APAV40
Anti-personnel/anti-véhicule, 40mm | |
---|---|
Type | Rifle grenade |
Place of origin | France |
Service history | |
Used by | French Army |
Production history | |
Designed | 1956 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 405 grams[1] |
Length | 352 mm[1] |
Diameter | 40 mm[1] |
Filling | hexogen-tolite |
Filling weight | 80 grams |
The APAV 40 (anti-personnel/anti-véhicule, 40mm) is a 40 mm dual purpose rifle grenade used by the French Army.
Design[]
The APAV 40 is a dual purpose, anti-personnel (AP) and anti-vehicle (AV), 40 mm rifle-grenade. It has a mass of 405 grams,[1] and a tail with stabilizing fins. Explosion is triggered by an impact fuse.[citation needed]
Two versions of the APAV 40 exist:
- the older F1 model which must be fired with a blank cartridge[citation needed]
- the current F2 model which uses a bullet-trap that allows using live rounds[citation needed]
Use[]
To launch, the APAV40 F2 is placed over the muzzle of a FAMAS or any NATO rifle with a (22 mm) STANAG muzzle device. Then the rifle is aimed at the target and fired. The impact of the bullet striking the bullet-trap and the expanding gases launch and arm the grenade, which explodes on impact.[citation needed]
In its antipersonnel capacity, the APAV 40 is used in indirect fire. The APAV 40 has a lethal radius of 12 metres and its shrapnel is dangerous up to 100 metres away.[1]
In its anti-vehicle capacity, the APAV 40 is used in direct fire. Under an optimal angle, the APAV 40 is capable of piercing 100 mm of armour.[1]
The FAMAS provides an alidade sight for launching the grenade from 75 or 100 metres. The FAMAS can also be inclined/angled by 45°, to allow fire from 170 to 320 metres, with 20-metre increments; or by 74°, to allow fire from 60 to 170 metres, with 10-metre increments. French rifle grenades are notorious for having extremely strong recoil, so strong that one who does not properly brace themselves will often fall over.[citation needed]
See also[]
Sources and references[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Lycaon (2010-06-01). "Le tir des grenades" (in French). Eklablog.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-01. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
- Grenades of France
- Rifle grenades
- Military equipment introduced in the 1950s