Originally Posted by seth

I would ask why western armies (especially USA) use personal (shoulders) anti-tank launchers "for one use", like AT-4, LAW, Predator. Why they don't use "bazooka" or "rpg" style launchers, where soldier can carry more ammunition.

You can write your opinion of which style is better.

If you ever pick up a LAW, you'd notice something right away. Its really really light. Lighter than the 45 handgun I had picked up right before the LAW. Single-fire anti-tank weapons are a lot less of a pain in the ass to pack along with you.

Originally Posted by Wheezcellbert

RPGs are still versatile and good. Of course it sucks to get caught in the fire that comes out the back. Saw a guy get his foot burned from an rpg.

Same issue with the AT-4 aswell, pretty sure the M72 have the same problem.

Originally Posted by AlexKall

Same issue with the AT-4 aswell, pretty sure the M72 have the same problem.

Happens on all shoulder fire rockets.

Originally Posted by AlexKall

Same issue with the AT-4 aswell, pretty sure the M72 have the same problem.

As long as you know how to handle the weapon and keep clear of the back blast you encounter no problems. Guess that applies to a number of weapons.

Originally Posted by sunb!

As long as you know how to handle the weapon and keep clear of the back blast you encounter no problems. Guess that applies to a number of weapons.

Yes I know, just making it clear that the weapon someone spoke of wasnt the only one

Originally Posted by AlexKall

Yes I know, just making it clear that the weapon someone spoke of wasnt the only one

How about the Eryx, Milan and Javelin? Anyone who knows? I recall the Eryx ignites the rocket engine a few meters away from the platform?

How does the initial "boost" take place? Must be something that pushes it out of the tube, just a question of what and in what way

The Eryx can "soft launch" where it'll pop out of the tube at a low speed (for a missile) and then boost to full power when a few hundred meters away from the control unit. It can do this because it uses thrust vectoring instead of fin stabalization, so it can hold an accurate flight path at those low speeds.

How about the Eryx, Milan and Javelin? Anyone who knows? I recall the Eryx ignites the rocket engine a few meters away from the platform?

Yeah they still have a back blast, in order to launch it out of the tube. The javelin for example fires straight out, then the main engine kicks in and it boosts up in a big way. The idea is just to reduce the back blast danger area... but there is still one.

Originally Posted by sunb!

The Norwegian Army use both the Carl Gustav recoilless cannon and the M72 LAW on infantry unit levels - perhaps it has changed now so it is one or two per platoon but we use them anyways

So the Carl Gustav is NOT a rocket launcher? This confuses me because Germany used the "Panzerfaust Carl Gustav" before the Panzerfaust 3, which is a rocket launcher was introduced.