Army fielding Carl Gustov service wide. [Archive]

C-grunt

03-11-14, 23:14

http://www.funker530.com/the-carl-gustav-is-returning-to-all-u-s-infantry-units/

I never used this system but it seems to be a very effective multi use tool. Carrying a bunch of AT4s to use against enemy cover would be a pain. But one or two Gustovs and a bunch of rounds shouldn't take up a whole lot of space.

Heavy Metal

03-11-14, 23:51

Isn't the AT-4 essentially a throw-away, single-shot Cark Gustav?

I know the Rangers have been using the Carl G for a good while now.

C-grunt

03-12-14, 00:49

Yeah. So instead of carrying a bunch of single shot rockets you could have one launcher and multiple rounds. Should be a lot less cumbersome.

ZGXtreme

03-12-14, 01:06

Just from the photo I saw, is this just a SMAW?

NWPilgrim

03-12-14, 01:17

Yeah. So instead of carrying a bunch of single shot rockets you could have one launcher and multiple rounds. Should be a lot less cumbersome.

Gee, why didn't someone think of that 80 years ago? You could've called it something snappy like panzerfaust, or cryptic like RPG, or even a funny name like BAZOOKA?!

C-grunt

03-12-14, 02:16

Just from the photo I saw, is this just a SMAW?

Similar but not the same.

Moose-Knuckle

03-12-14, 03:32

Gee, why didn't someone think of that 80 years ago? You could've called it something snappy like panzerfaust, or cryptic like RPG, or even a funny name like BAZOOKA?!

:lol:

GTF425

03-12-14, 04:25

Good ol Goose Goose.

Much better than humping a bunch of SMAW-Ds or AT4s and a hell of a lot more versatile. The HEDP will punch right through a Qalat wall.

Wake27

03-12-14, 05:24

IIRC it has increased range over the AT4 too.

RyanB

03-12-14, 06:28

USASOC got big Army to buy in so they could get them off of the Army budget instead of their own... still though, good move.

Straight Shooter

03-12-14, 06:51

What does it do that a SMAW doesn't?

GTF425

03-12-14, 07:05

What does it do that a SMAW doesn't?

The HE round for use against ground forces.

*ETA: Which is precisely why I like seeing this going to every Infantry unit. The 40mm HEDP sucks against troops in the open and, at this time, we have to rely on 60mm mortars. Having this at the Platoon level will be a game changer.

Rangers knew that in the 80's, and the 82nd have quite a few in the inventory. I hadn't trained with one until I PCS'd to Bragg and I'm a big fan of the system.

GTF425

03-12-14, 07:09

IIRC it has increased range over the AT4 too.

Yep. Much longer max effective range.

NCPatrolAR

03-12-14, 07:27

and the 82nd have quite a few in the inventory. I hadn't trained with one until I PCS'd to Bragg and I'm a big fan of the system.

Is that a recent change (well; inside the last 12 years)? Never saw any while I was there.

When I was in Europe we still had the M202 Flash sitting in the arms room

GTF425

03-12-14, 07:30

Is that a recent change (well; inside the last 12 years)? Never saw any while I was there.

When I was in Europe we still had the M202 Flash sitting in the arms room

I don't know how far back that goes, but all of our E6s have been running it for years and I did two ranges with it last year. They aren't in our arms room, but they are in the Brigade somewhere. Probably the D Co's that have them.

Failure2Stop

03-12-14, 08:26

What does it do that a SMAW doesn't?

Everything.
It's just a better, smarter system.
The USMC suffered from some incredibly stupid procurement/acquisitions from about 1985 through 2007.

Apricotshot

03-12-14, 08:48

Just from the photo I saw, is this just a SMAW?

Its a little smaller system than the SMAW and the ammo is lighter. I'd hate to hump heavier rockets and the bigger launcher. Ol'Carl is sized just right.

ABNAK

03-12-14, 21:59

Isn't the AT-4 essentially a throw-away, single-shot Cark Gustav?

I know the Rangers have been using the Carl G for a good while now.

Hell, my infantry BN in Panama in the mid 80's still had M67 90mm recoilless rifles in the line companies. Guess they were for "bunker busting" in the jungle.

R0N

03-13-14, 04:07

Its a little smaller system than the SMAW and the ammo is lighter. I'd hate to hump heavier rockets and the bigger launcher. Ol'Carl is sized just right.

When the Mk153 was fielded the M2 instead of the M3 was the available system and its empty launcher was 22.5 lbs

R0N

03-13-14, 04:10

The reason the B300 was used as a base for the SMAW instead of the M2 KG was at the time of fielding NSWC developed a specific warhead and the B300 provided to the best host for it. Also there was a desire to have a round of ammo that did not need to be handled, there was historical aversion to rockets/rounds that could be handled because they could be effected by environmental conditions that happened with the Vietnam SWAW system.

wild_wild_wes

03-13-14, 21:43

Any chance the Marines will end up adopting it too?

GTF425

03-14-14, 00:57

Any chance the Marines will end up adopting it too?

Doubtful. They have the SMAW.

R0N

03-14-14, 03:50

SMAWII or Serpent is still in the works at this time.

Cagemonkey

03-14-14, 15:27

Just like replacing the M60 MG with with the M240(FN MAG58) which preceded it, their now adopting the Carl Gustav Recoilless Rifle which has been in service in different variant since the 1950's by the majority of NATO nations. Oh the irony. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Gustav_recoilless_rifle Better late then never I guess. Glad to see the new SMAWII has gotten rid of the spotting rifle component. The great thing about the CG M3 is its large variety of munitions, accuracy and rate of fire.