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RPG-2

The RPG-2 (: РПГ-2, Ruchnoy Protivotankovyy Granatomyot-2, meaning "hand-held launcher") is a man-portable, shoulder-fired anti-tank weapon developed by the as a recoilless , designed to deliver fin-stabilized () grenades against armored vehicles and fortifications. Introduced into service in 1954 following initial development in 1949, it featured a simple tube construction with a wooden , basic iron flip-up sights graduated for ranges up to 150 , and a , muzzle-loaded mechanism that required manual cocking via a hammer on the before firing. Weighing approximately 2.83 unloaded and measuring about 1.2 in length with the attached, the RPG-2 used 40 mm caliber PG-2 grenades propelled by a , achieving a of 84 m/s and armor penetration of up to 200 mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) at effective ranges of 100-150 . The weapon's design evolved from post-World War II Soviet efforts to improve upon captured German and systems, as well as the earlier unsuccessful , aiming for a , low-cost alternative to heavier anti-tank guns that could be operated by with minimal training. Production ramped up in the mid-1950s across nations and allies, with the RPG-2 seeing widespread adoption due to its simplicity, reliability in harsh conditions, and ease of mass manufacture; it was typically crewed by a and assistant for reloading, supporting a practical of about 3-4 rounds per minute. By the early , however, it began to be phased out in favor of the more advanced , which offered greater range, accuracy, and penetration against evolving tank armor, though the RPG-2 remained in limited use for training and secondary roles. Notable for its role in numerous conflicts, the RPG-2 was extensively employed by North Vietnamese and forces during the (1955-1975), where it proved effective against U.S. armored personnel carriers and helicopters at close ranges, as well as in the (1967-1970) and the Sino-Soviet border clashes of 1969. Variants included the Chinese Type 56, which featured minor modifications like different markings and was exported globally, contributing to the weapon's proliferation in regions such as , , and the even into the late 20th century. Despite its obsolescence against modern main battle tanks, the RPG-2's legacy endures as a foundational design in portable anti-armor weaponry, influencing subsequent generations of grenade launchers worldwide.

Development

Origins

Following , Soviet military engineers conducted extensive analysis of captured German and American anti-tank weapons, recognizing their advantages in portability, simplicity, and effectiveness against armored vehicles. These systems highlighted the potential for lightweight, shoulder-fired recoilless designs that could empower units to engage tanks at close range without requiring heavy crew-served equipment. This evaluation directly informed the Soviet push to modernize their anti-tank capabilities, shifting from earlier rigid anti-tank rifles toward more versatile grenade launchers that balanced ease of use with improved lethality. The , introduced in limited numbers during the late , proved inadequate for post-war threats, offering only an of about 50 meters and armor of 150 mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA), which fell short against emerging tank designs with enhanced protection. To address these shortcomings, the RPG-2 project aimed to enhance performance through a larger 40 mm caliber booster cartridge for initial propulsion, an enlarged 80 mm () warhead for greater , and a custom booster charge to extend range and velocity while maintaining recoilless operation. These modifications targeted a more reliable shoulder-fired system capable of engaging targets at up to 150-200 meters with exceeding 200 mm RHA, prioritizing mobility in defensive and offensive scenarios. Development of the RPG-2 began in 1947 under the Soviet State Union Design Bureau No. 30 (GSKB-30), with prototypes developed and tested in the late 1940s by engineers at the Tula Arsenal, focusing on refining the recoilless mechanism and ensuring stable shoulder-fired operation under field conditions. These early models incorporated lessons from WWII influences, emphasizing a disposable design with integrated stabilization fins for accuracy.

Production and Service Entry

Mass production of the RPG-2 commenced in the in 1954, following its development as an improved successor to the , and was carried out at state-owned factories to meet the demands of the armed forces. The weapon was officially adopted into service with the that same year, entering the inventories of infantry squads and supplanting the limited-use as the standard man-portable anti-tank system. Initial deployment focused on motorized rifle units, where RPG-2 teams were integrated into anti-tank squads to provide close-range armored vehicle defense capabilities at the and company levels. Export deliveries to allies began in the mid-1950s, enabling standardization across militaries, with production licensed or directly supplied to nations including and . By 1961, the RPG-2 was being phased out of primary Soviet frontline service in favor of the more versatile and effective , though manufacturing persisted for allied forces and reserves into the early 1970s.

