Weapon rpo. "Bumblebee" (flamethrower): description, photo

Reactive infantry flamethrower RPO-A "Shmel" in stowed position.

RPO-A "Shmel" infantry flamethrower in combat position, and a thermobaric shot assembled with a propellant charge next to it.

Caliber: 93 mm
Type: dynamo/recoilless
Length: 920 mm
Weight: 12 kg
Effective firing range: 200 m (1000 m maximum firing range)

Development of a disposable reactive (actually dynamo-reactive, i.e. recoilless) flamethrower for chemical forces Soviet army was started in 1984 at the Tula Instrument Design Bureau under the code designation "Shmel". In 1988, the chemical troops (RKhBZ troops) of the Soviet army received a disposable rocket infantry flamethrower "Shmel" in three basic versions - RPO-A with a thermobaric warhead, RPO-Zs with an incendiary firing unit and RPO-D with a smoke warhead (for instant setting up a smoke curtain). The main version of the "Bumblebee" was the RPO-A variant with a thermobaric warhead, otherwise also called volumetric explosion ammunition (Fuel-Air Explosive in English terminology, that is, a fuel-air explosive mixture). "Shmel" grenade launchers are still in service Russian army and other law enforcement agencies.
The name "thermobaric" combat unit RPO-A received due to two main damaging factors, arising from the explosion of a sprayed cloud of fuel-air mixture - a shock wave (zone high blood pressure) And high temperature in a burning cloud of the mixture (in this case, the fiery cloud itself exists for a very long time by “explosive” standards - up to 0.3 - 0.4 seconds, which ensures a high incendiary effect). The operating principle of a thermobaric warhead consists of spraying (using a small expulsion charge) a fuel aerosol into the air and subsequent ignition of the resulting flammable cloud. Due to the fact that the explosion (combustion of the fuel-air mixture) occurs immediately in a significant volume (the diameter of the fire cloud when the RPO-A warhead is triggered can reach 6-7 meters), reliable destruction of living and lightly protected targets located inside and nearby by the cloud, destruction of buildings and etc. Before ignition, the cloud of fuel aerosol also tends to “flow” (penetrate) into windows, embrasures and cracks of shelters, trenches, ensuring that when it is ignited, it hits targets that are not in the “line of sight” zone from the point of impact and activation of the warhead. It should also be especially noted that the term “vacuum ammunition” sometimes used in relation to thermobaric ammunition is categorically incorrect and illiterate, because When a cloud of fuel-air mixture is ignited, air oxygen (constituting only about 20% of the atmospheric composition) reacts with the fuel and produces a large volume of hot combustion products, i.e. the pressure in the detonation zone increases sharply, rather than decreases.
For RPO-A, the mass of the fuel mixture is approximately 2.2 kg, which in terms of high-explosive effect on the target is equivalent to 6-7 kg of TNT or the explosion of a 107mm high-explosive artillery shell.

The RPO-A "Shmel" infantry jet flamethrower consists of a disposable launcher in the form of a tube-barrel, factory equipped with a feathered warhead and a propellant charge (motor) attached to it at the rear. The launching device is equipped with folding handles for holding weapons, trigger and safety mechanisms and folding sights in the form of a fixed front sight and a folding rear sight with a set of diopter holes for different firing ranges. The grenade launcher round is a thin-walled metal capsule filled with fuel, incendiary mixture or smoke mixture, with rear-mounted stabilizers made of thin spring steel, in the normal position "wrapped" around the body of the capsule. When fired powder charge located in the engine, pushes the capsule out of the barrel, while the engine itself remains in the barrel and after the capsule exits, it is ejected by residual pressure from the launch tube back, several meters. After the shot, the launch tube is ejected. For transportation, two launching devices can be combined into a single bale for transportation using special fasteners (a standard completed bale includes RDO-A and RPO-D, however, troops often repack the bales before going on a combat mission to ensure the desired configuration in combat conditions ).

The flamethrower is designed to disable enemy personnel located both in open areas and in various types structures, lightly armored and automotive vehicles, destruction of fortified buildings, above-ground or semi-buried structures made of stone, brick or concrete.

RPO PDM-A "Shmel-M" - a new generation of high-precision assault weapons, allowing you to decide wide range close combat fire support missions. The flamethrower is easy to use.

