M67 Recoilless Rifle

History of the M67 Recoilless Rifle

The recoilless rifle became the preeminent anti-tank weapon on the battlefield in the 1950s and 1960s as enemy armored personnel carriers (mostly Soviet in nature) became more and more effective. In the U.S. Army, the recoilless rifle follows the famous bazooka line of World War II (1939-1945) and includes designs like the M67. The recoilless rifle is named for its action, which reduces the recoil of the projectile by expelling some of the produced propellant gas out the back of the launch tube. The best modern interpretation of this weapon today is the Swedish M2 Carl Gustav 84mm.

Comparable weapons from this period include the famous Soviet RPG-7.

The M67 emerged from design work in the 1960s and entered service in time to witness combat action in the Vietnam War (1955-1975). The weapon system consists primarily of a long, bazooka-like launch tube with an integrated sighting device (telescope with Stadia Line distance measurement) and handle trigger area. Its "recoilless" design eliminates the need for complex recoil mechanisms, simplifying the weapon's general operation and mass production.

A hinge assembly at the rear of the barrel allows access to the breech for reloading. The 90mm caliber projectile was initially used for anti-tank purposes, but soon proved valuable when fighting fortifications. Anti-personnel rounds also allow for engagement with excavated enemy forces at a distance. A standard No. 3 M67 operator paired with a bipod and monopod support is provided along the length of the gun.

The heat shield is used to protect the main gunner from the heat generated by the launch tube during firing. The system has an overall weight of 38 pounds and an overall length of 53 inches.

The 90mm projectile is fired as a one-piece ammunition with the spent case ejected from the rear of the tube after firing. Reloading depends on local stock. The rate of fire is one round per minute, possibly five rounds per minute in extreme cases. Maximum engagement range is 2,300 yards. The M371 is designated as a practice round, while the M371A1 HEAT is the primary "high-explosive anti-tank" shaped projectile.

The M590 is used as an anti-infantry projectile.

Despite being relatively effective on the battlefield, the M67 proved to be a bulky weapon, long and heavy. The system requires three crew members to operate effectively. As a result, soldiers generally prefer the older modified bazookas (mostly the M20), which are more portable and have a similar effect on infantry with 60mm rockets. Additionally, the action of the M67 resulted in substantial (and dangerous) recoil that could eventually endanger nearby aircrews or allied forces. Nonetheless, the weapon has continued to function on the battlefield in the decades since its introduction.

It managed America's front-line military presence until the mid-1970s, although many were retained or stored and still operated by special forces. Since then, the anti-tank missile systems M47 "Dragon" and Hughes TOW have taken over the role of man-portable anti-tank missiles.

In addition to serving in the Vietnam War, the M67 also served in the El Salvador Civil War (1979-1992), where the United States supported the El Salvador government. With the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the need for man-portable anti-fortification/anti-personnel weapons was re-emphasized, and existing M67 stocks were restored to serve units such as the fabled 101st Airborne Division. The M67 has been in service today (2015) and continues almost 50 years after the weapon was introduced.

Surprisingly, as an anti-tank weapon, there is little information about its use or effectiveness against enemy tanks.

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