RPO infantry flamethrowers. Russian grenade launchers

RPO-A "Shmel" infantry flamethrower in stowed position.

RPO-A "Shmel" infantry flamethrower in combat position, and a thermobaric shot assembled with a propellant charge next to it.

Caliber: 93 mm
Type: dynamo/recoilless
Length: 920 mm
Weight: 12 kg
Effective firing range: 200 m (1000 m maximum firing range)

Development of a disposable reactive (actually dynamo-reactive, i.e. recoilless) flamethrower for chemical forces Soviet army was started in 1984 at the Tula Instrument Design Bureau under the code designation "Shmel". In 1988, the chemical troops (RKhBZ troops) of the Soviet army received a disposable rocket infantry flamethrower "Shmel" in three basic versions - RPO-A with a thermobaric warhead, RPO-Zs with an incendiary firing unit and RPO-D with a smoke warhead (for instant setting up a smoke curtain). The main version of the "Bumblebee" was the RPO-A variant with a thermobaric warhead, otherwise also called volumetric explosion ammunition (Fuel-Air Explosive in English terminology, that is, a fuel-air explosive mixture). "Shmel" grenade launchers are still in service Russian army and other law enforcement agencies.
The name "thermobaric" combat unit RPO-A received due to two main damaging factors, arising from the explosion of a sprayed cloud of fuel-air mixture - a shock wave (high pressure zone) and high temperature in a burning cloud of the mixture (in this case, the fire cloud itself exists for a very long time by “explosive” standards - up to 0.3 - 0.4 seconds, which ensures a high incendiary effect). The operating principle of a thermobaric warhead consists of spraying (using a small expulsion charge) a fuel aerosol into the air and subsequent ignition of the resulting flammable cloud. Due to the fact that the explosion (combustion of the fuel-air mixture) occurs immediately in a significant volume (the diameter of the fire cloud when the RPO-A warhead is triggered can reach 6-7 meters), reliable destruction of living and lightly protected targets located inside and nearby by the cloud is ensured, destruction of buildings and etc. Before ignition, the cloud of fuel aerosol also tends to “flow” (penetrate) into windows, embrasures and cracks of shelters, trenches, ensuring that when it is ignited, it hits targets that are not in the “line of sight” zone from the point of impact and activation of the warhead. It should also be especially noted that the term “vacuum ammunition” sometimes used in relation to thermobaric ammunition is categorically incorrect and illiterate, because When a cloud of fuel-air mixture is ignited, air oxygen (constituting only about 20% of the atmospheric composition) reacts with the fuel and produces a large volume of hot combustion products, i.e. the pressure in the detonation zone increases sharply, rather than decreases.
For RPO-A, the mass of the fuel mixture is approximately 2.2 kg, which in terms of high-explosive effect on the target is equivalent to 6-7 kg of TNT or the explosion of a 107mm high-explosive artillery shell.

The RPO-A "Shmel" infantry jet flamethrower consists of a disposable launcher in the form of a tube-barrel, factory-equipped with a feathered warhead and a propellant charge (motor) attached to it at the rear. The launching device is equipped with folding handles for holding weapons, trigger and safety mechanisms and folding sights in the form of a fixed front sight and a folding rear sight with a set of diopter holes for different firing ranges. A grenade launcher shot is a thin-walled metal capsule filled with fuel, incendiary mixture or smoke mixture, with thin-walled stabilizers installed at the rear spring steel, in the normal position “wrapped” around the capsule body. When fired, the powder charge located in the engine pushes the capsule out of the barrel, while the engine itself remains in the barrel and, after the capsule exits, is ejected by residual pressure from the launch tube back, several meters. After the shot, the launch tube is ejected. For transportation, two launching devices can be combined into a single bale for transportation using special fasteners (a standard completed bale includes RDO-A and RPO-D, however, troops often repack the bales before going on a combat mission to ensure the desired configuration in combat conditions ).

The manual infantry flamethrower (RPO) “Bumblebee” is the best weapon of this class in the world, and a shot from it is equivalent in power to 122 mm ammunition. History of the creation and use of the Shmel flamethrower.

