The RPG-1 (Cyrillic: РПГ-1), also known as the LPG-44 (Cyrillic: ЛПГ-44), is a Soviet rocket launcher.
History[]
In 1944, the Soviets decided to extensively test out anti-tank weapons, such as the Panzerschreck, Panzerfaust, and Bazooka. The RPG-1 was conceived by the Soviets taking the best traits of all the designs tested and combined into one weapon. The design was overseen by George P. Lominskiy, and the weapon was intended to be lighter than the Panzerfaust but could be easily reloaded like the Bazooka. At the time, it was named the LPG-44, after the year the project started. Development for the weapon was about complete around late 1944, and the weapon was renamed the RPG-1. As soon as testing started, numerous problems were encountered; problems in the firing cap, the warhead having considerably worse penetrative power than the warhead on the Panzerfaust, and variations in propellant performance depending on the temperature. Work continued to improve the weapons faults, but in 1947, the RPG-2 design emerged. The RPG-2 design was tested and was clearly superior to the RPG-1's design, leading to work on the RPG-1 completely stopping by 1948, and as such, was never adopted.
Design Details[]
The RPG-1 is a simple rocket launcher. Despite its failures, its layout was used on later Soviet rocket-propelled grenade launchers like the RPG-2, 4, and 7. The weapon fired using a simple percussion cap to propel the 30mm PG-1 round. Three ring-shaped stabilizing fins were fitted inside the muzzle, preventing the need for flip-out fins or things of the like on the rocket itself.
Ammunition[]
The weapon used the PG-1 round, a 30mm shaped HEAT warhead. It was formerly known as the PG-70 warhead, due to it being 70 millimeters (2.76 inches) at its widest point. It could penetrate 140 millimeters (5.51 inches) of rolled homogeneous armor.
Gallery[]
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