View source for Carl Gustav recoilless rifle

{{Infobox Weapon
|name= Carl Gustaf Recoilless Rifle
|image= [[Image:Carl Gustaf. recoilless.rifle.jpg|300px|Carl Gustaf Recoilless Rifle]]
|caption= Carl Gustaf Recoilless Rifle
|origin= {{flagcountry|Sweden}}
|type= Multi-role (anti-armor, anti-fortification, anti-personnel, illumination)
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_ranged=yes
|is_bladed=
|is_explosive=yes
|is_artillery=
|is_vehicle=
|is_UK=
<!-- Service history -->
|service=1948 - Present
|used_by=See [[Carl Gustav recoilless rifle#Users|''Users'']]
|wars=[[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]], [[Falklands War]], [[Iraq War]]
<!-- Production history -->
|designer= Hugo Abramson and Harald Jentzen
|design_date= 1946 (M1), 1964 (M2), 1991 (M3)
|manufacturer=Saab Bofors Dynamics (formerly Bofors Anti-Armour AB), [[Howa]] (license)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rightwing.sakura.ne.jp/equipment/jgsdf/firearms/84rcl/84rcl.html|title=84mm無反動砲「カール・グスタフ」|accessdate=2009-11-04|language=Japanese}}</ref><ref name="JSDF weapons">[http://www13.plala.or.jp/aconit/e-nerima_soubi.html "Exhibision (sic) of Equipments".] Retrieved on July 29, 2008.</ref>
|unit_cost=
|production_date=
|number= 
|variants= 
<!-- General specifications -->
|weight= 8.5 kg (rifle); 0.8 kg mount
|length= 1.1 meters
|part_length= 
|width=
|height=
|crew= Two (gunner and loader), but may be used by a single operator at a reduced rate of fire.
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications --> 
|cartridge= 84×246 mm. R
|caliber= 84 mm. (3.31 inches)
|action= 
|rate= 6 rounds per minute
|velocity= 230-255 m/s
|range=
|max_effective_range=[[Ammunition]]-dependent, usually 400 to 1000 m
|feed= Hinged breech
|sights= Open (iron) sights; optical 3x; [[laser rangefinder]]; [[Night vision device|image intensification]] system
<!-- Artillery specifications -->
|breech=
|recoil=
|carriage=
|elevation=
|traverse=
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|yield=
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}}

The '''Carl Gustaf''' (also '''Carl-Gustaf''' and '''M2CG'''; pronounced "Carl Gustav") is the common name for the 84&nbsp;mm man-portable multi-role [[recoilless rifle]] produced by [[Saab Bofors Dynamics]] (formerly [[Bofors|Bofors Anti-Armour AB]]) in [[Sweden]]. The first prototype of the Carl Gustaf was produced in 1946, and while similar weapons of the era have generally disappeared, the Carl Gustaf remains in widespread use today. British troops refer to it as the ''Charlie G'', while Canadian troops often refer to it as the ''84'' or ''Carl G''.  In US service it is officially known as the ''RAWS'' or ''Ranger Antitank Weapons System'', but often called ''the Gustav'' or simply the ''Carl Johnson'' by US soldiers. In Australia it is irreverently known as ''Charlie Gusto'' or ''Charlie Gutsache'' ([[Gastrointestinal tract|gut]]s [[ache]], slang for stomach pain). In its country of origin it is officially named ''Grg m/48'' (''Granatgevär'' or grenade rifle, model 48) but is sometimes nicknamed ''Stuprör'' (drainpipe) because the weapon mainly consists of a long tube.

==History==
The Carl Gustav was developed by Hugo Abramson and Harald Jentzen at the Royal Swedish Arms Administration (KAFT) and produced at [[Bofors Carl Gustav|Carl Gustav Stads Gevärsfaktori]] from where it derives its name. The weapon was first introduced into Swedish service in 1948 as the ''8,4&nbsp;cm Granatgevär m/48'' (Grg m/48), filling the same [[anti-tank]] role as the [[United States Army|US Army]] [[Bazooka]], [[United Kingdom|British]] [[PIAT]] and [[Germany|German]] [[Panzerschreck]]. Unlike these weapons, however, the Carl Gustav used a [[rifled]] [[gun barrel|barrel]] for spin-stabilizing its rounds, as opposed to fins as used by the other systems. 

