Ukraine: RPG Warheads with Fragmentation Sleeves

Warheads fired from RPG-7s predominantly have a limited anti-personnel effect due to the minimal fragmentation needed for their normal anti-armour role. Since the spring of 2023 a number of Ukrainian units have been sighted using PG-7 warheads augmented with fragmentation sleeves which are intended to improve their effectiveness as anti-personnel munitions.

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[zoiders]

The sleeve is clever. RPG rounds self detonate after so many seconds. If you add weight and fire at a higher angle you reduce the velocity, the round spends more time in the air trying to climb while covering less distance in a straight line. Meaning you can bring it down like a mortar and air burst it at shorter ranges - edit - its worth noting that the Brits and Canadians used the PIAT in this manner during the long march to Berlin. 0:10 1:09

[christopherwang]

These RPG-7 fragmentation sleeves are quite reminiscent of the _Splitterring_ fragmentation sleeves used on WWII German stick grenades. A similar _Splitterring_ fragmentation sleeve was also developed for the prototype _Panzerfaust_ 150 which was ironically one of the inspirations for the RPG-7.

[danirizary]

I appreciate the neutral way you present information. You cover the subject material in exquisite detail, and in a way that later info can be readily built upon it. Tahnk you for all your hard work.

[kosta]

3:09 - This example looks like it has been deliberately badly "cut" on a fiber laser cutting machine in order to keep the squares together, but still have them separate at the joints under the force of the explosion. It's a quicker way to produce the sleeve than to have it CNC milled.

Source: I'm a fiber laser operator.

[bobdouglas]

During the two world wars fragmentation grenades had serrations on the outside of the fragmentation sleeve, probably to facilitate manufacture.
After the second world war, studies found that the external serrations had little or no effect on the fragmentation pattern of the selves.
It was also found that serrations on the inside of the selves did effect the fragmentation pattern. The serrations needed to be cut so as to present an opening into the inner sleeve surface. Presumably, these open groves focused the force of the explosion to produce the desired fragmentation pattern.

[masterofrockets]

That is neat they take advantage of the self destruct feature at… 900 yards?

[ghfrostwriter]

Thank you for your excellent mini-doc and commentary on this workshop innovation.

[xfragboix]

This is especially useful against infantry riding on top of IFVs and APCs. Chechens used to tape several thick gauge wires to PG-7V (anti-tank variant) grenades to make them more effective against infantry during Chechen Wars.

[lavog]

German Potato Mashers were blast grenades with minimal frags. The Germans did have a frag sleeve they would be able to slide over the warhead but they were rare as hen's teeth at the front lines

[javiermartinezjr]

Assuming the enemy trenches are along the opposite tree line, this guy's indirect fire is pretty accurate the splash can be seen land just in front of the trees or among it, one skilled grenadier

[danielescobar]

Can note, most stockpiles of rpg7 ammo are shaped charged anti tank rounds and not the anti personnel variant. The anti personnel type was developed later as a secondary use for the launchers, and I Believe still had to hit a solid surface to detonate. There was no air burst ever developed, so utilizing the timer on AT ammo is pretty ingenious, since there should be loads of this from Soviet stockpiles. Soviet doctrine saw knocking out our tanks as extremely valuable targets. Our tanks are so expensive and made in smaller numbers since they'd have to be transported across the globe, so their destruction value was much higher than Soviet ones.

[capthawkeye]

The sleeve does not compromise the rocket's anti-tank function either. So if a tank pops up, you can still use it like a normal anti-tank rocket. It does probably impact the rocket's performance, and increase the safe-use distance though. The RPG-7s lifespan has illustrated how the infantry appreciate having such a small but powerful weapon at their disposal. You essentially give every infantry squad a mini tank cannon when you equip them with the RPG, one that's a bit more demanding than an MGL but also much more powerful.

[johnwalton]

Fascinating! Thanks for enlightening us about this very interesting modification.

[INSANESUICIDE]

Even back in 2018 there was complaints about lack of the HE warheads for the RPG, the innovation to make up for this lack has been impressive, from frag sleeves to the fire extinguishers packed with explosives.

[RichterFriedrich]

Og-7v frag (which is factory made antipersonnel) doesnt have rocket engine so it has shorter effective range than this type of custom made stuff

[laus]

Never seen these, thanks for this video.

[b.griffin]

From what I've heard the idea that scored medal surfaces develop fragmentation and shrapnel is largely a myth that originates with the pinapple grenade. In practice the explosion is so fast that once one area of the sleeve is torn the rest of the sleeve just flies away in more or less a single piece.

[Swindle]

You would think gluing BB's to the RPG warhead, so the entire surface is covered, would be much more effective and cheaper. More time consuming in that someone has to individually glue each BB to it, but it would cost less in terms of material and machine work, and produce more uniform, consistent fragmentation. Similar to the difference between the Mk2 and M67 frag grenades.

[subtlesavage]

Good vid, thanks for putting this together!

[ghfrostwriter]

Excellent upgrade of the RPG-7. And believe I saw this fragmentation sleeve back in Soviet times. Is there also an RPG-7 anti-personnel warhead manufactured by the North Koreans?