RPG-16 "Thunder" is designed to defeat armored enemy targets, its fortifications and shelters. Reactive antitank grenade launcher RPG-16 was developed in the late 1960s specifically for weapons Airborne troops of the USSR.
RPG-16 "Thunder" represents a further development of the RPG 7 grenade. The main differences from appeared a little earlier RPG-7 steel collapsible trunk and larger caliber with a grenade caliber warhead cumulative effect, which had, due to more powerful rocket motor, considerably greater effective range and accuracy of fire. Externally, the RPG-16 RPG-7 recalls, retaining some of its distinctive exterior features: pistol grip, plastic socket, optical sight
In contrast to the RPG-7, only one type of grenade was created for the RPG-16 – kumulyatyvnaya active-Reactive grenade PG-16B. RPG-16 is a smooth single-shot trigger type recoilless, with the back open hole.
To improve the accuracy of firing RPG-16 nominally completed with the two-legged folding bipod and optical sight PGO-16 multiplicity 2.7H. On the device is similar to a sight to sight PGO-7 RPG-7, but it has a different aiming reticle, calculated under grenade PG-16. In addition to the removable optical sight RPG-16 has a folding open sights, fixed to the front part of the stem. Sam trunk consists of two parts – front and rear, shared for carrying and landing to reduce the size of weapons.
Shooting is conducted with a shoulder, so the trunk is in the back of a special heat-insulating cover. In the rear part of the barrel a nozzle for discharging propellant gases, in front – fire control handle assembly with trigger mechanism (USM), and a short plastic forend. USM grenade electronic, ignition trigger pulse charge grenades carried electric current, generated when pressing the trigger. Left on the case USM is a manual safety.
Internal cylindrical pomegranate, when loading fits in the barrel grenade launcher. Starting grenades carried out by expelling charge dinamoreaktivny, located in the burned down a cardboard sleeve, attachable to the tail of the grenade before loading the. When fired portion of propellant gases lifting charge flows from the rear nozzle grenade, providing payment and creating recoil arrow depth behind the danger zone over 20 m. The launch of a rocket engine grenades carried out automatically, at a safe distance from the shooter.
Shot PG-16V for the RPG-16
Fire the RPG-16 is conducted antitank grenade PG-16V cumulative effect. Due to its high starting and march speed and low aerodynamic shape, and applying an effective optical sight and bipod, launcher has improved sighting firing range – to 800 m. Effective range up to 400 m. Because of this, the RPG-16 was very popular in the army and was actively used in local conflicts. In landing a disassembled grenade launcher and ammunition from five grenades stacked in a cloth pouch, portable calculation, consisting of two people.
The sight PGO-16 RPG-16
RPG-16 was successfully used by Soviet troops in Afghanistan to destroy the shelters and fortified firing points dushmans, allowing sighting bombard them with sufficiently large distances. At the same time, use grenades caliber small caliber resulted in a relatively low armor, to 300 millimeters homogenous steel armor, can not effectively deal with modern tanks, that eventually led to the withdrawal of the grenade with the arms in the late '80s – early 90-ies of XX century.
Tactic-technical characteristics of RPG-16
Caliber RPG-16
– 58,3 mm
All the RPG-16
– 10,3 kg
The dimensions of the RPG-16
– Length, mm: 1104/645
Blank range RPG-16
– 520 m
Sighting range RPG-16
– 800 m
Broneprobivaemostʹ RPG-16
– 300-320 mm
Speed grenade RPG-16
– 250 m / s
Weight grenades, kg: 2,05
Caliber head of the grenade, mm: 58,3
Photo RPG-16
