RKG-3 anti-tank grenade

RKG-3 is a series of Soviet anti-tank hand grenades. It superseded the RPG-43, RPG-40 and RPG-6 series of grenades. It entered service in 1950, and was still being used by insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan into the 2000s and 2010s, against the vehicles of NATO forces.

RKG-3 anti-tank grenade
TypeHand grenade
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In service1950–present
WarsYom Kippur War
Iraq War
Russo-Ukrainian War
Specifications
Mass1.07 kg (2.4 lb)
Length362 mm (14.3 in)
Effective firing range15–20 m (49–66 ft)
FillingTNT/RDX with a steel lined shaped charge with 220 mm penetration of RHA.
Filling weight567 g (20.0 oz)
Detonation
mechanism
Impact fuse
RKG-3E grenades including one grenade cutaway in (DOSAAF Museum, Minsk)

Design

RKG stands for Ruchnaya Kumulyativnaya Granata ("handheld shaped-charge grenade"). The grenade has an odd strap-like lever (or "spoon") that covers the base of the handle and runs up each side of the handle. When the pin is pulled, the "spoon" falls away, and when the grenade is thrown a spring deploys a four-panelled drogue parachute. This parachute stabilizes the grenade in flight and ensures that the grenade strikes the target at a 90 degree angle, maximising the effect of the shaped charge. Realistic accurate throw ranges are within 15 to 25 metres (50 to 80 ft). The lethality radius is within two metres (6.6 ft) due to concussion and fragmentation. The casualty radius is within 20 metres (66 ft) and the danger space from fragmentation is within 50 metres (160 ft).

The fuze in the handle activates the grenade. When the parachute deploys, its ejection throws a weight to the rear of the handle and disables the safety. When it impacts or stops, inertia causes the weight to fly forward and hit the spring-loaded firing pin, which activates the primer detonator in the base. This sets off the booster charge in the base of the shaped charge, detonating and enhancing the main charge. The sensitive fuze guarantees that the grenade will detonate if it impacts any target.

Armour penetration depends on the model. The original RKG-3 used a basic shaped charge with a steel liner and could penetrate 125 millimetres (5 in) against Rolled Homogeneous Armor (RHA). The RKG-3M used a copper-lined shaped-charge warhead and had a penetration of 165 mm; the RKG-3T had an improved copper liner that had a penetration of 170 mm. The RKG-3EM has a larger warhead and boasts a penetration of 220 millimetres (8.7 in).

History

The RKG-3 was adopted into service in 1950. A few years later it was replaced by the improved RKG-3M and enhanced RKG-3T. Thicker top armor caused the Soviets to develop the larger RKG-3EM. In the early 1970s the Soviet Army replaced this grenade with the RPG-18, but many other countries and guerrilla movements are still using the RKG-3 in their armed forces. It was used extensively during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Ulrike Meinhof was injured by an RKG-3 while training with the PLO in a Syrian training camp.

RKG-3 grenades were widely used by Iraqi insurgents against American Humvees,[1][2] Strykers and MRAPs.[3][4]

The grenade has also been seen in use by the Aerorozvidka unit of the Ukrainian military in the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine. PJSC Mayak modifies the grenade[5] into the RKG 1600 by changing the fuze timing and adding 3D printed fins to stabilise its trajectory when dropped from a commercial drone.[6] Footage of these being used by Ukrainian forces against Russian forces has been published officially.[7][8] The estimated total cost is "less than $100".[9]

Models
  • RKG-3 Penetration : 125 mm (4.9 in) RHA. Gross Weight: 1.07 kg. (2.35 lbs.)
  • RKG-3M (-Modernizirovannaya, "Improved") Model with liner changed from steel to copper. Penetration : 165 mm (6.5 in) RHA. Gross Weight: 1.1 kg. (2.42 lbs.) Copies manufactured by East Germany (RKG-3Cu).
  • RKG-3T Model with improved copper liner. Penetration: 170 mm (6.7 in) RHA
  • RKG-3EM Model with larger warhead. Penetration: 220 mm (8.7 in) RHA Gross Weight: 1.7 kg. (3.74 lbs.)
The RKG-1600 bombing test via R18 drone in "Shyrokyi Lan" range, Ukraine, 2020
  • RKG-1600 Ukrainian adaptation with 3D printed stabilisation fins and modified fuzing for dropping from commercial drones.[10]
  • UPG-8 (Uechebnaya Protivotankovaya Granata, "Training Anti-Tank Grenade"). Black body with white markings. The reusable warhead contains a reloadable black powder charge that mostly produces black smoke that is vented through holes in the heavy-gauge sheet-metal. A new fuze and parachute can be quickly reloaded in the handle after use by using special armorer tools.
  • M79 Copy of the RKG-3EM by Yugoimport SDPR. Copies are now manufactured by Serbia (M79) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (RKB-M79). Filling: 400g (0.88 lbs.) Hexolite, Penetration: 220 mm (8.7 in) RHA, Gross Weight: 1.1 kg. (2.42 lbs.).
  • Type F-3 Chinese licensed production of the original Soviet RKG-3 with improvements. Penetration: 130 to 170 mm (5.1 to 6.7 in) RHA Gross Weight: 1.07 kg. (2.35  lbs.)

See also

References

Notes
  1. Video of RKG-3 Near Miss on Stryker
  2. Be the Hunter, not The Hunted Archived 2017-01-25 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Ismay, John. "Insight Into How Insurgents Fought in Iraq". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  4. Hernandez, Chris (19 September 2018). "The Russki RKG-3 Anti-Tank Hammer | WCW". Breach Bang Clear. Archived from the original on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  5. "Завод "Маяк" та "Аеророзвідка" випробували ударний дрон на навчаннях ЗСУ (фото)" ["Mayak" and "Aerorozvidka" plants tested an attack drone at the exercises of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (photos)]. defence-ua.com (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  6. "CAT-UXO RKG 1600". cat-uxo.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  7. Ukrainian Forces Showed Their RKG-1600 Drone-dropped Munition Attacks on Russian Armored Vehicle. Military Leak. 17 March 2022. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2022 – via YouTube.
  8. ChrisO [@ChrisO_wiki] (11 May 2022). "DRONES: Ukraine has been using octocopters (like the one pictured) to drop RKG-1600 grenades - anti-tank grenades of a 1950s design converted into aerial bombs by fitting 3D-printed fins. They can penetrate 200mm of armour, more than enough to destroy a tank. /6 t.co/i7XV5oQNhs" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  9. "How Ukraine Uses Obsolete Soviet Grenades To Destroy Russian Tanks From Above". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  10. Hambling, David. "How Ukraine Perfected The Small Anti-Tank Drone". Forbes. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.

Bibliography
  • Hogg, Ian V. (1991). Jane's Infantry Weapons 1991-92. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-0963-9.
  • Jones, Richard D. (2005). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2005-2006. Jane's Information Group.

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