army 1992–2016.Oxford: Osprey Publishing.ISBN978-1472819086.
External links[edit]
- Fofanov, Vasiliy."Modern Russian Armor".Retrieved5 October2015.