APAV40
Encyclopedia
The APAV 40 is a 40 mm anti-personnel rifle grenade
used by the French Army
.
warhead, a cast iron body that produces 396 shards shrapnel, and a tail with stabilizing fins. Explosion is triggered by an impact fuse.
Two version of the APAV 40 exist:
In its antipersonnel capacity, the APAV 40 is used in indirect fire. The APAV 40 has a lethal radius of 12 metres and it's shrapnel is dangerous up to 100 metres away. The FAMAS is inclided either by 45°, allowing fire from 170 to 320 metres, with 20-metre increments; or by 74°, allowing fire from 60 to 170 metres, with 10-metre increments.
In its anti-vehicle capacity, the APAV 40 is used in direct fire. Under an optimal angle, the APAV 40 is capable of piercing 100mm of armour. The FAMAS provides an alidade for launching the grenade from 75 or 100 metres.
Rifle grenade
A rifle grenade is a grenade that uses a rifle-based launcher to permit a longer effective range than would be possible if the grenade was thrown by hand...
used by the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
.
Design
The APAV 40 is a dual purpose, anti-personnel (AP) and anti-vehicle (AV), 40 mm rifle-grenade. It has a mass of 405 grams, and consists of a shaped chargeHeat
In physics and thermodynamics, heat is energy transferred from one body, region, or thermodynamic system to another due to thermal contact or thermal radiation when the systems are at different temperatures. It is often described as one of the fundamental processes of energy transfer between...
warhead, a cast iron body that produces 396 shards shrapnel, and a tail with stabilizing fins. Explosion is triggered by an impact fuse.
Two version of the APAV 40 exist:
- the older F1 model which must be fired with a blank (ballistite) cartridge
- the current F2 model which uses a bullet-trap that allows using live rounds
Use
To launch, First... place the APAV40 F2 over the muzzle of a FAMAS or any NATO STANAG rifle. Second...point the rifle at the target. Third...fire the rifle. The impact of the bullet striking the bullet-trap and the expanding gases will launch and arm the grenade. The grenade will explode on impact.In its antipersonnel capacity, the APAV 40 is used in indirect fire. The APAV 40 has a lethal radius of 12 metres and it's shrapnel is dangerous up to 100 metres away. The FAMAS is inclided either by 45°, allowing fire from 170 to 320 metres, with 20-metre increments; or by 74°, allowing fire from 60 to 170 metres, with 10-metre increments.
In its anti-vehicle capacity, the APAV 40 is used in direct fire. Under an optimal angle, the APAV 40 is capable of piercing 100mm of armour. The FAMAS provides an alidade for launching the grenade from 75 or 100 metres.