#RPG

While it won’t ever be as close to the real thing as you want, you now have a chance to own a replica RPG-7. Atlantic Firearms has for sale on their site right now new production RPG-7s made from cold-cast poly-resin and fiberglass – much more durable than other replica models on the market. These new models are available now along with a couple of their other replica firearms including the Browning BA M1918A2, as well as the M60.

Atlantic Firearms just announced that they have imported used, but now inert, RPG-2 recoilless launchers that are now for sale. The surplus RPG-2 (which are recoilless weapon not rocket launchers as many believe) have a circular hole cut into the receiver to make them inoperative, and incapable of being reactivated. They will also come with a dummy rocket, though Atlantic Firearm’s CEO, Blaine, explained that they will have dummy rockets available separately as well, and the RPG-2’s will have a standalone option as well. Atlantic Firearms’ description can be read below, followed by Blaine’s descriptive video.

Thousands of Chinese Type 56 assault rifles, hundreds of PKM machine guns, sniper rifles and rocket-propelled grenades launchers together with dozens of advanced Russian-made anti-tank guided missiles were found and interdicted on a stateless dhow in the North Arabian Sea. The guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey, part of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, intercepted the boat and discovered the cargo during a routine boarding.

The following is a brief history of the Chinese Type-70 Anti-tank Launcher, a weapon that was never effectively deployed in combat, falling in between other weapon platforms.

The war in Syria and Iraq has seen the development of a whole range of scratchbuilt and improvised weapons that are as ingenious as they are destructive. Recently, a kind of serially-produced rocket launcher has come to light as part of Da’ish (ISIS) propaganda, which appears to demonstrate a capability to serially produce clandestine weapons of a fairly high degree of sophistication. The weapon, a multipurpose missile launcher with a high explosive warhead, is unassuming and appears roughly equivalent to the US AT4, though cruder. It is a simple tube with almost no fittings or sights, a carrying/support handle, and a safety pin securing a fold-out firing grip.

RPGs. Who hasn’t considered getting their hands on one just once – once! – and unloading on something, be it a building, vehicle, or some other inanimate object. The appeal is certainly there, and although it cannot be considered forgotten, the RPG-7 recently found its way onto Forgotten Weapons’ YouTube channel.

Check out this teaser video form Triggers on The Military Channel. They fire RPGs and blow stuff up. Much better than Tannerite explosions.

The US Army has tested – to some degree – Airtronic USA Inc.’s “Amerikanski” RPG-7 rocket launcher. From Kit Up!:

A video going around the interwebs shows a child in Libya shooting an RPG while two adults and the cameraman watch. A man helps steady the launcher on the boys shoulder, which is longer than he is tall, before stepping back and letting him fire it towards the sea in an upwards trajectory.

After maybe the AK family, no other weapon platform has as much impact on non-Western warfare than the humble RPG-7. Introduced in 1961 by the Soviet Union, the weapon can be used as poor man’s indirect artillery (guerrillas have adapted the RPG to launch 82mm mortar rounds), anti-amour, anti-personal or even as a bunker buster depending on the ammunition used. It punches far above its weight. If the weapon had not cemented itself in the mind of the Western public by the end of the Cold War, the downing of the two Blackhawk helicopters by RPGs in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993 did the trick.

[ This guest post was written by Charles Gaines ]

Last week I went to see the movie Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen and I really enjoyed it. It is not the type of movie that will provide intellectual stimulation, an emotional experience or give insight into human character, but it is very entertaining. For those of you who are not familiar with the Transformer story, is basically about an intergalactic war between two races of robots that is being fought on Earth. There are good guys, the Autobots, who are allied with humans, and the Decepticons, who want to wipe out both Autobots and humans. UPDATE: Matt corrects my ignorance about the Transformers story in the comments below.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in the UK is developing a new type of armor for vehicles that is cheaper and lighter to produce. It is made from ultra hard steel and covered in holes.

A man in Papua New Guinea was caught trying to transport an RPG launcher and nine grenades in his plane luggage.

Greek company Soukos Robots S.A. have began to export their anti-RPG technology to Raytheon for use by the the US Army. From ΕΦΗΜΕΡΙΔΑ (Translated by enallos at MP.net):