RPO "Shmel" is a classic weapon for urban combat, for destroying the enemy holed up in pillboxes, disabling cars and lightly armored vehicles. Real hand artillery for infantry. Baptism of fire took place in the mountains of Afghanistan, where he showed his effectiveness and received the nickname “Shaitan-pipe” from the soldiers. The predecessor of the flamethrowers of the “Bumblebee” family were the “Lynx” hand-held flamethrowers, which appeared in service with the battalions of the radiation, chemical and biological protection (RKhBZ) troops of the Soviet army in 1976, as well as the “oldies” LPO-50 (light infantry flamethrower of the 1950 model) ). “Lynx” was developed at the Tula Instrument Engineering Design Bureau.

The flamethrower was created using components and mechanisms of the RPG-16 hand-held rocket launcher, fired an incendiary charge at 100 meters and was capable of destroying both buildings and engineering fortifications, as well as light armored vehicles. To ensure stability when firing, there was a bipod mounted in front of the launcher. In the design of the RPO "Lynx", the capsule-jet principle of flame-throwing was implemented for the first time: a flamethrower shot, assembled in a plastic container, was a "packaged" jet placed in a capsule on which a solid-fuel jet engine was mounted. Bringing the flamethrower into firing position was carried out in just 60 seconds: the shot was secured to the body of the flamethrower with three cap locks, after which the flamethrower pulled the trigger.

For the first time in battle, "Lynx" began to be used Soviet troops in Afghanistan. However, real fighting showed a number of shortcomings of this weapon. With a length of almost one and a half meters, the flamethrower with additional charges weighed more than 20 kilograms, and the incendiary mixture was ineffective in rocky mountain conditions. Lynx charges could not always set fire to stone and adobe houses local residents, which without any problems withstood a volley of even several Lynxes.

To replace the outdated Lynx and LPO-50, in 1984, Soviet weapons developers received an order from the army for a new fire weapon. The range had to be at least 500 meters. It also required more power with the ability to suppress well-fortified targets. At the same time, the device had to be made lightweight. A hand cannon weighing tens of kilograms was practically needed. As a result of working on this order, Tula gunsmiths created the Shmel flamethrower, unique for that time. The designers paid great attention to summarizing the unsuccessful Afghan experience in using the Lynx and decided to make the Bumblebee disposable and light enough to make it easier for soldiers to carry and store in armored vehicles. The compact RPO container, which is more than half a meter shorter than the Lynx, turned out to be more convenient to handle in cramped urban spaces.

In terms of its high-explosive effect, the 93-mm rocket of the RPO "Shmel" flamethrower is not inferior to 122-mm ammunition. Initially, flamethrowers entered service with the chemical defense troops, and a little later they were also equipped with motorized rifle units. These flamethrowers turned out to be very effective weapon for fighting in the city. This was shown by two Chechen campaigns in which the Bumblebees were an indispensable weapon. The flamethrower was carried in containers of 2 pieces.

To use it, it was enough to set the distance on the sight, move the handle, remove the safety and fire. After the shot, the shooter threw away the disposable container. As a rule, the tactics for using flamethrowers were simple: a group of infantrymen, through their actions, provoked the enemy to open fire. Another group “pressed” the militants to the floor with intense fire, and the flamethrowers deployed at an advantageous position practically destroyed several firing points in one salvo. Moreover, a simultaneous salvo from several “Bumblebees” could destroy low-rise buildings equipped by militants for firing points. Also, the greater effectiveness of the flamethrower was noted during the fight against snipers. The militants, as a rule, used the tactics of mobile firing points - they fired and ran to another window. But if these two windows were in the same room, then a shot from the Bumblebee into the room was enough to suppress the sniper.

The Bumblebee flamethrower is similar in design to a conventional rocket-propelled grenade launcher. The main difference is the missile it is loaded with. When the Shmel handheld flamethrower hits a target, it not only creates a blast wave and fragments, but creates a volumetric explosion based on the principle of vacuum ammunition. This quality made it an indispensable means of fighting the Mujahideen hiding in crevices or under jacked up layers rocks. The Shmel jet flamethrower is also suitable for destroying armored vehicles; the barothermal shock created during the explosion can incapacitate the crew of an armored personnel carrier.

