Bumblebee Flamethrower: The deadliest infantry weapon. "Bumblebee" (flamethrower): description, photo. Rocket flamethrower "Bumblebee" Sighting range of fire from rpo a

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.

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

Maximum range shooting range - 1200 m

Sighting range shooting - 600 m

Combat rate of fire 2 rounds per minute.

Initial ammunition flight speed - 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 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 weapons for urban combat. 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 to 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 at 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. In case of delay during firing, it is necessary to re-cock 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 obstacles (walls, etc.), including objects military equipment located in the danger zone, the distance between the flamethrower and the barrier must be at least 3 m at the rear, 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 - not less than 1m; 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.

The experience of using the RPO Shmel infantry jet flamethrower - primarily in the RPO-A version with thermobaric equipment - revealed both the advantages of this type of weapon and the need for its modernization. Moreover, the interest of the troops in weapons grew.

A decade and a half after adoption Soviet army RPO "Shmel" The Russian army received a new infantry jet flamethrower RPO PDM "Shmel-M".

DEEP MODERNIZATION

RPO PDM "Shmel-M" was the result of a deep modernization of the RPO "Shmel" infantry jet flamethrower by specialists from the Tula Instrument Design Bureau in the first years of the 21st century. Through the development of new technologies and the use of new design solutions during modernization, it was possible to solve several contradictory problems - increasing the firing range and power of ammunition (which is reflected in the abbreviation RPO PDM - “infantry jet flamethrower of increased range and power”) while reducing weight and size characteristics. For the flamethrower in thermobaric equipment, the designation RPO PDM-A and the code “Prize” were also mentioned (obviously used at the development stage).

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

The maximum firing range of the RPO PDM "Shmel-M", compared to the RPO "Shmel", increased from 1000 to 1700 m, range aimed shooting- from 600 to 800 m. The power (power) of the thermobaric warhead of a 90-mm shot of the new flamethrower against all types of targets, except heavily armored ones, is equivalent to the high-explosive effect of a charge of 5-6 kg of TNT. This is comparable to artillery high explosive shells caliber 152-155 mm. That is, in terms of the power of the RPO PDM warhead, it is almost twice as powerful as the RPO-A, while increasing the aimed firing range by 1.3 times, reducing the weight by 1.25 times, and the possibility of using removable optical day and night sights. Improved accuracy and accuracy of fire.

The trigger mechanism is made separately and is attached to the transport and launch container of the flamethrower before firing. The modular design of the Shmel-M design allows for further modernization of both the transport and launch container and the rocket-propelled grenade separately (for example, when new options for equipping the warhead appear), as well as the trigger mechanism and sighting devices.

The RPO PDM flamethrower is easy to use and quickly ready for use. combat use. Shooting is done from the shoulder in a standing, kneeling or prone position. As with most rocket and recoilless devices, when fired from an RPO PDM, a dangerous zone is formed behind the breech. Nevertheless, it is possible to shoot from cover - when moving away from its rear wall, from enclosed spaces - however, the volume of the room must be more than 60 m3. Taking into account the action of the warhead, the minimum firing range is set at 30 m.

MAIN GOALS

The flamethrower is designed to disable enemy personnel and fire weapons located both in open areas and in buildings various types, as well as for destruction of lightly armored and automotive vehicles, destruction of fortified buildings, ground or semi-buried structures made of stone, brick or concrete. A weapon with such a powerful warhead, having the dimensions and weight of a hand-held grenade launcher, portable and serviced by one soldier, adapted for firing from the shoulder, makes it possible to increase combat capabilities and tactical independence of units ground forces in the squad-platoon link. IN modern conditions, when small units often have to engage in close combat with the enemy suddenly, without heavy support means (at least according to terrain conditions), the role of portable, highly mobile and quickly ready to fire fire support means is constantly growing.

DEVICE FEATURES

"Shmel-M", like its predecessor, belongs to the class of heavy multi-purpose weapons of the " hand grenade launcher"with a shot without recoil.

The main parts of the flamethrower design are the starting device, the rocket-propelled grenade and the trigger mechanism.

ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FLAMETHROWER

RPO PDM "Shmel-M" differs from RPO "Shmel" already in basic scheme. If “Shmel” can be classified as a “recoilless” (recoilless) model with an active ammunition launch circuit, then “Shmel-M” has a reactive-active circuit.

The flamethrower's starting device is a smooth-walled pipe made of fiberglass. It also serves to store ammunition, that is, it is a disposable transport and launch container. To carry a flamethrower ready to fire, a shoulder strap is attached to the launcher.

A grenade (ammunition) is placed inside the container launcher, including a thin-walled capsule with a head fairing, a solid-fuel jet engine, and a benchmark with a folded four-blade stabilizer. The capsule holds about 3.2 kg of thermobaric mixture and is rigidly connected to the engine. Centering bands are stamped on the outer surface of the grenade. The final equipment of the flamethrower's transport and launch container is made at the manufacturing plant, and it is delivered to the troops in a ready-to-use form. During storage, the flamethrower is not subject to maintenance.

Before firing, the disposable trigger is connected to the reusable trigger mechanism. The latter is assembled in a plastic case with a pistol grip and a ribbed front part that serves as a handguard. A trigger mechanism with a trigger and a non-automatic flag-type safety mechanism are mounted inside the case - its flag is located on the left above the pistol grip.

Can be attached to the trigger mechanism on a folding bracket optical sight, a night sight can be mounted on a special rail. There is also a mechanical sighting device— on the triggering device there is a front sight with a guard (fuse) and a folding rack-mount diopter sight.

Two equipped launchers (transport-launch containers) and one trigger mechanism with an optical sight are connected into a pack total mass 19 kg, adapted to be carried by one fighter.

When fired, the engine charge is completely burned within the length of the launcher, so that the flamethrower shooter is protected from the effects of the engine’s powder gases. The initial speed of the grenade is 180 m/s. When a grenade flies past the front edge of the launcher, the stabilizer plates (blades) open.

ABOUT THE COMBAT UNIT

Thermobaric ammunition is classified as “volume-detonating”, but some clarification is required regarding them. After the detonation of ammunition filled with a thermobaric mixture and the destruction of its body, the mixture is dispersed (crushed). Its particles, once in the air, burn intensely. The energy released in this case goes to “feed” the air shock wave front and form an extended high-temperature region. Also, intensive combustion of unreacted particles of the mixture in the oxygen of the air occurs. The duration of exposure to the air shock wave and the thermal impact of the ammunition increase. Zone combination high blood pressure with a significant duration of exposure (the shock wave attenuates more slowly and lasts longer) and a high-temperature zone and determined high efficiency thermobaric ammunition. In terms of power in TNT equivalent, thermobaric ammunition, which uses atmospheric oxygen during combustion, is several times greater than conventional explosives. The peculiarity of the device allows you to “pack” high-power thermobaric ammunition into limited dimensions.

The ability of the shock wave formed by the “cloud” of the mixture to “flow” into narrow cracks and leaky shelters makes it possible to destroy manpower and fire weapons in closed structures. Together with its small size and weight, this makes the infantry jet flamethrower especially effective in battles on rough terrain and in urban areas - perhaps the most common battle conditions in modern military conflicts.

A soldier's equipment for urban combat must combine minimal weight and dimensions with guaranteed destructive power. This is exactly how the Bumblebee infantry flamethrower turned out.

What is a flamethrower?

Usually, when asked “what a flamethrower looks like,” an image familiar from war films pops up in your head: a bulky backpack with a Molotov cocktail and a bell in the hands of a soldier, pouring fire on everything that is not lucky enough to be in the affected area. But the subject of this article looks different and is more reminiscent of the RPG-18 - a compact disposable cylinder to which a belt, a mechanical sight and a trigger are attached.

The history of the creation of the Bumblebee flamethrower

The prerequisites for the creation of the RPO-A (a deep modification of the already existing Lynx) were the specifics of conducting combat operations in the mountains of Afghanistan. Afghan militants used the difficult terrain to their advantage: they set up shelters and firing points in folds of the terrain, mountain crevices and caves. The entire range of existing small arms and grenade launchers used Soviet soldiers, often could not help in “smoking out” the enemy from such places, and oncoming fire did not allow one to get to a distance sufficient for a throw hand grenades or shooting from a backpack flamethrower.