The use of the recoilless firing system allowed the Carl Gustav to use ammunition containing considerably more propellant, firing its rounds at 290 m/s, as opposed to about 105 m/s for the Panzerschreck and Bazooka and about 135 m/s for the PIAT.  The result was superior [[accuracy]] at longer ranges.  The Carl Gustaf can be used to attack larger stationary targets at up to 700 m, but the relatively slow speed of the [[projectile]] restricts attacks on moving targets to a range of 400 m or less.

The Carl Gustav was soon being sold around the world, and became one of the primary [[squad]]-level anti-tank weapons for many Western European armies.  An improved version (M2) was introduced in 1964 and quickly replaced the original version.  The current M3 version was introduced in 1991, using a thin steel liner containing the rifling, strengthened by a [[carbon fiber]] outer sleeve.  External steel parts were replaced with [[aluminum]] alloys or plastics, reducing the empty weapon weight considerably from 16.35&nbsp;kg to 10&nbsp;kg.

In recent years the weapon has found new life in a variety of roles.  The [[British Special Air Service]], [[United States Special Forces]] and [[United States Army Rangers]] use M3s in the [[bunker]]-busting and anti-vehicle roles, while the German [[Bundeswehr]] maintains small numbers of M2s for battlefield illumination. Many armies continue to use it as a viable anti-armor weapon, especially against 1950s and 1960s-era [[tank]]s and other armored vehicles, which are still in use worldwide.

In a well-known incident during the [[Falklands War]], a [[Royal Marines|Royal Marine]] damaged an Argentinian [[D'Estienne_d'Orves_class#In_service_in_the_Argentinian_Navy|corvette]] using a Carl Gustaf.<ref>[http://www.navynews.co.uk/falklands/stories/8202040301.asp Navy News - The Falklands Conflict - 3rd April 1982 - The Defence of Grytviken].</ref>

The Carl Gustav was used against [[Taliban]] defensive fortifications by soldiers of the [[Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry]] in operations in [[Afghanistan]]. They developed a new system for firing at night, which involved a [[night-scope]] equipped spotter firing [[tracer ammunition]] at the target, and the Carl Gustaf gunner then aiming at the spot where the tracer rounds hit.

==Description==
The basic weapon consists of the main tube with the breech-mounted [[Venturi effect|Venturi]] recoil damper, with two grips near the front and a shoulder mount. The weapon is fitted with [[iron sight]]s, but is normally aimed with the attached 3x [[optical sight]] with a 17 degree (300 mrad) [[field of view]]. Luminous front and rear sight inserts are available for the iron sights when aiming at night, but an [[Night vision device|image intensification]] system may also be used. 

The Carl Gustav can be fired from the standing, kneeling, sitting or prone positions, and a [[bipod]] may be attached in front of the shoulder piece. An operating handle called a "Venturi lock" is used to move the hinged breech to one side for reloading. The weapon is normally operated by a two-man crew, one carrying and firing the weapon, the other carrying ammunition and reloading.

=== Specifications===
* Calibre: 84&nbsp;mm rifled (24 lands/progressive twist).<ref name = "opfor">OPFOR Worldwide Equipment Guide, U.S. Army TRADOC DCSINT Threat Support Directorate, January 1999.</ref>
* Crew: 2 optimal, 1 minimum.
* Weights: 14.2&nbsp;kg (M2); 8.5&nbsp;kg (M3); 0.8&nbsp;kg (mount)
* Length: 1.065 m
* Breech: Hinged
* Rate of fire:  6 rounds per minute.
* Sights: Iron sights; optical 3x; [[laser rangefinder]]; [[Night vision device|image intensification]] system.

===M3 MAAWS===
The '''M3 Medium Anti-Armor Weapon System (MAAWS)''' is the US designation for the Carl Gustaf M3 recoilless rifle. It is primarily used by [[United States Special Operations Command|USSOCOM]] forces such as the [[United States Army]] [[United States Army Special Forces|Special Forces]], [[75th Ranger Regiment (United States)|75th Ranger Regiment]], [[United States Navy]] [[United States Navy SEALs|SEALS]], [[Delta Force]], [[DEVGRU]] and [[MARSOC]].  When in use with the 75th Ranger Regiment it is known as the '''Ranger Anti-tank Weapons System (RAWS)'''.