RPO PDM-A - modernization of the highly effective infantry rocket flamethrower "Shmel" providing:

• increasing the power of the warhead by 2 times;
• increase in firing range by 1.7 times;
• weight reduction by 1.3 times.

The flamethrower is always ready for immediate use. It is highly reliable and allows mobile movement over rough terrain. During storage, the flamethrower is not subject to maintenance.

Device

• Container designed to fire a shot, direct the ammunition at the target and ensure hermetically sealed packaging of the shell with equipment and the engine. The container consists of a pipe with flanges; it contains: a firing mechanism, an aiming device, a belt, and connection units for a pack (front and rear bands).

• Ammunition designed to hit a target. It represents a feathered artillery shell, turning in flight. The ammunition consists of a capsule filled with a fire mixture, a fuse and a block of ignition-explosive charge tablets.

The shell with equipment is attached to the engine using a collet.

Engine designed to impart speed to ammunition. Powder engine, separated from the ammunition in the barrel, with the flow of part of the powder gases into the behind-the-barrel space. It consists of a chamber, a propellant charge and an igniter.

Specifications

Video

The RPO-A 93-mm infantry jet flamethrower is the individual weapon of a flamethrower. It is designed to destroy enemy manpower located openly or located in long-term fire and other fortifications, as well as its military equipment and other objects.

Purpose and combat properties of the RPO flamethrower

Characteristics of the 93-mm rocket infantry flamethrower RPO-A (Shmel)

Maximum firing range - 1200 m

Sighting range - 600 m

Combat rate of fire 2 rounds per minute.

Initial speed ammunition flight - 130 m per second

Combat weight - 11 kg

Caliber - 93 mm

Flamethrower length - 920 mm

Application temperature from -50 to + 50 degrees

The given zone of destruction of openly located manpower is 50 square meters.

Purpose of the 93-mm rocket infantry flamethrower RPO-A (Shmel)

The RPO-A 93-mm infantry jet flamethrower is the individual weapon of a flamethrower. It is designed to destroy enemy manpower located openly or located in long-term fire and other fortifications, as well as its military equipment and other objects.

The target firing range of a flamethrower with a diopter sight is 600 m, with an optical OPO - 450 m, OPO-1 - 850 m. The optical sight ensures successful firing at dusk, on a moonlit night and cloudy weather.

The RPO-A flamethrower is a single-use weapon, cannot be reloaded, and is thrown away after use.

RPO-A flamethrowers turned out to be very effective weapon for fighting in the city. They were used as follows: a group of infantrymen, through their actions, provoked the enemy to open fire. Another group with intense fire prevented the enemy from maneuvering (pressing them to the floor), and the flamethrowers deployed at an advantageous line practically destroyed several firing points in one salvo.

General design of the RPO-A flamethrower

The flamethrower consists of the following components: container, ammunition, collet and engine.

Container designed to fire a shot, direct the ammunition at the target and ensure hermetically sealed packaging of the shell with equipment and the engine.

Engine designed to impart speed to ammunition. Powder engine, separated from the ammunition in the barrel, with the flow of part of the powder gases into the space behind the projectile.

Ammunition designed to hit a target. It is a feathered artillery shell that rotates in flight. The ammunition has a capsule filled with a fire mixture. The fire mixture is designed to hit a target.

When fired, the powder gases formed during the combustion of the propellant charge accelerate the ammunition through the container by the pressure of the gases entering the space behind the projectile. Some of the gases enter the gap between the shell and the container, balancing the pressure of the fire mixture on the walls of the shell that occurs during the shot. The front cover of the container is thrown back by air pressure compressed between the shell and the cover, clearing the way for the ammunition to fly out. At the same time, powder gases, passing through the nozzle holes of the engine, throw the liners securing the engine back from the container. When the ammunition leaves the barrel, the wings of the reference point are straightened under the action of elastic forces. When the ammunition meets the target, the impact mechanism of the fuse is triggered, causing the detonation of the ignition-explosive charge, the combustion products of which rupture the tube, the shell of the ammunition, ignite the fire mixture and scatter it on the target.