Design

Launcher Construction

The RPG-2 launcher measures approximately 650 mm (26 in) unloaded, extending to 1,200 mm (47 in) when loaded, and weighs 2.83 kg (6.2 lb) unloaded (4.67 kg or 10.3 lb loaded). Its core component is a steel tube barrel with a 40 mm , providing a lightweight yet durable structure for muzzle-loading the . This design emphasizes portability and ease of handling for use. A wooden handguard and shoulder stock cover key sections of the steel tube to dissipate generated during the backblast, protecting the from burns while maintaining a secure firing position. The is integrated directly with the trigger assembly, contributing to the weapon's ergonomic simplicity and one-handed stability during aiming. The launcher employs flip-up graduated in increments up to 150 m (50 m, 100 m, 150 m) for basic daytime targeting. In the 1957 RPG-2N variant, an optional mount for the NSP-2 night sight was introduced, enabling low-light operations. The overall construction prioritizes low cost and reliability through stamped fabrication and minimal machining, facilitating repairs in using basic tools such as files or without specialized equipment. This rugged build ensured widespread production and adaptability in diverse combat environments.

Operating Mechanism

The RPG-2 functions as a man-portable, shoulder-fired recoilless employing a simple, reloadable for anti-tank operations. The weapon is muzzle-loaded, with the PG-2 rocket inserted from the front end of the seamless launch tube after aligning an index stud on the with a corresponding cutout near the muzzle. Once loaded, the operator manually cocks an external using the thumb to arm the firing mechanism, preparing the single-action for activation. Firing occurs when the operator pulls the trigger, which releases the to strike the primer on the rocket's solid-fuel booster charge, igniting it and propelling the down the . The booster charge consists of black powder divided into six incremental sections that burn sequentially, generating pressure to accelerate the while the gases are vented rearward through a removable disc-shaped venturi at the tube's rear end. This recoilless design counteracts forward by expelling propellant gases backward at high speed, achieving a of 84 m/s with negligible that is primarily absorbed by the shooter's braced stance and body weight. To safely fire the RPG-2, the operator must assume a stable prone, kneeling, or standing position with at least 10-15 meters of clear space behind the launcher to mitigate hazards from the backblast cone of hot gases and . Aiming is accomplished using fixed , with the rear U-notch sight featuring graduated markings for ranges up to 150 meters, allowing the operator to estimate target distance and adjust for the grenade's arcing due to its low . The effective firing is 150 meters against point targets such as armored vehicles and up to 200 meters against area targets, beyond which accuracy diminishes significantly. Safety mechanisms on the RPG-2 include a manual cross-pin selector that locks both the and in the safe position when not cocked, preventing accidental during transport or loading. Additionally, the PG-2 rocket incorporates a drop-safe piezoelectric impact that arms only after launch and a short travel distance, ensuring it does not detonate if the weapon is dropped or mishandled prior to firing. These features contribute to the weapon's reliability in field conditions, though operators must still adhere strictly to backblast clearance protocols to avoid self-injury.

Ammunition

PG-2 HEAT Round

The PG-2 is the standard high-explosive anti-tank () round developed for the RPG-2 launcher, serving as its primary ammunition type during the era. The warhead measures 82 mm in diameter and employs a copper-lined to generate a high-velocity metal jet upon detonation, optimized for penetrating armored vehicles. It contains 0.57 kg of TNT-equivalent explosive filler, typically a 50/50 mixture of and for enhanced and stability. The total weight of the round is approximately 1.8 kg, making it lightweight and portable for use while maintaining sufficient mass for effective impact. The PG-2's penetration performance is rated at up to 180 mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) at a 0° obliquity angle. This capability allowed it to defeat the side and rear armor of most contemporary tanks, such as the T-34/85 or early post-war designs, though it struggled against frontal armor exceeding 200 mm. The round's design prioritizes direct-fire accuracy over long-range precision, with the shaped charge's copper liner collapsing under explosive force to form a penetrator traveling at over 8,000 m/s. Propulsion for the PG-2 relies on a black powder booster charge ignited by a 30 mm cartridge in the launcher, providing initial launch velocity of 84 m/s. The grenade then coasts ballistically to the target, stabilized by rear fins for improved stability. The fuze is a piezoelectric impact type, sensitive to graze angles with a threshold of 2-3 m/s, ensuring reliable detonation even on glancing hits or at low angles of attack; it arms via setback acceleration and initiates the base-detonating sequence upon target contact. Ballistically, the PG-2 follows a relatively flat up to 100 m, ideal for point-and-shoot engagements against moving targets, with a maximum unguided range of 500 m. The round is loaded into the launcher's muzzle prior to firing, as detailed in the operating mechanism.

