L14A1 Carl Gustav 84mm Anti Tank

[Sentryduty]

I seem to recall an article recently that the Charlie G was resurrected in afghan to take out buildings as it was cheaper than using Javelins? !

The Carl Gustav was still a standard piece of kit during my deployment to Afghanistan in 2006, (snapshot in time) they were either racked in the holder of the Platoon Commander's LAV, (right hand side next to the turret) or humped by the PL Weapons Det. whenever we were on chopper ops and dumped in the backside of nowhere. They made a decent sized hole in a mud wall or grape hut when needed. These would have been the original all steel versions without carry handle, the marginally lighter composite ones with the nice carry handle being phased in over the next few years. While we didn't have the Javelin in Cdn. inventory, we did have the ERYX, which was to the best of my knowledge, was not deployed to Afghanistan. It (ERYX) was a pretty piece of kit to look at, and the thermal sighting system was useful for exercise OP duty, but in reality the missiles were prohibitively expensive and despite being "qualified" on the system I had only fired on the sim range and had never seen a live missile during the whole of my career.

As an aside we still had Short Range Anti Armour Weapons (Light) SRAAW(L) which we commonly called an M72 deployed at a scale of 2 per section, and back at the PL level the 60mm mortar enjoyed a good bit of use during '06 usually deployed without bipod or C2 sight, just the small baseplate. Part of my loadout was to carry 2 HE bombs for the 60mm in my patrol pack.

Even in modern times the Carl Gustav (Carl-Gee in our slang) seen success on the modern (tankless) battlefield and helped provide a local force multiplier along with the C6 MG, M72's, the M203, and of course the 60mm mortar when arty or fast air may not have been available.

[Gil Boyd]

Second one now on the home straight. Just the fiddly venturi opening brackets to make now which is the second wrap round part, and try and justify to my wife why I have used two of the feet from her turtle back massager for the opening knobs on these

Also amazing what you can do with the top half of a traffic cone for the venturi mould. Solidifying it was an issue but not one that hidden in the glass weapon case in the museum with hundreds of other weapons will cause any dramas. Making the pistol grip and spring assembly was cetainly a challenge. Easiest thing so far was going to B&Q and buying to 90mm hose clips to hold the cushion in place, and remarkable that Bofors would have used such a simple solution to this piece!!

[Sentryduty]

I would have to go back an check my Warrior PAM but I believe it appears the foresight is on upside down on the finished green version in the last photo. I am reasonably certain that the foresight should have the aiming pin at the 6 o'clock position with the two short pins a 9 and 3 o'clock.

If any one is interested I could scan copies of the Canadian Warrior PAM pages applicable to the Carl G. From memory there should be some data on general characteristics as well as the drills and aiming principles.

Cock before you talk, still rings in my mind - always cock the weapon before giving commands to the number 2, otherwise the venturi is locked up tight and the levers get beat on fruitlessly.

[Peter Laidler]

I have to say that they are a xxxxxxg good likeness Gil........... Well done

[browningautorifle]

Looks pretty good Gil...

[Gil Boyd]

Darren,
The unpainted version has a spare plastic foresight blade on it which I placed to see if I was going to use the bowl part on the finished version. The finished "G" is absolutely as the PAM stipulates, foldable and blade as spec.
I am currently machining the large knurled knobs to place beneath the telescopes because the normal brackets that hold the telescope to the side of the weapon are a horrendous piece to carve or make, unless I was incarcerated on Devils Island for years of course.

I sat scratching my head at the task ahead of me on the venturi opening lever, and then saw my spade hanging on the pound shop double hook in the workshop, which when cut in half and bent to shape did the job and even had the rib running down the centre.
Just got a friendly tailor to make me a canvas laced boot for tyhe venturis as per PAM and now laced up and fitted.
More pics tomorrow as I get closer to DDAY!

[Sentryduty]

Darren,
The unpainted version has a spare plastic foresight blade on it which I placed to see if I was going to use the bowl part on the finished version. The finished "G" is absilutely as the PAM stipulates.
I am currently maching the large knurled knobs to place beneath the telescopes because the normal brackets that hold the telescope to the side of the weapon are a horrendous pice to carve or make, unless I was incarcerated on Devils Island for years.

I sat scratching my head at the task ahead of me on the venturi opening lever, and then saw my spade hanging on the pound shop double hook, which when cut in half and bent to shape did the job and even had the rib running down the centre.
Just got a freindly tailor ro make me a canvas laced boot as per PAM and now fitted.
More pics tomorrow as I get closer to DDAY!

Very good, I can't say I was 100% on that without looking it up first, we generally fired them with the telescopes fitted, so my memory on the iron's could very well have been incorrect. The Ventri lock work came out quite well I think, and the knobs are a dead ringer for actual, the whole project is outside my skill level that much is for certain.

Late Edit: While not a Canadian weapon, this is the sight I was accustomed to looking through:


For general rambling:
The Canadian ones had a 1/2" wide rubber band that encircled the rear of the ventri as a "harmonic damper" rumour in the ranks was that if you fired the gun without the band it would shatter, however I am certain it was just to keep it from ringing like a bell upon firing. I think this band was not included in the updated polymer models. I remember the monopod was this odd inverted T with a coil spring in the stem that made the gun flop around like some green jack in the box when placed on the ground. Good weapon, just a little lacking in the ergonomics department, however the dual purpose, instant/delayed detonation rounds were a clever idea, on the range they would knock holes in the old Sherman tanks hulls with ease.

[browningautorifle]

it was just to keep it from ringing like a bell upon firing

That would be the correct reason.

[Gil Boyd]

Darren,
Sorry see what you mean now I have put the foresight upside down, simply changed by taking the pin out and correcting that, too much haste not enough speed
I'm afraid my rifling won't look anything like that, its just plain painted worktop rubber matting sprayed silver, rather than a smooth bore replica

[Peter Laidler]

The one in your picture has the flimsy looking monopod fitted. It looked flimsy but it worked OK. Talking to a Lithuanian bloke here who was a Nasho in their post communist Army and they still use them....., the earlier heavy steel variant. Probably gifted to them.