Parts and mechanisms of the RPO-A flamethrower

With proper care, proper conservation and careful handling, a flamethrower is a reliable and trouble-free weapon. However, as a result of careless handling of the flamethrower, contamination, and breakdown of the trigger mechanism, there may be delays in firing. If there is a delay in firing, it is necessary to re-cock the firing mechanism and repeat the shot. If the shot does not fire when re-cocking, the flamethrower should be destroyed.

Safety precautions when firing an RPO flamethrower

1. Persons who have thoroughly studied its structure and operating rules are allowed to fire a flamethrower.

2. When the flamethrower is located in an open area near various solid barriers (walls, etc.), including objects military equipment located in danger zone, the distance between the flamethrower and the barrier must be at least 3 m at the back, at least 1 m at the side. When the flamethrower is located indoors, the distance between the flamethrower and the wall located at the rear must be at least 6 m, at the side - at least 1 m; The volume of the room must be at least 45 cubic meters.

3. When firing from a prone position, the legs and body of the flamethrower should be located at an angle of 600 to the axis of the flamethrower.

4.When aiming, the flamethrower's eye should

be pressed against the eyecup of the optical sight.

5. On flat terrain in an unprepared position, shooting from the following positions is prohibited:

Lying at a distance of more than 200 m;

From the knee to a distance of more than 400 m.

- use a pack or a separate flamethrower as a means of protection from bullets and shrapnel

Fire without making sure that there are no parts of the belt on the rear end of the flamethrower;

Remove the trigger mechanism from the safety lock until the target is detected;

Shoot at targets located closer than 20 m.

There should be no obstacles in the area up to 20 m;

Throw a flamethrower.

7. Carrying, loading and unloading of flamethrowers is carried out in compliance with precautions to prevent them from falling. If the flamethrower accidentally falls onto the ground from a height of up to 0.5 m. And there is no external damage, the flamethrower is allowed for use. If the flamethrower accidentally falls from a height of 0.5 to 3 m, its performance is not guaranteed. In case of accidental fall from a height of more than 3 m, the flamethrower must be destroyed in accordance with the established procedure.

8. When any component of the flamethrower is struck by a bullet or shrapnel, detonation does not occur. However, the flamethrower poses a danger due to the possibility of it catching fire or triggering.

As it became known in 2011, infantry mobile flamethrowers of a completely new modification - RPO PDM-A "Shmel-M" - will be in service with the military units of biological, radiation and chemical defense (RKhBZ) of the Russian Ground Forces. This type has a significant firing range and enormous power. “Shmel-M” is designed to destroy enemy personnel, which are located primarily in various types of buildings and defensive structures, to disable automobile and lightly armored vehicles, to destroy fortified objects, ground or semi-buried structures built of stone, brick or concrete. The new flamethrower fires a rocket-propelled shot from thermobaric ammunition, which is located in a disposable fiberglass transport and launch container. The damaging factors of the ammunition are a high-temperature field, as well as a high-pressure zone with a significant duration of exposure. Jet mobile infantry flamethrower with increased range and power RPO PDM-A (“Shmel-M”) is a completely new generation of high-precision mobile assault weapons that allows you to solve a wide range of combat missions in fire support ground forces in close combat.

In terms of effectiveness of impact directly in close combat on all types of selected targets with the exception of tanks, it is not inferior to 152 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile.

As the commander-in-chief of the RKhBZ troops, Major General Evgeniy Starkov, stated, “modern RPO PDM-A Shmel-M flamethrowers are capable of hitting manpower probable enemy in shelters, as well as lightly armored vehicles at a distance of up to 1.7 kilometers, sighting range shooting - up to 800 meters.

Citing an official representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Russian news agency "" reported that such flamethrowers "were used during the operation to force Tbilisi to peace." This information was later refuted official representative Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The statement indicated that indeed prototypes RPO PDM-A "Shmel-M" were in service during the conflict, but their use was abandoned due to the lack of need.

Calculation- 1 person (probably a pack of 2 RPO)

Guidance- diopter sight. Can be applied optical sight, incl. night.

Starting device- Disposable TPK with a reusable starting device.

Rocket (shot)- equipped with a starting solid propellant rocket motor attached to ammunition. The solid propellant rocket charge burns out completely when the projectile moves along the RPO barrel.

