Yasin
Encyclopedia
The Yasin anti-tank rocket launcher is a weapon developed by Hamas
' Ezzedeen-al-qassam brigades
named after the group's spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmed Yasin, who was assassinated by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on March 22, 2004. Apparently first used during the battle of Jabalya in October 2004, the Yasin was reportedly developed by Hamas' engineers under the direction of Adnan al-Ghoul
, assassinated in Gaza
by the IDF on October 22, 2004. The weapon resembles the Soviet RPG-2
and RPG-7
launchers. It serves as Hamas' anti-tank rocket launcher.
At the end of 2005, the Ezzedeen-al-qassam brigades released a video providing insights about the production of the Yasin antitank rocket launcher. The projectile is manufactured in two parts: the propeller is assembled in a cylindric tube, containing a solid fuel, and the head of the projectile is essentially made of metal, containing a yellow liquid explosive made from various chemicals. Folding wings are then added to the propeller and coated with a plastic envelope so that they will unfold upon firing of the rocket. The head of the projectile is then assembled with the propeller and a safety pin is added. The whole process is made with basic installations in metal workshops using rudimentary tools, but the conception and engineering of the weapon seems to attain a high degree of sophistication and professionalism given the means used. The launching tube is also manufactured by the so-called "production units" of the Ezzedeen-al-qassam brigades, using roughly the model of the RPG-7
Russian rocket launcher.
The efficiency of the weapon was demonstrated in the video, and the rocket seems to concentrate its impact on a very limited surface, thus making it able to pierce a thick brick wall without difficulty, and inflict limited damage to a 2-inches metal plate. Therefore, it is unlikely that this type of rocket could actually significatively damage an Israeli Merkava
tank or Armoured Personnel Carrier
, often targets of attacks by the Ezzedeen-al-qassam brigades.
On June 19, 2005, an Israeli soldier was killed in the Gaza Strip by a rocket of this type near Rafah, and on October 2, 2005, a confrontation between Hamas and the Palestinian Police led to the death of the police commander of the Shati refugee camp in Gaza after a Yasin rocket struck the room were he was taking cover. Following the 2005 withdrawal from the Gaza Strip by Israel and the ensuing temporary truce observed by Hamas, it is widely believed that an amount of up to several thousands of Yasin projectiles were manufactured and stocked by Hamas by the end of that year. Israeli officials also expressed concerns over the fact that Hamas is trying to transfer knowledge and technology to make those rocket to its cells in the West Bank
.
TV's Frontline program].
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
' Ezzedeen-al-qassam brigades
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades is the military wing of the Palestinian Islamist fundamentalist socio-political organisation Hamas. Created in 1992, under the direction of Yahya Ayyash, the primary objective of the group was to build a coherent military organisation to support the goals of...
named after the group's spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmed Yasin, who was assassinated by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on March 22, 2004. Apparently first used during the battle of Jabalya in October 2004, the Yasin was reportedly developed by Hamas' engineers under the direction of Adnan al-Ghoul
Adnan al-Ghoul
Adnan Al-Ghoul was the assistant of Mohammed Deif, the leader of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas. He was eliminated in a targeted killing along with Imad Abbas when an Israeli Air Force Apache helicopter fired missiles at their car in Gaza on October 21, 2004...
, assassinated in Gaza
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
by the IDF on October 22, 2004. The weapon resembles the Soviet 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...
and 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...
launchers. It serves as Hamas' anti-tank rocket launcher.
At the end of 2005, the Ezzedeen-al-qassam brigades released a video providing insights about the production of the Yasin antitank rocket launcher. The projectile is manufactured in two parts: the propeller is assembled in a cylindric tube, containing a solid fuel, and the head of the projectile is essentially made of metal, containing a yellow liquid explosive made from various chemicals. Folding wings are then added to the propeller and coated with a plastic envelope so that they will unfold upon firing of the rocket. The head of the projectile is then assembled with the propeller and a safety pin is added. The whole process is made with basic installations in metal workshops using rudimentary tools, but the conception and engineering of the weapon seems to attain a high degree of sophistication and professionalism given the means used. The launching tube is also manufactured by the so-called "production units" of the Ezzedeen-al-qassam brigades, using roughly the model of the 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...
Russian rocket launcher.
The efficiency of the weapon was demonstrated in the video, and the rocket seems to concentrate its impact on a very limited surface, thus making it able to pierce a thick brick wall without difficulty, and inflict limited damage to a 2-inches metal plate. Therefore, it is unlikely that this type of rocket could actually significatively damage an Israeli Merkava
Merkava
The Merkava is a main battle tank used by the Israel Defense Forces. The tank began development in 1974 and was first introduced in 1978. Four main versions of the tank have been deployed. It was first used extensively in the 1982 Lebanon War...
tank or Armoured Personnel Carrier
Armoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
, often targets of attacks by the Ezzedeen-al-qassam brigades.
On June 19, 2005, an Israeli soldier was killed in the Gaza Strip by a rocket of this type near Rafah, and on October 2, 2005, a confrontation between Hamas and the Palestinian Police led to the death of the police commander of the Shati refugee camp in Gaza after a Yasin rocket struck the room were he was taking cover. Following the 2005 withdrawal from the Gaza Strip by Israel and the ensuing temporary truce observed by Hamas, it is widely believed that an amount of up to several thousands of Yasin projectiles were manufactured and stocked by Hamas by the end of that year. Israeli officials also expressed concerns over the fact that Hamas is trying to transfer knowledge and technology to make those rocket to its cells in the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
.
In Media
The Yasin RPG appeared and was mentioned by name on the May 9, 2006 http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/palestine503/episode of PBSPublic Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
TV's Frontline program].
See also
- Palestinian rocket attacks on IsraelPalestinian rocket attacks on IsraelPalestinian rocket and mortar attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip have occurred since 2001. Between 2001 and January 2009, over 8,600 rockets had been launched, leading to 28 deaths and several hundred injuries, as well as widespread psychological trauma and disruption of daily life.The weapons,...
- Rocket-propelled grenade (includes a description of tactics and history.)
- PanzerfaustPanzerfaustThe 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...
- RPG-2RPG-2The 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...
- RPG-7RPG-7The 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...
- RPG-16RPG-16The RPG-16 is a handheld anti-tank grenade launcher for anti-tank warfare. The RPG-16 was developed in 1968, and adopted by the Red Army in 1970 for special operation teams and the Soviet airborne troops...
- PG-7VRPG-7VRThe PG-7VR is a tandem charge RPG warhead designed to penetrate up to 600 mm rolled homogeneous armour equivalence of explosive reactive armor and the conventional armor underneath...
- Type 69 RPGType 69 RPGThe Type 69 85mm rocket propelled grenade , made by Norinco, is a Chinese copy of the famous RPG-7 developed by the Soviet Union. First introduced in the early 1970s, the Type 69 RPG is a common individual anti-tank weapon in service with the PLA...
- M72 LAWM72 LAWThe 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...