Calling all RPG series weapons experts.

[Dale Gribble]

Curious as to the wall thickness of launcher barrel. Especially considering the ability to handle repeated firings of an almost half pound charge of black powder without deformation or catastrophic failure. If anyone has a deactivated one, and wouldn't mind taking a measurement for me it would be greatly appreciated. I have searched through many pictures on the internet, and it doesn't look to be very thick.

 

[HAZORD]

ballpark, the wall is around 1/8 inch thick.

It is a recoilless weapon. Blast goes out the back, plus the motor propells it forward, and the steel will be high carbon alloy for strength.

 

[V40]

Hazord is almost spot on. The one I had, which was a RPG-2 was just a hair above 1/8.

 

[bazooka chris]

Hi I just got out my electronic vernier gauge and had a measure of the barrels on my deactivated rpg2 and rpg7 , here are the results

Rpg7 2.96mm
Rpg2 2.37mm

so as you can see the 7 has a thicker barrel than the 2 hope the info is useful to you.

From bazooka chris

 

[Dale Gribble]

Gentlemen thank you so much. I suspected the RPG-7 would be thicker being that smokeless powder initially kicks the projectile forward before the rocket motor takes over and black powder being used in the RPG-2 I just couldnt find any reference to the wall thickness of the steel tubing. Strangely enough it was The Missus who suggested I post the question after seeing me looking at over a hundred or so collected photos of both weapons. She made a passing remark how normal men look at porn on the internet which I ignored as I went on to explain my dilemma. Thats when she suggested I simply ask someone who has one. I would have thought of that, eventually.
Thank-you all for being collectors, your passion and knowledge is greatly appreciated.

 

[HAZORD]

Well, I'm not sure why you are questioning the thickness of the steel, as the strength is a function of the thickness and the composition of the steel. The stinger rocket motor tube is only about .025 inches thick, but is super strong due to the special steel used to make it. The steel is expensive, but the weight savings made it worth the extra cost and effort to manufacture it.

 

[Dale Gribble]

It was the Palestinian Yasin that started my curiosity as to the thickness of the barrel. They have been able to replicate the RPG-2. The more I researched the simplicity of the design of the RPG-2 I made the assumption that the materials used were of relative crude quality compared to the likes of current anti-tank weapon systems. Especially being that the Soviet Union, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and others that, in my opinion, at the time of their manufacture were not hot beds of space age R&D in relation to squad level anti-armor weapon systems.

 

[HAZORD]

There are many similar comparisons between Capitalist Nations' developments and the ComBloc Nations'. The Russian T34 tank was relatively simple, and therefore they were able to make a bazillion of them. The U.S. spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to develop an ink pen that would write in outer space, while the Russians use a pencil. Ordnance wise, the Russsian designed fuzes have less complex safe mechanisms, which leads to a lower dud rate. Many times, simpler is better.

 

[bacarnal]

Dale, I don't think the wall thickness of the Panzerfaust was much, though someone that has one would have to measure it, and I think that's where the Soviets got their initial idea for the PG-2. Recoilless works. The US AT-4 (M136?) HEAT round is nothing but a Carl Gustav 84mm stuffed inside a lightweight fiberglass/composite tube.
What, this isn't Porn? I'm sure that our more Liberal/Progressive (I'll never buy their insurance, but I degress) brethren would find this MUCH worse than Porn. At least Porn has some artistic value and capability for self expression, while this would be considered misanthropic filth. :tongue: Cheers, Bruce.

 

[Dale Gribble]

No the wall thickness of the panzerfaust series didnt have much to it. In fact if the operator didnt immediately drop the tube after firing it severe burns could ensue.