Carl Gustav Anti Tank Weapon

The L14A1, Gun, 84mm, Infantry Anti Tank Weapon, known as the Carl Gustav or "Charlie G" was the standard medium hand held anti tank weapon for Airborne Forces in the 1970s and 1980s.

Developed in Sweden by Hugo Abramson and Harald Jentzen it was manufactured at the Carl Gustaf Rifle Factory, from where it derived its name, in 1948.  It utilised a rifle barrel for accuracy and employed a recoiless system to allow for a heavier propellant to be used, further increasing range, accuracy and power.  Equipped with two hand grips and a simple optical sight it could defeat 400mm of armour plate at ranges between 400 to 700m.

It could fire a range of ammunition from smoke, High Explosive Anti Tank (HEAT) and High Explosive.

Adopted by the British Army towards the end of the 1960s in its M2 variant, the "Charlie G" was used by Airborne Forces, notably in the Falklands, where it proved a potent "bunker buster" against fixed positions.

It was finally withdrawn from service in the 1990s.

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