RPG-43
Encyclopedia
The RPG-43 was a high explosive anti-tank
(HEAT) hand grenade
used by the Soviet Union
during the Second World War. It entered service in 1943, replacing the earlier model RPG-40
. The RPG-43 used a shaped charge
HEAT warhead, whereas the RPG-40 used the simpler HE (High Explosive) warhead. The RPG-43 had a penetration of around 75 mm of RHA
at a 90 degree angle. Later in the war, it was improved to become the RPG-6
.
the USSR's only infantry anti-armour weapons
were anti-tank rifle
s, anti-tank guns, and the RPG-40
. These were adequate against early German tanks such as the Panzer I
and Panzer II
but, as the war progressed, they were found to be nearly useless against the heavier Panthers
and Tigers
. The RPG-43 was developed as a result, and it was used in large numbers until the end of the war. After the war it was passed on in large numbers to Soviet client state
s, and was used in the numerous Arab–Israeli conflict
s. Despite being thoroughly outdated it can still be encountered in many third world
nations mainly due to its reliability and low cost.
and recoilless German Panzerfaust
, so that the user had to get closer and was in more danger of being seen. However, it was much smaller than rocket weapons and produced no sound, smoke, or light when launched, therefore not betraying the thrower's position. Despite its limitations it was cheap and quick to manufacture, allowing it to become the main Soviet infantry anti-tank weapon of World War II.
High explosive anti-tank
High explosive anti-tank warheads are made of an explosive shaped charge that uses the Munroe effect to create a very high-velocity partial stream of metal in a state of superplasticity that can punch through solid armor....
(HEAT) hand grenade
Hand grenade
A hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
used by the Soviet Union
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....
during the Second World War. It entered service in 1943, replacing the earlier model RPG-40
RPG-40
The RPG-40 was an anti-tank hand grenade developed by the Soviet Union in 1940. Its anti-tank capability came from blast effect produced by the detonation upon contact of 760 grams of explosive contained in it. This effect enabled about 20 mm of armour to be penetrated, and secondary damage,...
. The RPG-43 used a shaped charge
Shaped charge
A shaped charge is an explosive charge shaped to focus the effect of the explosive's energy. Various types are used to cut and form metal, to initiate nuclear weapons, to penetrate armor, and in the oil and gas industry...
HEAT warhead, whereas the RPG-40 used the simpler HE (High Explosive) warhead. The RPG-43 had a penetration of around 75 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...
at a 90 degree angle. Later in the war, it was improved to become the RPG-6
RPG-6
The RPG-6 was a Soviet anti-tank hand-grenade operating on the shaped charge principle, developed during World War II...
.
History
During the early days of Operation BarbarossaOperation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
the USSR's only infantry anti-armour weapons
Anti-tank warfare
Anti-tank warfare was created by the need to seek technology and tactics to destroy tanks and their supporting infantry during the First World War...
were anti-tank rifle
Anti-tank rifle
An anti-tank rifle is a rifle designed to penetrate the armour of vehicles, particularly tanks. The usefulness of rifles for this purpose ran from the introduction of tanks in World War I and until the Korean War...
s, anti-tank guns, and the RPG-40
RPG-40
The RPG-40 was an anti-tank hand grenade developed by the Soviet Union in 1940. Its anti-tank capability came from blast effect produced by the detonation upon contact of 760 grams of explosive contained in it. This effect enabled about 20 mm of armour to be penetrated, and secondary damage,...
. These were adequate against early German tanks such as the Panzer I
Panzer I
The Panzer I was a light tank produced in Germany in the 1930s. The name is short for the German ' , abbreviated . The tank's official German ordnance inventory designation was SdKfz 101 .Design of the Panzer I began in 1932 and mass production in 1934...
and Panzer II
Panzer II
The Panzer II was the common name for a family of German tanks used in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen II...
but, as the war progressed, they were found to be nearly useless against the heavier Panthers
Panther tank
Panther is the common name of a medium tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. It was intended as a counter to the T-34, and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV; while never replacing the latter, it served alongside it as...
and Tigers
Tiger I
Tiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank developed in 1942 and used in World War II. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. It was an answer to the unexpectedly formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of...
. The RPG-43 was developed as a result, and it was used in large numbers until the end of the war. After the war it was passed on in large numbers to Soviet client state
Client state
Client state is one of several terms used to describe the economic, political and/or military subordination of one state to a more powerful state in international affairs...
s, and was used in the numerous Arab–Israeli conflict
Arab–Israeli conflict
The Arab–Israeli conflict refers to political tensions and open hostilities between the Arab peoples and the Jewish community of the Middle East. The modern Arab-Israeli conflict began with the rise of Zionism and Arab Nationalism towards the end of the nineteenth century, and intensified with the...
s. Despite being thoroughly outdated it can still be encountered in many third world
Third World
The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
nations mainly due to its reliability and low cost.
Description
The RPG-43 externally was shaped like an oversized stick grenade with a 95 mm HEAT warhead on the end. It weighed 1.247 kg of which 612 g was high explosive. When thrown, a cylindrical metal cone was released from the rear of the grenade and held by fabric strips to stabilise flight and increase the likelihood of a 90 degree hit. Its range was limited by how far the user could throw it, and was obviously shorter than the contemporary rocket-propelled US BazookaBazooka
Bazooka is the common name for a man-portable recoilless rocket antitank weapon, widely fielded by the U.S. Army. Also referred to as the "Stovepipe", the innovative bazooka was amongst the first-generation of rocket propelled anti-tank weapons used in infantry combat...
and recoilless 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...
, so that the user had to get closer and was in more danger of being seen. However, it was much smaller than rocket weapons and produced no sound, smoke, or light when launched, therefore not betraying the thrower's position. Despite its limitations it was cheap and quick to manufacture, allowing it to become the main Soviet infantry anti-tank weapon of World War II.