M3 Carl Gustaf Recoilless Rifle – Loading And Firing

U.S. paratroopers fire the M3 Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle during a ’Train the Trainer’ qualification range at Fort Bragg. The Carl Gustaf Multi-role Anti-armor Anti-tank Weapon System (MAAWS), aka Carl Gustav or Gustaf Bazooka or M2CG, is an 84 mm, shoulder fired, man-portable, parachute jumpable, reusable anti-tank recoilless rifle produced by Saab Bofors Dynamics in Sweden. Although most rounds fired by the Carl Gustaf work on the classic recoilless principle, modern rounds sometimes add a post-firing booster that technically make it a rocket launcher. The Carl Gustaf can be fired from the standing, kneeling, sitting or prone positions. The basic weapon consists of the main tube with the breech-mounted Venturi recoil damper, with two grips near the front and a shoulder mount. The weapon is fitted with iron sights, but is normally aimed with the attached 3× optical sight with a 17 degree field of view. Luminous front and rear sight inserts are available for the iron sights when aiming at night, and an im