Rifle Grenades

[dude_uk]

Upon introduction of the SA80 in the late 1980's, Britain made purchase of the 'CLAW' (Close Light Assault Weapon) rifle grenade system. Probably because they thought it was cheaper than buying a 40mm grenade launcher.

It seems to have mainly seen action in the late 80's and early 90's. No sources seem to indicate its use in the 90's and it was phased out in favour of a HK 40mm launcher in time for the 2003 Iraq war. So i have no idea of its effectiveness.

Rumour has it a member of the 1st Royal Scots won a military medal for using one against an Iraqi APC during Gulf war 1 though!

[Legbreaker]

Originally Posted by dude_uk

Rumour has it a member of the 1st Royal Scots won a military medal for using one against an Iraqi APC during Gulf war 1 though!

Trust a Scotsman to attack armour using an antiquated weapon....
And succeed!

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by dude_uk

Rumour has it a member of the 1st Royal Scots won a military medal for using one against an Iraqi APC during Gulf war 1 though!

There were rumors during Desert Storm and for months afterwards that "some guy" had shot down a Hind with an M203. I dismissed that as "war stories," though if you were to hit a Hind just right -- at the lower rear fuselage where the oil tank and lubrication fluid reservoirs are -- you might take down a Hind with an M203. I just don't put much credence in it, especially it was always "some guy in 24th ID", "some guy in the 504th," etc.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

There were rumors during Desert Storm and for months afterwards that "some guy" had shot down a Hind with an M203. I dismissed that as "war stories," though if you were to hit a Hind just right -- at the lower rear fuselage where the oil tank and lubrication fluid reservoirs are -- you might take down a Hind with an M203. I just don't put much credence in it, especially it was always "some guy in 24th ID", "some guy in the 504th," etc.

I'd never heard that one. Seems like, if it were true, the story would be more well known. I suppose you could do it, though. Aside from the soft spot you mentioned, a 40mm HEDP grenade in the cockpit or in the engine area might do the trick as well.

I remember mentioning this before, and you have it on your site Paul (it's the 8th entry on the Google search results page!), but one of the odder modern rifle grenades is the RAW (Rifleman's Assault Weapon). It looks like a matte black, size 4 soccer ball mounted just below the muzzle brake/flash hider on an M-16. Here's a link to a couple of photos.

http://www.thefewgoodmen.com/thefgmf...pon-raw.13190/

The USMC ordered a few back in the early '90s, but that was about it. Supposedly, it worked pretty well against fortifications and an anti-armor version was developed. I guess it was just too different, compared to more conventional LAW systems, and the Marines decided to go in another direction (the SMAW, I assume).

I suppose that the Twilight War could see the Pentagon ordering a bunch as a low-cost alternative to other light assault/AT rocket systems. Seems like it would be quite helpful in MOUT.

[Rockwolf66]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

There were rumors during Desert Storm and for months afterwards that "some guy" had shot down a Hind with an M203. I dismissed that as "war stories," though if you were to hit a Hind just right -- at the lower rear fuselage where the oil tank and lubrication fluid reservoirs are -- you might take down a Hind with an M203. I just don't put much credence in it, especially it was always "some guy in 24th ID", "some guy in the 504th," etc.

Sort of like there is a rumor that a Littlebird packing a GAU-19/A shot down another aircraft with it.

[Panther Al]

Heh.


Stories like that get brewed up more than anything else in war. There is always a story about some guy, with some thing, doing some action against this other thing. And its always from a buddy of a buddy.

Of course, its always entertaining, so no harm done, and it helps to separate the has done's from the wannabe's by who believes the stories and who doesn't.

[simonmark6]

Don't think the MM guy is a rumor though: I found this on tinternet:

M.M.
24780087 Private Thomas Robertson GOW,
The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment).
On 26 February 1991, 1 Royal Scots Battle Group
was ordered to attack an enemy position in Southern
Iraq as part of 4th Armoured Brigade's thrust East. B
Company was tasked to assault a platoon objective
which was well established and dug in. A preliminary
phase of the operation had confirmed that there were
T-55 tanks in the area. The position was subjected to
an intense artillery bombardment which, combined
with a strong wind, produced appalling visibility.
Five Platoon of B Company carried out a rolling
assault on the northern end of the position whilst the
remainder of the company provided fire support. As
the attack proceeded it became apparent that at least
one of the vehicles was too well dug in to be reached by
Warrior Armoured Personnel Carriers.
Private Gow, who was acting as the section second
in command, immediately appreciated the situation
and saw that the momentum was being lost. On his
own initiative, he ordered his fire team to cover him
and crawled forward towards the vehicle. Despite the
fact that mines and bomblets had already exploded on
the objective, he got to a position within 20 metres of
the enemy vehicle and destroyed it with his Close
Assault Weapon and finished it off with a grenade. He
then followed up by charging two bunkers, clearing
them with grenades, without regard to the ammunition
exploding around him. He captured three officers and
four soldiers.
Private Gow had been in action for 24 hours and his
section had already been involved in an assault before.
The initiative, aggression and determination displayed
by this brave man during this action exceeded that
expected of his rank and experience.