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M1 Rocket Launcher "Bazooka": Difference between revisions

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==M1 "Bazooka" (2.36" Rocket)==
==M1 "Bazooka" (2.36" Rocket)==
[[Image:Bazookasmithsonian.jpg|thumb|right|400px|M1 Bazooka - 2.36 inch]]
[[Image:Bazookasmithsonian.jpg|thumb|right|400px|M1 Bazooka - 2.36 inch]]
* First model adopted from Lieutenant Edward Uhl's prototype rocket launcher and Colonel Leslie Skinner's rocket design, based very loosely on a series of prototypes created by American rocketry pioneer Robert H. Goddard in 1918. First used in combat in 1942, on the Russian Front via lend-lease and by American forces during Operation Torch in November 1942.
* First model adopted from Captain Edward Uhl's prototype anti tank grenade and Colonel Leslie Skinner's rocket design. First used in combat in 1942, on the Russian Front via lend-lease and by American forces during Operation Torch in November 1942.
* Had two pistol grips (one with trigger) and a shoulder step which contained the battery.
* Had two pistol grips (one with trigger) and a shoulder step which contained the battery.
* Contact box located on top of the tube just back from the shoulder rest is only present on this variant.
* Contact box located on top of the tube just back from the shoulder rest is only present on this variant.
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* Used M6 HEAT round: no other Bazooka can fire this original rocket design due to one of its contacts being on the nose, and the M1 could not fire any later rocket without modification.
* Used M6 HEAT round: no other Bazooka can fire this original rocket design due to one of its contacts being on the nose, and the M1 could not fire any later rocket without modification.
* Not particularly popular due to the unreliable M6 rocket, use of substandard steel for production expediency rendering tubes prone to rupturing on hot days when the rocket propellant would burn extremely quickly, and lack of a bore gauge for launch tube production, resulting in tubes with very poor dimensional tolerances: frequent accidents involving rockets getting stuck in the tube and exploding: these issues were compounded by US troops in Operation Torch having received little or no instruction in the use of the weapon. Issuing of the M1 was suspended in May 1943.
* Not particularly popular due to the unreliable M6 rocket, use of substandard steel for production expediency rendering tubes prone to rupturing on hot days when the rocket propellant would burn extremely quickly, and lack of a bore gauge for launch tube production, resulting in tubes with very poor dimensional tolerances: frequent accidents involving rockets getting stuck in the tube and exploding: these issues were compounded by US troops in Operation Torch having received little or no instruction in the use of the weapon. Issuing of the M1 was suspended in May 1943.
* Mild steel cone in hollow charge, penetration roughly 3in (76mm) RHA.
* THe warhead consisted of a eight ounce charge of Pentolite high explosive with a mild steel cone liner, penetrating roughly 3in (76mm) RHA.