The Shmel RPO consists of a disposable plastic tube-container into which the rocket is placed. The container is used to store ammunition, direct it at the target and fire a shot. This is a pipe with flanges, it has a strap for easy carrying, as well as nodes for connecting two pipes into a pack. The simplest is attached to the container optical sight with a 600 meter scale, a folding pistol grip and a holding handle located on the leading edge of the tube. Inside the container there is ammunition, which is an aluminum capsule filled with a special mixture, and an engine connected to the capsule using a collet. Powder grenade engine. The grenade capsule is equipped with stabilizers that deploy after it leaves the container. In the front part of the capsule there is a shaped charge that allows the grenade to penetrate minor obstacles. Then, by detonating a small charge, an aerosol cloud is formed, which is ignited by the detonator. The volume of guaranteed damage when a capsule grenade is triggered is 80 cubic meters.

Since its creation, this weapon has been modernized several times. In addition, several modifications of the flamethrower were initially developed, which differed in the type of ammunition. Now there are several modifications of the Shmel RPO.

RPO-A is the most common modification. A flamethrower equipped with a thermobaric grenade. Used to defeat the enemy in shelters, also intended for combat operations in populated areas, can be used to destroy bunkers and lightly armored vehicles. Distance most effective aimed shooting RPO-A is 200–300 meters, the maximum is up to a kilometer. Combat rate of fire - 2 rounds per minute. Combat weight - 11 kg.

RPO-Z is what is called a classic flamethrower with an incendiary grenade. Used to create fires at enemy positions, in buildings, warehouses and other enemy objects.

RPO-D - fires a smoke grenade and is used to create smoke screens, as well as smoke the enemy in shelters. Moreover, this smoke is so strong that the enemy, who did not have time to jump out of cover, dies from suffocation.

MRO-A (small jet flamethrower) 72.5 mm caliber. A shortened version of the RPO-A, or, as it was also called by the troops, “Borodach”. It is designed specifically for combat operations in urban environments. Can be equipped with incendiary and smoke grenades. Effective range up to 70 meters, maximum - 450 meters.

In the early 2000s, the modernized Shmel-M flamethrower, also known under two indices - RPO-M and RPO PDM-A (increased range and power), entered service with the Russian Army. In the troops he received the nickname Priz. The weight of the flamethrower was reduced to 8.8 kg, but the power of the projectile was increased. The Shmel-M kit includes a reusable fire control complex - a set of optical, night and thermal imaging sights that are removed after the shot and installed on the following containers. There is also a special sight that can be combined with the eyepieces of a regular night vision scope. If "Shmel" was, in fact, a dynamo-reactive flamethrower, then "Shmel-M" became completely reactive, since the charge is ejected towards the target jet engine without a powder charge. But the main thing in the updated flamethrower is the new fuel mixture, thanks to which the power of the ammunition has increased many times over. Now, according to expert calculations, the RPO-M charge is superior to a 122-mm high-explosive projectile and equal to a 152-mm projectile self-propelled howitzer 2S19 MSTA-S. The firing range increased to 1700 meters.

DATA FOR 2014 (standard update)
"Shmel" RPO-A / RPO-D / RPO-Z

Single action infantry flamethrower. Developed by the Instrument Engineering Design Bureau (KBP, Tula). Development began in 1984 (in 1976 according to other data). Military tests of the RPO-A took place in Afghanistan in 1983-1984. ( East - Monetchikov). Adopted by the USSR SA Chemical Defense Troops in 1988 (later it became a combined arms type of weapon). The shot (capsule) is stabilized in flight by a drop-down stabilizer that imparts rotation. After using the flamethrower TPK, it cannot be reloaded and is thrown away. By default, the data for the RPO-A flamethrower.

Calculation- 1 person (pack of 2 RPO)

Guidance- diopter sight with reticle. The OPO / OPO-1 optical sight or the PON night sight can be used.

Performance characteristics of the sight PON:
- sight weight - 1.5 kg
- supply voltage - 1.5 volts
- current consumption - 100 mA
- magnification - 4x
- field of view angle - 8 degrees.
- target identification range - 300 m (person) / 500 m (equipment)

Starting device- TPK disposable - material - fiberglass on the frame. It is permissible to fire from premises with a volume of 60 cubic meters or more. (45 cubic meters according to instructions). The 9F700-2 simulator is used for training. The use of a flamethrower is possible from a pack (2 pcs).
Danger zone when shooting - rear sector 110 degrees, distance 47 m (according to instructions)
It is prohibited to use a flamethrower in open areas:
- lying down - at a distance of more than 200 m
- from the knee - at a distance of more than 400 m
- standing - with an elevation angle of more than 45 degrees.

