Panzerfaust-11

Revision as of 06:10, 21 July 2024 by TECT (talk | contribs)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Panzerfaust-11
Panzerfaust-11V5 - Full List A1.png
Full diagram of Panzerfaust-11 variants.
TypeShoulder-Fired Recoilless Crew-Served Infantry Support/Anti-Tank Weapon
Place of origin The Empire of Common Territories
Service history
In service2011-Present
Used byTECT Armed Forces
Production history
DesignerWolf Armaments
Designed2011
ManufacturerWolf Armaments
Unit cost$10,000 NSD
Produced2011-Present
No. builtN/A
Specifications
WeightBetween 12.5kgs and 13.6kgs (ready to use)
Length1,200mm to 1,288mm (depending on warhead)

Caliber80 mm launcher, 120 mm warheads
Muzzle velocity135.3m/s
Effective firing range15 m to 1,000 m
Maximum firing range2,000 m
SightsIron sights (glass interior). Rail Mount System for variable sights including Telescopic sight and Optical 4x (Range Finder/Image Intensification)

The Panzerfaust-11, or "RPG-11", is a shoulder-fired recoilless/crew-served infantry support/anti-tank weapon weapon. Each RPG-11 consists of a launcher unit and a modular sight mounting rail for the provided telescopic sight (or other desired attachable sights). Boasting a large variety of projectiles, Panzerfaust-11's list of warheads include shaped charges for anti-armor, High Explosive for anti-infantry, and various combat support warheads. RPG-11 ammunition consists of three parts, the first being a LOVA propellant (RDX) charge in a green container located at the base of the shaft. Second is the base of the munition, which is a shaft containing extra propellant on the inside and stabilizing fins on the exterior. Finally is the warhead at the very top of the munition. RPG-11 is loaded similar to Eastern designed rocket-propelled grenades in that users slide the munition's shaft down the face of the weapon system; after locking the munition into place and clearing safety features, the user is ready to fire the weapon.

In 2010, the TECT Armed Forces opened a bid to armament companies within the Empire to produce an anti-tank/infantry support weapon for infantry forces. A number of bidders, including Wolf Armaments and Arrow Solution's DAW, entered the open bid to compete for the contract. Wolf Armaments' brought forth an anti-tank weapon they had previously been working on prior to the open bid. Inspired by the RPG-7 family and Panzerfaust 3, Wolf Armaments sought to design a similar weapon system. Wolf Armaments had planned to present the design when it was further developed, but that was until an open bid was announced. The open bid forced Wolf Armaments to put Panzerfaust-11 at the forefront of development before other companies could snatch away the contract. Wolf Armaments' Panzerfaust-11 impressed military leaders and won the corporation the bid, overtaking DAW's Mk.1 Assault Weapon by a wide margin. Winning RPG-11 the contract was not only superior firepower but also the selection of warheads available to them at the time.

The construction of the Panzerfaust-11 is done so using strong but relatively cheap materials that make the weapon system durable but also affordable. Most of the components (including exterior surface and essential pieces) are made of high-impact resistant hard plastics that protect the launcher from external damage. Metal components, including the internal liner of the tube, is made of special rust resistant Eglin Steel, which is a cheap but very reliable super alloy steel. The rear of the tube is filled with a plastic granulate, minimizing the backblast effect by utilizing the so-called recoilless countermass principle; this allows the Panzerfaust-11 to be safely fired from enclosed spaces since it does not have a significant backblast. Projectiles are launched using a firing bolt that activates the warhead's launch mechanism/propellant. At the time of creation, RPG-11 had around five warheads to operators could use, including those for armor and infantry threats. For safety reasons, the warhead will not arm itself until a certain amount of time has passed, by then the projectile is approximately five meters away - the warhead will automatically detonate once the projectile reaches its maximum range to prevent defunct munitions from littering the battlefield. Panzerfaust-11 also comes with a safety release switch for arming the trigger, which you must release for the bolt to be able to connect to the projectile's propellant.

Aiming is done so by a telescopic sight that can be used day or night; it consists of an LED battery to illuminate during night time (adjustable), a reticle that presents range according to size (range finder), and a range adjusting control. This basic sight has since been replaced with a computerized variant that assists operators with range and eye issues. The sighting/firing unit itself consists of telescopic sight, an adjustable stock rest, a grip handle that is able to fold as well to minimize size or for preference, and a trigger mechanism that has a safety setting for arming of the warhead; said sighting/firing unit can be quickly detached and the launcher left behind if desired.

