Image: M18 Recoilless Rifle (U.S. National Archive)
Year
April 1945
Weapon Type
[@type]
Origin & Designer
[@designer]
Numbers Produced
500
Crew
2 (Gunner & Loader)
Calibre
57mm (57x303)
Elevation
[@elevation]
Traverse
[@gun_traverse]
Cartridge Weight
[@cartridge_weight]
Round Weight
2.46 kg (HE) 2.56 kg (AP) 2.57 kg
Barrel Length
[@barrel_length]
Overall Length
1.524mm
Grenade Types
[@grenade_types]
Mount
[@mount]
Combat Weight
4.6 kg
Operation
Recoiless
Cooling System
[@cooling]
Sights
M26
Feed
Single Shot
Practical Rate of Fire
2 r.p.m.
Maximum Rate of Fire
8 r.p.m.
Blank Cartridge
[@blank_cartridge]
Muzzle Velocity
366 m/s
Fuel Capacity
[@fuel_capacity]
Minimum Range
[@minimum_range]
Effective Range
450m
Maximum Range
3.970m
Armour Penetration
65mm
Bayonet
[@bayonet]
Traction
[@traction]
Variants
[@variants]
Notes
The M18 was breech loading single shot weapon which was light enough to me transported by troops in the field. It had a calibre of 57mm and could fire HEAT, HE and WP rounds. It could be fired from the shoulder similar to the bazooka or mounted on either a bi-pod or tri-pod. It was more accurate and had a longer range than the bazooka. The M18 came too late to make a mark in WW2 but managed to see action in the Korean War.