The development of Shmel begins at the Tula KBP in 1984. The previous RPO, for all its effectiveness, had a number of problems: more weight, small radius of destruction, short range of aimed fire and almost complete uselessness against armored targets. New sample weapon was superior to the Lynx in all respects and was put into service in 1988. Among the soldiers who appreciated its damaging and psychological effect, it received the nickname “Shaitan-pipe”.

Design features of the RPO

Structurally, the parts of the “Bumblebee” are divided into three groups:

• All visible parts that are collectively called the container. Essentially, this is a body, sighting and trigger devices, two handles, as well as a belt and units for connecting into a pack (two RPOs tied to each other for carrying behind the fighter’s back);
• Ammunition is a projectile that hits a target after being fired. Consists of a capsule with a fire mixture, a fuse and ignition-explosive charge tablets;
• An engine that gives acceleration to ammunition. Separates from it after a shot in the barrel. The work is based on the ignition of powder gases. Consists of an igniter, a propellant charge and a chamber.

The principle of operation and consequences of a flamethrower

Thermobaric ammunition has not previously been used in infantry weapons, so “Bumblebee” can be called revolutionary in this way. The projectile is designed as follows: in the front part there is a shaped charge that penetrates armor and walls of buildings. After hitting the target, the fuse on the capsule with the fire mixture is triggered, forming an instantly exploding aerosol cloud, especially dangerous in indoors. Thus, according to the recollections of Afghan veterans, a single shot from a “Bumblebee” is capable of guaranteed destruction of all living things in a two-story house, not to mention caves and improvised mountain shelters, against which it was originally developed. The power of the cumulative part of the projectile is about 2.5 kg in TNT equivalent, which makes the RPO-A even more similar to grenade launchers and allows it to hit lightly armored vehicles.

Specifications

Shown in comparison with the previous and subsequent RPO:

Advantages and disadvantages of a flamethrower

Uniqueness of this weapon makes it the subject of frequent discussion. Supporters and opponents give the following arguments:

• The advantages of the Bumblebee include exceptional lethality, firing range many times greater than that of backpack flamethrowers, versatility for performing various tasks, and effectiveness in defeating light armor;
• From negative aspects stand out: disposability, danger for the shooter (cases of detonation due to bullets or shrapnel hitting the container were observed), excessive “inhumanity” - the possibility of injury civilians or allied soldiers when used in urban combat.

In the meantime, the debate about the necessity or uselessness of this system in the arsenal of the Russian Federation has not subsided, technical thought has not stood still, and ideological heirs of the “Bumblebee” are appearing.

Modifications of RPO and shells for RPO "Shmel"

To clarify, it is necessary to explain that the “Bumblebee” is a disposable weapon, and the letter after “RPO” means a type of completed projectile.

So, the first model had the following varieties:

The mass of the ammunition is approximately four kilograms, which is a third of the weight of the entire Shmel.

Further work on it was carried out in two directions: on the one hand, an attempt to make the “Bumblebee” as compact and light as possible for the maneuverability of a soldier in urban combat while maintaining combat qualities, on the other hand, a more thoughtful and “complete” modification of the jet flamethrower for the sake of the sample, comprehensively superior to both RPO-A and its analogues.

MRO

A modification characterized by reduced weight, length and caliber - instead of 93 mm, a 72.5 mm projectile is used here. Structurally reminiscent of the RPG-26 grenade launcher. Like the original, it exists in the following configurations: MRO-A (aerosol or thermobaric), MRO-Z (“classic incendiary” with a liquid flammable mixture) and MRO-D (smoke projectile).

