The main task of a hand-held grenade launcher in combat is to destroy the enemy’s armored vehicles, and only after that do other tasks proceed. That is why this weapon was conceived. The German Faustpatron and the legendary RPG-7 were developed for the destruction of tanks and other armored targets. In addition, many modern grenades have a warhead of a cumulative type, that is, they are not very effective against manpower, but extremely effective against tanks and armored personnel carriers.
The Soviet RPG-7 grenade launcher became the "eternal classic" of this genre. This grenade launcher, developed in the "Basalt" SPE, was notable for its extreme simplicity, low cost and amazing efficiency. Over the past fifty years, the RPG-7 has managed to participate in many conflicts, has proven itself well and has become a favorite weapon of insurgents and partisans. How many copies of the RPG-7 are now scattered around the world, nobody knows.
But at the same time, progress does not stand still. A lot of time has passed since the development of this legendary grenade launcher and the situation has changed a lot. Seriously and dramatically improved protection of armored vehicles. If earlier it was just a homogeneous armor, which the cumulative jet easily burned through, now the metal undergoes a special treatment, tank armor is made multilayered, strengthening it with ceramics. There were systems of dynamic protection and active protection of tanks, they easily cope with old samples of ammunition.
It became clear that in order to successfully fight modern tanks new types of ammunition and new grenade launchers are needed. The RPG-26 Aglena grenade launcher became such a weapon.
Description of the RPG-26 grenade launcher and its history
In 1980, the development of the new RPG-26 hand-held grenade launcher began in the SPE Bazalt, which was to replace the outdated RPG-22 grenade launchers. In 1983, tests were successfully conducted at the site, and this grenade launcher was put into service in 1985. It took into account some of the wishes of the military, namely: the grenade launcher could be transferred from the combat position to neutral, which could not be done in previous models. The process of transferring the grenade launcher to the combat position has significantly accelerated, which is very important in combat.
Also improved tactical and technical characteristics of the weapon. Although to say that there have been cardinal changes is impossible. The armor piercing capability of the grenade launcher was slightly improved and the speed of the grenade was increased (this increased the firing range). Slightly increased mass of new weapons.
The RPG-26 Aglene is a disposable hand-held grenade launcher, whose main function on the battlefield is to destroy enemy tanks and other armored vehicles. This grenade can also be used against enemy infantry seated in light fortifications.
Like all similar devices, the recoil when shooting at the RPG-26 is absent. The grenade is fired from the barrel with a special powder charge, which is completely burned. After the departure of the grenade, at its end stabilizers are revealed, which balance it in flight. At a meeting with any obstacle, the fuse is triggered, a cumulative jet is formed in the warhead of the grenade, which burns through the armor of any equipment.
The device RPG-26 "Agleni" is as follows: a container that performs the functions of a trigger, a trigger mechanism, an aiming device, a belt and two special covers that cover the container pipe on both sides and are not removed before firing. The trigger mechanism is provided with a check that protects the grenade launcher from an accidental shot. The sight of the RPG-26 - diopter. The container is made of fiberglass, which seriously reduced its weight. The grenade launcher does not use any stem extension systems. Sights are similar to those that have been installed on previous models. Shooting from the RPG-26 is traditionally conducted from the shoulder.
In order to shoot an RPG-26, it is necessary to do the following manipulations.
- Turn the fly up to the stop.
- Remove the check and unlock the trigger.
- Raise the safety bar all the way up.
Characteristics of the RPG-26 "Aglena" grenade launcher
| Caliber, mm | 72,5 |
| Length mm | 770 |
| Weight, kg | 2,9 |
| Grenade mass, kg | 1,8 |
| Initial speed grenades, m / s | 144 |
| Grenade flight time, with: | |
| at a distance of 50 m | 0,35 |
| at a distance of 100 m | 0,72 |
| at a distance of 250 m | 1,89 |
| Sighting range, m | 250 |
| Direct shot range at a target height of 2 m, m | 170 |
| Warhead | cumulative |
| Penetration, mm | 440 |
You can add that the RPG-26 is still in service with the Russian army. They also armed the armies of all the former Soviet republics, bought this grenade launcher and Jordan. In general, this is a good grenade launcher, although, of course, it cannot be called the newest. Based on this grenade launcher, an assault complex was created using a grenade with a thermobaric warhead.
