55 S 55
Encyclopedia
55 S 55 was a Finnish
recoilless anti-tank weapon from the mid-1950s.
The numbers refer to diameter of the launching tube in millimetres and year of entering to service. S stands for
Finnish word "sinko" (recoilless weapon).
, Finland received large shipments of German Panzerfaust
s (F1 and F2) and Panzerschreck
s. These weapons were used after the war, but soon the need for modern replacement arose.
Dr. Ilmari Liikkanen, who worked for the company Raikka Oy, is usually considered to be the person behind the construction of the 55 S 55 (55 mm, RCL m/55). Not much is known about the development process, but it is believed that the Soviet
RPG-2
was a big influence, since the principle is similar. However, the principle differs from the later RPG-7
because the shots of the 55 S 55 weren't rocket-propelled.
The 88 millimetre HEAT
grenade is capable of penetrating 300 millimetres of RHA +- 40 millimetres. The longest recommendable distance for stationary targets is 200 metres and to moving targets 150 metres. A fragmentation grenade is also available. If capped the fragmentation
grenade can penetrate obstacles such as light doors, bushes and windows before exploding. These can be shot up to 700 metres against stationary targets.A rifle calibre practice barrel 7,62 X 54 R could be installed inside the launching tube.
The aim is optical with stadiametric rangefinder reticule. There's provision for englighting the reticule and the
stadia marks.
The 55 S 55 was the standard anti-tank weapon of Finnish Army from late 50's but has been phased out since 1980's giving way to
M72 LAW
and Apilas
. The weapon was used by a two man team, loader and the gunner.
The main disanvantage of the weapon was slow muzzle velocity causing an arched trajectory. It disposed the grenade to wind conditions and branches in covered terrain.
Also the smoke and noise could reveal the location making the user(s) a target. The weapon had a tendency to nod on launch requiring determined
handling.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
recoilless anti-tank weapon from the mid-1950s.
The numbers refer to diameter of the launching tube in millimetres and year of entering to service. S stands for
Finnish word "sinko" (recoilless weapon).
History
During the later stages of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Finland received large shipments of German Panzerfaust
Panzerfaust
The Panzerfaust was an inexpensive, recoilless German anti-tank weapon of World War II. It consisted of a small, disposable preloaded launch tube firing a high explosive anti-tank warhead, operated by a single soldier...
s (F1 and F2) and Panzerschreck
Panzerschreck
Panzerschreck was the popular name for the Raketenpanzerbüchse , an 88 mm calibre reusable anti-tank rocket launcher developed by Nazi Germany in World War II. Another popular nickname was Ofenrohr ....
s. These weapons were used after the war, but soon the need for modern replacement arose.
Dr. Ilmari Liikkanen, who worked for the company Raikka Oy, is usually considered to be the person behind the construction of the 55 S 55 (55 mm, RCL m/55). Not much is known about the development process, but it is believed that the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
RPG-2
RPG-2
The RPG-2 was the first rocket-propelled grenade launcher designed in the Soviet Union.-Development:The RPG-2 , was a man-portable, shoulder-launched rocket-propelled grenade anti-armor weapon...
was a big influence, since the principle is similar. However, the principle differs from the later RPG-7
RPG-7
The RPG-7 is a widely-produced, portable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, were designed by the Soviet Union, and now manufactured by the Bazalt company...
because the shots of the 55 S 55 weren't rocket-propelled.
The 88 millimetre HEAT
Heat
In physics and thermodynamics, heat is energy transferred from one body, region, or thermodynamic system to another due to thermal contact or thermal radiation when the systems are at different temperatures. It is often described as one of the fundamental processes of energy transfer between...
grenade is capable of penetrating 300 millimetres of RHA +- 40 millimetres. The longest recommendable distance for stationary targets is 200 metres and to moving targets 150 metres. A fragmentation grenade is also available. If capped the fragmentation
grenade can penetrate obstacles such as light doors, bushes and windows before exploding. These can be shot up to 700 metres against stationary targets.A rifle calibre practice barrel 7,62 X 54 R could be installed inside the launching tube.
The aim is optical with stadiametric rangefinder reticule. There's provision for englighting the reticule and the
stadia marks.
The 55 S 55 was the standard anti-tank weapon of Finnish Army from late 50's but has been phased out since 1980's giving way to
M72 LAW
M72 LAW
The M72 LAW is a portable one-shot 66 mm unguided anti-tank weapon, designed in the United States by Paul V. Choate, Charles B. Weeks, and Frank A. Spinale et al...
and Apilas
APILAS
APILAS is a portable one-shot 112 mm recoilless anti-tank weapon, designed in France by GIAT Industries...
. The weapon was used by a two man team, loader and the gunner.
The main disanvantage of the weapon was slow muzzle velocity causing an arched trajectory. It disposed the grenade to wind conditions and branches in covered terrain.
Also the smoke and noise could reveal the location making the user(s) a target. The weapon had a tendency to nod on launch requiring determined
handling.
