LRAC F1: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 20:29, 17 July 2022

LRAC F1 with APX M290 passive night vision scope - 89mm. This one appears to be loaded with a dummy rocket container, note the blue band.

The LRAC F1 ("Lance-Roquettes AntiChar (modèle) F1," "anti-tank rocket launcher model F1") sometimes also known as the LRAC 89 or STRIM 89 ("Société technique de recherches en industries mécaniques," "technical society for research in mechanical industries," the company the French government initially contacted regarding the project) is a French-designed crew-served reloadable infantry rocket launcher that was developed in the period from 1964-1972 as a replacement for French stocks of the obsolete M20A1 "Super Bazooka". Two candidates were submitted, the LCD-APX 80mm recoilless rifle and the LRAC 89mm rocket launcher, of which the latter proved to offer both lower cost and better performance.

While the weapon is a little on the obscure side it was actually an extremely influential design, with the key innovation being the packaging of rocket rounds into sealed protective ready-to-load casings that were inserted into the back of the launcher assembly: HEAT, multi-purpose HE, smoke and illumination rounds were available. This inspired similar designs such as the Israeli B-300, and the Russian RPO "Rys" and RPG-32. The launcher is mostly made from lightweight fiberglass with an aluminum bore liner, and is good for around 130 firings before the sight is removed and the launcher assembly disposed of. The launcher's basic sight is the APX M309, a simple 3x telescope with a ranging ladder reticle marked in 100m increments out to 1,000m, but it can also mount the APX M290 passive night vision scope: a simple flip-up sight is included as a backup.

It was phased out of French service in the early 90s having been replaced by the ERYX in the anti-tank role and the M136 AT4-CS in the infantry rocket launcher role, and ammunition is no longer manufactured, but many are still in service with armed forces and militias in Africa.

The LRAC F1 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Specifications

(1972-early 1990s)

Type: Rocket launcher

Caliber: 89mm

Capacity: 1 encased rocket

System weight: 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) loaded, 12.1 lbs (5.5 kg) empty

Rocket weight: 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg)

Length: 63 in (160 cm) loaded, 46 in (116.8 cm) empty

Fire Modes: Single shot

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Note	Date
Operation Leopard (La légion saute sur Kolwezi)		French paratroopers		1980
Taxi 3		Soldier	Appears to be loaded with a dummy round	2003

Video Games

Game Title	Appears as	Note	Release Date
Code of Honor	LRAC 89	Fires guided missiles	2007

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''The LRAC F1 rocket launcher can be seen in the following video games:'''
+[[Image:LRAC F1.JPG|thumb|right|400px|LRAC F1 with APX M290 passive night vision scope - 89mm. This one appears to be loaded with a dummy rocket container, note the blue band.]]
-[[Image:LRAC F1.JPG|thumb|right|401px|LRAC F1 - 89mm]]
-===Video Games===
+The '''LRAC F1''' ("Lance-Roquettes AntiChar (modèle) F1," "anti-tank rocket launcher model F1") sometimes also known as the '''LRAC 89''' or '''STRIM 89''' ("Société technique de recherches en industries mécaniques," "technical society for research in mechanical industries," the company the French government initially contacted regarding the project) is a French-designed crew-served reloadable infantry rocket launcher that was developed in the period from 1964-1972 as a replacement for French stocks of the obsolete [[M20A1 "Super Bazooka"]]. Two candidates were submitted, the LCD-APX 80mm recoilless rifle and the LRAC 89mm rocket launcher, of which the latter proved to offer both lower cost and better performance.
+While the weapon is a little on the obscure side it was actually an extremely influential design, with the key innovation being the packaging of rocket rounds into sealed protective ready-to-load casings that were inserted into the back of the launcher assembly: HEAT, multi-purpose HE, smoke and illumination rounds were available. This inspired similar designs such as the Israeli [[B-300]], and the Russian RPO "Rys" and [[RPG-32]]. The launcher is mostly made from lightweight fiberglass with an aluminum bore liner, and is good for around 130 firings before the sight is removed and the launcher assembly disposed of. The launcher's basic sight is the APX M309, a simple 3x telescope with a ranging ladder reticle marked in 100m increments out to 1,000m, but it can also mount the APX M290 passive night vision scope: a simple flip-up sight is included as a backup.
+It was phased out of French service in the early 90s having been replaced by the [[ERYX]] in the anti-tank role and the [[M136 AT4]]-CS in the infantry rocket launcher role, and ammunition is no longer manufactured, but many are still in service with armed forces and militias in Africa.
+{{Gun Title}}
+==Specifications==
+''(1972-early 1990s)''
+'''Type:''' Rocket launcher
+'''Caliber:''' 89mm
+'''Capacity:''' 1 encased rocket
+'''System weight:''' {{convert|kg|8.2}} loaded, {{convert|kg|5.5}} empty
+'''Rocket weight:''' {{convert|kg|2.2}}
+'''Length:''' {{convert|mm|1600}} loaded, {{convert|mm|1168}} empty
+'''Fire Modes:''' Single shot
+== Film ==
+{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
+|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="300"|'''Title'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="150"|'''Actor'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="200"|'''Character'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="150"|'''Note'''
+!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="50"|'''Date'''
+|-
+| ''[[Operation Leopard (La légion saute sur Kolwezi)]]'' || || French paratroopers || || 1980
+|-
+| ''[[Taxi 3]]'' || || Soldier || Appears to be loaded with a dummy round || 2003
+|-
+|}
+==Video Games==
 {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
 |-bgcolor=#D0E7FF

LRAC F1: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 20:29, 17 July 2022

Specifications

Film

Video Games

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