The RPG-32 Hashim is a Russian hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher developed under contract from Jordan by state-owned FGUP “Bazalt” weapons manufacturing company. The name “Hashim” is that of the royal Jordanian Hashemite family. Russia has long held an expertise with inexpensive anti-tank devices dating back to World War 2 during their blood-spattered clash with Germany and the Axis powers. The RPG-32 became, in many ways, a finale of the many successes of previous designs which included the world-renowned RPG-7 (which Bazalt continues to produce). The RPG-32 entered service in 2008 and is utilized by the armies of Argentina, Brazil, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico and Russia. The “Hashim” designator sometimes seen is applied by the Jordanian Army in reference to the Arab Hashemite dynasty of centuries past. Jordan supplied initial financing of the RPG-32 initiative and its engineers played a role in the final design.
The RPG-32 multipurpose grenade launcher consists of a short, reusable launcher tube with grips, firing controls and sight mount, detachable collimating sight and disposable ammunition containers, which are pre-loaded at the factory and attached to the rear end of the launcher before firing.
The system consists of the launch tube which, in itself, puts together the optics and trigger mechanism. The rocket grenade is provided through an assembled casing that is inserted at the rear of the tube prior to firing. The optical sight is managed from the left side of the launch tube with the trigger unit along the right. As with the earlier RPG developments, little preparation is required to make the RPG-32 ready and little training is required in its use – making it popular amongst many operators. The RPG-32 launcher is of 105mm caliber though it can fire from an ammunition stock of both 105mm (15.4lbs) and 72mm rocket types. There are two recognized rockets available – the “PG-32V” tandem HEAT (High-Explosive, Anti-Tank) and the “TBG-32V” Thermobaric Fragmentation Anti-Armor (TFAA). The former is listed with a penetration up to 650mm (25 inches) and a muzzle velocity of 460 feet per second with an effective range out to 2,300 feet. Rockets are delivered from the factory in a disposable case which is affixed to the rear of the reusable launch tube.
It is inherited proven and successful solutions in design of the weapon and rockets from earlier Russian grenade launchers and it can be used to engage and destroy battlefield targets from modern main battle tanks and armored personnel carriers to bunkers, military equipment and troops in defilade or in the open.
The RPG-32 is said to be proficient of defeating the base armor of present-day Main Battle Tanks while the warhead is apposite against other target types including fortified structures. The launcher is deliberately designed to be man-portable and is fired from the shoulder in the usual way. Firing from within buildings is, of course, restricted to an extent due to the violent back-blast of such weapons in confined spaces. Launchers weigh 3 kilograms (sans projectile) and their value is limited only by the ammunition supply on hand. Common practice is an RPG carrier with 3 x rocket grenades in a specially-devised backpack alongside his primary automatic weapon. As the projectile is a true “rocket grenade” and not a homing/guided missile, the projectile is essentially a “point-and-shoot” weapon without any guidance provided to the rocket after launch. This helps to keep procurement costs down substantially while providing for a very modern armor-penetrating system for discerning customers. According to company sources, a single launcher is rated for the firing of 200 rockets.
It was developed between 2005 and 2007 by Russian state-owned FGUP ‘Bazalt’ organization on request and under contract from Jordan and Mexico. First RPG-32 ‘Hashim’ grenade launchers were to be delivered to Jordan from Russia in 2008, and it was planned that the RPG-32 and its ammunition would be mass-produced in Jordan under license at the JRESCO factory. In 2010 Russia supplied the Lebanese army with 1500 RPG-32 launchers.
Specifications
Weight: 3 kg unloaded; 10 kg loaded with 105 mm rocket; 6kg loaded with 72 mm rocket
Length: 1200 mm (complete with 105 mm launch container); 900 mm (complete with 72 mm launch container)
Shell: PG-32V tandem HEAT; TBG-32V thermobaric / FAE
Caliber: 105 mm barrel; 72/105 mm warheads
Action: 750 mm: Rolled homogeneous armor with 105mm PG-32V tandem HEAT rocket
Muzzle velocity : 140 m/s
Effective range: 700 m
RPG-32 Hashim was first posted on December 9, 2013 at 12:01 pm.
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