{"id":286,"date":"2022-09-13T19:19:59","date_gmt":"2022-09-13T19:19:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=286"},"modified":"2022-09-13T19:19:59","modified_gmt":"2022-09-13T19:19:59","slug":"ukraines-one-shot-wonder-weapon-the-at4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=286","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine\u2019s One-Shot Wonder Weapon: The AT4"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

By Peter Suciu<\/a><\/p>\n

S<\/span>ince Russia launched its unprovoked and unwarranted invasion of Ukraine on February 24 of this year, the Kremlin has lost a lot of tanks. Drones have been credited with racking up the kills, but the vast majority of Russian tanks have been destroyed by man-portable anti-tank weapons.<\/p>\n

\n<\/picture>
The AT4 has proven itself to be a powerful portable anti-tank weapon. Photo: Spc. Michelle U. Blesam, U.S.\u00a0Army<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The American-made FGM-148 Javelin and the British-produced NLAW have been used to great success, but another weapon has earned its time in the spotlight \u2014 the Swedish AT4, an unguided, man-portable, single-shot, disposable, recoilless smoothbore anti-tank weapons. As with the Javelin and NLAW, Ukrainians have used it to target and successfully take out the best the Kremlin has to offer.<\/p>\n

The AT4 is now one of the most commonly used light anti-tank weapons in service around the globe.<\/p>\n

In U.S. military service it is designated the M136 AT4. Its name is actually a homophone of the caliber of the weapon, namely 84mm (3.31-inch) \u2014 as in \u201cA-T-4.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cold War Origins<\/h2>\n

One notable fact about the AT4 is that it was developed by a nation that hasn\u2019t actually fought in a foreign conflict since the Napoleonic Wars \u2014 apart from sending peacekeeping forces during the Cold War, including to the Congo in the 1960s, and more recently as part of the coalition to Afghanistan.<\/p>\n

\"AT-4\n<\/picture>
As an open-ground weapon, the AT4 is well-suited to the wooded terrain of the Donbas region of Eastern\u00a0Ukraine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite sitting on the sidelines during both the First and Second World Wars, during the Cold War, the Swedish Air Force had become one of the most prominent in Europe due to fears of a Soviet invasion. In addition, Sweden\u2019s ground force was also equipped with domestically made small arms as part of an effort to maintain its neutrality.<\/p>\n

Among the weapons developed for use by its land units was the Miniman 74-mm Pansarskott m\/68, a disposable single-shot 74mm unguided anti-tank smooth bore recoilless weapon. Similar to the United States military\u2019s M72 LAW or French Sarpac, it was armed with a HEAT (high-explosive anti-tank) round that was used to strike stationary targets out to 250 meters (820 feet), while it could penetrate up to 340 mm (13-inches) of rolled homogeneous armor.<\/p>\n

\"M72\n<\/picture>
Prior to the adoption of the AT4, the primary portable rocket launcher used by U.S. forces was the M72. In this photo, a U.S. Marine carries an M72 on his shoulder while on patrol in\u00a0Vietnam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Interestingly, the Miniman was exported to other neutral nations during the Cold War including Finland, which adopted it as the 74 KES 68 Miniman); and Austria as the PAR 70 (Panzerabwehrrohr 70). The Miniman 74-mm Pansarskott m\/68 reportedly never saw use in actual combat, and its only actions were in training exercises. The weapon was seen to have a few shortcomings, notably a tremendous backblast that limited where it could be employed. In the 1980s, development began on the Miniman\u2019s replacement, which became the AT4.<\/p>\n

Originally developed by F\u00f6renade Fabriksverken (FFV) and manufactured at their facility at Zakrisdal, Karlstad, Sweden, the AT4 took many design elements from the Carl Gustaf 8.4cm recoilless rifle, but as a disposable weapon built around a reinforced smoothbore fiberglass outer tube.<\/p>\n

\"AT4\n<\/picture>
Spc. Alex Raske (left) and Pfc. Phillip Nelson get familiar with the M136 AT4 anti-tank weapon during practice for the Expert Infantryman Badge. Photo: SSgt. Mike Pryor\u00a0U.S.A.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now produced by Saab Bofors Dynamics, the man-portable AT4 has been far more successful on the export market, and has even become one of the most common light anti-tank weapons used by militaries around the world. Its success is credited to the fact that the AT4 can be easily operated by a single soldier, and depending on the particular rocket model, the AT4 has a range of 200 to 600 meters, and it can penetrate roll homogenous armor (RHA) up to 420 mm (17.5-inches).<\/p>\n

