Wasp 58
Encyclopedia
The Wasp 58 is a 58-mm recoilless
antitank weapon developed in France
in the late 1980s. The weapon was originally a private developed by the French firm Luchaire SA. In the early 1980s, Luchaire's sales department had noted the rising costs of light individual anti-armour/assault weapons were to the point that fewer and fewer could be purchased and that there was a need for a one man anti-armor/assault weapon which could be purchased for a cost slightly higher than that of a rifle grenade
, but with the greater accuracy and ease of use of a one-man rocket launcher.
The world export markets was the major considerations behind the development of the Wasp 58 by Luchaire.
weapon used to attack lightly armored vehicles at ranges up to 400 meters. It can also be used against bunkers or as a fire support
weapon. The Wasp 58 is a one man disposable weapon system based on the recoilless principle. On ignition the propellant fires the 58-mm projectile forward while at the same time ejecting a counter mass of plastic chips to the rear to achieve a recoilless effect. The plastic chips due to their size and weight lose any velocity after 1 meter of travel from the back of the launcher. The projectile is stabilized by six fins that unfold and lock into place after leaving the tube.
The designers of the Wasp 58 made it compact and simple to operate with a small launch signature. This enables it to be fired from enclosed spaces including from small rooms in buildings and protects the user from having his position revealed. The Wasp 58 is composed of a sealed launch tube manufactured from fiberglass reinforced plastic. The Wasp 58's HEAT
antiarmour warhead
is 58-mm in diameter and is based on the Grenade à fusil antichar de 58 mm Mle F1 PAB
rifle grenade's warhead, also designed and manufactured by Luchaire and in service with the French military
and other armies worldwide. The antiarmour warhead of the Wasp 58 can penetrate 400 mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) or up to 800 mm of reinforced concrete. And while insufficient in penetration for frontal engagements of today's modern main battle tanks is more than adequate for side and rear engagements against older pre-1980s main battle tanks still in widespread service in the Third World, and can engage other armoured targets (wheeled armour vehicles or light tanks) from both frontal and side. The Wasp 58 requires no annual maintenance or special storage other than that which would be required for other small arms munitions. The Wasp 58 has a hit probability of over 90% when fired against stationary targets at ranges of 250 meters and less.
The Wasp 58 has been a commercial success with over 450,000 produced, including licensed production in Greece for the Greek Army. Today, the Wasp 58 is among the lowest cost of any light anti-armor/assault weapons in production in the West. It is also in service with French military special operation units
.
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...
antitank weapon developed in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the late 1980s. The weapon was originally a private developed by the French firm Luchaire SA. In the early 1980s, Luchaire's sales department had noted the rising costs of light individual anti-armour/assault weapons were to the point that fewer and fewer could be purchased and that there was a need for a one man anti-armor/assault weapon which could be purchased for a cost slightly higher than that of a rifle grenade
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...
, but with the greater accuracy and ease of use of a one-man rocket launcher.
The world export markets was the major considerations behind the development of the Wasp 58 by Luchaire.
Description
The Wasp 58 is a direct-fireDirect fire
Direct fire refers to the launching of a projectile directly at a target on a relatively flat trajectory. The firing weapon must have a sighting device and an unobstructed line of sight to the target, which means no objects or friendly units can be between it and the target...
weapon used to attack lightly armored vehicles at ranges up to 400 meters. It can also be used against bunkers or as a fire support
Fire support
Fire support is long-range firepower provided to a front-line military unit. Typically, fire support is provided by artillery or close air support , and is used to shape the battlefield or, more optimistically, define the battle...
weapon. The Wasp 58 is a one man disposable weapon system based on the recoilless principle. On ignition the propellant fires the 58-mm projectile forward while at the same time ejecting a counter mass of plastic chips to the rear to achieve a recoilless effect. The plastic chips due to their size and weight lose any velocity after 1 meter of travel from the back of the launcher. The projectile is stabilized by six fins that unfold and lock into place after leaving the tube.
The designers of the Wasp 58 made it compact and simple to operate with a small launch signature. This enables it to be fired from enclosed spaces including from small rooms in buildings and protects the user from having his position revealed. The Wasp 58 is composed of a sealed launch tube manufactured from fiberglass reinforced plastic. The Wasp 58's HEAT
Heat
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...
antiarmour warhead
Warhead
The term warhead refers to the explosive material and detonator that is delivered by a missile, rocket, or torpedo.- Etymology :During the early development of naval torpedoes, they could be equipped with an inert payload that was intended for use during training, test firing and exercises. This...
is 58-mm in diameter and is based on the Grenade à fusil antichar de 58 mm Mle F1 PAB
AC58
The AC 58 is an anti-armour rifle grenade used by the French Army. Its official French Army designation is Grenade à fusil antichar de 58 mm Mle F1 PAB.-Design:...
rifle grenade's warhead, also designed and manufactured by Luchaire and in service with the French military
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...
and other armies worldwide. The antiarmour warhead of the Wasp 58 can penetrate 400 mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) or up to 800 mm of reinforced concrete. And while insufficient in penetration for frontal engagements of today's modern main battle tanks is more than adequate for side and rear engagements against older pre-1980s main battle tanks still in widespread service in the Third World, and can engage other armoured targets (wheeled armour vehicles or light tanks) from both frontal and side. The Wasp 58 requires no annual maintenance or special storage other than that which would be required for other small arms munitions. The Wasp 58 has a hit probability of over 90% when fired against stationary targets at ranges of 250 meters and less.
The Wasp 58 has been a commercial success with over 450,000 produced, including licensed production in Greece for the Greek Army. Today, the Wasp 58 is among the lowest cost of any light anti-armor/assault weapons in production in the West. It is also in service with French military special operation units
Commandement des Opérations Spéciales
The Commandement des Opérations Spéciales is the organisation which coordinates the use of the French special forces of all military branches . The COS was created on 24 June 1992, following the Gulf War...
.