===Television===
===Television===
Line 44: Line 44:
| ''[[Time Crisis]]'' || || || Unusable, incorrectly shown as fired continuously || 1995
| ''[[Time Crisis]]'' || || || Unusable, incorrectly shown as fired continuously || 1995
|-
|-
| ''[[Medal of Honor (1999)]]'' || || || Only seen in Beta versions || 1999
| ''[[Medal of Honor (1999)|Medal of Honor]]'' || || || Only seen in Beta versions || 1999
|-
| ''[[Hidden & Dangerous]]'' || || || || 1999
|-
| ''[[Deadly Dozen]]'' ||  || || || 2001
|-
| ''[[Deadly Dozen Pacific Theater]]'' ||  || || || 2002
|-
|-
| ''[[Battlefield: 1942]]'' || || || || 2002
| ''[[Battlefield: 1942]]'' || || || || 2002
Line 50: Line 56:
| ''[[Medal of Honor: Allied Assault]]'' || || || || 2002
| ''[[Medal of Honor: Allied Assault]]'' || || || || 2002
|-
|-
| ''[[7554]]'' || "Bazooka"; "Vietnamese Bazooka" || || || 2011
| ''[[Medal of Honor: European Assault]]'' || "M1 Bazooka" || || ||2005
|-
| ''[[Company of Heroes (2006)|Company of Heroes]]'' || "Bazooka" || || || 2006
|-
|-
| [[Project Reality: Normandy]] || As the "Bazooka" ||  ||  || 2013
| ''[[Project Reality: Normandy]]'' || "Bazooka" ||  ||  || 2013
|-
|-
| [[Enlisted]] || ||  || M1 "Bazooka" || 2021
| ''[[Far East War]]'' || "Bazooka" || || || 2013
|-
| ''[[Enlisted]]'' || ||  || M1 "Bazooka" || 2021
|-
|-
|}
|}
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* Added optional wire blast shield in front for cold weather use. Not particularly effective and largely ignored by troops: later a more effective solid cone was developed.
* Added optional wire blast shield in front for cold weather use. Not particularly effective and largely ignored by troops: later a more effective solid cone was developed.
* Optional solid blast cone in back to replace wired cone.
* Optional solid blast cone in back to replace wired cone.
* Improved M6A1 rocket with shortened propellant sticks to reduce overpressure. "M6A2" rocket appears to have been an informal designation for original production M6 rockets upgraded to A1 standard.
* Improved M6A1 rocket with shortened propellant sticks to reduce overpressure, original M6 rockets modified to A1 standard were known as "M6A2" rocket.
* Many original production M1s were upgraded to the A1 standard
* Many original production M1s were upgraded to the A1 standard
* Later issued with a larger battery, and after complaints of it getting stuck inside the shoulder rest, were re-reamed to better accommodate it
* Later issued with a larger battery, and after complaints of it getting stuck inside the shoulder rest, were re-reamed to better accommodate it
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| ''[[A Walk In The Sun]]'' || || U.S. Army soldiers || || 1945
| ''[[A Walk In The Sun]]'' || || U.S. Army soldiers || || 1945
|-
|-
| ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]'' || [[Matt Damon]] || Pvt. James F. Ryan || || 1998
| rowspan=3 | ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]'' || [[Matt Damon]] || Pvt. James F. Ryan ||  rowspan=3 | || rowspan=3 | 1998
|-
|-
| ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]'' || [[Tom Sizemore]] || Sgt. Mike Horvath || || 1998
| [[Tom Sizemore]] || Sgt. Mike Horvath
|-
|-
| ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]'' || || U.S. Army soldiers || || 1998
| || U.S. Army soldiers
|-
|-
| ''[[We Were Soldiers]]'' || || Viet Minh soldier || With modified rear sight || 2002
| ''[[We Were Soldiers]]'' || || A Viet Minh soldier || With modified rear sight || 2002
|-
|-
| ''[[Windtalkers]]'' || [[Christian Slater]] || Sgt. Pete "Ox" Anderson || || 2002
| rowspan=2 | ''[[Windtalkers]]'' || [[Christian Slater]] || Sgt. Pete "Ox" Anderson ||  rowspan=2 | || rowspan=2 | 2002
|-
|-
| ''[[Windtalkers]]'' || || Marines || || 2002
| || U.S. Marines
|-
|-
| ''[[The Great Raid]]'' || [[Clayne Crawford]] || PFC Aldridge || || 2005
| rowspan=2 | ''[[The Great Raid]]'' || [[Clayne Crawford]] || PFC Aldridge ||  rowspan=2 | || rowspan=2 | 2005
|-
|-
| ''[[The Great Raid]]'' || [[Sam Worthington]] || PFC Lucas || || 2005
| [[Sam Worthington]] || PFC Luca
|-
|-
| ''[[Hacksaw Ridge]]'' || || US Army soldiers || || 2016
| rowspan=2 | ''[[Hacksaw Ridge]]'' || [[Vince Vaughn]] || Sergeant Howell || rowspan=2 | || rowspan=2 | 2016
|-
|-
| ''[[Hacksaw Ridge]]'' || [[Vince Vaughn]] || Sergeant Howell || || 2016
| || US Army soldiers
|-
|-
|}
|}
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!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="80"|'''Air Date'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="80"|'''Air Date'''
|-
|-
| ''[[Band of Brothers]]'' || [[Nolan Hemmings]] || Sgt. Charles E. "Chuck" Grant || Ep. "Replacements" || 2001
| rowspan=4 | ''[[Band of Brothers]]'' || [[Nolan Hemmings]] || Sgt. Charles E. "Chuck" Grant || Ep. "Replacements" || rowspan=4 | 2001
|-
|-
| ''[[Band of Brothers]]'' || [[Stephen Walters]] || John McGrath || Ep. "Carentan" || 2001
| [[Stephen Martin Walters]] || John McGrath || rowspan=3 | Ep. "Carentan"  
|-
|-
| ''[[Band of Brothers]]'' || [[Rick Warden]] || Lt. Harry Welsh || Ep. "Carentan" || 2001
| [[Rick Warden]] || Lt. Harry Welsh  
|-
|-
| ''[[Band of Brothers]]'' || [[Bart Ruspoli]] || Pvt. Ed Tipper || Ep. "Carentan" || 2001
| [[Bart Ruspoli]] || Pvt. Ed Tipper
|-
|-
| ''[[Mail Call]]'' || || Season 1 || || 2002-2009
| ''[[Mail Call]]'' || || Season 1 || || 2002-2009
|-
|-
| ''[[The Pacific]]'' || [[Dylan Young]] || PFC Jay De L'Eau || || 2010
| rowspan=2 | ''[[The Pacific]]'' || [[Dylan Young]] || PFC Jay De L'Eau ||  rowspan=2 | || rowspan=2 | 2010
|-
|-
| ''[[The Pacific]]'' || [[Karl Cottee]] || Cpl. Pegg || || 2010
| [[Karl Cottee]] || Cpl. Pegg
|-
|-
| ''[[Parer's War]]'' || || US Marines || || 2014
| ''[[Parer's War]]'' || || US Marines || || 2014
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| ''[[Darkest Hour: Europe '44-'45]] || || || Can be reloaded by teammate || 2006
| ''[[Darkest Hour: Europe '44-'45]] || || || Can be reloaded by teammate || 2006
|-
|-
| ''[[Enemy Front]]'' ||BAZOOKA|| || || 2014
