Armbrust

Armbrust
An Armbrust launcher (via Iraq OIG).
Type	Anti-tank weapon
Place of origin	West Germany
Service history
Used by	See Users
Wars	Cambodian–Vietnamese War Croatian War of Independence Slovenian War of Independence Cambodian–Thai border stand-off 2013 Lahad Datu standoff
Production history
Designer	Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB)
Manufacturer	Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) Pouderies Réunies de Belgique (PRB) ST Kinetics (STK)
Variants	Armbrust AT, Armbrust AP, Armbrust Ub, Armbrust SC
Specifications
Weight	6.3 kg (13 lb 14 oz)
Length	850 mm (2 ft 9 in)
Width	126 mm (5.0 in)
Height	140 mm (5.5 in)
Caliber	67 mm (2.6 in)
Action	Recoilless weapon
Muzzle velocity	210 m/s (690 ft/s)
Effective firing range	300 m (980 ft)
Maximum firing range	1,500 m (4,900 ft)
Feed system	Single shot
Sights	Reticle, externally illuminated for night

External images

Armbrust 1980s brochure photos

Soldier firing Armbrust

Details of Armbrust and cut-away drawing

Details of firing of Armbrust low launch signature

Details of Armbrust anti-armour and anti-personnel projectiles

Armbrust (German: Crossbow) is a lightweight unguided anti-tank weapon designed and developed by Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm of Germany, who later sold its manufacturing rights to Chartered Industries of Singapore (the predecessor of ST Kinetics).

The Armbrust is a recoilless weapon, and is one of the few weapons of this kind that may safely be fired in an enclosed space. The propellant charge is placed between two pistons with the projectile in front of one and a mass of shredded plastic in the rear. Unlike most recoilless weapons, it is a true counter-shot weapon, as the mass of the projectile is equal to the mass of the counterweight and they are ejected from the barrel at the same initial velocity. When the weapon is fired, the propellant expands, pushing the two pistons out. The projectile is forced out of the front and the plastic out of the back. The plastic disperses on leaving the back of the barrel, and is quickly stopped by air resistance. The pistons jam at either end of the barrel, locking the hot gases inside. Its warhead can penetrate up to 300 mm of armoured steel.

Since 2004, Armbrusts are gradually being replaced by the Israeli-German-Singapore co-developed MATADOR.

During the Cambodian–Vietnamese War, Armbrust was supplied to the Cambodian Khmer Rouge. It was used in their fight against the Cambodian government, as well as against the invading Vietnamese Army.