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.

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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