Breda Folgore
Encyclopedia
The Folgore is an Italian 80 mm recoilless anti-tank weapon developed and manufactured by Breda Meccanica Bresciana
. It weighs 18.9 kilograms (with bipod) and 25.6 kilograms (with tripod). Development of the Folgore started in 1974 and it was adopted by the Italian Army
in 1986. Over 800 Folgores had been produced by 2001.
that fires a boost-after-launch rocket
projectile. It consists of a long, reusable launch tube constructed of high strength nickel-cobalt-steel. The use of nickel-cobalt-steel not only keeps the weight at a reasonable level, but also enables the firing of projectiles at a much higher velocity, than other weapons previously in its class. To load the Folgore, the nozzle clamp has to be released and tilted to the side to insert the ammunition. The cartridge case is perforated with holes along its sides to allow gases to escape to the back and out of the nozzle on firing to achieve a recoilless effect. One kilogram of propellant
in the cartridge case is used to fire the projectile. After the projectile exits the muzzle, six fins snap into place. The fins are canted slightly to impart spin. After the projectile has coasted a safe distance a rocket motor ignites, boosting the projectile from 300 m/s to 500 m/s, giving the projectile an almost flat trajectory to 500 m.
The Folgore is a very accurate weapon. A skilled team can fire one round every 15 seconds, but this rate of fire can only be maintained for two minutes before overheating the tube.
round has a muzzle velocity of 380 m/s and reaches a maximum velocity of 500 m/s with its rocket propulsion. The HEAT rocket has a flight time of only three seconds to a range of 1,000 meters. Maximum trajectory height is 2.2 meters at 500 meters and less than three meters at 700 meters. The accuracy and high velocity give the Folgore a long effective range in comparison to similar systems. The HEAT warhead is filled with composition-B
.
The 5.2-kilogram HEAT round penetrates about 450 mm of RHA
(rolled homogeneous armor), which is not enough to defeat the frontal armor of modern tanks or most ERA (explosive reactve armor)-protected armored surfaces. It is, however, useful as an assault support weapon against bunkers and sandbag emplacements and any armored vehicle other than a main battle tank.
Breda Meccanica Bresciana
Breda Meccanica Bresciana, widely known simply as Breda, is a large Italian manufacturer of small arms and ammunition located in Brescia.-History:...
. It weighs 18.9 kilograms (with bipod) and 25.6 kilograms (with tripod). Development of the Folgore started in 1974 and it was adopted by the Italian Army
Italian Army
The Italian Army is the ground defence force of the Italian Armed Forces. It is all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel, numbering 108,355 in 2010. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank, and among its aircraft...
in 1986. Over 800 Folgores had been produced by 2001.
Description
The Folgore's launcher is a recoilless rifleRecoilless rifle
A recoilless rifle or recoilless gun is a lightweight weapon that fires a heavier projectile than would be practical to fire from a recoiling weapon of comparable size. Technically, only devices that use a rifled barrel are recoilless rifles. Smoothbore variants are recoilless guns...
that fires a boost-after-launch rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
projectile. It consists of a long, reusable launch tube constructed of high strength nickel-cobalt-steel. The use of nickel-cobalt-steel not only keeps the weight at a reasonable level, but also enables the firing of projectiles at a much higher velocity, than other weapons previously in its class. To load the Folgore, the nozzle clamp has to be released and tilted to the side to insert the ammunition. The cartridge case is perforated with holes along its sides to allow gases to escape to the back and out of the nozzle on firing to achieve a recoilless effect. One kilogram of propellant
Propellant
A propellant is a material that produces pressurized gas that:* can be directed through a nozzle, thereby producing thrust ;...
in the cartridge case is used to fire the projectile. After the projectile exits the muzzle, six fins snap into place. The fins are canted slightly to impart spin. After the projectile has coasted a safe distance a rocket motor ignites, boosting the projectile from 300 m/s to 500 m/s, giving the projectile an almost flat trajectory to 500 m.
Operation
The Folgore can be operated in two configurations. The first is as a shoulder fired weapon, where it has a maximum effective range of 500 meters. The other and more commonly used configuration when the Folgore began production in the 1980s is with the weapon mounted on a bipod or tripod with a coincidence type of range finder by Officine Galileo, which imposes a blinking light dot in the gunners sight, showing the gunner the time of flight and the aim point and the true impact point, similar to the type developed for the early Swedish Carl Gustav. Today there are many laser rangefinders offered by various firms for even greater accuracy at longer ranges. This configuration requires a two-man crew and allows effective fire at ranges up to 1,000 meters. The weapon is fitted with a 5x scope, a night vision sight can also be mounted.The Folgore is a very accurate weapon. A skilled team can fire one round every 15 seconds, but this rate of fire can only be maintained for two minutes before overheating the tube.
Ammunition
The HEATHeat
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...
round has a muzzle velocity of 380 m/s and reaches a maximum velocity of 500 m/s with its rocket propulsion. The HEAT rocket has a flight time of only three seconds to a range of 1,000 meters. Maximum trajectory height is 2.2 meters at 500 meters and less than three meters at 700 meters. The accuracy and high velocity give the Folgore a long effective range in comparison to similar systems. The HEAT warhead is filled with composition-B
Composition B
Composition B, colloquially "comp B", is an explosive consisting of castable mixtures of RDX and TNT. It is used as the main explosive filling in artillery projectiles, rockets, land mines, hand grenades, sticky bombs and various other munitions...
.
The 5.2-kilogram HEAT round penetrates about 450 mm of RHA
Rolled homogeneous armour
Rolled homogeneous armour is a type of steel which is used to armour vehicles.-Composition:Armoured steel must be hard yet impervious to shock in order to resist high velocity metal projectiles. Steel with these characteristics is produced by processing cast steel billets of appropriate size and...
(rolled homogeneous armor), which is not enough to defeat the frontal armor of modern tanks or most ERA (explosive reactve armor)-protected armored surfaces. It is, however, useful as an assault support weapon against bunkers and sandbag emplacements and any armored vehicle other than a main battle tank.
Sources
- (Norris) Anti-tank Weapons, John Norris, London: Brasseys, 1996.
- Jane's Weapon Systems 1984-85