The M3 MAAWS fires the following ammunition:
* High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) round
* [[High Explosive Anti-Tank]] (HEAT) round
* [[Explosive material|High Explosive]] (HE) round
* Illumination round
* Smoke round
* Area Defence Munition (ADM) [[flechette]] round

===Ammunition===
[[Image:MSPO2007-40.jpg|thumb|Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle ammunition ([[inert]] rounds).]]
Improvements to the ammunition have been continual.  While the older [[HEAT]] rounds are not particularly effective against modern tank armor, the weapon has found new life as a bunker-buster with an HEDP round. In addition, improved HEAT, [[high explosive]] (HE), smoke and illumination (star shell or [[Flare (pyrotechnic)|flare]]) ammunition is also available. For full effectiveness, illumination rounds have to be fired at a very high angle, creating a danger for the gunner as the backblast from firing can burn him. For this reason several armies have retired the illumination rounds, while the US Army requires that they be fired from a standing position.

The following are Canadian designations (other countries use similar terminology, replacing the "FFV")

* FFV441 is an HE round, useful in a "lobbed" trajectory to 1,000m, which can be fused to either detonate on impact or as an [[air burst|airburst]].
* FFV441B is an HE round with an effective range against personnel in the open of 1,100 m.  The round arms after 20 to 70 m of flight, weighs 3.1&nbsp;kg, and is fired at a muzzle velocity of 255 m/s<ref name="opfor"/>.
* FFV469 is a smoke round fired like the FFV441, with a range of about 1,300 m.  The 3.1&nbsp;kg round is also fired at 255 m/s<ref name="opfor"/>.
* FFV502 is an HEDP round with the ability to be set to detonate either on impact or one-tenth of a second afterwards.  Effective range is 1,000 m against dispersed soft targets such as infantry in the open, 500 m against stationary targets, and 300 m against moving targets.  Minimum range is 15 to 40 m to arm the warhead.  Penetration exceeds 150&nbsp;mm of [[rolled homogeneous armour]] (RHA).  Ammunition weight is 3.3&nbsp;kg and muzzle velocity is 230 m/s.<ref name="opfor"/>
* FFV545 is an illuminating starshell, fired up to 2,300 m maximum range, but with an effective envelope of 300 to 2,100 m.  Suspended by parachute, the starshell burns for 30 seconds while producing 650,000 [[candela]], providing a 400 to 500 m diameter area of illumination.
* FFV551 is the primary HEAT round and is a rocket-assisted projectile (RAP). Effective range is up to 700 m (400 m against moving targets) and penetration up to 400&nbsp;mm of RHA.  Ammunition weight is 3.2&nbsp;kg and muzzle velocity is 255 m/s.<ref name="opfor"/>
* FFV552 is a practice round with the same ballistics as the 551.
* FFV651 is a newer HEAT round using mid-flight rocket assistance for ranges up to 1,000m. In theory, it has less penetration than the FFV441, but it includes a stand-off probe for the fuse to improve performance against [[reactive armour]].
* FFV751 is a [[tandem-warhead]] HEAT round with an effective range of 500 m and ability to penetrate more than 500&nbsp;mm of armour.  Weight is 4&nbsp;kg.<ref name="opfor"/>

== Users ==
<!--READ FIRST: This section is for cited entries only. Please do not add entries into this list without a citation from a reliable source. All entries without a citation will be removed. Thank you.-->
{{refimprovesect|date=March 2010}}
[[Image:Japanese 20th Infantry Regiment man Carl Gustav at training exericse.jpg|right|thumb|JGSDF soldiers operating with the [[Howa]] 84RR, a Japanese-made version of the Carl Gustaf.]]