| rowspan=2 | ''[[7554]]'' || "Bazooka" || rowspan=2 | || rowspan=2 | || rowspan=2 | 2011
|-
|-
| ''[[Heroes & Generals]]'' ||Bazooka M1A1 || || || 2016
| "Vietnamese Bazooka"
|-
| ''[[Enemy Front]]'' ||"BAZOOKA"|| || || 2014
|-
| ''[[Heroes & Generals]]'' ||"Bazooka M1A1" || || || 2016
|-
|-
| ''[[Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades]]'' || || || || 2016
| ''[[Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades]]'' || || || || 2016
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|-
|-
| ''[[Post Scriptum]]'' || || || Introduced with ''Day of Days'' update || 2018
| ''[[Post Scriptum]]'' || || || Introduced with ''Day of Days'' update || 2018
|-
| ''[[Enlisted]]'' || || || || 2021
|-
|-
|}
|}
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|-
|-
| ''[[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure]]'' || Rudol von Stroheim || S1E26, "The Ascendant One" || 2012
| ''[[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure]]'' || Rudol von Stroheim || S1E26, "The Ascendant One" || 2012
|-
|''[[Lycoris Recoil]]''
|N/A
|Appears on a movie poster.
|2022
|-
|-
|}
|}
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* 64in tube length meant rockets would completely expend their fuel inside the launcher regardless of weather
* 64in tube length meant rockets would completely expend their fuel inside the launcher regardless of weather
* Used improved M6A3 HEAT rocket and M10 Bursting Smoke (WP) rocket. M6A3 had a blunt, rounded nose rather than the pointed nose of earlier rockets, which had been found to deflect off sloped tank armor, and also had a short cylindrical fixed tailfin which was less prone to bending during transport or rough handling. Both rounds could be fired from the earlier M1A1 model as well.
* Used improved M6A3 HEAT rocket and M10 Bursting Smoke (WP) rocket. M6A3 had a blunt, rounded nose rather than the pointed nose of earlier rockets, which had been found to deflect off sloped tank armor, and also had a short cylindrical fixed tailfin which was less prone to bending during transport or rough handling. Both rounds could be fired from the earlier M1A1 model as well.
* M6A3 reshaped the ogive and some sources say also replaced the mild steel hollow charge liner with copper, the former or both together improving penetration to around 4 inches (100mm) of RHA.
* M6A3 reshaped the ogive, shortening the fuze function time and thus improving penetration to around 4 inches (100mm) of RHA.
* Early production used General Electric T43 folding bar sight, later replaced by Polaroid T90 optical reflex sight
* Early production used General Electric T43 folding bar sight, later replaced by Polaroid T90 optical reflex sight
* Could be disassembled into two halves for easier carrying.
* Could be disassembled into two halves for easier carrying.
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| [[Romy Schneider]] || Anne
| [[Romy Schneider]] || Anne
|-
|-
| ''[[20 Million Miles to Earth]]'' || [[William Hopper]] || Colonel William Calder || || 1957
| rowspan=2 | ''[[20 Million Miles to Earth]]'' || [[William Hopper]] || Colonel William Calder ||  rowspan=2 | || rowspan=2 | 1957
|-
|-
| ''[[20 Million Miles to Earth]]'' || || Italian soldiers || || 1957
| || Italian soldiers
|-
|-
| ''[[Is Paris Burning?]]'' || [[Anthony Perkins]] || Sgt. Warren || || 1966
| rowspan=2 | ''[[Is Paris Burning?]]'' || [[Anthony Perkins]] || Sgt. Warren ||  rowspan=2 | || rowspan=2 | 1996
|-
|-
| ''[[Is Paris Burning?]]'' || [[Skip Ward]] || Pvt. Charlie || || 1966
| [[Skip Ward]] || Pvt. Charlie
|-
|-
| ''[[Shock Troops (Un homme de trop)]]'' || [[Claude Brasseur]] || Groubec || || 1967
| ''[[Shock Troops (Un homme de trop)]]'' || [[Claude Brasseur]] || Groubec || || 1967
Line 268: Line 289:
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="80"|''' Date'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="80"|''' Date'''
|-
|-
| ''[[Medal of Honor (1999)]]'' || || || || 1999
| ''[[Medal of Honor (1999)|Medal of Honor]]'' || || || || 1999
|-
|-
| ''[[World War II Online: Battleground Europe]]'' || || || || 2001-2012
| ''[[World War II Online: Battleground Europe]]'' || || || || 2001-2012
|-
|-
| ''[[Hidden & Dangerous 2]]'' || "M1 Bazooka" || || || 2003
| ''[[Hidden & Dangerous 2]]'' || "M1 Bazooka" || || || 2003
|-
| ''[[Medal of Honor: European Assault]]'' || "M9 Bazooka" || || ||2005
|-
| ''[[Medal of Honor: Vanguard]]'' || "M9 Bazooka" || || || 2007
|-
| ''[[Company of Heroes 2]]'' || || With a mounted foregrip || Added with ''The Western Front Front Armies'' (2014) || 2013
|-
|-
|}
|}
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* Unloaded weight 15.87 lbs
* Unloaded weight 15.87 lbs
* Short-lived M18 variant had an aluminium alloy barrel reducing weight to 10.6 lbs. Introduced in April 1945 but production ended at the end of the war with only 500 units produced: 350 saw combat use in the Philippines and on Okinawa. Some sources conflate or confuse this variant with the [[M18 Recoilless Rifle]], which entered service the same year and was referred to as a Bazooka by soldiers due to its vaguely similar shape.
* Short-lived M18 variant had an aluminium alloy barrel reducing weight to 10.6 lbs. Introduced in April 1945 but production ended at the end of the war with only 500 units produced: 350 saw combat use in the Philippines and on Okinawa. Some sources conflate or confuse this variant with the [[M18 Recoilless Rifle]], which entered service the same year and was referred to as a Bazooka by soldiers due to its vaguely similar shape.
=== 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="250"|'''Title'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="200"|'''Actor'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="200"|'''Character'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="350"|'''Note'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="80"|'''Date'''
|-
| ''[[When Trumpets Fade]]'' || [[Frank Whaley]] || Chamberlain ||  || 1998
|-
|}


