LRAC launcher loaded with rocket in the firing position.
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The LRAC is a Cold War era rocket launcher of French origin. It was developed in the late 1960's to replace the M20 Super Bazooka. The LRAC is a one man system that is reusable and can fire a variety of warheads. Often a second person is assigned to carry ammunition and reload the launcher.
The LRAC features a relatively short metal launch tube with shoulder rest, pistol grip and forward grip. Either a day sight or passive night sight can be fitted. The dual role transport and launch container is inserted at the rear. The rockets are fin-stabilized and fired from their transport container.
The LRAC is able to fire a variety of rockets. The HEAT round is able to penetrate about 420mm RHA. The effective range is about 300 to 500 meters, although rockets may travel up to 2.3 km. The maximum rate of fire is 3 to 4 rounds per minute.
The LRAC was the standard rocket launcher in French service. It was replaced in French service in the 90's by the AT4-CS and Eryx. The LRAC was widely exported, mostly to nations with good ties to France.
The LRAC launcher is a reusable launcher for a variety of 89mm rounds. The launcher features a detachable sight unit with optional passive night sight. There are no variants in launcher design.
HEAT: Standard anti-armor round with shaped charge warhead. Penetrates 400mm RHA or one meter of concrete.
MP: Multi purpose round with 1.600 steel balls and smaller shaped charge warhead. Lethal radius of 20 meters and 100mm RHA penetration.
SMOKE: Smoke round producing smoke for about 35 seconds.
ILLUM: Illuminating round that produces 300.000 candela for 30 seconds.
In the anti-tank role the LRAC was replaced in French service with the Eryx short range anti-tank guided weapon.
In French service the AT4-CS was adopted as one of the weapons to replace the LRAC. The AT4-CS is a disposable rocket launcher, whereas the LRAC was reusable.
The design of the South African FT-5 is based on the French LRAC / Strim. The FT-5 is a larger, more expensive and more capable derivative.
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