- Armbrust
Infobox Weapon
name= Armbrust
caption=A line drawing and photo of an Armbrust launcher (via Iraq OIG).
origin=flagcountry|West Germany
type=Anti-tank weapon
is_ranged=yes
is_bladed=
is_explosive=yes
is_artillery=
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=
used_by=Users
wars=Croatian War of Independence
designer=Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB)
design_date=
manufacturer=Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB)Pouderies Réunies de Belgique (PRB)ST Kinetics (STK)
production_date=
number=
variants=Armbrust AT, Armbrust AP, Armbrust Ub, Armbrust SC
weight=6.3 kg
length=850 mm
part_length=
width=126 mm
height=140 mm
crew=
cartridge=
caliber=67 mm
action=Recoilless weapon
rate=
velocity=210 m/s
range=300 m
max_range=1500 m
penetration=300 mm armoured steel
feed=Single shot
sights=Reticle, externally illuminated for nightArmbrust (German: "
Crossbow ") is a lightweight unguidedanti-tank weapon designed and developed byMesserschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm ofGermany , who later sold its manufacturing rights toSingapore . The Armbrust equips the Singapore infantry section with rudimentaryanti-tank capability.Overview
The Armbrust is a recoilless weapon, and its design is one of the few weapons of its kind that may safely be fired in an enclosed space. The
propellant charge is placed between twopiston s with theprojectile in front of one and a mass of shreddedplastic in the rear. Unlike most recoilless weapons it is a true countershot weapon, the mass of the projectile is equal to the mass of the counterweight and they are ejected from the barrel at the same initialvelocity . When the weapon is fired the propellant expands pushing the two pistons out. The projectile is forced out the front and the plastic out the back. The plastic disperses upon leaving the back of the barrel, and is quickly stopped byair resistance . The pistons jam at either end of the barrel locking the hot gases inside.Its warhead can penetrate up to 300 mm of armoured
steel .Armbrusts are gradually being replaced by the
Singapore -German-Israeli co-developed MATADOR, starting 2004.Combat Use
Slovenia andCroatia also acquired stocks of Armbrusts for use by local troops against theJNA in theYugoslav Wars of the1990 s.Users
*flag|Belgium
*flag|Cambodia
*flag|Chile
*flag|Croatia
*flag|Indonesia
*flag|Philippines
*flag|Singapore
*flag|SloveniaExternal links
* [http://www.modernfirearms.net/grenade/gl33-e.htm Armbrust antitank grenade launcher (Germany) - Modern Firearms]
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