=== Video Games ===
=== Video Games ===
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!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="80"|''' Date'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="80"|''' Date'''
|-
|-
| ''[[Medal of Honor (1999)]]'' || || || || 1999
| ''[[Medal of Honor (1999)|Medal of Honor]]'' || || || || 1999
|-
|-
| ''[[Medal of Honor: Underground]]'' || || || Multiplayer Only || 2000
| ''[[Medal of Honor: Underground]]'' || || || Multiplayer Only || 2000
Line 300: Line 339:
| ''[[Medal of Honor: Frontline]]'' || || || || 2002
| ''[[Medal of Honor: Frontline]]'' || || || || 2002
|-
|-
| ''[[Medal of Honor: Rising Sun]]'' || || || || 2003
| ''[[Medal of Honor: Rising Sun]]'' || "M9A1 Bazooka" || || || 2003
|-
|-
| ''[[Call of Duty: United Offensive]]'' || || || || 2004
| ''[[Call of Duty: United Offensive]]'' || || || || 2004
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| ''[[Call of Duty 3]]'' || || || || 2006
| ''[[Call of Duty 3]]'' || || || || 2006
|-
|-
| ''[[Medal of Honor: Vanguard]]'' || || || || 2007
| ''[[Call of Duty: World at War]]'' || || || || 2008
|-
|-
| ''[[Call of Duty: World at War]]'' || || || || 2008
| ''[[Call of Duty: World at War - Final Fronts]]'' || "Bazooka" || || || 2008
|-
|-
| ''[[Post Scriptum]]'' || || || || 2018
| ''[[Post Scriptum]]'' || || || || 2018
|-
|-
| ''[[Heroes & Generals ]]'' || || || with folding bar sight || 2019
| ''[[Heroes & Generals]]'' || || || with folding bar sight || 2019
|-
|-
|}
| ''[[Enlisted]]'' || || || || 2021
 