RPO-M

Also known as “Shmel-M”, PDM-A. Here the letter M does not mean the type of ammunition, but “modified”. In addition to reducing weight, the shooter can now carry three copies. A qualitatively new ammunition was developed (according to experts, its power is close to 152 mm artillery shell) with a different composition of the aerosol mixture and a reinforced cumulative part. High-quality work has been carried out on the ballistic component - new projectile has a greater range and accuracy, in addition, it is possible to use a removable sight (optical, night vision or thermal imager). The sight is removed from the container after a shot and can be installed on the next one without requiring zeroing. It has been in service with the Russian army since 2004; according to unverified information, it was used during the conflict with Georgia.

RPV-16

Ukrainian analogue, which entered production relatively recently. The design is almost identical to the RPO-A.

In addition to the flamethrower under discussion, thermobaric ammunition has been developed for the famous RPG-7.

In addition to expressing opinions directly about the flamethrower, I propose to discuss in the comments whether such a development makes sense or is an overkill inferior to modern flamethrowers in tactical and technical characteristics?

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them

Rocket infantry flamethrower "Shmel" (RPO-A)

Since the 1980s, rocket-propelled flamethrowers have become one of the varieties of hand-held recoilless weapons (essentially disposable multi-purpose grenade launchers). They received their name as an inheritance from the jet flamethrowers used during the First and Second World Wars. As is known, this type of portable weapon, due to the short range of throwing the fire mixture and its significant losses along the trajectory, has practically ceased to exist.

Creation of new ones in the 1980s explosives, which have significant high-explosive and thermal effects, made it possible to create hand-held recoilless weapons with ammunition with a multi-factor lethal effect. The first example of such a weapon in the USSR was the RPO Lynx infantry jet flamethrower. Subsequently, he was replaced by Design Bureau Instrument Engineering (KBG, Tula) developed a disposable flamethrower RPO "Shmel".

The Bumblebee flamethrower is used to enhance the combat capabilities of ground forces units. It is designed to destroy living targets and fire weapons located in various defensive structures, destroy fortifications, defeat Vehicle and lightly armored vehicles, as well as creating fires and smoke zones. The flamethrower is available with three variants of warheads: RPO-A - thermobaric, RPO-3 - incendiary and RPO-D - smoke. "Bumblebee" has high combat properties, is simple in design and reliable in operation.

The disposable starting device (which also acts as a sealed container during storage and transportation) contains a capsule combat unit appropriate equipment and a powder engine. The starting device is made of fiberglass. A firing mechanism with a safety catch and a mechanical sighting device, consisting of a front sight and a folding, range-adjustable diopter sight, are attached to it. The flamethrower can be equipped with an optical sight. The wearable RPO kit includes two equipped launchers, connected into a pack for carrying on the back, with a total weight of 24 kg.

After taking off from the launcher, the warhead flies by inertia. Flight stabilization of the warhead is ensured by stabilizer blades. The original shot pattern ensures minimal dispersion initial speeds And high accuracy shooting. This ensures a high probability of hitting an infantry fighting vehicle type target at a range of 400 m. The damaging effect of the warhead is comparable to a high-explosive fragmentation artillery projectile of up to 152 mm caliber. The flamethrower is fired from the shoulder. It is possible to use a flamethrower from rooms with a volume of more than 60 m3 if there are obstacles behind the weapon.

As it became known in 2011 in service military units biological, radiation and chemical protection(RKhBZ) The Russian Ground Forces will receive infantry mobile flamethrowers of a completely new modification - RPO PDM-A "Shmel-M". 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. Damaging factors ammunition is a high-temperature field, as well as a high-pressure zone with a significant duration of exposure. The RPO PDM-A (“Shmel-M”) mobile infantry flamethrower with increased range and power is a completely new generation of high-precision mobile assault weapons that allows you to solve a wide range of combat missions for fire support of 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 stated by the Commander-in-Chief of the RKhBZ troops, Major General Evgeniy Starkov, “modern RPO PDM-A Shmel-M flamethrowers are capable of hitting potential enemy personnel in shelters, as well as lightly armored vehicles at a distance of up to 1.7 kilometers, with an effective firing range of 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. An optical sight can be used, incl. night.

Starting device- TPK disposable with 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). There is a small charge in the bow shaped charge to destroy 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).