Other Ammunition Types

In addition to the primary PG-2 (HEAT) round, the RPG-2 supported limited secondary types, mainly variants developed for export and training purposes, reflecting its focus on anti-armor roles during the mid-20th century. The most notable alternative was the Type 50 HEAT round, designed for the , a direct copy of the RPG-2 produced starting in the mid-1950s. This round incorporated an enhanced shaped-charge liner material that boosted armor penetration to approximately 265 mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) under optimal conditions, surpassing the PG-2's capabilities against contemporary armored vehicles. Weighing about 2.0 kg overall, it maintained the same 40 mm booster case for compatibility with Soviet and , and saw extensive use in export markets, including by North Vietnamese forces during the from around 1964 onward. Anti-personnel options were minimal for the RPG-2, with no dedicated high-explosive fragmentation rounds like the later OG-7V developed for it, due to the launcher's reliance on initial from the booster, which caused instability issues for fragmentation payloads at ranges beyond 100 m. Inert practice rounds, such as non-explosive training variants of the PG-2, were employed to simulate firing sequences without risk, allowing crew familiarization with loading and aiming procedures. The era's technological constraints also precluded advanced munitions like thermobaric or tandem-warhead types, limiting the system's versatility compared to successors like the RPG-7.

Variants

Soviet Variants

The developed several official modifications to the base RPG-2 launcher to address specific operational needs, while preserving the core 40 mm recoilless design and compatibility with PG-2 . These variants focused on enhancements for night operations, deployment, and standardized exports, without altering the fundamental caliber or propulsion system. The RPG-2N, introduced in , incorporated the NSP-2 active night sight to enable low-visibility engagements, extending the effective night firing range to approximately 100 meters against suitable targets. This variant added about 0.5 kg to the launcher's weight compared to the standard model, primarily due to the mounting bracket and sight assembly, but maintained the overall lightweight profile for use. The NSP-2, an early-generation device requiring an infrared illuminator, was particularly valued for its role in nocturnal ambushes and defensive positions during the era. For international distribution, the export-standard RPG-2 was a baseline version calibrated exclusively for PG-2 rounds, omitting advanced optics like the NSP-2 to simplify and reduce costs for recipient nations. These exports facilitated widespread adoption in proxy conflicts and national armies. These exports underscored the RPG-2's role as a cornerstone of Soviet doctrine, emphasizing and . Across all Soviet variants, no significant changes were made to the 40 mm tube diameter or recoilless operating principle, ensuring ammunition commonality and ease of maintenance in field conditions.

Foreign Variants

The Type 56 is a direct copy of the Soviet RPG-2, manufactured starting in and featuring identical mechanical design with the primary distinction being markings in on early models and "Type 56" in Western script on export versions. It fires the Type 50 () round, a near-identical counterpart to the Soviet PG-2 that achieves approximately 210 mm penetration against rolled homogeneous armor (RHA). The Type 56 saw extensive production and deployment in Chinese forces, including border security roles along the . In , the RPG-2 was locally produced during the as the B-40, often utilizing scavenged components to supplement imported and Soviet supplies amid wartime shortages. The B-40 retained the standard 40 caliber and specifications of the base design but was adapted for rugged field assembly. The improved B-50 variant incorporated an enhanced warhead for increased armor penetration, addressing limitations against thicker armored targets during . Czechoslovakia undertook licensed production of the RPG-2 in the 1950s under the designation P-27 (Pancéřovka vz. 27), incorporating locally developed for improved aiming precision over the Soviet original. This variant entered service with Czechoslovak and allied forces but was gradually phased out by the 1970s in favor of more advanced systems like the and indigenous RPG-75. Yugoslavia produced the RPG-2 domestically as the M57, a heavier variant with a reinforced tube for greater durability and the addition of a partial countermass to mitigate . Tens of thousands of M57 launchers were manufactured, with later models equipped with the M80 optical sight for enhanced accuracy. The M57 was exported widely, including to Middle Eastern countries, where it supported regional conflicts into the .

Operational History

Initial Deployments

The RPG-2 entered service with the in 1954, marking the beginning of its initial deployments as a man-portable anti-tank weapon designed to equip units against armored threats. Early operational uses were limited, primarily within Soviet forces and early exports to allies, with the weapon's production ramping up in the mid-1950s to meet needs.