*{{flag|Argentina}}
*{{flag|Australia}}
*{{flag|Austria}}
*{{flag|Brazil}}
*{{flag|Botswana}}
*{{flag|Cambodia}}
*{{flag|Canada}}: [[Canadian Forces]] use the M2 and M3.
*{{flag|Chile}}
*{{flag|Czech Republic}}
*{{flag|Denmark}}
*{{flag|Estonia}}
*{{flag|Egypt}}
*{{flag|Germany}} - designated ''schwere Panzerfaust Carl Gustaf'' or ''Leuchtbüchse 84mm'', replaced in the combat role by the [[Panzerfaust 3]], but still used for battlefield illumination.
*{{flag|Greece}}
*{{flag|India}} - produced under license. a 50% lighter version [[Light weight launcher (LWL)]] has been developed by replacing metal parts with composite ones.
*{{flag|Indonesia}}: ''[[Kopaska|Komando Pasukan Katak]]'' (Kopaska) tactical diver group and ''[[Kopassus|Komando Pasukan Khusus]]'' (Kopassus) special forces group.<ref name="idnvojnik">{{cite web |url=http://www.hrvatski-vojnik.hr/hrvatski-vojnik/1612007/ind.asp |title=Kopassus & Kopaska - Specijalne Postrojbe Republike Indonezije |language=Croatian |publisher=Hrvatski Vojnik Magazine |accessdate=2010-06-12}}</ref>
*{{flag|Ireland}} 
*{{flag|Israel}}

[[File:US SOF M3 Carl Gustav.jpg|thumb|right|U.S. special operations soldiers fire the M3 recoilless rifle.]]

*{{flag|Japan}}: Designated as the ''84&nbsp;mm Recoilless Rifle''.<ref>[http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/equipment/index.html#/detail/0/0_14/ Official JGSDF Page.] Retrieved on July 30, 2008.</ref>
*{{flag|Jordan}}
*{{flag|Latvia}}
*{{flag|Lithuania}}
*{{flag|Malaysia}}
*{{flag|Myanmar}}
*{{flag|Nepal}}
*{{flag|Netherlands}}: Used by Royal Netherlands Marine Corps.
*{{flag|New Zealand}}
*{{flag|Norway}}
*{{flag|Pakistan}}
*{{flag|Peru}}
*{{flag|Philippines}}
*{{flag|Poland}}: Used by special forces.<ref>http://www.altair.com.pl/cz-art-1660</ref>
*{{flag|Portugal}}
*{{flag|Singapore}}
*{{flag|Sweden}}: Used by ''[[Kustjägarna]]'' (Coastal Rangers).<ref>http://www.specialoperations.com/Foreign/Sweden/default.html</ref>
*{{flag|Thailand}}
*{{flag|United Kingdom}}
*{{flag|United States}}: Used by [[United States Special Operations Command|USSOCOM]] and US Army Ranger battalions<ref>THE WORLD DEFENCE ALMANAC 1996-97 page 32</ref>
*{{flag|Venezuela}}
*{{flag|Zambia}}

== See also ==

*[[SPG-9]]
*[[M40 recoilless rifle]]
*[[M67 recoilless rifle]]
*[[55 S 55]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons|Carl Gustaf}}

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRiNMBGb9pY Video of loading and firing drill for Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle] 
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkQnix42gNw&NR Video of a Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle being fired]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m3-maws.htm M3 MAAWS at GlobalSecurity.org]
* [http://world.guns.ru/grenade/gl10-e.htm Carl Gustaf antitank recoilless rifle (Sweden) - Modern Firearms]
* [http://products.saabgroup.com/PDBWebNew/Generic.aspx?Entrance=Product&ProductCategoryId=270&ProductGroupId=377&ProductId=652 Saab product page ]

{{ModernUSInfWeaponsNav}}
{{ModernUKInfWeaponsNav}}
{{Canadian Forces Land Force Command}}

[[Category:Recoilless rifles]]
[[Category:Anti-tank weapons]]
[[Category:Weapons of Sweden]]
[[Category:Weapons of Norway]]
[[Category:Modern weapons of Canada]]
[[Category:Modern American weapons]]
[[Category:Falklands War infantry weapons]]
[[Category:Infantry weapons of Australia in active service]]
[[Category:Korean War infantry weapons of Australia]]

[[Category:2Fix]]