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Focus - Carl Gustaf in the Unites States Army
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| Wednesday,
January 25, 2012, 04:41 PM |
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| Carl
Gustaf 81mm Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon System MAAWS in
U.S. Army. |
With the need for
United States Soldiers in Afghanistan to engage the enemy at longer
distances, Picatinny Arsenal has completed an initial training and fielding
of a weapon for traditional Army units previously used only by special
operations commands. The Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon
System, or MAAWS, also known as the M3 Carl Gustaf, has been in the
United States Special Operations Command inventory since 1991.
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The Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon System, or MAAWS,
also known as the M3 Carl Gustaf, has been in the United States Special
Operations Command inventory since 1991. |
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However,
the unique capabilities of both the system and its ammo led to a forward
operational assessment, known as a FOA.
The MAAWS has similarities to the AT4 shoulder-fired, anti-tank system.
But the MAAWS is unique in that the system itself is not disposable, which
means it can be used more than once.
"It operates just like a rifle," said Bhuvanesh Thoguluva, chief
of the Vehicle Protection, Rockets & Shoulder Fired Weapons Branch
of the Munitions Systems and Technical Directorate. The directorate is
part of the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center at Picatinny.
"After firing, the assistant gunner reloads it, and it can be fired
again," Thoguluva explained. On a disposable weapon you will find
a maximum effective range of approximately 300 meters, whereas with the
Gustaf you are talking about possibly up to 1,700 meters. That's a huge
difference."
An
operational need for the MAAWS system occurred in May, when troops reported
that they were having a difficult time in reaching the enemy at those
distances.
The purpose of the MAAWS is to engage lightly armored targets at ranges
up to 700 meters and soft targets at up to 1,000 meters. |
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A civilian instructor coaches two paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne
Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team on how to use a Carl Gustav 84mm recoilless
rifle during a certification class Dec. 6, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. The
multi-role weapon can be used against armor, fortifications and personnel.
(Photo credit U.S. army Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod) |
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Previously used only by special operations commands,
beginning with the Army Rangers in 1989, the Navy SEALS in 1997, and later
the rest of the U.S. Special Operations Forces, the need for the system
has become more apparent among traditional Army units.
"This fielding really could not have been done without the help from
SOCOM (Special Operations Command)," Thoguluva said.
The United States Special Operations Command allowed the transfer of these
systems and its ammo to the Army for this fielding.
The quantities for this initial fielding were 58 Carl Gustaf Rifles and
1,500 Rounds of High Explosive and High Explosive Dual Purpose Ammunition.
Also, 114 Soldiers and 21 armorer maintainers were trained in its use.
Although, there are eight varieties of combat rounds and two training
rounds for the system, the High Explosive and High Explosive Dual Purpose
Rounds are the only two included in the assessment.
The other rounds can provide users with heat, illumination, anti-structure,
multi-target and smoke capabilities. As the need for additional capabilities
increases with the Army users, other rounds could be fielded to the Army
troops in the future.
The gun is breech-loaded and can be fired from the standing, kneeling,
sitting or prone positions. A built-in detachable bi-pod helps the shooter
raise the weapon off the ground while shooting from the prone position.
The propellant gas escapes through the rear of the weapon, which equalizes
the force of recoil. In the AT4-CS type system, a salt-water solution
is ejected rather than exhaust, which is one reason why the AT4-CS does
not have the range of the MAAWS.
"Remarkably, there is actually more recoil from firing a 7.62mm round
than this 84mm round," Thoguluva said.
"It's a balancing act," he added. "When shooting a 7.62
there is no exhaust gas, so the shooter's shoulder takes the majority
of the recoil." This balancing act puts less stress on the shooter.
The current MAAWS system weighs approximately 22 pounds with each round
of ammunition weighing less than 10 pounds. Material developers are working
to lighten the load of the rifle by five to six pounds.
The user can usually load and fire four rounds within one minute.
The blast radius stemming from a High Explosive round is anywhere from
50 to 75 meters. The user sets the firing distance on the MAAWS by simply
rotating a labeled meter at the top of the round.
The High Explosive Dual Purpose round can detonate in two ways: upon impact
of the intended target, or in a delay mode where it will penetrate a target,
then detonate at a pre-determined time.
Since fielding the system, feedback from the field has been very positive.
"It's
safe to say it's doing its job. I can't really tell you much more than
that," Thoguluva said.
The current fielding is being used by Soldiers in the 3rd and 25th Infantry
Divisions, as well as the 10th Mountain Division. Representatives from
the Army Test and Evaluation Center FOA Team conducted assessments of
the training event. The FOA will assess initial combat usage after 30
days.
Additionally, Soldiers with the 82nd Airborne Division are training on
the system at Fort Bragg, N.C.
The Carl Gustaf get its name from the Swedish weapons production factory
known as Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori ("Rifle Factory of
Carl Gustaf's town"). The name Carl Gustaf's town was a name used
intermittently for the town Eskilstuna after King Karl X Gustav gave the
town city privileges. The weapon was first introduced into Swedish service
in 1948.
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