Flamethrower performance characteristics:
Caliber - 93 mm
Length - 920 mm

Flamethrower weight - 11 kg / 12 kg (RPO-D and RPO-Z)
Shot weight - 6.5 kg (with engine)
Pack weight - 22 kg

Maximum firing range - 1000 m (1200 m according to other data)

Sighting firing range:
- diopter sight - 600 m
- OPO sight - 450 m
- sight OPO-1 - 850 m

Direct shot range at a target 3 m high - 200 m
Minimum firing range - 25 m (20 m according to instructions)
Initial speed - 125 +- 5 m/s
Deviation - 0.7-1 m (at a distance of 200 m)

Time to transfer to combat position - 30 seconds
Temperature range of application - from -50 to +50 degrees C
Guaranteed shelf life - 10 years

Warhead types:
- RPO-A - explosive fuel-air mixture (thermobaric shot / volumetric explosion ammunition), burns without detonation, the power is equivalent to a high-explosive 122 mm howitzer projectile (105 mm artillery shells according to the developer - KBP). In the nose of the charge there is a small cumulative charge for destroying barriers. Distinctive feature shot - two red stripes on the end cap of the flamethrower.
Temperature after detonation of the fire mixture - up to 800 degrees C
The volume of damage caused by an explosion indoors is 80 cubic meters (overpressure up to 4-7 kg/sq.cm)
Damage area in open areas - 50 sq.m (pressure discharge up to 0.4-0.8 kg/sq.cm within a radius of 5 m)
Capsule weight - 2.1 kg

RPO-D - a variant of equipping the Shmel flamethrower with a smoke shot. The smoky mist is intolerable to personnel without gas masks. A distinctive feature of the shot is a single red stripe on the end cap of the flamethrower.
Capsule weight - 2.3 kg
Length of the smoke strip - 55-90 m (depending on the wind, lifetime 1.2-2 minutes)

RPO-Z - a variant of the "Shmel" flamethrower with an incendiary shot. Causes fires on open areas localities and territories. A distinctive feature of the shot is a single yellow stripe on the end cap of the flamethrower.
Capsule weight - 2.3 kg
The volume of combustion in the room is 90-100 cubic meters for 5-7 seconds
Area of ​​burning on the ground - 300 sq.m / 20 fires

RPO-A flamethrower with a shot (http://ru.wikipedia.org).

RPO-A device (http://bratishka.ru):

The flamethrower is designed to disable enemy personnel located both in open areas and in various types structures, lightly armored and automotive vehicles, destruction of fortified buildings, above-ground or semi-buried structures made of stone, brick or concrete.

RPO PDM-A "Shmel-M" - a new generation of high-precision assault weapons, allowing you to decide wide range close combat fire support missions. The flamethrower is easy to use.

RPO PDM-A - modernization of the highly effective infantry rocket flamethrower "Shmel" providing:

• increasing the power of the warhead by 2 times;
• increase in firing range by 1.7 times;
• weight reduction by 1.3 times.

The flamethrower is always ready for immediate use. It is highly reliable and allows mobile movement over rough terrain. During storage, the flamethrower is not subject to maintenance.

Device

• Container designed to fire a shot, direct the ammunition to the target and ensure hermetically sealed packaging of the shell with equipment and the engine. The container consists of a pipe with flanges, on which are placed: a firing mechanism, sighting device, belt, connections to the pack (front and rear bands).

• Ammunition designed to hit a target. It represents a feathered artillery shell, turning in flight. The ammunition consists of a capsule filled with a fire mixture, a fuse and a block of ignition-explosive charge tablets.

The shell with equipment is attached to the engine using a collet.

Engine designed to impart speed to ammunition. Powder engine, separated from the ammunition in the barrel, with the flow of part of the powder gases into the behind-the-barrel space. It consists of a chamber, a propellant charge and an igniter.

Specifications

Video