Caliber- 90 mm
Length- 940 mm

Flamethrower weight- 8.8 kg

Maximum firing range- 1700 m
Sighting firing range- 800 m
Direct shot range at a target height of 3.5 m- 300 m

Warhead types:
- RPO PDM-A - explosive fuel-air mixture (thermobaric shot / volumetric explosion ammunition), burns without detonation, power is equivalent to a 152 mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile (according to KBP). In the nose of the charge there is a small cumulative charge for destroying barriers. Compared to the RPO-A, the power of the warhead is increased by 2 times.
Mixture weight - 3.2 kg

Status: Russia
- 2004 - the flamethrower was adopted by the Russian Armed Forces.
- 2011 - within the framework of the arms purchase program for 2011-2020. It is planned to supply RPO PDM-A flamethrowers to the troops.

Export- no data (2010).

Caliber: 93 mm

Type: dynamo/recoilless

Length: 920 mm

Weight: 12 kg

Effective firing range: 200 m (1000 m maximum firing range)

The development of a disposable reactive (actually dynamo-reactive, i.e. recoilless) flamethrower for the chemical forces of the Soviet Army began in 1984 in the Tula Instrument Design Bureau under the code designation “Bumblebee”. In 1988, the chemical troops (RKhBZ troops) of the Soviet army received a disposable infantry jet flamethrower "Shmel" in three basic versions - RPO-A with a thermobaric warhead, RPO-Zs with an incendiary firing unit and RPO-D with a smoke warhead (for instant setting up a smoke curtain).

The main version of the "Bumblebee" was the RPO-A variant with a thermobaric warhead, otherwise also called volumetric explosion ammunition (Fuel-Air Explosive in English terminology, that is, a fuel-air explosive mixture). The Shmel grenade launchers are still in service with the Russian Army and other law enforcement agencies.

The RPO-A warhead received the name “thermobaric” because of two main damaging factors that arise from the explosion of a sprayed cloud of fuel-air mixture - a shock wave (high pressure zone) and high temperature in the burning cloud of the mixture (while the fire cloud itself exists for a very long time). By “explosive” standards, the time is up to 0.3 - 0.4 seconds, which ensures a high incendiary effect). The operating principle of a thermobaric warhead consists of spraying (using a small expulsion charge) a fuel aerosol into the air and subsequent ignition of the resulting flammable cloud.

Due to the fact that the explosion (combustion of the fuel-air mixture) occurs immediately in a significant volume (the diameter of the fire cloud when the RPO-A warhead is triggered can reach 6-7 meters), reliable destruction of living and lightly protected targets located inside and nearby by the cloud, destruction of buildings and etc. Before ignition, the cloud of fuel aerosol also tends to “flow” (penetrate) into windows, embrasures and cracks of shelters, trenches, ensuring that when it is ignited, it hits targets that are not in the “line of sight” zone from the point of impact and activation of the warhead.

It should also be especially noted that the term “vacuum ammunition” sometimes used in relation to thermobaric ammunition is categorically incorrect and illiterate, because When a cloud of fuel-air mixture is ignited, air oxygen (constituting only about 20% of the atmospheric composition) reacts with the fuel and produces a large volume of hot combustion products, i.e. the pressure in the detonation zone increases sharply, rather than decreases.

For RPO-A, the mass of the fuel mixture is approximately 2.2 kg, which in terms of high-explosive effect on the target is equivalent to 6-7 kg of TNT or the explosion of a 107mm high-explosive artillery shell.

RPO-A "Shmel" consists of a disposable launching device in the form of a tube-barrel, equipped in the factory with a feathered warhead and a propellant charge (motor) attached to it at the rear. The launching device is equipped with folding handles for holding weapons, trigger and safety mechanisms and folding sights in the form of a fixed front sight and a folding rear sight with a set of diopter holes for different firing ranges.

The grenade launcher round is a thin-walled metal capsule filled with fuel, incendiary mixture or smoke mixture, with rear-mounted stabilizers made of thin spring steel, in the normal position "wrapped" around the body of the capsule. When fired, the powder charge located in the engine pushes the capsule out of the barrel, while the engine itself remains in the barrel and, after the capsule exits, is ejected by residual pressure from the launch tube back, several meters.

After the shot, the launch tube is ejected. For transportation, two launching devices can be combined into a single bale for transportation using special fasteners (a standard completed bale includes RDO-A and RPO-D, however, troops often repack the bales before going on a combat mission to ensure the desired configuration in combat conditions ).