This bulletin will focus on the RPG-7 antitank grenade launcher, the most numerous and widely distributed of all the Soviet antitank weapons. Introduced in 1962, is now the standard Soviet and Warsaw Pack squad antitank weapon (except in Czechoslovakia which has a weapon of its own design similar to the older Russian RPG-2). The RPG-7 has been a standard weapon in the Israeli inventory since 1967. It has been used in Northern Ireland where it has been reportedly fired from inside buildings. Of all the Soviet antitank weapons, the RPG-7 is probably the best known to U.S. commanders. In Vietnam its efficiency in all types of combat, including fire at helicopters, was well established after its introduction in 1967. This bulletin describes the RPG-7: how it works, the capabilities and weakness of the weapon, its crew training and its tactical employment. These factors provide considerations for developing effective countermeasures against the RPG-7 and, finally, thoughts on training to insure countermeasures are learned before the battle starts.
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