\"AT4\n<\/picture>
Sgt. Brendan Seiber fires an AT4 Anti-tank weapon at a range located in the Vaziani Training Area near Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo: Sgt. Brendan\u00a0Seiber<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Moreover, unlike the older Miniman 74-mm Pansarskott m\/68, the AT4 is produced with different projectiles including HEAT, AST (anti-structure tandem-warheads), ER (extended range), HE (high-explosive), HP (high penetration), and RS (reduced sensitivity). The AST warheads were developed specifically for use in urban warfare situations, while the high-penetration projectiles can reportedly pass through 500 to 600 mm of RHA.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Live The Armory Life.<\/strong> The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly gun\u00a0giveaways!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The projectiles are preloaded into the launcher, so the downside is that operators can\u2019t change out the round if the situation changes. In addition, unlike the American Javelin, the AT4 still produces a large backblast that could harm the operator or friendly forces if used in a confined space. To address that fact, a special variant, the AT4-CS (confined space) version has been introduced. It reportedly utilizes a saltwater countermass to absorb the backblast and to slow down the pressure wave. Yet, even the standard model is considered to be far safer to use than the preceding Miniman 74-mm Pansarskott m\/68.<\/p>\n

U.S. Adoption<\/h2>\n

The AT4 has found favor around the world, but what is also notable is that in 1982, the weapon was chosen for use with the United States Army even before it was adopted by the Swedish military. Throughout 1983, the United States Army tested six different anti-tank platforms and had found that the FFV AT4 met all the requirements needed to replace the aging M72 LAW.<\/p>\n

\"M-72\n<\/picture>
SSgt Glen Chaunley demonstrates the proper method for firing an M72 light anti-tank weapon during a training exercise. The LAW would be replaced not long after this photo. Photo: A1C Reedy\u00a0U.S.A.F<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The U.S. Army\u2019s M136 variant featured altered launch tube bumpers, sights and slings \u2014 and these were found to improve the weapon enough that those \u201cAmericanized\u201d modifications were incorporated in the version adopted by the Swedish Army. However, the Swedish version also employs a folding hand grip to help steady the AT4 when it is being aimed and fired.<\/p>\n

\"AT4\n<\/picture>
A cloud of smoke and dust envelopes SSgt. Michael Mullahy seconds after he fired an AT4 rocket launcher at an insurgent position during a firefight in Baghdad\u2019s Adhamiyah neighborhood. Photo: Sgt. Mike\u00a0Pryor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The man-portable anti-tank weapon has remained in the American military arsenal since the end of the Cold War, yet during the Iraq War, the AT4 was found that it was ill-suited to the urban combat conditions that the American warfighters faced, and orders for the weapon had been suspended. Currently, U.S. military forces are adopting the AT4 CS variant.<\/p>\n

The AT4 in Popular Culture<\/h2>\n

The AT4 certainly doesn\u2019t have the fame of the Soviet-designed RPG-7, yet the Swedish anti-tank weapon has still achieved a notable presence in popular culture. It has been seen in a couple of dozen movies, beginning with 1990\u2019s\u00a0RoboCop 2<\/em>\u00a0and has since been seen in such releases as\u00a0Escape From L.A., Jarhead, Terminator Salvation, Mission: Impossible \u2013 Fallout<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0The Outpost<\/em>. It has also made appearances in a number of TV shows including\u00a0Stargate: SG-1<\/em>,\u00a0Revolution\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Falling Skies<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Buffy\n<\/picture>
America\u2019s favorite vampire slayer, Sarah Michelle Geller, was ready to do some monster slaying with the AT4. Photo courtesy of Mutant\u00a0Enemy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The man-portable weapon has been a video game staple for the past two decades \u2014 although some games, such as\u00a0Ghost Recon<\/em>,\u00a0Half-Life 2<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2\u00a0<\/em>depicted it as being reloadable. However, it is correctly seen as a single-shot, \u201cone-and-done\u201d weapon in the\u00a0Battlefield\u00a0<\/em>series, and most recently\u00a0Insurgency: Sandstorm<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Owning\/Collecting the AT4<\/h2>\n

