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Soviet RPG-7 Overview

Aug 8, 2025

Overview

This session explores the history, design, operation, and lasting impact of the Soviet RPG-7 anti-tank weapon, detailing its development, global usage, technical features, battlefield performance, and ongoing evolution as a key player in modern warfare.

Historical Development

  • The RPG-7 evolved from early Soviet anti-tank concepts dating back to 1931 with the RS-65.
  • Influences included the U.S. bazooka and German Panzerfaust, but Soviet engineers improved on these instead of copying them directly.
  • The RPG-1 and RPG-2 were significant developmental steps, introducing improved range, stability, and armor penetration.
  • RPG-2 entered service in the mid-1950s and proved effective in conflicts like Vietnam.
  • Further refinements led to the RPG-7, accepted into service in 1961, with notable input from designer VK Ferulin’s team.

Weapon Features and Operation

  • The RPG-7 launcher is a 40mm diameter, 957mm long chromed steel tube, rugged and corrosion-resistant.
  • Designed for ease of use, featuring pistol grips, safety mechanisms, and either iron sights or an optional PG07 optical sight.
  • The optical sight (PG07) allows for range estimation up to 1,000 meters with included filters and illumination for differing light conditions.
  • Wooden sheath and blast deflector enhance safety and user comfort.

Ammunition and Warhead Types

  • Supports various ammunition: high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT), tandem-charge, thermobaric, and anti-personnel rounds.
  • The PG7M HEAT round uses a piezoelectric fuse and a Monroe effect copper cone liner, penetrating up to 260mm of armor.
  • The booster charge and sustainer motor provide initial launch and in-flight propulsion, with stabilizing fins for accuracy.

Battlefield Use and Effectiveness

  • Used by both state and non-state actors in global conflicts from Vietnam to Afghanistan and Iraq.
  • Effective at short ranges, especially in urban environments where repeated hits can disable even heavily armored vehicles.
  • U.S. Abrams tanks and lighter vehicles have suffered functional losses due to concentrated RPG attacks.
  • Adapted for anti-aircraft roles, including notable incidents in Afghanistan and Mogadishu.

Countermeasures and Vehicle Protection

  • Extensive use led to innovations in vehicle armor, such as explosive reactive armor (ERA) and slat/bar armor.
  • Bar armor disrupts RPG detonation but adds weight and bulk, compromising vehicle maneuverability.
  • Field modifications (sandbags, track links, chain fencing) have been improvised in various conflicts.

Ongoing Evolution

  • Continuous development has produced more advanced variants, like the RPG-29, which has defeated modern main battle tanks in Iraq.
  • RPG-7's global proliferation and adaptability ensure it remains relevant in modern warfare.

Questions / Follow-Ups

  • How effective are the latest countermeasures against new-generation RPG variants?
  • What are the limits of RPG-7’s armor penetration against emerging tank technologies?

Full transcript