=== 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="250"|'''Title'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="200"|'''Actor'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="200"|'''Character'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="350"|'''Note'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="80"|'''Date'''
|-
| ''[[When Trumpets Fade]]'' || [[Frank Whaley]] || Chamberlain || || 1998
|-
|-
|}
|}
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==M20 "Super Bazooka" (3.5" Rocket)==
==M20 "Super Bazooka" (3.5" Rocket)==
[[File:M20 Super Bazooka.jpg|thumb|right|400px|M20 "Super Bazooka" with rocket - 3.5"]]
[[File:M20 Super Bazooka.jpg|thumb|right|400px|M20 "Super Bazooka" with rocket - 3.5"]]
* Further M18 development cancelled due to fears that the 2.36" rocket would be completely ineffective against the latest Soviet armor. Scaled-up M20 was developed instead, with a larger warhead for greater armor penetration
 
* Designated as M20 in late 1944, but not ready in time for the war's end and adoption postponed by Secretary of Defense Louis A. Johnson. Issue restarted when US forces in Korea encountered North Korean T-34/85 tanks their M9A1s, which were using ammunition that had degraded in storage, could not damage even with repeated shots at the engine compartments (particularly Task Force Smith during the Battle of Osan).
* Development began in October 1944 as it was realized that further development of 2.36" rockets might not keep up with German armor advances, resulting in the development of the T74 launcher and T80 rocket in 3.5" caliber (89mm)
* Replaced the M9A1 in 1950.
* Standardized as the M20 Rocket launcher shorty after Victory Over Japan Day in September 1945 Designated as M20 in late 1944, with the T80E2 rocket being standardized as the M28.  
* Used new ammunition: M28A2 HEAT (able to penetrate up to 11 inches (280mm) of RHA), M30 WP smoke
* Issue restarted when US forces in Korea encountered North Korean T-34/85 tanks their M9A1s, which were using ammunition that had degraded in storage, could not damage even with repeated shots at the engine compartments (particularly Task Force Smith during the Battle of Osan).
* Used new ammunition: M28 HEAT (about 10.5-11 inches [266-280mm] penetration depending on source), M30 WP smoke
* Usable range was extended by an additional 150 meters.
* Usable range was extended by an additional 150 meters.
* Weight 14.3 pounds (6.5kg), 60in tube length.
* Weight 14.3 pounds (6.5kg), 60in tube length.
Line 361: Line 390:
| ''[[The Longest Day]]'' || || U.S.Army soldier || || 1963
| ''[[The Longest Day]]'' || || U.S.Army soldier || || 1963
|-
|-
| ''[[The Devil's Brigade]]'' || || U.S.Army soldier || anachronistic || 1968
| ''[[What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?]]'' || || US Army soldiers || anachronistic || 1966
|-
| ''[[The Devil's Brigade]]'' || || US Army soldier || anachronistic || 1968
|-
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[The Conspiracy (Le complot)]]'' || [[Simón Andreu]] || Baudry || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2|1973
| rowspan=2|''[[The Conspiracy (Le complot)]]'' || [[Simón Andreu]] || Baudry || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2|1973
Line 367: Line 398:
| || OAS fighters
| || OAS fighters
|-
|-
| ''[[The Eagle Has Landed]]'' || [[Jeff Conaway]] || Lt. Frazier ||anachronistic  || 1976
| rowspan=2|''[[The Eagle Has Landed]]'' || [[Jeff Conaway]] || Lt. Frazier || rowspan=2|anachronistic  || rowspan=2|1976
|-
|-
| ''[[The Eagle Has Landed]]'' || || U.S. Army Rangers ||anachronistic  || 1976
| || U.S. Army Rangers  
|-
|-
| ''[[Code Name: Wild Geese]]'' || || General Khan's soldiers || || 1984
| ''[[Code Name: Wild Geese]]'' || || General Khan's soldiers || || 1984
Line 377: Line 408:
|''[[Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth]]'' || || JGSDF personnel || || 1992
|''[[Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth]]'' || || JGSDF personnel || || 1992
|-
|-
| ''[[General's Daughter, The|The General's Daughter]]'' || || || || 1999
| ''[[The General's Daughter]]'' || || || || 1999
|-
|-
| ''[[Tae Guk Gi]]'' || || South Korean soldiers || || 2004
| ''[[Tae Guk Gi]]'' || || South Korean soldiers || || 2004
|-
|-
| ''[[Sahara (2005)]]'' || || Tuareg tribesmen || || 2005
| ''[[Sahara (2005)|Sahara]]'' || || Tuareg tribesmen || || 2005
|-
|-
|}
|}
Line 411: Line 442:
| ''[[Project Reality: Falklands]]'' || || ||  || 2012
| ''[[Project Reality: Falklands]]'' || || ||  || 2012
|-
|-
| [[Project Reality: Vietnam]] ||  ||  ||  || 2012
| ''[[Project Reality: Vietnam]]'' ||  ||  ||  || 2012
|-
|-
|}
|}
Line 490: Line 521:
* Entered production in 1952 - issued to troops after end of Korean War
* Entered production in 1952 - issued to troops after end of Korean War
* Improved connector latch assembly.
* Improved connector latch assembly.
* New M28A2 rocket issued with improved contact ring that replaced the need to connect igniter wires.
* Standard AT weapon at the start of the Vietnam War, phased out in favor of first the [[M67 recoilless rifle]] and then the [[M72 LAW]] for AT use in the 1960s.
* Standard AT weapon at the start of the Vietnam War, phased out in favor of first the [[M67 recoilless rifle]] and then the [[M72 LAW]] for AT use in the 1960s.


Latest revision as of 08:16, 29 August 2023

Slide Bazooka Instrument

"Bazooka" is a term commonly applied to a series of recoilless launchers used by the US military during WW2 and the Korean War. It was a slang term adopted by the GIs based on the device's resemblance to a comedy 'instrument' popularized by Radio Comedian Bob Burns in the 1930s & 1940s.

Today the term is often used by the general public as a generic term for any tube-like rocket launcher; this cannot exactly be called incorrect, since "Bazooka" was only ever a nickname for the original weapon, but on this site it should only be used to refer to this particular series of launchers.

Bazooka rockets are often depicted with burning engines and smoke trails in fiction, which is incorrect: the rocket motor burns out while the projectile is still inside the launch tube, except for early-production rockets at extremely cold temperatures where it may still be burning for a short time on exit. Later rockets used a new propellant, Blastless Bazooka Propellant (BBP) that eliminated temperature-related burn time issues.

