RL-83 Blindicide
Encyclopedia
The RL-83 Blindicide is an antitank rocket launcher produced by Mecar SA of Belgium
and was an improved derivative of the M20A1 Bazooka
. Its name roughly means "tank killer", derived from the French "véhicule blindé" (armoured car) and the suffix -cide.
The high-explosive antitank (HEAT) rocket of the RL-83 Blindicide can penetrate 300 millimeters of rolled homogeneous armour
or one meter of concrete. Besides HEAT, the Blindicide can also fire anti-personnel, smoke, incendiary, and illumination rounds.
A final version of the Blindicide was the RLC-83, a shortened version of the RL-83. The RLC-83 differs from the RL-83 in having a 1.2 meter launch tube. The RLC-83 is intended to be used only with the rocket-boosted long-range projectiles.
Switzerland produced a licence version of the Blindicide, the Raketenrohr 58 (RR 58). The Raketenrohr 80 (RR 80) was an improved version with new aiming system for use by night. The Swiss army had a total of 20,000 RRs in service, all of which have been replaced by the German Panzerfaust 3
.
and with other forces such as Mexico and Switzerland.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and was an improved derivative of the M20A1 Bazooka
Bazooka
Bazooka is the common name for a man-portable recoilless rocket antitank weapon, widely fielded by the U.S. Army. Also referred to as the "Stovepipe", the innovative bazooka was amongst the first-generation of rocket propelled anti-tank weapons used in infantry combat...
. Its name roughly means "tank killer", derived from the French "véhicule blindé" (armoured car) and the suffix -cide.
Versions
The Blindicide was also produced in a 100mm version (the RL-100). The 83mm version fired a 1.6 kilogram projectile with a 0.5 kilogram warhead while the 100mm version fired a 2.75 kilogram projectile. The rate of fire was six rounds per minute and the range 400 meters for both versions. The muzzle velocity of both versions varied, with the 83mm version firing at 100 m/s while the 100mm version fired at 195 m/s. A later round introduced for the RL-83 has a muzzle velocity of 120 m/s and uses a rocket booster to achieve a velocity of 300 m/s. The effective range of this 2.4 kilogram projectile is 500 meters.The high-explosive antitank (HEAT) rocket of the RL-83 Blindicide can penetrate 300 millimeters of rolled homogeneous armour
Rolled homogeneous armour
Rolled homogeneous armour is a type of steel which is used to armour vehicles.-Composition:Armoured steel must be hard yet impervious to shock in order to resist high velocity metal projectiles. Steel with these characteristics is produced by processing cast steel billets of appropriate size and...
or one meter of concrete. Besides HEAT, the Blindicide can also fire anti-personnel, smoke, incendiary, and illumination rounds.
A final version of the Blindicide was the RLC-83, a shortened version of the RL-83. The RLC-83 differs from the RL-83 in having a 1.2 meter launch tube. The RLC-83 is intended to be used only with the rocket-boosted long-range projectiles.
Switzerland produced a licence version of the Blindicide, the Raketenrohr 58 (RR 58). The Raketenrohr 80 (RR 80) was an improved version with new aiming system for use by night. The Swiss army had a total of 20,000 RRs in service, all of which have been replaced by the German Panzerfaust 3
Panzerfaust 3
The Panzerfaust 3 is a modern and disposable recoilless RPG anti-tank weapon developed between 1978 and 1985 and put into service by the Bundeswehr in 1992...
.
Operational history
The Blindicide saw service with the Belgian forces during the Congo crisisCongo Crisis
The Congo Crisis was a period of turmoil in the First Republic of the Congo that began with national independence from Belgium and ended with the seizing of power by Joseph Mobutu...
and with other forces such as Mexico and Switzerland.