Armbrust
Encyclopedia
Armbrust is a lightweight unguided anti-tank weapon designed and developed by Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm
of Germany
, who later sold its manufacturing rights to Chartered Industries of Singapore (the predecessor of ST Kinetics).
The Armbrust is a recoilless weapon
, and its design is one of the few weapons of its kind that may safely be fired in an enclosed space. The propellant
charge is placed between two piston
s with the projectile
in front of one and a mass of shredded plastic
in the rear. Unlike most recoilless weapons, it is a true counter-shot weapon as the mass of the projectile is equal to the mass of the counterweight and they are ejected from the barrel
at the same initial velocity
. When the weapon is fired the propellant expands pushing the two pistons out. The projectile is forced out the front and the plastic out the back. The plastic disperses upon leaving the back of the barrel, and is quickly stopped by air resistance. The pistons jam at either end of the barrel locking the hot gases inside. Its warhead can penetrate up to 300 mm of armoured steel
.
Since 2004, Armbrusts are gradually being replaced by the Singapore
-German
-Israel
i co-developed MATADOR
.
and Croatia
also acquired stocks of Armbrust for use by local troops against the JNA
in the Yugoslav Wars
of the 1990s.
During the Cambodian–Vietnamese War, Armbrust was also supplied to the Cambodian Khmer Rouge
during the same decade. It was used in their fight against the Cambodian government, as well as against the invading Vietnamese Army.
Kosovo Liberation Army
: Komando Pasukan Katak
(Kopaska) tactical diver group and Komando Pasukan Khusus
(Kopassus) special forces group.
Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm
Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm was a German aerospace company formed as the result of several mergers in the late 1960s. Among its best-known products was the MBB Bo 105 light twin helicopter...
of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, who later sold its manufacturing rights to Chartered Industries of Singapore (the predecessor of ST Kinetics).
Overview
Recoilless rifle
A recoilless rifle or recoilless gun is a lightweight weapon that fires a heavier projectile than would be practical to fire from a recoiling weapon of comparable size. Technically, only devices that use a rifled barrel are recoilless rifles. Smoothbore variants are recoilless guns...
, and its design is one of the few weapons of its kind that may safely be fired in an enclosed space. The propellant
Propellant
A propellant is a material that produces pressurized gas that:* can be directed through a nozzle, thereby producing thrust ;...
charge is placed between two piston
Piston
A piston is a component of reciprocating engines, reciprocating pumps, gas compressors and pneumatic cylinders, among other similar mechanisms. It is the moving component that is contained by a cylinder and is made gas-tight by piston rings. In an engine, its purpose is to transfer force from...
s with the projectile
Projectile
A projectile is any object projected into space by the exertion of a force. Although a thrown baseball is technically a projectile too, the term more commonly refers to a weapon....
in front of one and a mass of shredded plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
in the rear. Unlike most recoilless weapons, it is a true counter-shot weapon as the mass of the projectile is equal to the mass of the counterweight and they are ejected from the barrel
Gun barrel
A gun barrel is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion or rapid expansion of gases are released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at a high velocity....
at the same initial velocity
Velocity
In physics, velocity is speed in a given direction. Speed describes only how fast an object is moving, whereas velocity gives both the speed and direction of the object's motion. To have a constant velocity, an object must have a constant speed and motion in a constant direction. Constant ...
. When the weapon is fired the propellant expands pushing the two pistons out. The projectile is forced out the front and the plastic out the back. The plastic disperses upon leaving the back of the barrel, and is quickly stopped by air resistance. The pistons jam at either end of the barrel locking the hot gases inside. Its warhead can penetrate up to 300 mm of armoured steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
.
Since 2004, Armbrusts are gradually being replaced by the Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
-German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
-Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i co-developed MATADOR
MATADOR (weapon)
MATADOR is a man-portable, disposable anti-armor weapon system developed in a collaboration between Singapore and Israel. It is an updated version of the German Armbrust design, and operates on the same principles...
.
Combat Use
SloveniaSlovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
and Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
also acquired stocks of Armbrust for use by local troops against the JNA
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
in the Yugoslav Wars
Yugoslav wars
The Yugoslav Wars were a series of wars, fought throughout the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. The wars were complex: characterized by bitter ethnic conflicts among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, mostly between Serbs on the one side and Croats and Bosniaks on the other; but also...
of the 1990s.
During the Cambodian–Vietnamese War, Armbrust was also supplied to the Cambodian Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
during the same decade. It was used in their fight against the Cambodian government, as well as against the invading Vietnamese Army.
Users
Kosovo Liberation Army
The Kosovo Liberation Army or KLA was a Kosovar Albanian paramilitary organization which sought the separation of Kosovo from Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the 1990s....
: Komando Pasukan Katak
KOPASKA
Kopaska or Komando Pasukan Katak is the premier frogman and underwater demolition unit of the Indonesian Navy. The Unit's motto is 'Tan Hana Wighna Tan Sirna', which means 'There is no obstacle that can not be defeated'. It was officially established on March 31, 1962 by President Sukarno to help...
(Kopaska) tactical diver group and Komando Pasukan Khusus
Kopassus
Kopassus is an Indonesian Army special forces group that conducts special operations missions for the Indonesian government, such as direct action, unconventional warfare, sabotage, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, and intelligence gathering.Kopassus was founded on April 16, 1952...
(Kopassus) special forces group.