In late 2012, multiple media outlets, including\u00a0The Los Angeles Times<\/em>, reported that two AT4 \u201crocket launchers\u201d were among the \u201cweapons\u201d turned in as part of a gun buy-back program. It was an example of sensationalist reporting that only served to highlight how little many mainstream reporters know about firearms, but also how the reporters failed to do their due diligence and research.<\/p>\n

\"AT4\n<\/picture>
The AT4 is an effective anti-tank weapon, but it produces a considerable backblast. It is best used in open\u00a0ground.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The reports suggested that \u201cthe rocket launchers didn\u2019t have the technical parts it needed to actually discharge a projectile. Neither had rockets with them.<\/em>\u201c<\/p>\n

What was missing from the stories is that these are single-shot\/disposable weapons. In other words, once fired, they\u2019re essentially just fiberglass\/plastic tubes. However, at least one report about the AT4 and the LAPD\u2019s buyback added, \u201cPolice are going to look into whether the U.S. military reported them stolen.<\/em>\u201c<\/p>\n

This type of reporting borders on fear-mongering, but it wasn\u2019t an isolated report about an AT4 showing up at such a gun buyback. Multiple outlets in San Francisco also jumped to the wrong conclusions about the Swedish-made anti-tank weapon five years later, when one was handed in at another buy-back in the Golden State. Images were even shared on social media of the AT4 for full effect.<\/p>\n

\"how\n<\/picture>
A straightforward-to-use weapon, the AT4 even has its instructions printed on the side. Still, most military users would ensure troops are adequately trained in its\u00a0operation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And in what most certainly wasn\u2019t an \u201cApril Fool\u2019s Joke,\u201d NPR reported on April 1 of this year that a pair of AT4 rocket launchers were found in a trash can near a California school. This report ominously quoted a Riverside County Sheriff\u2019s Department official who stated, \u201cAlthough the launcher tubes are illegal to possess, they were not a safety hazard and there was no threat to the community.<\/em>\u201c<\/p>\n

NPR\u2019s report suggested that \u201crocket launchers, also known as bazookas, are considered \u2018destructive devices\u2019 under the National Firearms Act<\/em>\u201d and further stated, \u201cPossessing a destructive device is illegal in California, if it can be proven in court who it belongs to and that the person knew it was a destructive device.<\/em>\u201c<\/p>\n

\"AT4\n<\/picture>
The one-shot disposable anti-tank weapon is fired via a thumb trigger. All of the steps necessary to fire the weapon are clearly indicated on the AT4\u00a0tube.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That could certainly fall into the category of irresponsible reporting, as it isn\u2019t true. The launcher tubes aren\u2019t actually illegal to possess in California, and while rocket launchers are considered destructive devices, these weren\u2019t operational! How this passed editors and fact-checkers is simply amazing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Can You Own an AT4?<\/h2>\n

The short answer: yes. In fact, once the weapon is fired, the AT4 can\u2019t be reloaded and certainly wouldn\u2019t fall under ATF\u2019s definition of a destructible device. Obviously, it goes without saying that there is no such thing as a legal live AT4. Those are for military sales only, and it would be impossible for one to be offered on the civilian market legally.<\/p>\n

A fired tube is as noted, just a plastic tube. In many cases, these show up for sale on such sites as GunBroker.com following test fire exercises as soldiers or other military personnel are actually allowed to keep these as souvenirs. However, because these aren\u2019t used in exercises on a regular basis, they\u2019re not exactly common, and as a result prices have steadily increased in recent years.<\/p>\n

All that said, while there may be no federal laws \u2014 as with any deactivated firearm, it is best to ensure that the item is still legal to own. That is where the Riverdale Sheriff\u2019s Office may have gotten confused \u2014 as some communities still can ban \u201cnon-functional replicas\u201d or other non-functional weapons that could be mistaken for a live firearm. In addition, common sense should be applied regarding how an AT4 is displayed.<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: Be sure to check out\u00a0<\/em>The Armory Life\u00a0Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in!<\/em><\/p>\n

Join the Discussion<\/span><\/h5>\n

Go to forum thread<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n


\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Peter Suciu Since Russia launched its unprovoked and unwarranted invasion of Ukraine on February 24 of this year, the Kremlin has lost a lot of tanks. Drones have been credited with racking up the kills, but the vast majority of Russian tanks have been destroyed by man-portable anti-tank weapons. The AT4 has proven itself […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":287,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=286"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/286\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}