Vietnam War

The North Vietnamese Army () and forces employed the B-40, their variant of the RPG-2, during the , integrating it into their arsenal in the early . This weapon proved particularly effective in tactics against U.S. M113 armored personnel carriers (APCs), which were vulnerable due to their thin aluminum armor, and low-flying helicopters, including the UH-1 Huey, where it achieved notable hits during close-range engagements in dense terrain. units exploited the B-40's 40 mm PG-2 () warhead, capable of penetrating up to 200 mm of armor at effective ranges of 100-150 meters, to target the high silhouette of M113s in convoy operations and the slow-hovering profile of Hueys during troop insertions or extractions. During the January 1968 , particularly in the intense urban fighting for Hue City, and forces employed RPG-2/B-40 fire to destroy numerous U.S. and allied vehicles, including tanks and M113 APCs, amid street-by-street battles that highlighted the weapon's utility in close-quarters ambushes. In the 1971 —an ARVN incursion into supported by U.S. air assets— B-40 teams inflicted heavy damage on advancing armored columns, with 54 ARVN light tanks and 83-87 M113 APCs lost (destroyed, damaged, or abandoned) through coordinated ambushes along Route 9, where enemy forces used jungle cover to immobilize and isolate vehicles before withdrawing. Tactically, NVA squads typically integrated 2-3 B-40 operators per unit, positioning them in concealed jungle hides or elevated positions for hit-and-run attacks that maximized while minimizing exposure to counterfire; this approach allowed rapid of like APC convoys or hovering helicopters before repositioning to evade or airstrikes. By 1970, however, the RPG-2's effectiveness waned against upgraded U.S. and ARVN vehicles, as experiments with bar armor on M113 APCs—simple slat-like barriers designed to detonate RPG warheads prematurely—exposed limitations in the weapon's shaped-charge mechanism, reducing penetration reliability in ambushes. Overall, RPG-2 variants like the B-40 inflicted significant attrition on U.S. and allied forces throughout the war, with numerous aircraft and ground vehicles damaged or destroyed by such rocket fire, contributing to losses exceeding 5,000 total during the conflict.

Other Conflicts

The RPG-2 saw use in the (1967-1970), where Biafran forces employed captured or supplied units against Nigerian federal armor. It was also utilized by Chinese forces in the Sino-Soviet border clashes of 1969, effective against light vehicles in close-range engagements.

Users

Current Users

As of 2025, the RPG-2 remains in limited active service with select national militaries, primarily in reserve capacities due to its obsolescence compared to modern anti-tank systems. maintains the RPG-2 in the reserves of the , where it supports border defense operations alongside locally produced variants of Soviet-era designs. Vietnam continues to employ the B-40—a locally designated copy of the RPG-2—in its territorial forces for anti-landing and coastal defense roles. holds limited stocks of the RPG-2 within the Revolutionary Armed Forces, primarily for training and exercise purposes, as evidenced by its use of Soviet-era RPGs during the Bastion 2024 strategic maneuvers.

Former Users

The introduced the RPG-2 into service in 1954 but phased it out by 1961 following the adoption of the more effective by the at the squad level. The RPG-2's limited range and penetration capabilities against contemporary armor prompted this replacement. Following the in 1991, remaining RPG-2 stocks were primarily exported to various conflict zones or demilitarized as part of broader post-Cold War arms reduction efforts. In , the domestically produced Type 56—a direct copy of the RPG-2—entered service in 1956 but was gradually supplanted by the Type 69 (an variant) starting in the late 1960s due to improved performance requirements. By the , the Type 56 had been largely retired from frontline use, with surplus units donated to allies such as ; the disposable launcher further displaced older systems like the Type 69 in the 1990s. East Germany and Poland, as Warsaw Pact members, retired the RPG-2 during the 1970s in alignment with Soviet standardization efforts, replacing it with the for better anti-tank effectiveness. Post-Cold War, following the dissolution of the in 1991, surplus stocks in these countries were destroyed or exported under international initiatives aimed at reducing holdings. Egypt and the former Yugoslavia transitioned away from the RPG-2 by the 1990s, adopting equivalents to counter evolving armored threats, as the RPG-2's shaped-charge proved inadequate against modern with reactive armor and spaced protection. Yugoslav production of the RPG-2 as the M57 continued into the , but obsolescence led to its phase-out amid the country's military modernization in the post-Cold War era.

Non-State Actors

The RPG-2 has proliferated to non-state actors primarily through captured Soviet-era stocks and illicit networks, enabling its use in despite its obsolescence in state militaries. During the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s, the Afghan captured RPG-2 launchers from Soviet stocks and employed them in ambushes against convoys and vehicles, contributing to the weapon's legacy in . Seizure reports from subsequent years confirm the presence of RPG-2s in caches associated with non-state groups in , highlighting ongoing circulation from surplus. In the from 2003 to 2011, non-state actors utilized smuggled variants such as the B-40 (a copy of the RPG-2) in IED-like ambushes targeting U.S. Humvees and other light vehicles, though operational reliability was compromised in humid environments due to degradation. militias in conflicts like those in the during the 1990s and 2000s acquired RPG-2s via regional routes, deploying them against UN vehicles; however, high dud rates limited their effectiveness, with fueled by post-Cold War surplus flows. As of 2025, the RPG-2 commands a black-market value of $500–$1,000 per unit in conflict zones, reflecting its availability from aging stockpiles amid restricted access to modern alternatives.

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