Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle
The Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle (Swedish pronunciation: [kɑːɭ ˈɡɵ̂sːtav], named after Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori, which initially produced it) is a Swedish-developed 84 mm (3.3 in) caliber shoulder-fired recoilless rifle, initially developed by the Royal Swedish Army Materiel Administration during the second half of the 1940s as a crew-served man-portable infantry support gun for close-range multi-role anti-armour, anti-personnel, battlefield illumination, smoke screening and marking fire, which has seen great export success around the globe and continues to be a popular multi-purpose support weapon in use by many nations. The Carl Gustaf 84 mm recoilless rifle is a lightweight, low-cost weapon that uses a wide range of ammunition, which makes it extremely flexible and suitable for a wide variety of roles.
| Carl-Gustaf 84 mm Recoilless Rifle | |
|---|---|
Carl Gustaf M4 anti-tank weapon | |
| Type | Shoulder-fired recoilless rifle (crew-served multi-role infantry support gun) |
| Place of origin | Sweden |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1948–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | See Wars |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Hugo Abramson, Sigfrid Akselson and Harald Jentzen |
| Designed |
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| Manufacturer | Saab Bofors Dynamics (formerly Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori), Howa (license) |
| Unit cost |
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| Specifications | |
| Mass | M2: 14.2 kg (31 lb) M3: 10 kg (22 lb) M4/M3E1: 6.6 kg (15 lb) |
| Length | (M2) 1,130 mm (44 in) (M4/M3E1) 950 mm (37 in) |
| Crew | Two (gunner and loader), but may be used by a single operator at a reduced rate of fire. |
| Cartridge | 84 × 245 mm R RCL |
| Caliber | 84 mm (3.31 in) |
| Action | Recoilless, single-shot, breechloader, laterally, percussion fired |
| Rate of fire | 6 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 230–255 m/s (750–840 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range |
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| Feed system | Hinged breech |
| Sights | Open (iron) sights; optical 3× laser rangefinder; image intensification system |
Development of the initial model started from 1946 as one of the many recoilless rifle designs of that era, based on the experience from the earlier Carl Gustaf 20 mm recoilless rifle and the success of man-portable rocket launchers during World War II, such as the Bazooka and Panzerschreck. Production of the initial model was handled by Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori led by Försvarets Fabriksverk (FFV) and the weapon received the designation 8,4 cm granatgevär m/48, (8,4 cm grg m/48 – "8,4 cm grenade rifle", model 1948) in Swedish service. FFV would continue to further develop the weapon for the international market, later being merged into Saab Bofors Dynamics which handles development and export today. While similar weapons have generally disappeared from service, the Carl Gustaf is still in production and remains in widespread use today.