Panzerfaust-11 Mk.2

Presented with superior anti-tank/support weapons developed within Luttenried, Wolf Armaments set itself to modernizing its original Panzerfaust in 2020. Using the contracts it made with Luttenried companies, Wolf Armaments utilized the technology and techniques developed over the last decade to not only modernize but also upgrade their original Panzerfaust design. Executives, who're still committed to the Panzerfaust-11 design, were concerned the Empire (the system's largest user) was planning to abandon the Panzerfaust-11 for the newer Luttenried developed systems, namely the Panzerfaust-22 MPSW which Wolf Armaments did not own. Wolf Armaments was quick to overhaul the Panzerfaust-11 design, constructing a launcher with superior materials and ergonomics along with proven enhancements to the launcher itself. Wolf Armaments would go on to improve the exterior design with sturdier plastics that reduced weight and was more comfortable for users to carry. A newer steel alloy that improved barrel life was swapped with its cheaper predecessor, promising improved weather resistance and an increase of twenty percent for its barrel life. The wide selection of munitions that interested Imperial Officials considering the MPSW were emulated and introduced to the RPG-11's lineup of munitions. In total, eleven warheads make up the lineup with proposed others planned in the future. Although conversions could not be made to older RPG-11 systems, some simple upgrades could be made to make a Mk.1/2 instead of freshly construction Mk.2. All munitions can be safely used with older systems, however.

Although the improvements impressed Imperial Officials, whom cited the wide variety of munition options and an improved launcher were what they desired, Wolf Armaments' fears manifested when the Armed Forces Ministry informed them the Panzerfaust-11 would be discontinued in Imperial Service over time. The Empire would continue buying munitions for the time being, but stated no new launchers would be acquired and that existing systems would be phased out. Ministry Officials were impressed with the MPSW to the extent they had decided to entirely swap over to that system, announcing they would begin a turnover project that would eventually see the Panzerfaust-11 completely retired from Imperial service. Some officials cited that if the RPG-11 Mk.2 arrived a few years later, then Ministry staff may not have been as convinced to abandon the system[a]. Currently the Panzerfaust-11 is slated to become a reservist weapon system, likely filling stockpiles and actively serving the Armed Forces until their eventual replacement by MPSW systems in the near future.

Name Type/Warhead Target Penetration Effective Range Blast Radius
PRACTICE Inert; 120 mm Inert Dart; LOVA propellant. Practice Targets only. N/A. 15 meters to 1,000 meters. N/A.
SMOKE (SMK) Red Phosphorous, Smoke Generating Warhead; 120 mm warhead; LOVA propellant. Areas requiring concealment or marking. N/A 15 meters to 1,000 meters. Potential White Phosphorous burns in immediate blast range.
ILLUMINATION (ILL) Flare; 120 mm warhead; LOVA propellant. Area illumination. N/A. 15 meters to 1,000 meters. 500-600 meters of illumination.
White Phosphorous Warhead (WPW) High Explosive, White Phosphorous Smoke Generating Warhead; 120 mm warhead; LOVA propellant. Infantry, soft targets. N/A. 30 meters to 1,000 meters. WP explosion and smoke generation to about 15-25 meters, causes server burns and suffocation.
Area Defense Munition (ADM) High Explosive, Shrapnel/Flechettes; 112 mm warhead; LOVA propellant. Infantry/soft vehicle targets. N/A. 15 meters to 500 meters. Blast shrapnel up to 5 meters, 1,100 flechettes in a cone direction between 10 meters to 30 meters.
High Explosive Fragmentation High Explosive; 112 mm warhead; LOVA propellant. Infantry, soft vehicle targets, structures, fortifications. RHA: 50+ mm; Concrete: 20+ mm.; Sandbags: 200+ mm. 30 meters to 1,000 meters. High explosive/fragmentation warhead is lethal up to 15 meters while fragmentation can maim up to 25 meters.
Bunker Buster Warhead Hollow Charge, High Explosive, Tandem Charge, and Fragmentation; 120 mm Warhead; LOVA propellant. Infantry, soft/moderately armored vehicles, fortifications. RHA: 100+ mm; Concrete: 530+ mm; Sandbags: 1,000+ mm. 30 meters to 1,000 meters. Depending on penetration, roughly 10 meters of lethal explosive force/fragmentation, up to 20 meters of fragmentation maim spread.
High Explosive Dual-Purpose (HEDP) Hollow Charge, High Explosive; 120 mm warhead; LOVA propellant. Infantry, soft/moderately armored vehicles, fortifications. RHA 250+ mm. 30 meters to 1,000 meters. Roughly 20 meters of fragmentation, lethal at 8 meters.
High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) Hollow Charge; 120 mm warhead; LOVA propellant. Soft to heavily armored vehicles. RHA 400+ mm. 30 meters to 1,000 meters. Fragmentation can spread up to 15 meters.
High Explosive Anti-Tank Plus+ (HEAT+) Hollow Charge, Tandem; 120 mm warhead; LOVA propellant. Moderate to heavily armored vehicles. RHA 600+ mm. 30 meters to 1,000 meters. Fragmentation can spread up to 15 meters.
High Explosive Anti-Tank - Improved (HEAT-I) Hollow Charge, Tandem, Rocket Assisted; 120 mm warhead; LOVA propellant. Heavy armored vehicles or fortifications. RHA 800+ mm. 30 meters to 1,000 meters. Fragmentation can spread up to 15 meters.

Notes

  1. An unnamed member of the Empire's Armed Forces Ministry was cited in a personal interview stating that they were impressed with RPG-11's Mk.2 improvements. Stating that if the system had been introduced half a decade sooner then RPG-11's replacement would have not even been considered due to retraining costs. Introducing the upgrade now after staff had already settled on adopting the MPSW and were merely deciding the contract details made it "unreasonable and improbably to undo what had already been decided."