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LRAC F1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| LRAC F1 | |
|---|---|
 A French soldier holding an LRAC F1 in 1983. |
|
| Type | Shoulder-launched missile weapon |
| Place of origin | France |
| Service history | |
| Used by | France |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Luchaire Défense SA |
| Manufacturer | Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Saint-Etienne |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 7.3 kg (16.1 lb) loaded |
| Length | 1600 mm (63″) ready to fire |
| Crew | 2 |
|
|
|
| Caliber | 89 mm |
| Rate of fire | 3 to 4 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 300 m/s |
| Effective range | 200-600 m |
| Maximum range | 2300 m (at 45° angle) |
| Sights | APX M 290 and passive night telescope |
The LRAC F1, officially called Lance-Roquettes AntiChar de 89 mm modèle F1 (89 mm anti-tank rocket launcher model F1) is a reusable rocket launcher developed by Luchaire Defense SA, manufactured in cooperation with Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Saint-Étienne and marketed by Hotchkiss-Brandt. It replaced the 89 mm M20A1 Super Bazooka in French Army service. Through the use of glass fibre and plastic in the launcher it is over 2 kg lighter when loaded than the M20A1 while having a greater effective range.
The launcher is normally operated by a crew of two, a loader and a gunner. The launcher is loaded by attaching a rocket container to the rear of the launcher. When the container is attached, the electrical firing circuit is connected. The rocket container is 626 millimeters long and weighs approximately 3.2 kilograms. On the left side of the launcher is the 3x APX M 309 optical sight, which is graduated between 100 and 1,000 meters. The launcher has a shoulder rest and forward pistol grip, both of which may be adjusted to suit the firer. The forward pistol grip contains a mechanical safety switch and the firing mechanism. When the safety is off, pulling the trigger generates a charge which fires the rocket.
Just before firing, the rear plug of the rocket container is removed, this is left in place to maintain a waterproof seal. Removing the plug completes the firing circuit and allows the rocket to be fired. The rocket is propelled by a large number of long sticks of tubular propellent that produce a constant pressure while burning, providing constant acceleration. The motor burns out before the rocket leaves the launcher at a velocity of approximately 300 meters per second. As soon as the rocket leaves the launcher, nine fins fold backwards from the rear. These fins provide stability for the rocket while it is in flight. A safety device in the fuze of the rocket prevents detonation until the rocket has travelled at least 10 meters from the launcher. The rocket reaches a range of 330 meters in about 1.25 seconds, and 360 meters in 1.36 seconds.
The rocket itself weighs 2.2 kilograms and has a 80 millimeter diameter shaped charge warhead. The warhead can penetrate 400 millimeters of armour at straight on, and is capable of penetrating NATO single heavy, double medium and double heavy targets while still having enough energy to penetrate multiple 10 millimeter thick steel witness plates [1].
After firing the rocket container is removed, and a fresh one is reinserted. The launcher has a life of approximately 130 firings, after which, the optical sight is removed and the launcher is discarded. The optical sight can then be fitted to a fresh launcher.
A number of other rockets were developed for the launcher, including a dual purpose anti-personnel/anti-vehicle rocket whose warhead contains 1,600 steel balls along with a hollow-charge. The steel balls have a lethal radius of approximately 20 meters and the hollow charge is capable of penetrating up to 100 millimeters of steel plate. A smoke round was developed that produces smoke for approximately 35 seconds, also an illumination round that produces 300,000 candella for 30 seconds.
- Suermondt, Jan (2004). Illustrated Guide to Combat Weapons. Kent: Grange Books, p10.
- Hogg, Ian (1991). Jane's Infantry Weapons 1991-1992. Jane's Information Group, 370-372.
- ^ Jane's Infantry Weapon 1991-1992 gives detail of the penetration as a single heavy target at 65 degrees from the horizontal followed by seven 10 millimeter witness plates, a double heavy target followed by four witness plates, and a double medium target followed by eight witness plates.