The following weapons are in the M1 Series of Rocket Launchers:


M1 "Bazooka" (2.36" Rocket)

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
M1 Bazooka - 2.36 inch
  • First model adopted from Captain Edward Uhl's prototype anti tank grenade and Colonel Leslie Skinner's rocket design. First used in combat in 1942, on the Russian Front via lend-lease and by American forces during Operation Torch in November 1942.
  • Had two pistol grips (one with trigger) and a shoulder step which contained the battery.
  • Contact box located on top of the tube just back from the shoulder rest is only present on this variant.
  • 18 lbs unloaded weight, 54in tube.
  • Introduced in June 1942, used until August 1943 when replaced by the M1A1 variant.
  • Used M6 HEAT round: no other Bazooka can fire this original rocket design due to one of its contacts being on the nose, and the M1 could not fire any later rocket without modification.
  • Not particularly popular due to the unreliable M6 rocket, use of substandard steel for production expediency rendering tubes prone to rupturing on hot days when the rocket propellant would burn extremely quickly, and lack of a bore gauge for launch tube production, resulting in tubes with very poor dimensional tolerances: frequent accidents involving rockets getting stuck in the tube and exploding: these issues were compounded by US troops in Operation Torch having received little or no instruction in the use of the weapon. Issuing of the M1 was suspended in May 1943.
  • THe warhead consisted of a eight ounce charge of Pentolite high explosive with a mild steel cone liner, penetrating roughly 3in (76mm) RHA.

Television

Title Actor Character Note Air Date
Mail Call Season 1 2002-2009

Video Games

Title Appears as Mods Notation Date
Time Crisis Unusable, incorrectly shown as fired continuously 1995
Medal of Honor Only seen in Beta versions 1999
Hidden & Dangerous 1999
Deadly Dozen 2001
Deadly Dozen Pacific Theater 2002
Battlefield: 1942 2002
Medal of Honor: Allied Assault 2002
Medal of Honor: European Assault "M1 Bazooka" 2005
Company of Heroes "Bazooka" 2006
Project Reality: Normandy "Bazooka" 2013
Far East War "Bazooka" 2013
Enlisted M1 "Bazooka" 2021

M1A1 "Bazooka" (2.36" Rocket)

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
M1A1 Bazooka - 2.36 inch
  • Fully introduced in August 1943, with small numbers issued in July. First used during the invasion of Sicily in July-August 1943
  • Replaced "On/Off" switch with the 'ready' light
  • Removed second pistol grip
  • Rear section of the launch tube wrapped with 0.5 in steel wire to prevent ruptures on hot days.
  • Wire wrapping required reworked electrical system and redesigned rocket: instead of the top-mounted contact box that created a connection to a brass ring on the rocket's nose, a wire was stowed in the tailfin of the rocket and connected to a contact clip at the rear of the launcher by the loader prior to firing. This means the wire on this launcher goes from the shoulder rest to the back of the tube, rather than up to the contact box as on the M1.
  • Unloaded weight 13.26 lbs
  • Added optional wire blast shield in front for cold weather use. Not particularly effective and largely ignored by troops: later a more effective solid cone was developed.
  • Optional solid blast cone in back to replace wired cone.
  • Improved M6A1 rocket with shortened propellant sticks to reduce overpressure, original M6 rockets modified to A1 standard were known as "M6A2" rocket.
  • Many original production M1s were upgraded to the A1 standard
  • Later issued with a larger battery, and after complaints of it getting stuck inside the shoulder rest, were re-reamed to better accommodate it

The M1 series of Rocket Launcher can be seen in the following films, TV series, anime, and video games used by the following actors:

Film

Title Actor Character Note Date
The Story of G.I. Joe U.S. Army soldier 1945
A Walk In The Sun U.S. Army soldiers 1945
Saving Private Ryan Matt Damon Pvt. James F. Ryan 1998
Tom Sizemore Sgt. Mike Horvath
U.S. Army soldiers
We Were Soldiers A Viet Minh soldier With modified rear sight 2002
Windtalkers Christian Slater Sgt. Pete "Ox" Anderson 2002
U.S. Marines
The Great Raid Clayne Crawford PFC Aldridge 2005
Sam Worthington PFC Luca
Hacksaw Ridge Vince Vaughn Sergeant Howell 2016
US Army soldiers

Television

Title Actor Character Note Air Date
Band of Brothers Nolan Hemmings Sgt. Charles E. "Chuck" Grant Ep. "Replacements" 2001
Stephen Martin Walters John McGrath Ep. "Carentan"
Rick Warden Lt. Harry Welsh
Bart Ruspoli Pvt. Ed Tipper
Mail Call Season 1 2002-2009
The Pacific Dylan Young PFC Jay De L'Eau 2010
Karl Cottee Cpl. Pegg
Parer's War US Marines 2014

Video Games

Title Appears as Mods Notation Date
Day of Defeat: Source 2005
Darkest Hour: Europe '44-'45 Can be reloaded by teammate 2006
7554 "Bazooka" 2011
"Vietnamese Bazooka"
Enemy Front "BAZOOKA" 2014
Heroes & Generals "Bazooka M1A1" 2016
Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades 2016
Day of Infamy "Bazooka" Can use White Phosphorous rockets 2017
Post Scriptum Introduced with Day of Days update 2018
Enlisted 2021

Anime

Title Characters Notation Date
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Rudol von Stroheim S1E26, "The Ascendant One" 2012
Lycoris Recoil N/A Appears on a movie poster. 2022

