APAV40 (Anti-Personnel / Anti-Vehicule, 40mm)

History

Rifle grenades received a lot of attention in the early part of the last century, when the Japanese conducted various experiments to give their marksmen a grenade-throwing capability that far exceeded normal throwing motions. This eventually led to the widespread use of a projectile attached to the muzzle end of a service rifle - usually via some kind of adapter - the propellant of the projectile was driven by local ignition - the "blank" cartridge usually inserted into it became a normally fired chamber rifle.

During World War I (1914-1918), the French adopted rifle grenades in large numbers, and other world powers soon followed suit, gaining an advantage on the battlefield.

In modern times, the grenade launch capability is still part of the infantry company, and several variants of the basic concept are used - the down-barrel grenade launcher (UBGL) and dedicated stand-alone grenade launchers are common equipment. Some armed forces keep rifle grenades as standard, including the French Army, which uses the "APAV 40" dual-role solution backed by its FAMAS bullpup assault rifle.

This rifle grenade was designed in the mid-1950s.

The APAV 40 is a rocket-shaped projectile that can be used to attack enemy infantry or lightly armored vehicles being excavated by indirect or direct line-of-sight fire. In the former, the projectile hits the infantry with a shattered body, throwing shards of metal across an area, piercing/cutting. This is often useful for driving, maiming, or killing stubborn foes from a distance.

For the latter role, the projectile is designed to penetrate armor up to 100 mm thick, and its direct-fire action is aided by the "Alidade" targeting system, an attachment mounted on the front of the FAMAS carrying handle. The attachment has a range of up to 100 meters to ensure a certain level of accuracy at range. The grenade has a blunt nose for impact and a fin for stabilization during ballistics. It has a caliber of 40 mm, an overall weight of 405 grams and an overall length of 352 mm.

Its portability allows the shooter to carry multiple rifle grenades into battle. The filler consists of a mixture of Hexogen-Tolit (RDX-TNT).

The original APAV 40 F1 model required blank drive from an assault rifle. The more modern variant, the APAV 40 F2, now relies on a live-fire system with a rear stop.

The AC58 is another rifle grenade adopted by the French Army, developed for the anti-tank role. FAMAS rifles also support this weapon.

Specification

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Dimensions

Performance

Changes