recoilless rifle
Counterbalanced shoulder cannon
A recoilless rifle is a portable weapon that fires artillery-type projectiles without the backward kick typical of conventional guns.
The design vents propellant gases rearward to counterbalance the forward momentum of the projectile, allowing a single soldier to fire rounds that would otherwise require a heavy mount: The squad set up the recoilless rifle on the ridge.
Despite the name, most are smoothbore and technically not rifles.
Rearward weapon discharge
- venturiConstricted passage accelerating flow
- breechRear of barrel
- propellantSubstance creating thrust
- cartridgeSealed container for supplies
combustion · chamber · firing · trigger · ignition · discharge · blowback · exhaust
Requiring multiple personnel
- shoulder-firedLaunched from the body
- tripodStabilizing support structure
- bipodTwo-legged stabilizing mount
- infantryGround combat troops
light · portable · man-portable · aiming · sights · optics · range · accuracy
Anti-armor explosive ammunition
- high-explosiveFast-detonating destructive substance
- armor-piercingDefeats protective plating
- flechetteSmall finned projectile
- canisterSealed cylindrical container
illumination · smoke · projectile · round · shell · caliber · warhead · fuze
Defeats protective plating
- penetratorSomething that enters forcefully
- bunker-bustingCapable of destroying fortifications
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
reactive armor · standoff · flanking · hull-down · disable · knockout
backblast
Rearward weapon discharge
- venturiConstricted passage accelerating flow
- breechRear of barrel
- propellantSubstance creating thrust
cartridge · combustion · chamber · firing · trigger · ignition · discharge · blowback · exhaust · nozzle
crew-served
Requiring multiple personnel
- shoulder-firedLaunched from the body
- tripodStabilizing support structure
- bipodTwo-legged stabilizing mount
infantry · light · portable · man-portable · aiming · sights · optics · range · accuracy · direct fire
HEAT
Anti-armor explosive ammunition
- high-explosiveFast-detonating destructive substance
- armor-piercingDefeats protective plating
- flechetteSmall finned projectile
canister · illumination · smoke · projectile · round · shell · caliber · warhead · fuze
armor-piercing
Defeats protective plating
- penetratorSomething that enters forcefully
- bunker-bustingCapable of destroying fortifications
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
defensive · reactive armor · standoff · flanking · hull-down · disable · knockout
matador
Bullfight's fatal sword wielder
- weaponsknife, gun, sword, swords, pistol
- Heavy Weaponscannon, howitzer, artillery piece, tank gun, field gun
- Anti-tankanti-tank gun, RPG, bazooka, bazookas, javelin
- crew-served weaponsheavy machine gun, light machine gun, mortar, machine gun, mounted gun
- light artilleryhowitzer, mortar, field gun, cannon
- rocket launchersrocket launcher, RPG, bazooka, shoulder-fired, rocket artillery