APAV40

The APAV 40 (anti-personnel/anti-véhicule, 40mm) is a 40 mm anti-personnel rifle grenade used by the French Army.

Anti-personnel/anti-véhicule, 40mm
TypeRifle grenade
Place of originFrance
Service history
Used byFrench Army
Production history
Designed1956
Specifications
Mass405 grams[1]
Length352 mm[1]
Diameter40 mm[1]
Fillinghexogen-tolite
Filling weight80 grams

Design

The APAV 40 is a dual purpose, anti-personnel (AP) and anti-vehicle (AV), 40 mm rifle-grenade. It has a mass of 405 grams,[1] and a tail with stabilizing fins. Explosion is triggered by an impact fuse.

Two versions of the APAV 40 exist:

  • the older F1 model which must be fired with a blank cartridge
  • the current F2 model which uses a bullet-trap that allows using live rounds

Use
Alidade sight system of the FAMAS for direct fire of the APAV40

To launch, the APAV40 F2 is placed over the muzzle of a FAMAS or any NATO rifle with a (22 mm) STANAG muzzle device. Then the rifle is aimed at the target and fired. The impact of the bullet striking the bullet-trap and the expanding gases launch and arm the grenade, which explodes on impact.

In its antipersonnel capacity, the APAV 40 is used in indirect fire. The APAV 40 has a lethal radius of 12 metres and its shrapnel is dangerous up to 100 metres away.[1]

In its anti-vehicle capacity, the APAV 40 is used in direct fire. Under an optimal angle, the APAV 40 is capable of piercing 100 mm of armour.[1]

The FAMAS provides an alidade sight for launching the grenade from 75 or 100 metres. The FAMAS can also be inclined/angled by 45°, to allow fire from 170 to 320 metres, with 20-metre increments; or by 74°, to allow fire from 60 to 170 metres, with 10-metre increments. French rifle grenades are notorious for having extremely strong recoil, so strong that one who does not properly brace themselves will often fall over.

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See also

Sources and references
  1. Lycaon (2010-06-01). "Le tir des grenades" (in French). Eklablog.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-01. Retrieved 2017-02-01.

French army manual on rifle grenades dated 1966 with an illustration of the APAV 40 (70 MR 61) and text on pages 29 to 31


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