M9 "Bazooka" (2.36" Rocket)

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M9 "Bazooka" - 2.36 inch
  • Introduced in October 1943 and replaced the M1A1 in production, operating alongside it in the field
  • Battery ignition (which had proved unreliable in wet weather and caused many complaints about life and availability of batteries in the field) replaced by Magnavox T6 trigger magneto
  • Wooden furnishings replaced with metal and plastic
  • 64in tube length meant rockets would completely expend their fuel inside the launcher regardless of weather
  • Used improved M6A3 HEAT rocket and M10 Bursting Smoke (WP) rocket. M6A3 had a blunt, rounded nose rather than the pointed nose of earlier rockets, which had been found to deflect off sloped tank armor, and also had a short cylindrical fixed tailfin which was less prone to bending during transport or rough handling. Both rounds could be fired from the earlier M1A1 model as well.
  • M6A3 reshaped the ogive, shortening the fuze function time and thus improving penetration to around 4 inches (100mm) of RHA.
  • Early production used General Electric T43 folding bar sight, later replaced by Polaroid T90 optical reflex sight
  • Could be disassembled into two halves for easier carrying.
  • Unloaded weight 15.14 lbs
  • Forward blast cone added.

Film

Title Actor Character Note Date
The Battle of the Rails (La bataille du rail) French Resistance fighters 1946
Halls of Montezuma US Marines 1951
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms US National Guards Jeep mounted 1953
Fire and Ice (Le combat dans l'île) Jean-Louis Trintignant Clément Lesser 1962
Pierre Asso Serge
Romy Schneider Anne
20 Million Miles to Earth William Hopper Colonel William Calder 1957
Italian soldiers
Is Paris Burning? Anthony Perkins Sgt. Warren 1996
Skip Ward Pvt. Charlie
Shock Troops (Un homme de trop) Claude Brasseur Groubec 1967
Pasha (Le Pacha) Dominique Zardi Horst Weiss 1968
Mr. Freedom Freedom agent 1969
The Brain Seen in Frankie's weapon case 1969
She No Longer Talks She Shoots The policeman 1972
Judge Fayard Called the Sheriff Marcel Bozzuffi Joanno aka "Captain" 1977
Wheels of Fire Scourge's Men 1985
Man on Fire Seen in Sandri's hideout 1987
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Chinese soldiers 2008
The Adventures of Tintin Andy Serkis Captain Haddock 2011

Television

Title Actor Character Note Air Date
Rat Patrol Justin Tarr Pvt. Tully Pettigrew Ep. "The Kill at Koorlea Raid" 1966-1968
The A-Team Dwight Schultz H. M. Murdock Ep. "Where's The Monster When You Need Him?" 1983 - 1987
The A-Team The henchmen Ep. "The Island" 1983 - 1987
The A-Team U.S. Army soldiers Ep. "The Sound of Thunder" 1983 - 1987
The A-Team Revolutionaries Ep. "The Theory Of Revolution" 1983 - 1987
Band of Brothers Nolan Hemmings Sgt. Charles E. "Chuck" Grant Ep. "Points" 2001

Video Games

Title Appears as Mods Notation Date
Medal of Honor 1999
World War II Online: Battleground Europe 2001-2012
Hidden & Dangerous 2 "M1 Bazooka" 2003
Medal of Honor: European Assault "M9 Bazooka" 2005
Medal of Honor: Vanguard "M9 Bazooka" 2007
Company of Heroes 2 With a mounted foregrip Added with The Western Front Front Armies (2014) 2013

M9A1 "Bazooka" (2.36" Rocket)

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M9A1 "Bazooka" - 2.36 inch
  • Introduced in September 1944 replacing the M9
  • Improved coupling mechanism for the two-part launch tube
  • T90 optical reflex sight
  • Unloaded weight 15.87 lbs
  • Short-lived M18 variant had an aluminium alloy barrel reducing weight to 10.6 lbs. Introduced in April 1945 but production ended at the end of the war with only 500 units produced: 350 saw combat use in the Philippines and on Okinawa. Some sources conflate or confuse this variant with the M18 Recoilless Rifle, which entered service the same year and was referred to as a Bazooka by soldiers due to its vaguely similar shape.

Film

Title Actor Character Note Date
When Trumpets Fade Frank Whaley Chamberlain 1998

Video Games

Title Appears as Mods Notation Date
Medal of Honor 1999
Medal of Honor: Underground Multiplayer Only 2000
Medal of Honor: Frontline 2002
Medal of Honor: Rising Sun "M9A1 Bazooka" 2003
Call of Duty: United Offensive 2004
Call of Duty 3 2006
Call of Duty: World at War 2008
Call of Duty: World at War - Final Fronts "Bazooka" 2008
Post Scriptum 2018
Heroes & Generals with folding bar sight 2019
Enlisted 2021

M20 "Super Bazooka" (3.5" Rocket)

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M20 "Super Bazooka" with rocket - 3.5"
  • Development began in October 1944 as it was realized that further development of 2.36" rockets might not keep up with German armor advances, resulting in the development of the T74 launcher and T80 rocket in 3.5" caliber (89mm)
  • Standardized as the M20 Rocket launcher shorty after Victory Over Japan Day in September 1945 Designated as M20 in late 1944, with the T80E2 rocket being standardized as the M28.
  • Issue restarted when US forces in Korea encountered North Korean T-34/85 tanks their M9A1s, which were using ammunition that had degraded in storage, could not damage even with repeated shots at the engine compartments (particularly Task Force Smith during the Battle of Osan).
  • Used new ammunition: M28 HEAT (about 10.5-11 inches [266-280mm] penetration depending on source), M30 WP smoke
  • Usable range was extended by an additional 150 meters.
  • Weight 14.3 pounds (6.5kg), 60in tube length.

