M9a1

[Mark in Rochester]

Four steel blocks showing effect of different shaped charges that were fired at each.


Date taken: 1950
Photographer: Gjon Mili

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Bob Seijas]

Yes, the effect is much greater when it explodes before physical contact. Some tank rounds have a rod sticking out in front, IIRC they were called HEPT.

[browningautorifle]

I always wanted to try one of those. Anyone out there ever fired a live one?

[Mark in Rochester]

[browningautorifle]

Thanks Mark, but I meant has anyone fired the HE on a military type target. Tank hull or building or combat...

[Mark in Rochester]

Jim

there is footage of one being used in "Infantry weapons and their effects" @ 15:54 - 17:13

that is as close as i can get you

Neighbor was in the 80th inf Div. – made it all the way through – he never saw one

Mark

[Bill Ricca]

One thing about launching Rifle Grenades. There are myths all over the place that they should be launched from the ground, as shown.

When you are launching "Direct Fire" at an armored vehicle, a squad, or a defensive location like sand bags, you fire from the shoulder.

When in combat the last thing a Grenadier is worried about is the recoil. The important thing is to take out that vehicle, or group of enemies. The only way to launch direct fire is from the shoulder, as shown below.

The myth stems from the guys launching inert items for fun.

It continued on even with the heavy M28 AT from Korean War.

[TerryS]

A lot of misinformation here. The four steel blocks show how a shaped charge works, and the inportance of the correct stand off. Notice the sheet metal fairing at the front of the projectile, its function is to contact first and set the charge off at the right distance. The shaped explosive is lines with ametal that forms a molten lance. Notice the shape of the current RPG ?

[browningautorifle]

I did a great deal of infantry time and yes we were instructed to fire rifle grenades from both the ground and shoulder(under arm) position. I don't remember firing it from the shoulder proper. That was F.N. and we used frag grenades in a US or UK launcher most of the time. We saw our own later but all were identical except for colour. We didn't have the shaped charge because we had the .84 mm and .66 mm for that. I only wished we had a multi purpose item like the M9 grenade. And no I never really noticed recoil, just the blast of fine grit in the face upon firing.