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Denel PAW-20
The Denel Neopup (a portmanteau of the surname of designer Tony Neophytou (who also designed the NeoStead 2000) and "bullpup," despite that the gun is not a bullpup since its fire control group is behind its feeding location), also known as the PAW-20 (Personal Assault Weapon, 20mm) and currently called the Inkunzi PAW (Zulu for "bull") is a South African semi-automatic grenade launcher (or light cannon, depending on payload). The weapon went through an extensive design process starting with a gas-operated variant heavily referenced from the AK action in 1999, before switching to an inertial operating system similar to that used by Benelli shotguns. The gas piston rod is retained in the final design, but is now only used as a guide rod which is impinged on by the charging handle. Much of the design work centered on mitigating the effects of the fearsome recoil of the proprietary 20mm round the PAW uses, which resulted in numerous changes throughout the gun.
Due to a relatively low muzzle velocity (around 1,000 feet per second, 310 meters per second) the gun is not particularly useful for direct-fire kinetic rounds: while a non-explosive AP round exists, there is little evidence that Denel has any plans to mass-produce it. The primary round types for use in combat are high-explosive incendiary (HEI) and semi-armor piercing high explosive incendiary (SAPHEI), the same round but with an added tungsten penetrator.
Specifications
(Prototypes 1999 - 2015, production 2015 - present)
Type: Grenade Launcher
Caliber: 20x42mm B
Weight: 12.6 lbs (5.7 kg) empty
Length: 33.3 in (84.6 cm) in fire position, 30.3 in (77 cm) in carry position
Barrel length(s): 14 in (35.6 cm)
Capacity: 7 round single stack (early model), 7 round double stack (later model) or 6 round drum (current model) magazine
Fire Modes: Semiautomatic
Film
| Title | Actor | Character | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District 9 | David James | Koobus Venter | PAW-20 | 2009 |
| Chappie | Yo-Landi Visser | Yolandi | Inkuzi PAW | 2015 |
| Chappie | Chappie | Inkuzi PAW | 2015 |
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears as | Note | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Counter-Strike Online 2 | PAW-20 | Late PAW prototype, closer to production Inkuzi PAW | 2013 |
See Also
- Denel - A list of weapons produced by Denel