Film

Title Actor Character Note Date
The Steel Helmet Richard Loo Sgt. “Buddha Head” Tanaka 1951
War of the Worlds, The (1953) U.S.Army soldiers and Marines 1953
Them! U.S.Army soldiers 1954
To Hell and Back U.S.Army soldier anachronistic 1955
Pork Chop Hill U.S. Army soldiers 1959
Reptilicus Carl Ottosen Gen. Mark Grayson 1961
The Longest Day U.S.Army soldier 1963
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? US Army soldiers anachronistic 1966
The Devil's Brigade US Army soldier anachronistic 1968
The Conspiracy (Le complot) Simón Andreu Baudry 1973
OAS fighters
The Eagle Has Landed Jeff Conaway Lt. Frazier anachronistic 1976
U.S. Army Rangers
Code Name: Wild Geese General Khan's soldiers 1984
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah American troops Replica 1991
Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth JGSDF personnel 1992
The General's Daughter 1999
Tae Guk Gi South Korean soldiers 2004
Sahara Tuareg tribesmen 2005

Television

Title Actor Character Note Air Date
Viper Vigilante gang leader Ep. "Turf Wars" 1996-1999
Sanctuary U.S. Airborne soldier Ep. "Normandy" 2011

Video Games

Title Appears as Mods Notation Date
Project Reality: Falklands 2012
Project Reality: Vietnam 2012

Anime

Title Characters Notation Date
Hyper Police Naoko Kondo 1997

Animation

Title Characters Notation Date
The Iron Giant U.S. Army soldiers 1999

M20B1 "Super Bazooka" (3.5" Rocket)

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M20B1 "Super Bazooka" - 3.5"
  • Lighter weight version - made of cast aluminum.
  • Used as a supplement to the M20

Film

Title Actor Character Note Date
Them! James Whitmore Trooper Sgt. Ben Peterson 1954
71: Into the Fire Seung-woo Kim Captain Kang Suk-Dae 2010

Anime

Title Characters Notation Date
Mad Bull 34 N.Y.P.D. S.W.A.T. officer 1990

Television

Title Actor Character Note Air Date
On Wings of Eagles Revolutionary 1986

M20A1/A1B1 "Super Bazooka" (3.5" Rocket)

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M20A1 "Super Bazooka" - 3.5" Rocket
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M20A1B1 "Super Bazooka" - 3.5" Rocket
  • Final US-produced Bazooka model.
  • Entered production in 1952 - issued to troops after end of Korean War
  • Improved connector latch assembly.
  • New M28A2 rocket issued with improved contact ring that replaced the need to connect igniter wires.
  • Standard AT weapon at the start of the Vietnam War, phased out in favor of first the M67 recoilless rifle and then the M72 LAW for AT use in the 1960s.

Film

Title Actor Character Note Date
A Hill in Korea Michael Medwin Pte. Docker 1956
Victor Maddern Pte. Lindop
OSS 117: Mission for a Killer (Furia à Bahia pour OSS 117) Brazilian soldiers 1965
Vigilante Force Kris Kristofferson Aaron Arnold 1976
Vigilante Force Shelly Novack D.O. Viner 1976
Black List (Liste noire) Gang members 1984
Born on the Fourth of July A US marine 1989
Weather Is Good on Deribasovskaya, It Rains Again on Brighton Beach Mikhail Kokshenov Kravchuk 1992
Cyber Tracker A rebel Visually modified 1994
Operation Chromite North Korean soldier and US Marines anachronistic appearance 2016

Television

Title Actor Character Note Date
The Company Cuban freedom fighters 2007

Anime

Title Characters Notation Date
Kochikame, The UFO Movie

Video Games

Title Appears as Mods Notation Date
Indiana Jones and The Infernal Machine 1999
Resident Evil Survivor 2000


Instalaza M65 Rocket Launcher

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Instalaza M65 Rocket Launcher - 88.9mm
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M65 Rocket Launcher with blast shield - 88.9mm
  • Spanish Upgrade of the M20 Bazooka with new ignition system produced by Instalaza. Fired CHM65 HEAT, MB66 Dual-Purpose and FIM66 smoke rounds.

Film

Title Actor Character Note Date
Battle of the Bulge Charles Bronson Wolenski 1965
Lost Command Algerians 1966
From Hell to Victory George Hamilton Maurice Bernard 1979
US Army soldiers

See also

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