Rocket launcher
A rocket launcher is a device, most often employed as a weapon, that launches unguided, rocket-propelled projectiles containing explosive warheads to engage targets such as armored vehicles, fortifications, personnel, or aircraft.[1] These projectiles are powered by rocket engines that provide self-propulsion, distinguishing them from gun-launched munitions, and are typically fired from shoulder-held tubes, vehicle-mounted racks, or fixed platforms for anti-tank, anti-personnel, or area suppression roles.[2] Rocket launchers vary in scale, from portable infantry weapons like the RPG-7—a reusable, shoulder-fired tube effective up to 1,600 feet against stationary targets—to multiple-launch systems capable of delivering saturating barrages over broader areas.[2] The origins of rocket launchers date to the 13th century, when Chinese forces deployed "arrows of flying fire"—early solid-propellant rockets launched from tubes—during the 1232 Siege of Kaifeng to repel Mongol invaders, marking the first recorded military use of such weapons.[3][4] By the 14th century, European innovators like Jean Froissart in France refined tube-launched rockets for improved accuracy, laying groundwork for modern designs.[3] Significant military advancements emerged in the 20th century, particularly during World War II; the U.S. M1 Bazooka, developed in 1941 by Leslie Skinner at Aberdeen Proving Ground and first deployed by British forces in North Africa, was a portable shoulder-fired launcher using shaped-charge rockets to penetrate tank armor.[5] Concurrently, the Soviet BM-13 Katyusha, pioneered in the late 1930s by engineers including Yu. A. Pobedonostsev and first used in ground combat on July 14, 1941, near Orsha, revolutionized area fire with its truck-mounted array of 16 electrically fired 132 mm rockets, capable of a full salvo in 8-10 seconds and ranges up to 11 km.[6][7] These WWII innovations influenced post-war designs, such as the RPG-7 introduced by the Soviet Union in 1961, which has seen over 9 million units produced globally and remains a staple in asymmetric conflicts due to its low cost, ease of use, and versatility against vehicles, bunkers, and low-flying aircraft.[2] Today, rocket launchers encompass both unguided legacy systems and advanced guided variants integrated into precision strike capabilities, underscoring their enduring tactical importance in conventional and unconventional warfare.[2]Overview
Definition and Principles
A rocket launcher is a device or system designed to launch unguided rockets, which are self-propelled munitions that utilize rocket propulsion to deliver payloads at short ranges with high velocity. These systems can be man-portable, vehicle-mounted, or fixed, and the rockets themselves consist of a motor, warhead, and fuze, with propulsion achieved through the combustion of propellant that expels gases rearward.[8][9] The core operating principle of rocket propulsion in these systems is Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In a rocket launcher, the action is the high-pressure expulsion of hot gases from the rocket motor's nozzle, generated by burning solid or liquid propellant; this creates thrust that propels the rocket forward in the opposite direction.[10] The propellant burns independently of external atmosphere, allowing operation in various environments. Once the propellant is fully consumed—typically within seconds—the rocket coasts along a ballistic trajectory, an arc-shaped path determined by its initial velocity, launch angle, and gravitational acceleration, with no further propulsion or course correction.[8][10] The trajectory of an unguided rocket follows the physics of projectile motion after burnout. Assuming level ground, negligible air resistance, and constant gravitational acceleration g \approx 9.8 \, \mathrm{m/s^2}, the horizontal range R is approximated by the formula: R = \frac{v^2 \sin(2\theta)}{g} where v is the initial velocity (muzzle or burnout velocity), and \theta is the launch angle relative to the horizontal. This equation derives from the components of motion: the horizontal velocity v_x = v \cos \theta remains constant, while the vertical velocity starts at v_y = v \sin \theta and decreases due to gravity. The time of flight T to return to the launch height is T = \frac{2 v \sin \theta}{g}, obtained by solving y(t) = (v \sin \theta) t - \frac{1}{2} g t^2 = 0 for t > 0. Substituting into the horizontal displacement gives R = v_x T = v \cos \theta \cdot \frac{2 v \sin \theta}{g} = \frac{v^2 (2 \sin \theta \cos \theta)}{g}. Using the double-angle identity \sin(2\theta) = 2 \sin \theta \cos \theta, the formula simplifies to the form above. Maximum range occurs at \theta = 45^\circ, where \sin(2\theta) = 1. For typical velocities of 100–300 m/s in unguided rocket systems (e.g., initial booster velocities in man-portable launchers), this yields ranges from approximately 1 km at 100 m/s to 9 km at 300 m/s under ideal conditions; however, practical limitations like accuracy and design reduce effective ranges.[11] Due to their unguided nature, rocket launchers are primarily used for area saturation tactics, delivering multiple projectiles to blanket a target zone rather than achieving precision strikes on single points. Typical operational ranges span 200–500 meters for man-portable systems like the RPG-7 against armored targets, extending to 5,000 meters or more for multiple rocket artillery systems like the Katyusha (BM-13), where salvos maximize coverage over larger areas.[9][12][13]Distinction from Related Systems
Rocket launchers are distinct from recoilless rifles primarily in their propulsion mechanisms. Recoilless rifles, such as the M40 106-mm, use an initial propellant charge within the barrel to accelerate the projectile to high muzzle velocities (e.g., 1200 ft/s), after which the projectile coasts unpowered along a ballistic trajectory, with recoil managed by venting gases rearward through a nozzle.[14] In contrast, rocket launchers employ a self-contained rocket motor that ignites after the projectile clears the launch tube, providing sustained thrust during flight and enabling greater range and velocity post-launch, as seen in systems like the RPG-29.[14] Missile launchers differ from rocket launchers in guidance capabilities. Rocket launchers fire unguided projectiles that rely on initial aim and follow a fixed ballistic arc after the rocket motor burns out, lacking in-flight correction.[15] Missile systems, however, incorporate guidance such as wire command, inertial navigation, or GPS, along with control surfaces for trajectory adjustments, allowing precision targeting even against moving objects.[16] The following table summarizes key operational differences:| Aspect | Rocket Launcher | Recoilless Rifle | Missile Launcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guidance | None (ballistic post-burn) | None (ballistic throughout) | Active (wire, inertial, GPS) |
| Propulsion Duration | Short initial burn, then coast | Initial barrel acceleration only | Sustained or multi-stage with guidance |
| Reload Time | Manual (man-portable: seconds to minutes) | Manual (breech-loaded: similar) | Often automated (vehicle-mounted: rapid) |